The sun., 1908-10-18
Nile. Desiree.
svnt. Bureau Of Wishes.
Dept. Of General Adjustment,
Mt. olympus.
Mile. Deklrke.

:.....,..,..,.........., 1'.''''
Il am here" she continued in reply
IA his second question, because you
have fairly tired me out. Ihave traversed
,oms thirty centuries in order to rid my
,slf Of your ceaseless opportunities. I'll
have to hurry some to get back In time
for tea, so listen
.Oh, piffle!" said Rufus Daboll. who
VAS not lacking in quick wit OF n sort
md who had been to high school, "A
rve goddess is known by her diet no
es than by her gait. Tea. tut! No
ea for yours on Olympus. On your
uy! You're no goddess. You're made
Il No for the part. all right; but reckon
you're only one of the Ewes OF roof.
4 Or perhaps roof garden. ] can see
YOUR finish II the landlady sees you. On
a your way, said
And Rufus Daboll, who was more or
less Of modest man. covered his head
With the bed clothes.
Now what in Hades does he mean by
:, thati' exclaimed the goddess. with the
air Of one addressing Jove.
But n'importe. as they shy in the new
Elyaum. Young man. II you don't listen
i to me, I'll go back.
I wish you would said Rufus Daboll,
sitting up.
The goddess started. as il surprised.
/, Thsn she said: 1T is well for you that
4 YOU made that wish before made your
wishes potent. as I am about TO do. II
you bad made it afterward would have
yanished on the instant. There, that's
suough,' she continued hastily. seeing
that Rufus Daboll was about to speak.
] Now hstenl7
Z am listening said Rufus Daboll
Rlkily, 'but you talk 30 much.' u
Know then.' said the goddess that
was appointed to my official position
because Of my strong disinclination to
exert myself. 1t is true that the evening
papers have said that Jupiter gave me a
tnecure on account Of my personal ap-
pearanoe.'
! Here the goddess blushed to such an
Gtent that Rufus Daboll disappeared
gain under his bedclothes.
That. however. continued the goddess.
! IS slander 1t was believed that with
ne in charge OF the bureau no attention
would be paid to anybody's wishes, which
course would be a desideratum. as
4 hey say in Rome. and would save much
tnnoyanoe-
1T may interest you. however. to know
hat as the champion wisher Of the uni
rerse you fairly compelled my attention.
ind conclave was called to consider
Jour case. After some discussion it was
iecided to do something for you, 80 I
lave stepped in to inform you that on one
condition you are to have anything you
wish for hereafter
The old gag. ] suppose said Rufus
Daboll with much bitterness. 1You
Just want little memorandum bill of my
soul. Well, don't sign. Seer"
What is he babbling about now the
goddess inquired Of the four walls. Il
care nothing about your soul, whatever
that may be. Moreover, find you more
tiresome at close range than you are
$500 years away. Now listen once more.
You are to have everything you wish
for as soon as you wish, but you can have
only one wish alta time
With that she turned and walked swiftly
and gracefully out into the hall.
Rufus nabol sat up again, much bewil-
dered
Iwonder IL I'm awake. he said.
Then he chuckled again. having fond
hess for practical jokes. and said: J wish
the lsndlady would meet her on the
stairs
On the instant there came from the
direction Of the staircase an inarticulate
feminine outcry in which Rufus Daboll
discovered amazement, wrath. horror
and an expression Of outraged propriety.
Twas followed a moment later by a shrek
dslarm and loud crash.
Dear me!- exclaimed Rufus Daboll.
siarting for the door. THAT goddess
Person must have pushed poor old Mrs
Crooks down stairs. do wish people
would stay at home and mind their own
business
As he uttered the words he checked
himself on his way out. rejecting that II
was no business Of his that other people
should suffer mishaps In consequence Of
me happening in Of unconventional
callers from Olympus or elsewhere. His
next thought was that his own business
vas to conform to the customs Of his
community, according to which he could
not short Of a fire leave his room with
cn hrst putting on his trousers. Accord
nsly he put them on.
Hefound immediate satisfaction in hav-
ns done this, for they were scarcely on
shen Mrs. Crooks, more agitated than he
nsd ever before seen her. burst into his
room without waiting for the deoorous
ap which hitherto had always heralded
her entrance. A simple glance assured
MN that abe had seen the goddess.
>, i thought the old lady would knock
uehe saw her. said Rufus Daboll to him
esi. but. by jinks. here she 10. walking
night In without knocking
Being In, Mrs. Crooks proceeded to talk.
10 part she said that she was respect
aeie woman; that her house was respect
soie; that the late Dir. Crooks had been
aead Tor thirteen years, but that he had
ooen eminently respectable up 10 that
sme; that he kept stationer's shop on
aSt1th av'noo for twenty-seven years and
efee months; that he had a cork leg and
competency when he died; that IL was
suned with him. the cork leg. not the
oOmpetenoy, according 10 his last re-
guest as he said nothing would induce
r'in % appear one-legged on Judgment
pssy; that dear knows where he got such
20 Idea. but he had It, and she had re-
~ spected his wish; that the one aim Of her
n las A..n. A