The San Francisco call., 1898-08-07
THE TRAMP'S
 MAGIC KNIFE.
BY LAWRENCE C. BEMENDERFER,
Angels Camp

' N NOh A1hlINO was LIlS IIlOSI ulSSeit-
 isfied boy in the Sacramento Val-
 ley He had become interested in
 reading the mining news in the
 daily papers and considered him. self too good for his work, and believed his only chance of making a fortune lay in going to a lively mining camp at once. Even his father and mother mo- ticed the absent-minded way in which he attended to his duties, and the tired man grumbled at finding the tools scattered around, and also the shiftless way in which Tom did his work.
 About this time, in July, while sit ting on the well porch under the trees, during the heat of the day, Tom saw a ragged tramp coming along the dusty road leading to the well.
 "HeIlo!" remarked the man as he came up, and sitting down, helped him self to cup of water. Well, this IS the incest, coolest place I've struck since l left Browns camp up in the foothills"
 What, are you from mining toWnE asked Tom quickly. l have always wanted to meet a person from one. l am thinking of going to one myself.
 "You?" laughed the man. Why, l would have expected more ambitious plans. A mining town is rough place even for a man. Look at me. Do l look as if ever saw much money? Do I now?"
 Tom looked at the tramp with his patched, ragged clothes, a limp pan danna handkerchief tied loosely about his neck. and his old straw hat with holes in numerous places.
 "No," said Tom, you don't Could not you get work to do?"
 why, certainly" said the man, with a short laugh. But all that was of fered me was too hard. l am a tray cling musician, but of late met with poor success. I lost charm some weeks ago of great value"
 That was too bad, sald rom, so- berly. What was it?
 Luck" remarked the tramp It IS one of the greatest charms of life. or more note than money But l have something left" (carelessly putting his hand into his trousers pocket he drew out a jackknife). When l was in h. dia I met Aladdin. Heard of him, lamp. He presented this to me as a parting gift. It is charmed"
 q didn't suppose knives were 1n- vented those days.
 ''No. but one of his descendants had one, so it is all the same. Anyhow I can do wonderful things with 1t; go anywhere, see anything, and by chance have been thrown into strange places.
 Gan you-could you do anything, said Tom slowly.
 "Yes: first tell me something you want done. Where do you wish you were now, this minute?"
 Tn the richest mining camp in Cali fornia I am young, strong and Wiling and would not refuse work because il get along; all I want is chance"
 You shall have it." exclaimed the man.
 There was large stiff mat near them. "Step on that" Tom obeyed and the man stepped on the. other end opened the knife and at once the mat rose upward and, floating above the trees, stopped midair.
 "Now," he remarked shreWdly, here is your chance. Take it if you will, but in 1se you are disappointed do not blame me, for I am only plain magi- clan. If you wish l will descend. Ii you go I promise to land you here be- low safe and sound five days hence
 "Yes, I will go,' said Tom impuls1Ve- ly. and immediately they began to float over the valley and then over the low rolling hills east toward the mountains. Landing near a town they walked up a long dusty road. The first faint sound of the mills sent thrill of delightful expectancy through Tom. The bulky stages, as they rolled by In a cloud of dust, and the heavy freight teams, all made him think only of the novelty. AS they continued on toward the mines and mills the tramp explained that he intended to give Tom a chance at hard work; two chances, one to get gold, the other to keep it, 'and in case you fail at the latter you can return home at once, for it will show you are utterly unfitted to battle with fate"
 At length, coming to a large shaft, the tramp opened the jackknife and at once a parachute appeared They be- gan to descend to the bottom of the shaft, on reaching which Tom, by the aid of the electric lights, followed the tramp, who at last stopped at a drift, and, handing him a pick and shovel, told him to commence work, at the same time opening the knife Tom be- gan to dig The place was very rich. Gold, gold, in every place. He filled his pockets and loaded himself with it. As he worked the gold dust settled on him. It encrusted his pick and shovel, face and hands, and stuck there like glue. But it's weight at last began to tell. He struggled on to procure more, never stopping till he could work no longer. "Take me out of this place. he cried at last, "I have enough"
 The tramp appeared You have not wei proved your worth; there is an- other test to be made, follow me-
 They soon came to another drift, like the first, only there was no gold in sight; only bare, hard rock
 All the gold obtained at the price of hard work began to loosen and fly to the walls of rock as if magnetized. Tom endeavored frantically to keep it. He tried to Dry It off the rocks and often succeeded but 1t flew back. and even when he put it in his pockets it broke through and made holes in them. Al last he fell down on the rough floor exhausted, and called for the tramp, who came at once.
 'So after all your toll you are as poor as when you begun. Would you like to see what you look like now?
 ''Yes, bring me glass; said Tom. Opening the knife at once one side of the drift became transparent, and look ing, Tom beheld himself, old, gray and bent.