The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

kOgN OoNAAAA "AAAO ~
John gaaed at her in horror.
Good eatingl' he cried. woman, would
you murder me2'
Il can say il would be exactly murder
she replied, looking at him hungrily.
TIC destroy life is murderl" he said
sternly.
But to destroy gingerbread isn't she
rejoined. And l amt see that it's canni-
balism to eat a man il he happens to be
! cake, and fresh baked. And that frosting
looks good. Come inside while l get a
knife"
She opened the gate n tried to grab
John Dough by an arm. But he gave a
sudden backward leap, and then sped down
the street at a furious run, looking neither
right nor left in his eager flight.
Luckily he was not in the centre OF the
town, but near the outskirts, and the houses
we're few and scattered.
BY and by he saw a deserted barn near
the roadside. The door was half open and
sagged on its hinges, so it could not be
closed.
John darted into the barn and hid behind
some hay in the far side. He was thor
oughly frightened. and believed he must
avoid mingling with the people OF the town
II he would escape instant destruction.
A knife! A knifel The WORD kept ring
ing in his ears and filled him with horror. A
knife could slice him into pieces easily. He
imagined himself sliced Inc lying on a
plate ready for hungry folks to eat, and the
picture made him groan aloud.
All through the day he kept securely hid
den behind the hay. Toward evening
he decided to revisit the bakery.
It was a difficult task, for he had passed
through many streets and lanes without
noticing where he was going, and it grew
darker every minute. But at last, just as
he was beginning to despair, he saw a dim
light in a window and read over the door the
sign: Jules Grogrande, Baker
He opened the door &c softly that the
little bell scarcely tinkled. But no one
would have heard it had it rung loudly. for
there was a confused murmur OF fierce
voices coming from the little room Madame
usually occupied.
John Dough slipped behind the counter,
where he could see into the room without
being seen himself.
Around the little table stood the Arab
Monsieur Jules and Madame, and they were
all staring angrily into each others faces.
But the iask!' cried Ali Dubh. where
is my precious fiaskr'
1T is here, " said Madame, reaching behind
the mirror and drawing forth something
that glittered in the lamplight.
But this is the silver fiask-the cure for
rheumatism" exclaimed the Arab. Where
is my golden flask containing the priceless
Elixir of Life2"
Il must have made a mistake said
Madame, honestly; for my eyes are 90
queer that l cannot tell gold from silver.
Anyway, the contents Of the other flask
emptled into a bowl Of water and rubbed
my limbs with it,"
The Arab shouted a despairing cry in his
native tongue and then glared wildly at the
woman.
Was it the brown bowl, Leontine?" asked
NJ. Jules. trembling with excitement.
-Yes,' she answered.
where is it? Where is it2' demanded tbs
Arab, in a hoarse voice. The precious
liquor may yet be saved"
TOO late, Monsieur" said the baker
shaking his head, sadly. Il used the con
tents OF the bowl to mix the dough for m
gingerbread man.
"A gingerbread mani What do yoV
mean?" asked Ali Dubh.
Il baked a man out OF gingerbread thi
morning, " said M. Jules, and to my horrol
he came alive and spoke to me and wakes
out OF the shop while he was still smok
ing hot
at is no wonder" said the Arab, dolefully
for within him was enough OF the Grea
, Elixir to bring adozen men to life and Civ
them strength and energy for man year.
, All, Monsieur and Madame, think OF whs
your stupidity has cost the world"
Il do not comprehend" said Madame
firmly, -how the world has ever benefited b
r the Great Elixir. which you n your selds
countrymen corked up in a golden flask"
|, "Bismillahl" shouted h Arab, strikin
himself hercely across the forehead wit
his clinched fist. Cannot you understand
YOU stupid one, that il was mine mine!-thi
{ Wonderful Water Of Life1 Ihad planned 3
3 use it myselS-drop by drop-that l Nigh
( live forever"
I'm sorry,' said Monsieur, but il is you
e own fault. You forced my wife to care 70
the flask and you would not let her tell m
about it. So through our own stupidit
I used il in the gingerbread man."
z "Ahi" said Ali Dubh, an ca ger gleam in b
eyes, where, then, is that same gingerbrea
man? II can find him and eat him, a bit q
= a time, / shall get the benefit OF the Grea
Elixir after all. II would not be so power
full, perhaps, as in its natural state. but
would enable me to live for many man
n years.
d John Dough heard his speech with a thri
n Of horror. Also he now began to understar
It how he happened to be alive.
Il do not know where the gingerbres
man it," said Monsieur. He walked out
e my shop while he was quite hot
But he can be found, v said the Arab. q"
ID is impossible for q gingerbread man who
alive to escape notice. Come; let us scare
for him at onosl / must find him and Fl
le him!'
He fairly dragged Monsieur and MADAM
r from the room in his desperation, and Jol
ID Dough crouched out Of sight behind II
counter until he heard them pass through q
VI door ard their footsteps die away up I
10 street.
The talk he had overheard made the Il
E. gerL-ead man very sad indeed. The bake
was no safe home for him after all. EV
ut IDENTIFY it was the Arabs intention TO find hi
?" and insist upon eating him; and John Doui
did not want to be eaten at all. t
Therefore his enemies must not Ind hlr
- 80 a.. =. sgFNh than oil