The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-20

closed the door and barred it securely
then returned to the table. He nodded
! to Sir David and glanced with some dis
trust upon his plaid-covered companion
Whom have you brought to us, Sir
LINDSAY asked the man suspiciously.
"A friend of mine. the Master of Bal
lengeich; one who can keep his own coun-
sci and who wishes to turn an honest
penny
I'VE admit none except those connected
with the court demurred the money
,aker.
We'll, in manner, Ballengeich is con-
nected WITH the court. He supplies the
castle with the products of his farm
II am deeply grieved to refuse you,
sir, but | cannot disobey my strict in
strrctions.
"Oh, very well, then said the King inn
patiently, I'VE will stay to hear no further
question. Sir David here is close friend
of the King, and a friend of my own.
therefore we will return to the castle and
get the Kings warrant, which, I trust,
will open any door in Stirling"
The ,warder seemed nonplussed at this,
and looked quickly from one to the other;
finally he said
"Will you allow me moment to consult
with my master?
Very well. so that you do not hold
us long, replied the Master of Ballen-
geich.
II shall do my errand quickly, for at
this moment ] am keeping the whole no.
! bilty of Scotland waiting
The man disappeared, taking however,
the gold with him in bag. In a short
space of time he returned. and bowling to
the two waiting men, he said:
MY master is anxious to please you,
Sir LINDSAY, and will accept the money
of your friend Whereupon the two
placed upon the table five gold pieces
each, and the amount was credited oppo-
site their names upon the parchment.
The experiment was carried on precise
" as Sir David had foretold, but there
was one weird effect which the poet had
not mentioned When the necromancer
added to the melting pot huge humps OF
what appeared to be common soil from
The field, the mixture glared each time
with . new color. Once a vivid violet
color famed up, which cast such llvid
death-iike hue on the faces of the knights
there present that each looked upon the
other in obvious fear. Again the flame
was pure white; again scarlet; again blue;
again yellow. When at last the incanta-
ton was complete. the bellows-work was
stopped. The corruscating caldron was
lifted from the fire by an iron hook and
chain and set upon the stone floor TO
cool. bubbling and sparkling like q thing
of evil; but the radiance became duller
and duller as time went on, and finally
its contents were poured out into mold
of sand, and there congealing, the result
was lifted by tongs and laid upon the
| scale. The bag of gold was placed again
in the opposite disc, but the heated metal
far outweighed it. The wizard then I'M
locked a desk and threw coin after coin
in the pan that held the bag, until at last
the beam of the scale hung level. The
secretary now pushed forward table to
the edge Of the platform, and or the table
placed rush-light which served but to
illuminate the parchment before him.
With great rapidity he counted the gold
pieces which were not in the bag, then
whispered to his master.
The room was deathy still as the man
in scai.et stepped forward to make his
announcement
IL regret said he, "that our expert
lnent has not been as successful as l had
hoped. This doubtless has been caused
by the poverty of the earth from which
took my material. I shall dig elsewhere
against our next meeting, and then we
may look for better results. Tonight 1
can return to you but double the money
you gave to my treasurer"
At this there went up what seemed to
be a sigh of relief from the audience,
! which has been holding its breath with
all the eagerness of a gambler, who had
made stake and awaited the outcome OF
the throw.
The necromancer, taking the parchment,
called out name after name, and as each
title was enunciated the bearer OF it came
TO the edge of the platform and received
from the secretary double the amount OF
gold pieces set down on the parchment.
AS each man secreted his treasure he
passed along out of the hall; and so it
came about that Sir David and Ballen-
geich, being the last on the list, received
the remaining coins on the table, and
silently took their departure.
The king spoke no word until they had
entered the castle and were within his
private room. Once there, the first thing
he did was to pull from his pouch the
coins he had received and examine them
carefully one by one.
You will find them genuine" said Sir
David. II had them tested by a gold
smith in Edinburgh and was assured the
pieces are just what they claim to be.
prudent mani exclaimed the king,
throwing himself down on seat and
! jingling. the gold pieces. "Well, Davie,
what do you think of it all? Give me
en- opinion as honest as the coin. Has
cur visit tonight then taught you moth
/ ing, David?"
Nothing but what | knew before.
What has it taught Your Majesty?'
I'm the first place our charIatan does
not want the king to know what ne is
doing, because when his subordinate re-
fused me admittance and I said to him
would appeal to the king, he saw at once
that this was serious, and wished to con-
suit his master. His master was then
willing to admit any one so long as there
was no appeal to the king. q therefore
surmse he is most anxious to conceal
his operations from me- What is your
opinion, Davie?"
at would seem that your majesty is