The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02

tails and purr as if nothing had hap l pened.
 Madam Ahavzi was furious at the | ruin of her rooms, and accused little Muk of the mischief. Although he swore that he was innocent she be- 1 lieved her cats, that looked so good and mild, and denounced little Muk as a liar.
 Little Muk saw to his great sorrow that he had not found his fortune in this house as he had hoped at first. Ills decided to leave the old woman's ser vice, but unhappily his mistress had made him many promises of remunera- ton without carrying any of them out As he had learned in his first voyage how i'll it is to travel without money. he determined to obtain what was due him as soon as opportunity offered.
 In Madam Ahavzfs house was one room which was always kept lockeu. He had never been able to obtain even glimpse of its interior. Madam Ahavzi used to spend hours in it, and he always 1onged to look in and di,- cover what things were hidden there. When he made up his mind to leave her service, he naturally thought more than ever of the mysterious room, being convinced that she kept her wealth there. But the door was tightly closed always and he could find no way to | reach the treasure.
 One morning after Madam Ahavzi had gone out his garments were plucked by one of the little dogs, which Madam Ahavzi had always treated with sea It ceremony but whose favor Little Muk had won by showing it attention and giving it tldbits. It tugged at his wide brooches and showed by its actions that , 1t wanted Muk to follow.
 , It led him into Madam Ahavzi's sleep
 ing apartment, and to a small door which l he had never noticed there before. The door was half open. The little dog ran in
 and Muk followed. To his delight he saw
 that he had entered the mysterious room.
 Disappointment was his, however, for though he looked everywhere he could find no gold. There were only old gar
 ments and curiously formed bowls and
 
 ton. It was of crystal and had strange shapes cut into it. He lifted 1t for exam
 ination. Its cover at once slipped off and
 fell to the ground where 1t smashed into i hundred fragments.
 He was almost paralyzed with fright.
 If he remained now his mistress would
 beat him to death, he thought. Quickly he scurried around, when he recovered
 from his shock, to take what he could
 to help hmi in his flight
 l A pair of slippers appealed to him. They
 were not beautiful but his own were 1 worn out so he thrust his feet into them. Then he snatched a walking stick with f gracefully cut Hons head on 1t. He 1 hurried into his own room, put his tur- ban on, thrust his great dagger into his 1 belt. and ran with all his might away 1 from the house and out of the city gate.
 Never in his life had he run so fast. Indeed, it seemed to him as if he could not stop. An invisible force seemed to | carry him along At last it struck him that there must be something peculiar I about the slippers. He could feel them
 shooting ahead and pulling him with 1 them.
 He tried to stand still but could not. | In his desperation he shouted, Whoa! | Whoa~ as one would to horses. ln- stantly the slippers stopped short and
 Muk threw himself to the ground ex- hausted.
 | Despite his fatigue he was delighted l with the slippers. and he fell asleep with l smile of joy. He dreamed that the lit- tie dog appeared before him, saying: Little Muk! You do not understand the 1 slippers. If you will turn three times on your heels, they will carry you wherever l you may wish And the walking stick will guide you to buried treasure. Wher-
 ever there is gold 1t will tan on the