The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-11

I
mission to dry his feet at the glowing fur
mace. .,r e." %
Make yourself at home, said the man,
and turhed'to his work again.
The place was lighted"by electricity. and
was warm and comfortable. John put
| his feet as near to the furnace as he dared,
and o felt the heat drying up his soaked
feet.
1t was not long, indeed, before bis entire
body was as crisp and solid as ever, and then
our hero stood upon his feet and found that
the damage to his heel would not interfere
much with his walking.
what are you doing''' he asked.
Making diamonds" replied the other,
calmly. Il suppose | I'M the only one in
the world who ever succeeded in making
real diat4Onds, but people did not believe
in me, you see, so they sent me to the Isle
of Phreex. Here l have manufactured the
finest diamonds the world has ever known,
for no one interferes with my work. Look
at these"
He threw back the lid of a large tin box,
and John saw that it was full to the brim
with sparkling gems Of a clear white color.
Take some" said the man, offering him
a handful. They are Of no use to me here,
because l cannot dispose of them. But |
ave the satisfaction Of making them, just
the same. Help yourself
NO, thank you" aid John. Il have no
more use for diamonds than you have"
But the time may come when riches, will
be a great help to you" said the man, and
picking out three very big stones he began
pressing them into John Dolgh's ginger
bread body, one after the other. -
"There!" he exclai med. -They are now
safely concealed and if you ever need them
you can dig them out and sell them. Those
three stones would be worth several thou
sand dollars if you ever get into the world
again, where diamonds are valued"
You are very generous" said John.
'Oh. not at all. l assure you," said the
man, wagging his goatlike beard with every
word he spoke. -In this curious island
there is no value to anything whatever, not
even to life. All l can do with my diamonds
here is to stick them into the kinglet's crown
and sceptre; so I'm getting q big stock Of
them laid by. Very soon 4 shall begin
stUdding the roof of the throne room with
diamonds. and it will be a pretty sight to
see them glittering in one mass" "
We'll" said our hero, 1T it has stopped
raining l believe I'll bid YOU guod-bv."
Never mind the rain" answered the
man. Here is a winding staircase. that
leads directly upward into the castle. If
you go that way the rain cannot reach you.
The tunnel through which you entered Is
only used for ventilation
John thanked the good natured diamond
maker and started to climb the stairs.
There were a good many steps, but after
a while he came to a gallery of the castle
and had little difficulty in finding the pas
sage hat led to his own room.
As he walked along he heard the sound
OF a piano n paused at an open door to
peer within the room, for he imagined some
one was pounding upon the keys Of the
piano with a sledgehammer.
But Immediately a fluffy haired man
looked up and saw him and the next instant
bounced upon the gingerbread man in much
the same way that a cat would pounce upon
a rat and seized him fast, drew him into
the room and locked the door.
John was astonished, but the fluffy haired
musician began pacing up and down the
room, swinging his arms and shouting:
Il nave i'll l rave it at last. | am great!
1 am magnificent! am better than Vogner
himself"
He paused TO glare Upon John.
Why don't you shout, you baked idiot?
Why don't you weep with joy?' he cried.
1T is great, l tell youl It is great!7
what is great" asked John.
THE symphoniel The divine symphonic,
you heartless molasses cake, or DEVILS food,
or whatever you are! And l composed il
-I-Tietjamus Tops! I am greater than
Vognerl'
Il didn't hear It, said the gingerbread
man.
The musician threw himself upon the
piano and produced n succession of such
remarkable sounds that John was surprised.
Did you understand it?" demanded the
fluffy haired one. jumping up again.
NO." said John.
"NoI OF course mott No one can under
stand il. 1t is geniusl 1t will be PLAYED az
all the great concerts! The critics will write
columns in praise Of it. Some folk can
understand Vogner a little. No one can
understand me at ALI / am wonderful!
I am superb"
We'll" ssid John, 4 am not a Judge.
II seemed to me like awful discord."
The musician threw himself upon his
knees and burst into tears.
Thank you, my my dear friend!"
said he, between the sobs. -Such' praise
gladdens my heart. and makes me very
happy! All glorious moment in which !
produce music that is not understood and
sounds like discord''
John left the musician still shedding
tears Of joy, and walked to his room.
The people Of this island are certainly
peculiar he reflected, "and l am very
glad, indeed, that ! am an ordinary ginger
bread man and not a crank"
He found the bald headed inventor Of
the power OF repulsion awaiting him in
the room.
We'll, how did he tube please you? Is
II not wonderful" he inquired.
It's wonderful enough when IL works"
said John, but II sudG.e emily quit working,
and nearly ruined me-"
An, the power became exhausted" re-
turned the man, calmly. But that il moth
ing. H. can be easily renewed
However John remarked. II think
that wheneN er any n lIscs your tut . a.
a protection from the rain he should also
carry an umbrella TO use in case Of acct
don't"
IAN umbrella! BAH" cried the inventor,