The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-01-09
I'M CORBIlV AND
THE GOLD SPIRIT.
A Tale OF Love and Money.
By CHARLES BArTELL LOOMS

white house of two stories. near t1e top
of Loudon Hill. His mother had died
when he was child Of three, TO the great
grief Of his father. but Jim only remem-
bered her as a sweet voiced woman who
used to caress him a good deal. but for
whom he never felt the love that he al
ways had for his father. Mr.. Corbir was
a man who would have been content with
his LOT If he had not had a penny, but
Jim was always wishing that he was
rich, and he was in a fair way Of becom-
ing so. for he never spent cent If he
could help IL.
Jim was fond OF his father although he
never thought much about it, but he was
decidedly fond of his dog. Snip. black
and white setter. Or at least IL had set
ter blood in it. When Jim vent TO reg
lister il at the town hall. and was asked
by the clerk what kind of 4 dog it was,
he began: ats father was a setter and
its mother was a collie
"Oh. mongrel." said the clerk TO Jim's
lasting disgust.
His dog was no mongrel. IL it did have
mixed blood, and he thought as much of
the handsome animal as he could think
we'll of anything not connected with
money.
One evening after the chores were done
he lighted a lantern. and calling Snip.
went out to the barn to count his money.
He found that he had S767S.
Not so bad for two years savings"
said he to Snip "Oh, but do wish that
I was awfulIy rich. and had lots of horses
and carriages and lived in a castle Ike
Judge Perrine's."
As he spoke he was startled 10 see a
little man in black about three feet IN
height emerge from under the loose board
and take up his stand In front CT him.
Snip gave a low grGwl and raised his ruff.
but he did not desert Jim.
As for the boy, although he was startled
he did not show it. He grabbed all his
money and replaced II in the stocking
which served as his purse.
The little man stared at Jim from under
his bushy eyebrows. and said in voice
that sounded like the clink of gold. well.
what do you want of me?"
II don't want anything of you that
know Of I suppose you are fairy?"
LAS to that I don't know what you
mean" said the little man, but can give
you riches-all you want If you do as 1 bid
you"
And what must I do?' asked Jim, ris-
ing to his feet and cycling the man with
suspicion.
well, you must give a thousand dollars
to the poor every day or your riches will
vanish
And how much do I get every day?"
asked Jim
He did not wish to make any foolish
promises.
You'll get two thousand every day, be-
sides-a handsome house and barn"
'All right; 1 promise" said Jim. al
though / think it's a good deal. consider
ing"
Very well. don't forget The second
thing is you must kill your dog"
XIII Snip? 1 guess not" said Jim, pat
ting the dog on its shoulders Snip looked
up at him with loving glance, as much
as to say: You couldn't get along with
out me, no matter how rich you were,
could you?"
We'll, it's nothing to me-" said the lit
tie man, turning to go as he had come.
Il don't care whether you are rich or
not OF course, I'd like your dog.
but he'll be no use to me until he's dead,
so if you don't kill him you get no
wealth"
Jim was trembling all over. He loved
Snip. but he loved gold even more He
lifted his hand from the dogs shoulder.
We'll, what is it," said the little man.
The dog v i'll only live a few years at best,
while you have forty or fifty years before
you and all the wealth that you can wish
if you will shorten his life"
This argument decided Jim.
How must l ki-kiII him?" he asked
breaking into sweat.
he was talking about the killing of a
partridge.
Jim walked silently out Of the barn.
The dog rose to go, too. but ne sent him
back In few minutes he came back
with shotgun. He was a capital shot,
but it is one thing to shoot quail or ma
iauding crows and it is quite another
thing TO shoot dog who has been as
friendly as dog can be for three or four
years of your life
When will l become rich?" said he.
"As soon as the dog is dead" said the
little man.
The dog had eurled up In his absence
and had gone to sleep, and this made il
trifie easier for him TO shoot him. If
lac had risen and licked his hand or lifted
it with his cod muzzle. Jim would have
told the little man to get away with his
temptation, but the dog slept soundly
ard in a minute he had passed into a
GREATNESS sleep.
Scarcely had the gun ceased echong
when Jim found himself in a splendid
barn with so much to attract his atten-
ton that he did not think of the dog.
There were box stalls in which bIooded
| horses paved the floor impatiently. great
hay lofts. d harness room. a carriage
room, and running water and two eroorns
The old man had disappeared and Jim
vas glad OF it. With a whoop and a
bound he ran to the house and found a
marble palace even finer than that of
Judge Perrine.
He bounded up the marble stems and
pressed the electric button and a serva ant
in livery opened the door Where's r,v
father?' asked Jim.
In the library" answered the servant
bowling.
As Jim passed mirror In the han he
| saw that he was dressed like the Hilton
boys, who were home from Yale for tbe
holidays. and he had always felt that "a
be arrayed like one Of them would he n
| attain perfect happiness. As il was mis-
| collar cut his neck and his shoes felt
tight
He found his father dressed in TIGHT.
hitting frock coat anG wearing a high col.
lar and patent leather shoes. and looking
as uncomfortable and forlorn as II he mad
| malaria.
Isn't it great, father?" said Jim. with
enthusiasm.
rs this your doing. SOM" sale the old
! man, sadly. Il suppose il is You've al
ways wished We were rich, and / suppose
we are too rich 10 ever get over II. bur II
i could slip on my flannel shirt and 20
| around In my socks I'd give all this fancy
work and fixings 10 somebody who had
been brought up to enjoy II. / always
thought / was pretty cOntented. but
| can't be contented with this"
Jim sank into a seat opposite his father
II was soft and yielding and he bounced
up and down on il boylike for mornen,
| or two before he spoke.
Yes, SIR; ] did g. or at least the S-lri;
Of Gold did We've got 10 give thousand
| dollars day to the poor or wei lose ali
| our money"