The San Francisco call., 1908-08-16


talIized with frost and sparkled
with flashes reflected from the
electric light outside. Jake, the bar
keeper, kept to the warmth of the gas
heater, where the stewed beans were
simmering. and his breath was con-
geaIed into white vaporous clouds as
it emerged from his mouth. AS he
wiped tffer glasses he looked occasion
ally over at the only other person in
the place. a figure huddled up at
tabie against the wall-a man with his
overcoat collar turned up, his hat on
the back Of his head, his elbows on the
table and HIS chin in his palms. There
was an empty tumbler on the table,
but he was staring at something else
in front of him and had not spoken for
q long time.
What's that you got there-a
marble?" said Jake. at last
The man looked up and spoke. One
would know that he was under the ef-
fects of alcohol only by his telltale
eyes and the conscious effort with
which he spoke. pausing before the
long words and dividing them carefully
into syllables. Even in this state he
had some dignity-he held his liquor
well-and he still showed traces of
gentility. The face he showed was
pale and haggard. clean cut in feature
an intellectual face, though weak.
His pointed brown beard gave him the
air Of an artist His hands were long
and shapely.
He took a shining ball from the
table and held it delicately between
his thumb and forehnger.
That, Jake, is not a marble. 1t is
crystaI-rock crystal or quartz. mined
n-Si-be-ri-a-cut in China, sold in
London. the last of a family of 13 balls
Look at it. Jake; it's as clear as an
angels teari believe 1t is one, frozen
by this cold world Bah. Your soul is
not poetic. You only dabble in poisons."
His face was rapt as he paused. His
mouth quivered and fell into weak
lines.
The bar keeper left the counter, wip-
ing his huge bristling mustache with
the back Of his hand, came and took
the ball and held it up to the light with
interest In the sphere a constellation
of lights sparkled; the whole interior
of the saloon was condensed into it's
compass. every straight line bent into
q curve. The ball reflected like mir
ror and refracted like a prism He
could see through it as IL what was in
front Of him were hidden inside the
globe. turned upside down; while on its
surface he saw the lights behind him,
the bar rail, the windows, the door.
That's slick" he said, finally, rolling
It in his fingers.
There were u other balls, Jake"
said the man at the table, driving his
hands into his pockets and speaking
dreamily. "All sizes, larger and smaller
than this. A beautiful collection, really.
They used to lie on plate Of carved
green jade. D'you know what Jade is,
Jake2 It's almost as-mys-te-ri-ous as
crystal-and as magic. The plate was
carved into the forms of vine leaves,
and when the 13 crystal balls lay on
It they looked like drops Of dew
Jake put down the ball "whereSYas
all thisT he asked.
The man shut his eyes. IN Eng
land in Surrey-Betchworth THE
Lindent-Oh. Cod" He bit his lip
furiously.
The bar keeper was too used to the
sentimental stages OF intoxication to
pay much heed to the mans tone.
where's all the rest O. the litter7" he
said.
.Pawned. lost. sold" said the
drunkard.
sold, D'you mean to say this herel
fetch anything?"
I could get fifteen dollars on that
any time I wanted. Some Of the others
were worth much more. I've known
some big ones to bring thousands The
value, my friend, increases as the cube
Of the radius Of the sphere"
Fifteen dollars for that lump o.
glass? Rot. What's the good of 1t,
anyway"
Not glass. Jake. not glass. It's COM
pound of mystery. that little stone.
Look into it again, Jake"
The bar keeper took it up and held
It close to his eyes.
Gosh! It almost makes me dizzyi"
he exclaimed.
The pale man at the table smiled
wanly Don't look too long. Jake, or
you'll see things you may not want to
see"
Jake was still gazing into the ball.
"See thingsg" Then he put it down and
looked at it where it lay. casting a
single brilliant dot of light upon the
table. "Oh. know. These here
mediums use 'em, don't they7 Tell for
tunes by 'em. recall seein' ads in
the papers"
Past, present and future The Sc
crets Of the ages. distance made naught,
fate herself revealed. In this little orb.
Jake, is hidden the secret of the fourth
dimension. It's a dangerous toy"
Jake had already walked back to the
bar, scornfully. ''Oh. rubbish! Some
guys stand for that business all right,
but nix for mel notice them fortune