Smyrna times., 1906-05-23
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GShe 8 GOLDEN; ;
EGG ]
{ BY n. j. Phillips :
: Copyright, 1906, by Beatrix Reade
IASANS - - :. - =, s..........
BY n. j. P6fIIfps
Copyright, 1906, by Beatrix Reade


man and Kinfeln's niece, Donna, he ex-
pected that there would be eXtraordi-
nary conditions attached to Kinfein's
approval. Kinfein was a wealthy and
eccentric scientist, metallurgist and
physician, who dabbled in various
strange matters for his amusement.
Buckley, his assistant, had grown in
time to understand the old mans oddi-
ties and to have profound respect for
the intellect which had already made |
several valuable scientific discoveries.
Kinfein smiled benevolently and |
combed his long white beard with his |
fingers when the younger man spoke |
"Well, John," he began, Donna is
twenty-five, and of course she will
marry some time. suppose you are no
worse than other men. Now.> if l i'm
pose a task upon you before l give my
consent you will agree to perform it?'
IF ! can," replied Buckley eau
tiously.
The old gentleman chuckled. at
won't be very hard, John" From a
private compartment beneath the lab
OratOry shelf he drew out a box and
handed it to Buckley. "Open it," he
said
John did so and revealed an oval
yellow object nearly the size of foot.
ball and practically of the same shape.
1t seemed to be of metal
Now, John, there's your golden egg"
went on the scientist. Il fixed it up for
you in my leizure moments. If you
open it inside of a month you get Don
na and wedding present too. If not,
you'll have to wait awhile
"What tools may l use in opening
it?"
That's the point, John. You may
use your own two good hands and any
instrument which does not weigh over
fifty grains"
Fifty grains!' repeated John,
amazed. why, that's less than a
quarter of an ounce"
Exactly"
John stared first at the egg and then
at the scientist. But, professor" he
eXpostulated, ian instrument weighing
fifty grains will be practically useless.
Why. the blade of a small penknife
weighs that much. \ thin latchkey
weighs more"
But an instrument much less in
weight will open that egg"
John looked dubious. But suppos
ing l use something which weighs
moreT'
You wouldn't do it, John, if yol
agreed not to-" responded the prOfes
sor comfortably, land I'd catch you a
it if you did"
John was young, in love, and ener
= getic. His three years work in tn
: various hobbies which the scientist af
fected had given him an unusual tech
nical education. great confidence il
himself, and a certain delicate manua
dexterity which almost surpassed tha
of his employer, clever as the olde
4 man was. 1t was very natural that h
L should accept the challenge and bea
away the egg.
He found Miss Donna in the parlo
and explained the situation. 1t is hare
/ Iy germane TO mention that when tn
ie girl placed her elbows on the table an
: settled her chin in her pink palms
listen she looked distressingly pretty
i so pretty, in fact, that John was con
Y Delled to interrupt his narrative Will
IS he kissed her.
When he had finished his account
= the conditions. she rose. You are
" so right to your room, John" she con
te, manded, land open that egg. I'm d,
ing to see what's in it. No; you can
stay here with me and work on it;
would disturb you" With the wal
ness of long experience she dodge
around the table at this moment, a
ticipating by the fraction of a second
lunge on the part of John. From
\ place of safety behind a chair, s.
pointed to the door "Avaunt! Al
tell me tomorrow morning what "
found" John reluctantly gave up
chase which promised to be fruitle'
! aiid obeyed,
Settled in the easy chair in his oV
room, he paid the professor the co
pliment of examining the egg We
carefully before beg6ning operation
He went over it with his fingers, |
y | could teel no JOlutS DeHedlh thS J
low paint which covered the met
There was no depression on the S
face. 1t was his theory that a hidd
spring would open the sphere, and
spent the balance of the evening
searching for it. At midnight
r secret was still undiscovered, and
gave it up for the time being.
Donna was inclined to poke fun
his failure the next morning. AS
chuckling professor readily ALLOW
CO.. her to try her hand. she spent an b
oct and broke two hairpins in an equi
rid. fruitless effort.
and The egg was rather light than OIL
wise for its size, but John felt
tain that machinery of some desc
eet. tion. hidden within it, controlled
situation. BY shaking 1t persistel
sn' he was finally rewarded by the so
of a very faint clicking. That e.
.s,oJa a cnrf of cats cradle