The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-12

stepped into a music store. and said 10
the first clerk he met. How do YOU sell
pianosE' The young man smiled. and told
him the Instruments commanded different
prices. your best" said Mr. Gray. What
are your best ones WOrth3' The clerk re-
piled that $3.50 would buy a very superior
instrument" "All right" said John Gray
Il will take a Dozen" and. without waii-
ing for the astOunded clerk TO get his
breath, he wrote out "a check Tor 800. II
guess you VIII ind that all right over az
the bank" said Mr.. Gray, as he walked
into the street after the manner OF
man who had carelessly made a purchase
OF a dozen cigars. few days aIterWard
each of the fortunate young lady gradu-
ates received "A fine piano with the compu-
ments Of John Gray.
One of his latest exploits was the most
interesting. Everybody knew that he had
a park and a dozen or more pet deer but
no one anticipated the surprise that was
Gray drove into the city behind pair OF
great big males deers-three or four-year-
old stays with long antlers. They We're
harnessed to a light buggy and answered
10 the word, the lines. and the whip. like
a pair OF well-bro6en trotters. The whole
town turned out TO witness the diamond
king latest surprise. The animals APP
ribbons on their horns. and several Of the
graduates who had made an impression
upon the strange mans heart enjoyed a
drive through the principal streets of the
town behind a team that would certainly
have created a great sensation in any OF
the great cities of the wirld. Old plains
men said that i'm 1853 "A Canadian had made
the trip to Pixies Peak with a pair of elk
yoked to a light wagon, but they main
tanned that no one had ever before sue
ceeded IN breaking pair Of Wild western
John Gray was brimful of enjoyment
over the wonder and amazement that his
magic cottage had aroused He had heard
that they had called him Cagliostro, and
he laughed about 1t. After a few days
he appeared to take great pleasure In eX-
planning the mystery. Nothing could
have been easter" he said. II had the
cottage built out here In the woods. only
a few miles from town. II was construct
ed on rollers. | furnished Il and did every
thing In a way that attracted no ones
attention. / had the route surveyed and
every obstacle removed beforehand. My
WOrkmen were all sworn to secrecy. The
forest trees were dug up and dashed 10
wagons. l simply selected a quiet night
and quietly we rolled the house on the lot
and planted the trees. Everything had
been so perfectly arranged that In accomp-
fishing our purpose IL was hardly neces-
sary 10 utter word. 1 had no other OBJ
iect in view than simply to amuse and
employ myself and surprise the public"
He certainly surprised the public-so
much so that there are hundreds of peo-
pie who are not satisfied with Mr.. Gray's
very open and liberal explanation of the
magic cottage. With them he Is still Gag
liostro, or at least one who possesses pow
ers beyond the knowledge of ordinary NOR
tails
The blazing Of a meteor in the sky Is not
more sudden than the disappearance OF
John Gray. One fine morning the places
that had 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 clos
ed. Day after day passed, and nothing
was heard Of the diamond king" Friends
went to the fine house on the ranch.
Everything was in order. The house look
ed as II the owner had gone for walk
A big chair, with pair Of slippers by the
side of It, was in front of the fireplace
An open book and a half-smoked cigar
were on the table by the side of teh chair
An old negro man and his OLD wife were
in cabin in the back yard They were
as ignorant and as innocent as the birds
in the trees Nothing had been disturbed
thorough and searching investigation
by the most acute and accomplished ex-
perts disclosed no trace of the eXtraor-
binary man. after supper" said the
Old negro "he was seated in his chair
smoking and reading. A few moments ar
terward he was not there" There Is nc
suspicion of foul play, and yet month af-
ter month has passed and John Gray has
not been heard from. He has vanished
like a dream, and there is no evidence as
to the manner of his disappearance. II
was Just as If you were to put your hand
into a bucket Of water and Withdraw Il.
Can 1t be possible that he has another
surprise in store for the people whom he
maintained he loved 50 well?