The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-14
cSDnTi0aL IpOd. bV l.. Frank Baum.
TIE GREAT kLIxIR.

n GREAT ELIxIR.
Over the door appeared "a westherworn
siSn that read: Jules Grogande, Baker.
In one Of the windows, painted upon Y sheet
OF cardboard, was another sign: Home
Made Bread by the Best Modern Machinery. .
There was a third sign in the window be-
yond the doorway and this was marked
upon a bit Of writing paper and said; Fresh
Gingerbread Every Day"
When you opened the door the top OF it
struck a brass bell suspended from the cell
ing and made 10 tinkle merrily. Hearing
the sound Nine. Leontine Grog ande
would come from her little room back Of
the shop and stand behind the counter and
ask you What you would like to purchase.
Nine. Leontine, or Nine. Tina, as the
children called her, was quite short and
quite fat; and she had a round, pleasant face
that was good to Dol Upon. She moved
somewhat slowly, for the rheumatism
troubled her more or less; but no one minded
II Madame was a bit slow in tying up her
parcels. For surely no cakes or buns in
all the town were so delicious or fresh as
those she sold and she had a way OF giving
the biggest cakes to the smallest boys and
girls who came into her shop that proved
8uB aB IOk0 VI CIlllNICu ~ hdu q kCuCt VI
heart.
People loved to come TO the Grogande
bakery. When one opened the door an
exquisite fragrance OF newly baked bread
and cakes greeted the ~nostrils; and If you
were not hungry when o entered you
were sure to become so when you examined
and smelled the delicious pies and dough-
nuts and gingerbread and buns with which
the shelves and showcases were stocked.
There were trays of French candies, too;
and because all the goods were fresh and
wholesome the bakery wal we'll ~patronized
and did a thriving business.
The reason no one saw Monsieur Jules
IN the shop was because his time was always
occupied in the bakery in the rear-a long
low room filed with ovens and tables
covered with pots and pans and dishes
which the skilful baker used for mixing
and stirringS and long shelves bearing
sugars and spices and baking powders and
the sweet smelling extracts that made his
wares taste so sweet and agreeable.
The bakeroom was three times az big az
the shop; but Monsieur Jules needed all
the space in the preparation Of the great
variety Of goods required by his patrons,
and he prided himself on the fact that his
edibles were fresh made zach day. In
order to have the bread and rolls ready
at breakfast time he was obliged to get up
at 3 o'clock every morning, and 30 he went
to bed about shutdown.
On a certain forenoon the door of the
shop opened 20 abruptly that the little
brass bell made a furious jingling.
An Arab dashed into the room, stopped
49, IzzI~l $1,000 .INl -
air and then rushed way again and banged
the door after him.
Madame looked surprised but said
nothing. She recognized the Arab to be a
certain Ali Dubh. living in the ~neighbor-
hood. who was accustomed to purchase
4 loaf from her every morning. Perhaps
he had forgotten his money, Madame
thought.
When the afternoon was half over he
entered again, running as il fiends were
at his heels. In the centre OF the room he
slapped his forehead despairingly
both palms and said in a waiting
voice:
They re after me-"
Next moment he dashed away at full
speed, even forgetting to close the door.
30 Madame came from behind the counter
did il herself. She delayed a moment
10 gaze at the figure of Ali Dubh racing
up the street. Then he turned the corner
Of an sllsy and disappeared from view.
Things did not startle Madame easily,
but the Arabs queer behavior aroused in
her a mild curiosity, and while she stood
through the glass of viIe door
wondering what had excited the man
she saw two strange forms glide past her
shop with a stealthy motion and proceed
In the same direction Ali Dubh had taken.
They were also Arabs without a doubt,
FOR although their forms were muftied in
Iong cloaks, the turbans they wore and
the CLINT Of their dark, beady eyes pro-
them children OF the desert.
When they came to the alley where Ali
Dubb had disappeared. the two strangers
we're joined by a third, who crept up to
hem with the sly. catliko tread Madame
had noted and seemed to confer with
them. Afterward one turned to the east,
A second continued up the street, and the
third stole into the alley.
YES" thought Madame, "they are after
Ali Dubh, sure enough. But If they move
10 slowly they are not likely to catch the
poor fellow at ALL"
NOW, Mauame knew very little OF her !
queer customer, tor although he made a
Tally visit to the bakery for a loaf and a
cakes, he was Of a gloomy disposition
md never stopped for a chat or a bit Of
1t was his custom To silently
his simple purchases and then steal
away
Therefore his excited actions upon this
day were really remarkable and
he good lady was puzzled how to explain
hem. |
She sat late in the shop that evening,
a dingy oil lamp that swung in
he centre OF the room. for her rheu-
natism was more painful than usual, and
he dreaded to go To bed and waken Mon
Iieur Jules with her moaning.
The good man was siumbering peacefully /
Upstairs she could hear his lusty shores
wen where sh, sat-and it was a shame
o disturb him when he must rise 10 early.
10 she sat in her little room at the end Of the
trying to knit by the light of a flick
ring candle. and rocking back and forth in
Ter chair with a monotOnous motion.
E;.cdsnly the li.t!s bell tinkled and a gust
Il air entered the shop, sending the mingled
Of baked stun whirling and scurrying
bout ire room in a most fragrant manner. |
the door clOaed. and Madame laid doun j