The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-18

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 This is one of the tales of ''Ths Ina has been translated into, practically ali European languages. 7
 On one of the rock islands of north :. ern Scotland two fishermen dwelled many years ago. in happy and undis- turbed companionship Both were un- married. neither had any relatives and unselfishness and willingness that they had no trouble in supporting them- selves in the simple existence that con tented them.
 They were nearly equal as to age. but in person and in temperament they were not more alike than an eagle Is like [ sea COW.
 Kaspar Strumpf was short and thick set. with "a broad. fat face like full moon. Grief and worry seemed utter strangers to his eyes. from which there shone perennial laughing good nature. He was not only fat, but sleepy and sluggish. Therefore, he was pleased to undertake the work of the little house. cooking. baking, mending and knitting nets, both for their own use and for sale. and in addition, with all his slowness. he managed to attend to the simple farming of their little field
 His partner was his direct opposite. Wtlm Fake was tall and lean. with a bold nose like a hawks beak keen eyes and a general appearance that spoke of instant determinations. The nature of. the man did not belle the appearance. Fake was famous as the most daring cragsman among all those desperate men who hunted birds eggs and feathers by letting themselves down the dizzy cliffs. He was the most industrious and at the same time the luckiest of the fishermen. During his hours ashore he worked with in- tense energy and quickness in the field.
 In all the islands he was notorious as being the sharpast trader and tho most avaricious. but whatever he sold was good and every transaction was free from the least taint of dishonesty or deceit Therefore he had plenty of customers and he and Kaspar lived well. for Fake divided his harJ-earned money cheerfully and faithfully with his partner, despite his greed for wealth.
 The two men. living so simply and spending scarcely anything, were well on the way to modest independence; but this did not satisfy the desire of Wilm Falke. Nothing was sufficient for him except to become rich. He dreamed and thought and schemed for, weaith--not merely ordinary riches, v ffs t+43
 Since all hope of that was but q wild dream for poor fisherman, he realized that he could attain his desire only through some extraordinary piece of luck. still the desire would not leave his hot braip. Thus filled with single dominating idea, wiim Fake became convinced at last that sooner or later he would find Q way to gain fortune with one great effort
 Finally he fell into the habit of speaking of 1t to Kaspar Strumpf as something that was certain to happen. Kaspar had devout and complete faith In everything that was done or said by hts masterfuI friend. He told the fieighbors that Fake soon would be vastly wealthy. Before long the story ran through all the islands that Failxe either had sold himself to the Evil One for gold or that he had. at least, re- ceiyeI an offer from the Prince of Darkness.
 At first Fake laughed at the story when 1t came to his ears. Then. he pleased himself with the whimsical re- fiection that a spirit from the under world might show him the hiding. place of a treasure. After q while he did not laugh In scorn when his fellow fishermen mentioned the tale in his hearing. He became silent and his mind concentrated itself on strange thoughts.
 The energy with which he had sought fish on the open sea Degan to diminish. The once indefatigabie man, who hal used every hour for vigorous work. spent hours seeking for. some adventure that would bring him sud- den wealth. Naturally his mind turn- ed ever and again to the ocean, and he became a prey to constant reflection about the rich wrecks that strewed that wild and deadly coast
 An unhappy chance brought 1t about one day, as he stood on a lonely beach and stared Into the moving sea. that great breaker burst almost at his feet with q mass of whiriing sea mosses and stones that & had torn from some sunken reef. Among the sea-wrack thus thrown before him his quick eye say something foreign. He stopped ana picked up lump of gold!
 Wiim Fake stood as if petrified. Now he knew that his hopes and dreams had not been efnptya visions. The gold that the sea had given him must be q bit from some heavy ingot, rubbed and worn by the restless waves through the generations till It had be- come round lump no larger than a bullet. 2
 Somewhere here must lie richly laden ship. perhaps gaileon. It was clear as day in his mind that he had
 
 those treasures from the lap of the ocean, where they had lain so long.
 From that moment this became his sole desire, his sole task. He kept hts find secret from all. even from Kaspar Strumpf. that none might discover what he knew. His fishing. his traJ- ing were forgotten. He spent days and nights along the coast. fishing desperately and at risk of his life. Hut he cast no net for things of fin and scale. That. which he cast was dredge, and 1t was sent into the deep to seek for gold.
 It brought in nothing but sea weed and sea ooze. Instead of wealth, his monomania brought poverty. He earn ed nothing any more, and Kaspars faithful but sluggish efforts dil not suffice to support them both. Gradual ly the greater part of the little capital that they had earned by the constant labor of many years became less and less.
 In the past Kaspar Strumpf had ac- cepted his share unquestionably. though Wilm Fake earned by far the greater part of their mutual Income. Now he accepted the care and priva- tions with the same silence and 1t never occurred to him to complain or to criticise his partners acts i
 This gentle, affectionate acquiescence only drove Wilm Fake to renewed and more desperate efforts He could not rest for moment. Awake or asleep he saw before him black caverns under sea, with the green translucence shim-