The progress., 1904-06-25

o1o vne0 6oS my nn&ee tnrouep u
you can imagine my feelings. for Il
had certainly been put there to open ~
aperture. II pulled, what would ~
| the result? Would Z door swing open
and disclose Z skeleton? It took some
nerve to pdll. but was never given to
hesitancy, and 20 gave = Jerk.
Nothing stirred. tried again. with
! . strong, steady movement. At this
two bricks came away in my hand, up
held by the ring. They had been fas-
tened together on the inside. and the
ring was bolted through. tried to
got the light to shine IN the opening,
but could not. Then ventured with
my hand and arm, as l had seen the
ghostly arm do, but could not reach
enything.
Il was much excited. and determined
to tear the wall away. That hole was
made for some purpose. ard was go
ing to learn what, Brought some
tools, and went to work. supposed
that should have to 90 to the level
Of the floor, but when had taken out
about two feet two bricks wide | came
to a shelf, upon which rested small
wooden box. Eagerly drew this out,
expecting to find money, for 1t came to
me as obvious that the chinking sound
made by the ghostly arm was designed
to tell that there was money within
for me. But as l took up the box my
spirits fell. II could not have weighed
more than half pound.
"The reaction from my hope was so
great that went to the table slowly,
and opened the box with feeling
something like disgust. A note was
lying beside a small bottle. This l
unfolded, and read with slight curl
osity, which became evaporation by
the time was through. 1t merely said
that the bottle in the box contained an
imprisoned genie In liquid form, whose
purpose was to benefit the finder by
turning all iron upon which 1t was
poured into gold.
"A hoax! exclaimed, in anger from
my overstrained nerves. Then !
stopped short. How had found that
bottle! BY means more occult than
could explain. And there was no de-
nying anything, for box, bottle and
note lay before me. II the ghostly arm
could do SO much, what might not the
liquid do? sobered down. The whole
thing was plainly of a piece, and hav-
ing gone SO far, 1t might be well to go
the entire length.
my ardor revived. I took the bot
tie up gingerly, and held 1t to the light.
1t was filled with blush liquor which
seemed to emit little sparks when agi-
tated. Could 1t turn iron to gold? My
head was fairly dizzy with the thought
must try.
Taking It over to the brick hearth,
I opened it, and poured few drops on
an ak which had brought into use in
demolishing the chimney. Instantly a
steaming vapor arose, sending of a
tremendous heat. The helve was
burned up in the twinkling of an eye,
and jumped back in amazement. BY |
the time I looked again, an ak Of gold
lay in place Of the iron, and the brick |
was powdered half an inch deep.
'As soon as the ak could be examined
and I satisfied myself that it really had
been changed, went wild. Every
thing in the house that was of iron
I speedily brought and made over into
gold. So eager was that did not
notice the liquid until realized that 1t
was all expended. What fool I had
been not to husband it! Yet not alto
gether, for scattered about was for.
tune in gold, which gazed upon while
resting for few minutes.
"Now, there isn't any use in drawing
this story out, as you have the main
fact. I concealed the gold-my gift
from the ghostly armand afterward
turned it into securities through the
proper channels.
1.-THE finish is given in word. was
a rich man, Mr.. Atherton was willing
and l have the loveliest
wife in the world. You are both in
vited to dine with me tomorrow even
ing, and enjoy her welcome to my
friends"
A short pause followed the conclu-
sion of Middleton's story. Then Jarvis
said, That's very interesting way to
tell us how you won your wife by max
Ing money, but, er--"
"Well?"
That's just It," broke in Masters.
when we remember how you used to
spin yarns, you know"
Gentlemen" interrupted Middleton,
''all I ask you to believe is that the
man who resolutely sets to work for
a legitimate purpose will receive as
sistance beyond himself. Farm and
Fireside.