Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-11-05
THE SPIDER CASKET.

| hardly have guessed that he had just
poeketed my last cent-even / found it
little difficult to realize The band was
playing in the middle of the plaza
| Margarita was the air. and they went
at it with swing and dash that brought
nj the idlers about the tables singing
into the chorus:
| ''AIargari,
Eperzo a Salvatore!
| Margari,
Ma rommo cacciatore!"
Of course I had telegraphed for
money, but | had a notion that the odds
We're pretty long against its coming
The governors patience was about ok
hausted, and he had taken nasty lins
in his last letter. Something about get
ting tired OF earning money for me TO
dump into the race tracks and gambling
resorts of Europe.
More and more people gathered about
the tables until there was hardly an
empty place. Native Venetians, yolnble
and gesticulating. A Turk, in loose, IL
fitting clothes, came UP to my table.
May | sit here, signor," he asked
humbly.
| ] nodded my head, and he settled
down in chair, wriggling about until
he was comfortable, like dog in the
grass. He ordered a cup of coffee. and
sat slipping it in silence We must have
made a strange looking pair watched
him lazily, for lack of better amusement.
and noticed that he had something hid
den under his coat, Once | caught a
glimpse of apparently a small silver
easket Enthusiastically carved and chased.
The Turk became aware that | was
watching him and seemed unnecessarily
disturbed, drawing his coat more closely
about the casket and looking at ME with
turtive questioning glances / paid no
further attention to him, and sat back
listening to the music. The Turk fin
lshed his coffee, disputed eringingly with
| the waiter over the prize, and walked
slowly away, avoiding the crowd as If
he feared to be iostled.
A tantalizing craving for certain
liqueur seized me. and | was meditating
on the chances Of ordering it and slip
ping away without paying when CLINT
of something bright ON the ground
caught my eye. | stopped, and picked
up small silver key. very oomplieatAd
IN design, one end worked into a with
ing spider. / was balancing the KEY in
| my hand, trying to estimate its yalue
when | saw the Turk hurrying across
the square.
'Signor," he said. "have Won seen a
small silver key with spider
And if | had" ! said slowly. wonder
ing how the matter could be handled to
my advantage, "how would | know that
it belonged to your"
'Signor, | am poor man. | can paw
little he whined.
'On the other hand" l continued. Il
am desperately in need of money. Per.
haps we can strike bargain You of
fey"
Twenty ire?"
l laughed.
~ hundred?"
| smiled
Two hundred?~
Soon it was 500 At last. the Turk
reached 1000 lire; and still refused.
can give 10 more" whined the
Turk. 1T is all the money | have"
1T is too little.'' | persisted
lie gave me an imploring g,ante. and
then leaned across the table.
"Signor," he whispered. "the easket
which you saw, of which yen have the
key, it is the jewel casket of Beirut
Pasha. How ! come by it is no matter,
but it contains gems to the value OF over
100000 Ira | must have the key"
Why don't you force the loek?. /
asked curiously
All, signor, you do not understand.
The jewels take but little space-onlv
a tray ON the top-and all the rest Of
the casket is filled with some terrible
| explosive, guncotton, l think Only with
the key one may open it safely. Fore
ing the lock would fire a small cap.
and"
Il see" l could not help smiling at
the mans woebegone face. Rather an
uncomfortable thing to steal"
But with the key there is no da,ner.'
My-well, greed is not pretty word,
let us say-eXpectation was so much
aroused that / would listen to no pro-
posal except a full half of the booty.
In the end he agreed, and at my dicta-
ton reluctantly paid for the coffee and
liquor.
To the Britannia 3" he whined as
started for the landing stage.
AT the steps of the hotel the porter
came running down the steps to meet
US | fastened through the corridors.
ignoring the curious glances east AZ tbe
lurk who skunk along at my heels. Once
IN my room my hand trembed 50 that
/ 't'''NNN NAhANt Hf&tAAGS III Al0nJlnW q
candle. The Turk brought ont the
casket from under his coat. and its sill.
yer cleaned duly in the feeble light.
until the earven images wrought on the
sides seemed to take on life and move.
meut in the wavering reflections. On
the summit was perched another hideous
spider like that which ornamented the
key. save that the eyes were formed by
two bright green stones
The key! Where is the keys whis-
pered the Turk hoarsely.
fitted the key to the lock--a creak.
and the lid flew hack The Turk lifted
the casket to the light. brushing the
candle with his sleeve SO that Il 1ared
mp and shone on the velvet lined tray.
II was no sheen of gems that we saw
there was not a jewel in the trav-but
from one corner, where shadow fell.
a huge black spider with hairy legs