The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-30
THE LOST JEWEL

Philip Dorn. a jewcler and a cunning workman In gold and silver. It hap pened that one day a young country
 man came to his house with a stone which he had found In the nelghborlng mountains and had brought to Philip as au honest man and one whom he could trust. The Joweler took th" stone and after examining lt atten- lively said with careless air that 1t was Of small value. but that he would give him 20 thalcrs for lt, The coun- | tryman. who knew nothing of the val. uo of precious stones. instantly agreed. and Philip paid him the money. As soon as he was gone our jewcler took the gem. which was a jacnth of great value. and regarded lt with well sat ! sncd smile.
 In short time another visitor came to Philip. He was little man of well fed appearance with enormous green spectacles. high crowned hat and high hceled shoes. This person de mandcd a stone proper for ring, such as a diamond or an amethyst Philip took down thc ease n which he had deposited his precious iacinth and ex- hibltcd lts contents Go thc stranger who selected a fine diamond, for which Philip took care to ask double what it was worth. but the stranger paid him his demand without grudglng and went away. saying that he would. soon see him again.
 Soon after Philip took down the case Co feast his eyes upon hls jewel, when. on opening lt. Co his conStcrnation. no iaclnth was Co be found. In vain he searched every corner. The gem was flown.
 In great distress of mind Philip went out and was pondcrlng an apology for the morrow when. on turning a corner he felt some one tap him on the shoul der and. turning round. Snw the gen tlcman In thc green spec;aclcs, who with knowing wink asked hlm what had become Of his iaclnth. The Jew. elcr was rather surprised. as he did not remember having seen the stranger examine lt. So he very naturally asked hlm lf he knew anything about It. That | do, Herr Philip"
 Tho stranger Informed Philip that he could not ten him at present, but that .f hc came that evening Co the forest at the foot of tho Schnccbcrg noun. 'oig Inc would scc aHd pcrhap, regain ol~ Ecm.h. Philip promised to be uu1cunl op which tlc g.r,lcman Aid s'irN. telling Em tbgt b' had gone ir..rCss Co transact Lrt would be
 1ck iu time
 Ilc waited with ;lc utmost lmpa. ucuyc f.r ,hc appointed time, and when at length it began to grow dark ac e. [ uut vitA bv tug heart for the rendezvous Snon hr approached the spr,st ana saw thc clouds cddylnc around Jlc slwui; of thc Schn,cbcrg. iIc wont op h.s woy rejoicing. and. al- thDo.h gt th' first step in Che wood he plunged rp To tnc neck In a morass. so mm.r.cd was hc lu his delight at the prospect of rcmiuing his iaclnth that hc scarcely noticed his immersion in lln water. On b' passed through bush, through brake. frus'Ytly coming In contact with Che trunks of trees. Co tlc utter discomlur, of his scdate and sober wic. Tho bushes seemed to -.t thicker and thn pools deeper the tartlcr uc proceeded ahd 0t length he was fairly brought Co a stand by broad sheet of water thc lcaping of which was out of thc question even to much better lcap,r than our friend Philip
 While lac was standing considering what wus Co be done he heard a voice crying. Here comes my worthy friend, Philip Dorm, Prepare yc the way for Alm" And shouts Of laughter rang through thc forest. At thls Philip was amazed; but. seeing the pool dis. appear. hc stepped boldly forward and found himself at the rock appointed as the place of meeting.
 The gentleman in the green spccta- Clcs made his appearance on the top of t and greeted Philip with great pos likeness. and. although the rock was very precipitous, he walked down lt with the greatest ease and stood at Philips side. NOW" said he. Herr Dorn. you will bc good enough Co fol- low me a little farther" Co which phil- ip bowed assent. though he would rath. or have been excused. On they went Cor a considerable time through a part Of the forest that Philip had never seen before tlll 0t length they reached wilderness of rocks which appeared broken from the mountain. They still proceeded between two high walls of rock tll they came Co wide cavern. brilliantly lighted. In which Philip saw his ioclnth suspended by a gold chain, which seemed Co ascend to am Immense height. as lts other end was lost in the darkness. Now" said his compan. Ion. "thcrc is your iacinth. You have but Co stretch out your hand. and lt Is yours" Philip stepped forward and nil hold of the jewel and attempted Co tUEc it from the chain. when sudden iy hc felt Che cG-th sink beneath his feet and. attempting to pull the jewel away. found it firmly bound to the waE He turned round In agony to his com panIon and saw him standing laugh ing lmmodcratcly. with his Spcctacles in one hand and his eyes flaming like buruJng coals. Hold fast. friend Phli ip~. he cried Hold fast" and in stsntly vanished In the darkness. The cavern closed with a fearful crash and shouts of laughter, mingled with cries of Hold fast, hold fast" were the last sounds that were ever heard bv