Monroe City Democrat., 1912-05-23

tnaumaturSy transmitted IN pa1amaSI
Absurd"
"Pifle!" said Billings emphatically.
Don't know what they are" he whis-
pered to me, but I'll take hundred
to-one shot on anything he says. The
professors a corker!"
by Jove!" l remarked. Perhaps
Professor Huckleberry won't mind
telling US"
What I think, gentlemen7 What
could think but what l am sure IL
your own conclusion-though you
have generously and considerably left
me to form my own opinion-namely,
that the claim OF supernatural at
tributes OF these garments is prepos-
ferrous. Enchanted pajamas! Haunted
pajamas! Poof! Nursery lore; chill
dren's fairy tales! Ghosts, gentle
men? Tut, tut-nonsense!"
He snorted Indignantly.
"Ghosts!" faltered Billings.
"Oh, l say!" | rather gasped. Dash
me if it didn't give me turn. rather!
The professor shrugged his shoul.
ders.
What other Interpretation is admis-
sible, gentlemen" he questioned some
what peevishly, taking up the coat.
Here, we have the royal insignia OF
the cruel emperor, Eye, and We note
that these garments were given some
one in his court ~ TIE altsccd sor-
cerer, Fuhkeeu. PERHAPS it was re-
venge-perhaps some court plot in
which Fuh-keen. sor reasons OF his
own. was an active participant; it is
OF TO Importance, that part OF it. So
much for the first line; but now We
come"
He paused TO polish his sHectacles.
Tell me-" he said more cheerfully,
do cur free translations OF the ideo-
graphs so far agree in essentials
eh?"
Like as two peas" Billings de-
clared with manifest enthusiasm.
The professor looked gratitied and
bowed.
Now We come to the second line.
or, more strictly speaking, column"
he said, Strengthening impressively.
Here We find the astonishing claim
made that there will be a change or
metamorphosis Of any kind Of animal
life that these habiliments enshroud.
UNI"
The great man breathed heavily and
batted at us over his glasses.
"Credat Judaeus apells-eh, gentle
men," And he winked knowingly.
Dashed II he didn't almost catch me
swallowing yawn. too! For hadn't
any idea what he was talking about
or driving at, and, by Jove, did know
I was getting devilish sleepy.
The professor waved his glasses.
Did you ever read such childish.
ridiculous. extravagant asseveration!"
he demanded.
"Ass-eh? should say sol" 1
worked this OF indignar y.
'Tommyrot!" murmured Billings alb
Esntly. He seemed thoughtful.
l was thoughtful, too-wondering.
by Jove, whether the professor would
go soon, so We could turn in and get
the earlier start tomorrow up the
river. But chiefly l was wondering
visttulE If Frances would still be
angry with me.
Moreover" broke in the profes-
sor's voice as he turned again to the
lettering, Ito assert further that there
will be q semblanes-Rot actual. gem
tlemen, mind you. bat an optical iilu-
sion-taking the form OF some crea-
ture Of the same kind that this sllken
tenement has previously irclosed.
In other words, gentlemen, II
were to don these garments, infant
no longer look like myself, but Ike
some one else who had worn them
upon some previous occaston-per-
haps last night-perhaps a thousand
years ago. Eli? Is that what you un-
derstand?"
He ducked again over the letters
and came up, looking chagrined.
Moreover, I am forced to confess,
gentlemen, that I fail to fnd a sys-
tem-any rule governing these ridic-
ulous transformations. The hyroth-
esis is, therefore. that the alleged
materialzaticns merely follow the ar
bitrary caprice OF the magic" He
shook his head. Well. gentlemen. L
really, must laugh"
And he did! l hadn't caught the
drift OF what it was he thought he
was laughing at got the words, but
I was too dashed sleepy TO get the
sense. But was awfully glad un-
derstood this much--that what he was
attempting now was laugh. l never
would have known It. II was more
like q shrieking squeak-rusty hinge,
you know, that sort of thing.
~ vrnSaaanss Inalral