The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05

a light buggy and answered to the word.
the lines and the whip like a pair OF we'll
broke trotters. The whole town turned out
to witness the diamond kings latest sur
Gle Young ladies tied ribbons on their
horns, and several OF the graduates, VINO
had made an impression upon the strange
principal streets OF the town behind a team
that would certainly have created a great
sensation In any OF the great cities Of the
Canadian had made the trip to Pixies Peak
with a pair Of elk yoked 70 a light wagon,
but they maintained that no one had ever
before succeeded In breaking pair OF WHO
Western deer TO harness.
John Gray was brimful of enjoyment over
the wonder and afnazement that his magic
cottage had aroused. He had heard that
they had called him cagiiostro. and he
laughed about It After few days ne ap-
peared to take great pleasure In explaining
the mystery. Nothing could have been
easier" he said. II had the cottage built
out here in the woods only few miles
from town. It was constructed on rollers. L
furnished it and did everything In way
that attracted no ones attention. had the
route surveyed and every obstacle removed
beforehand My workmen were all sworn 10
secrecy. The forest trees were dug UP and
lashed to wagons. / simply selected quiet
night and quietly We rolled the house on
the lot and planted the trees. Everything
had been so perfectly arranged that In ac-
complishing our purpose IL was harJly nee
essary to utter a word l had no other OBJ
ject In view than simply TO anuse and en-
ploy myself and surprise the public.
He certainly surprised the public-So much
so that there are hundreds OF people VINO
are not satisfied with Mr.. Gray's very open
and liberal explanation OF the magic cot
tage. With them he is still Cagliostro, or at
least one who possesses powers BEYOND the
knowledge Of ordinary nortals.
The blazing OF a meteor In the sky Is not
more sudden than the disappearance OF Jonn
Gray one fine morning the places tnat ha1
known him knew him no more He was
seen at his country residence in the evening.
The next morning the house was closed.
The magic cottage was closed. Day after
dav passed and nothing was heard or the
diamond king" Friends went into the fine
house on the ranch. Everything was in or
der The house looked as II the owner had
gone for a walk. A big chair W IN a pair
of slippers by the side OF IL was Ia front or
the fireplace. An open book ant a ma L
smoked cigar was on the table by the side
of the chair. An old negro ma and n $
old wife were in the cabin in the back yard.
They were as ignorant ard as innocent as
the birds in the trees. Nothing had been
disturbed A thorough and searching in
Vestigation bv the most acute and accom-
plshed experts disclosed no trace of the ex-
old negro, the was seated in his hair smok-
ing and read ng. A few y ONE IS at r
wards he was not there" There is no sus-
picion of foul play, and yet mon'h after
month has passed and John Gray has not
been heard from. He has vanished like a
dream, and there Is no evidence of the man.
ner of his disappearance. 1t is just as If
YOU were to put your hand into a buc',ef of
water and withdraw II. Can Ii be possible
that he has another surprise in store for the
people whom he maintained he loved so
well?