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

ground three times. When it taps twice,
 it means that silver is buried there" When little Muk awoke he thought over
 his dream and proceeded to make an ex-
 pertinent. He turned three times on his
 heel and wished himself in a large city. | The slippers at once went into the aid
 with little Muk, padded through the
 clouds like the wind itself and before Muk realized it he was in a great mar | ket place where there were hundreds of 1 shops and more hundreds of persons. l He soon found 1t advisable to go into | more lonely part of town, for people
 kept treading on his immense slippers
 and tripping him, or else his long dag ger would thrust passersby in the side,
 so that he escaped blows only with diff f1culty.
 He began to wonder what he should
 do for a living. His cane was not worth
 much unless he could first find a place where gold and silver happened to be
 hidden. He was too proud to exhibit him. self for money. He thought of his slip pers, and decided to orrer his services to the King as a runner.
 He went to the palace and was sent by the sentries to the overseer of the slaves.
 Away" cried the overf ger, when Muk
 told him what he wanted You be a
 runner Away!'
 Little Muk assured him that he was in earnest and begged him to pit his swift est runner against him. The overseer thought that it would be a good joke, and told Muk that he would let him try that evening. Then he went to the King l and entertained him with the tale The King was greatly amused and
 called all the princes and princesses. These told all their attendants; so when the evening camo everybody came to the meadow to see the boastful dwarf make an exhibition of himself A shout of joy rang out when he appeared and
 made most graceful bow before the
 royal family. Such a figure had never been seen before
 i Little Muk did not permit the laughter
 to embarrass him. He stood proudly rest ing on his cane and awaited his rival.
 The overseer had selected his best run
 ner' As soon as he was along side of Muk, the Princess Amarza shook her
 veil and like two arrows aimed at the
 same mark the two shot over the
 meadow.
 At hrst Muks antagonist had a great lead. But Muk swung swiftly around on
 ms vast slippers, passed him and stopped
 at the goal while the other. snapping for breath. eti You shall be my very own personal
 runner, said the King to Muk. Every year you shall have 100 pieces of gold.
 ana you shall dine. at the table of my , principal servants"
 MuK thought that he had found his for tune. His heart was joyous The King
 sent nm as messenger in his most im- portant and secret affairs, and was
 charmed with the care and extraordinary
 speed of his new servant. i ihe other servants did not like him when they saw that he was becoming the Kings favorite. They began to conspire against him. Muk had too kind and sim
 pie heart to respond to their hatred 1 "ith similar feeling. Instead he sought l to win their regard If he could find
 treasure thought he in his innocence and
 snare 1t with them they would become ] friendly.
 ne had heard that the Kings father
 i'au caused much treasure to be buried once on time when enemies broke into
 'he land, and that he had died without 1 peing able to tell his son where 1t lay Huuen Little Muk took his cane and
 wandered everywhere in the great palace I gardens
 one day the cane tapped three times
 ne drew his dagger, marked the sur
 rounding trees and went back to the
 paiace' where he obtained spade. As
 soon as night had fallen he returned to
 the spot