Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-12-02

made tho theft possible. At hrst he
had argued that 1t served Paul right.
bat now the tiny scarab had grown to
the weight of q milestone about his
neck
He did not dare take 1t out and
place it in his collection. He did not
even dare to look at it himself lest
Lena, coming in suddenly, as was her
wont, should discover him with the
evidence of guilt in his hand.
The evil he had done preyed upon
his health. He suddenly grew very old
and feeble, and his enthusiasm for his
collection waned The thought that his
hobby had made of him a thief was
bitter indeed, and in the long silence
Of the night he tossed sleepless on his
bed and cursed the day he had seen
the scarab on the stairs.
Paul had taken his loss As a slight
thing and after casual inquiry had
let the matter drop. but the professor
knew how priceless was the find, and
the thought that he had betrayed the
confidence of guest was an additional
source Of pain to the sensitive old man.
At last his condition became so grave
that Lena was alarmed. The professor
would not consent to SEQ 4 physician.
He knew well enough that no medical
man could bring him relief, and as a
last resource Lena wrote Paul asking
him to come and see them. Already
Paul had gained reputation as a spe-
cialist, and since her father would not
90 to see a physician the only thing to
be done was to bring tho specialist to
him.
She said nothing Of PauPs visit to
her father, and she arranged with
Paul to pretend that he had dropped
of over enc train to pay a short visit.
They met only at the table, and Paul's
first glance told him that his host was
laborins under some great mental
strain and that nothing could be done
until that strain was relieved. With
the idea of diverting the professor 5
attention from his cares he brought
cut scarab.
At the sight Of it the professor half
rose from the table and uttered a
hoarse cry Of surprise. The scarab was
the exact duplicate OF the one in the
secret compartment Of the safe, and.
not profting by experience, Paul was
carrying this in his waistcoat pocket.
as he had the other.
"There were twoW asked the pro-
fessor.
Dozens" declared Paul. 81 owe you
an apology, professor. l had intended
to explain it before, but the loss of the
other put it out of my mind. This is
not a real scarab"
1T is a copy of the other?"
"NO. None of them are genuine.
They are luck charms. You remem-
Der bud ellis Of 'O2? Well, he is
selling these as mascOts. You must re-
member the ouija fad. This is a copy
of that. You may have this one 1t
never brought me any luck"
He tossed the stone across the table
and with trembling hands the pro-
fessor examined the gift. He would
have sworn to its genuineness. but in
the fact of Pauls statement this could
not be so. He experienced an odd
sense of relief. He was no less a thief
though there was not hanging over
him the dread fear that he would not
be able to make restitution. He passed
the stone back to Paul.
II meant to tell you that l found
the other" he said slowly. ~ was
wondering how to get it to you"
Keep them both, them" cried Paul.
"They bring me no luck"
"But it does" said the professor
earnestly. 1T brings you the woman
you wish to marry. 1t is better that
my collection should pass to the mu-
scum. l would not have my daugh-
ter's husband share my craze. Not
until lately have l come to that con-
clusion, and it was this scarab that
brought the belief about. After that
can you say that 1t brings no luck?"
Luck cried Paul. I'm going to
write bud to put the price up to MIL
lion dollars-if he can guarantee like
results In every case"
He leaned over to kiss Lena, and the
professor stole away from the table,
free from care at last Paul's scarab
had worked q double cure.