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

learn the depths of the yellow treasury.
1t l attempt to wiring the neck of the
goose before the eggs are laid, my fol-
lowers would be justified in saying that
the English part OF my nature had got
the better OF the Scotch. Meanwhile /
will know nothing of this mans doings,
and hope for. your sake, Davie, that the
sold mine will prove as prolific as my
own in the Clydesdale."
| The mobiles followed the example set TO
them by the lavish Sir David. They
! needed no urging from him 10 increase
tner stakes. The fever OF the gambler
/ VAS on each OF them, and soon the al
! legged Italian began TO be embarrassed
| IN keeping up the pace he had set for
! flnse.t. Ii required now an enormous
sum TO pay even double the amount taken
III the door. The necromancer announced
that the meetings would be held less
otten, but the mobiles would not have 1T
50. Fhen his experiments. became less
and less successful. One night the bonus
amounted only to half the COINS given TO
the treasurer, and then there were omln-
GUS grumblings. At the next meeting
the bare amount paid in was given back,
and the deep roar OF resentment when
greeted thls proclamation made the tor
elgler tremble in his red robe. The ann
bassador was sending messenger alter
messenger 10 France, and looked anXi-
ously for their return, while the NEGRO
mancer did everything to gain time. At
last there came an experiment which
failed entirely; no gold was produced in
the crucibe The alchemist begged for
postponement, but swords flashed forth
ard he was compelled on the spot to re"
now his incarnation. II gold could be
made on one occasion why not on anoth
er? cried the barons with some show of
reason. The conjurer had conjured up a
demon he could not control; thu demon
OF greed.
| The only man about the court who
seemed to know nothing of what was go
ing forward was the king himself. The
French ambassador narrowly watched his
actions but James was the same free
hearted jovial, pleasure seekipo arch
ne had always been. He $50 and
caroused and was the life of any party
OF pleasure which sailed forth from the
castle. He disappeared now and then, rs
was his custom, and could not be found.
although his mobiles winked at one anoth-
er, while the perturbed French ambassa
cor looked anxiously for the treasure
ship that never came.
At last the mobiles, who, in spite OF their
threatenings, had too much shrewdness
10 kill the gold maker hoping his lapse
ol power was only temporary, forced the
question to q head and made appeal TO
the astonished king himself Here was
n man, they said, who could reake gold
and wouldn't. They desired a mandate
to go forth. compelling him to Resume
the lucrative occupation ne had aban-
doned.
The king expressed his amazement at
Wl.at he heard, an summoned the mounte-
bark before him. The gold maker aban-
dCned his robe of scarlet and appeared
before James dressed soberly. He con-
fessed that he knew the secret OF eX-
tracing gold from ordinary soil, but sub
nitted that he was not Scottish citi-
zen and therefore could not properly
ne coerced by the Scottish laws so long
as he iniringed none of the statutes. The
king held that this appeal was we'll found
ed and disclaimed any desire to coerce
citizen of a friendly State. AT this the
charlatan frightened perceptibly, and
portionately the gloom on the brows OF
the mobiles deepened.
But if you can produce gold. as you
say, why do you refuse to do so?" de-
manded the king.
II respectfully submit to your males
ty. replied the mountebank, that /
have now perfected an invention of in
finitely greater value than the gold-mak-
ing process; an invention that will give
Scotland power possessed by DO other
nation, and which will enable it to con.
quer any kingdom, no matter how remote
it may be from this land / so much hon
or. 1 wish, then, to devote the remain
ing energies of my life to the charging
OF this invention rather than waste my
time in what is, after all, the lowest pur-
suit to which man may demean himself,
namely, the mere gathering of money"
and the speaker cast glance of triumph
at the disgruntled barons.
II quite agree with you regarding your
estimation of acquisitiveness,' said the
King cordially, giving no heed to the MUIR
EluTs of his followers. In what does
this new invention consst?"
1T is simply pair Of wings, your maj
esty, made from the finest silk which /
import from France. They may be fitted
to any human being and they give that
human being the power which birds have
long possessed"
wei, SdIu the kluB Will lduBH.
she uld be the last to teach a Scottish
warrior to fly; still the ability to do so
would have been, on several occasions
advantageous to US. Have you your
wings at hand?"
Yes, your majesty"
Then you yourself shall test them in
our presence.
Put / should like to spend your mai
esty some further time on preparation"
demurred the man uneasily.
Il thought you said moment ago that
+, the invention was perfect
Nothing human is perfect, your maj
esty, and il l said so l spoke with over
confidence of the inventor. / have, how
ever, succeeded in sailing through the air,
but cannot yet make way against
wind"
''Oh, you have succeeded so far as to
interest us in most attractive expert
Eent Bid your assistant bring them at
once, aud let US understand their eprin-
ciI'le. l rejoice to know that Sec tend
rs to have the benefit of your great e<ni-
us."
Farini showed little enthusiasm anent
The kings confidence in him. He had, dur