Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-16

the pretty girls all the evening. Next
morning he stepped into q music s,o'o
and said to the first clerk he met' INV
do you sell piaDosr The young man
smiled. and told him the instruments
commanded different prices. your pest,
said Mr. Cray. What are your pest
ones WORTH The clerk replied that
$3.50 would buy very superior lnstru-
ment." "All right" said John Gray, i
will take a Dozen" and, without walt
ing for the astounded clerk to get his
breath he wrote out check Tor DIV
Il guess you will find that all right over
at the bank" said Mr.. Gray as ne
walked into the street after the manner
of a man who had carelessly made
purchase OF dozen cigars. A re" Gays
afterward each Of the fortunate young
lady graduates received a fine piano with
the compliments Of John Gray.
one OF his last exploits was the most
interesting Everybody knew that ne
had a park and dozen or more pet deer.
but no one anticipated the surprise tnat
was in store for the town. one hne day
John GRAY drove into the city behind
pair of great big male deer-three- or
four-year stays with long antlers.
They were harnessed TO light buggy
and answered to the word, the lines
and the whip, like a pair OF well-broken
trotters The whole town turned out TO
witness the diamond kings latest surprise
The animals appeared perfectly docile.
Young ladies tied 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
team that would certainly have created
a great sensation In any OF the great
cities Of the world Old plainsmen said
that In 1859 a Canadian had made the
trip TO Pixies Peak with pair or elk
yoked to a light wagon, but they main
tanned that no one had ever before sue
ceeded in breaking a pair Of Wild western
deer 10 harness.
John Gray was brimful of enjoyment
over the wonder and amazement that
his magic cottage had aroused. lie had
heard that they had called him Cagllostro,
and he laughed about IL. After Few
days ne appeared TO take great pleasure
in explaining the mystery. Nothing
could have been easier" he said. y had
the cottage built out here in the WOODS
only few miles from town. IL was
constructed on rollers. | furnished II
and did everything I'm a way that at
tracted no ones attention, ! had the
route surveyed and every obstacle remov-
ed beforehand. My workmen were ali
sworn to secrecy. The forest trees
ware dug I'D and dashed TO
wagons. | simply selected quiet
night and quietly we rolled the house
on the lot and planted the trees. Every
thing had been so perfectly arranged
that in accomplishing our purpose II was
hardly necessary TO utter word. nad
no other object in view than simply 10
amuse and employ myself and surprise
the pubic. ,,,. -
He certainly surprised the publlc-so
much so that there are hundreds OF peo-
pIe who are not satisfied with Dir. Grays
very open and liberal explanation or tns
magic cottage. With them he II sui
Cagliostro. or at least one who possesses
powers beyond the knowledge OF ordinary
mortals =,
The blazing of a meteor In the sky Is
not more sudden than the disappearance
~ John GRAY. One fine morning the
places that had known him knew MIN
no more. He was seen at his country
residence I'm the evening. The next
morning the house was closed. Inc
magic cottage was closed. Day after day
passed. and nothing was heard OF the
diamond king" Friends went into the
fine house on the ranch. Everything was
i'm order. The house looked as II the
.owner had gore for a walk. big chair.
with a pair OF slippers by the side OF
II. was H. front Of the fireplace. An open
book and a half-smoked cigar were on
a table by the side OF the chair. An old
negro man ard 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
A thorough and searching Investigation
by the most acute and accomplished eN-
merits disc osed no trace CT the extraor-
! binary man. After supper" said the
old negro. he was seated in his chair
smoking and reading. a few moments
afterward he was not there There u
no suspicion OF foul play, and yet month
after month has passed, and John Gray
has not been heard from. de mas
vanished like a dream. and there Is no
evidence as 10 the manner OF his disap-
pearance. 1t is just as II you We're 10
out your hand into a bucket OF water
and withdraw II. Can IL be possible tnat
he has another surprise In store for the
people whom he maintained he loved SO
well?