The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-27
TIE EVENING STORY
The Golden Egg.

ana kIAEeln'S niece, Donna, he expected
/ that there would be extre ordinary con-
klnfein was a wealthy and eccentric
scientist, metallurgist and physician,
who dabbled in various strange matters
for his amusement. Buckley, his as
sistant. had grown in time to under
stand the Old mans oddities. and TO
have a profound respect for the intel
| lect which had already made several
valuable scientific discoveries.
Kinfein smiled benexoiently and
combed his long white beard with his
fingers when the younger man spoke
/ We'll, Johp," he began, Donna Is p,
and of course she VIII marry some time
L suppose you are no worse than oJneF
men. Now, If I impose task upon
you before I give my consent, you VIII
agree to perform it2"
IF can replied Buckley. cautious
".
The old gentleman chuckled. 1T
| won't be very hard, john" From a
private compartment beneath the labor
atory shelf, he drew out a box ana
handed it to Buckley. open II" ne
said.
John did so, and revealed an oval vel
low object nearly the size OF footnall,
and practically Of the same shape It
seemed to be of metal.
Now. John. there's your golden egg,
went on the scientist. 7 fixed II up TOT
you in my leisure moments. II you
open it inside of g month you get Donna
and a wedding present too. II not
you'll have to wait awhile.
what tools may use in opening 1t!
That's the point, john gu may
use vollr own two good hands, and any
instrument which doesn't weigh over
.sFiffy grafns!" repeated John,
amazed. "Why, that's less than quar-
ter os an ounce"
John stared first at the egg and then
at the scientist. But, professor, ne
expostulated IAN instrument weighing
I fifty grains will be practically useless
| Why. the blade of a small penknife
weighs that much. A thin latchkey
weighs more"
But an instrument much less in
weight will open that egg
John looked dubious. But suppos-
ing I use something which weighs
you wouldn't do it. John, If you
agreed not to-" responded the protes-
sor, comfortably, land I'd catch you at
John was young. in love, and ener-
lgetic His three years work IN the
Various hobbies which the scientist af-
Elected had given him an unusual teen
nical education, great commence N
himself and a certain delicate manual
dexterity which almost surpassed that
lof his employer, clever as the older
man was It was very natural that ne
lshould accept the challenge and bear
away the egg.
He found Miss Donna in the parlor
land explained the situation. It Is hard
~ germane to mention that when the
girl placed her elbows on the table and
settled her chin in her pink palms to
listen. that she looked distressingly
pretty-so pretty, in fact, that John
was compelled to interrupt his nara
tive while he kissed her.
When he had finished his account of
the conditions, she rose. You are to
go right to your room, John, she
commanded, "and open that egg. I'm
dying to see what's in it. No; you
can't stay here with me and work on
it; would disturb you" With the
Wariness of long experience she lodged
around the table at this moment an
ticipatfng by the fraction of a second
a lunge on the part of John From a
place of safety behind chair, she
pointed to the door "Avaunti And
tell me tomorrow morning what you
found" John reluctantly gave up a
chase which promised to be fruitless,
and obeyed.
Settled in the easy chair in his own
room, he paid the professor the COM
pliment of examining the egg very
carefully before beginning operations.
He went over it with his fingers. but
could feel no joint beneath the yell
low paint which covered the metal.
There was no depression on the sur
face. It was his theory that a hidden
spring would open the sphere, and he
spent the balance of the evening in
searching for it. At midnight the
secret was still undiscovered and he
gave it up for the time being.
Donna was inclined to poke fun at
his failure the next morning. AS the
chuckling professor readily allowed
her to try her hand, she spent an hour
and broke two hairpins in an equally
fruitless effort.
The egg was rather light than other
wise for its size. but John felt certain
that machinery of some description
hidden within it, controlled tho situa-
ton. By shaking 1t persistently, he
was finally rewarded by the sound Of
a very faint clicking. That evening he
made a sort of cats cradle of string
and placed the egg therein. With the
continuance he was able to whirl the
egg over and over, in this way hoping
. to start the machinery. Occasionally
h e reversed the motion, but he tried his
arms with the monotonous labor to no
purpose.
Next he assayed to saw his way
through the metal. He secured a bur
glars saw of the finest steel, but was
compelled to dispense with the handle,
as It brought the weight of the little
instrument up to nearly one hundred
] grains.
Intermittent labor for the next three
: evening with the saw. q bit of cloth
serving as a handle resulted in some
badly blistered fingers and the scratch
i ing of the paint in several places That
was all, if the fact that the egg was
proven to be steel as fine and hard as
: the saw, is excepted. IN desperation
Buckley attempted to crush the obstin-
ate oval between his hands and failed
: again.
i've made up my mind to get the
paint off" he announced to Donna
Then I can tell where were at
We're at sea, she replied dolefully,
tenderly kissing one OF the blistered
fingers.
Buckley secretly agreed with her,
I but his pride had been aroused by re-
peated failures and the Whole-souled
chuckling Of the professor. whose sides
seemed to be shaking constantly with
l ] rnerriment over his assistant,s nredica-