The Washington herald., 1920-11-06
THE FIFTH WHEEL

doc? B'gee. it's the swellest en-
ployment agency 1 was ever in, with
its fashlight owls and So forth"
With an indulgent smile the gra-
cious host begged to be excused for
two minutes. He went out to the
sidewalk and gave an order to the
chauffeur, who still waited with the
car. Returning TO the mysterious
apartment, he sat by his guest and
began to entertain him SO well by
his witty and genial converse that
the poor Bed Liner almost forgot
the cold streets from which he had
been SO recently and so singularly
rescued. A servant brought some
tender cold fowl and tea biscuits
and Q glass of miraculous wine; ara
Thomas felt the glamor of Arabia
envelop him. Thus half an hour
sped quickly; and then the honk of
the returned motor car at the door
suddenly drew the Grand Duke TO
his feet, with another soft petition
for a brief absence.
Two women. we'll mufied against
the cold, were admitted at the front
door and suavely conducted by the
master of the house down the hall
through another door to the left
anu ihNO a TOOH1s which WAS
screened and segregated from the
larger front room by heavy. double
Iportieres. Here the furnishings
were even more elegant and ex-
quisitely tasteful than in the other
On a gold-inlaid rosewood table
were scattered sheets Of white paper
and a queer, triangular instrument
or toy, apparently of gold. stand
ing on little wheels.
The taller woman threw back her
black veil and loosened her cloak
She was nifty. with a wrinkled and
sad face. The other, rather young
and plump, took a chair a little
distance away and to the rear. as
a servant or an attendant might
have done.
you sent for me, Prof Cheru-
busco." said the Older woman.
wearily. II hope you have some
thing more definite than usual to
say. I've about lost the little faith
/ had in your art would not
have responded to your call this
evening II my sister had not in
sisted upon it.
Madam" said the professor, with
his princeliest smile. "the true Art
cannot fail. To find the true
psychic and potential branch some
times. requires time. We have not
succeeded. l admit with the cards,
the crystal, the stars, the magic
formulas Of Zarazin, nor the Ora
Gle of Po. But we have at last
discovered the true psychic route.
The Chaldean Chiroscope has been
successful in our search"
The professors. voice had a ring
that seemed to proclaim his belief
in his own words. The elderly lady
looked at him with a little more
interest.
why, there was no sense in those
words that it wrote with my hands
on it," she said. What do you
mean?"
THE words were these" said
Prof. Cherubusco, rising to his full
magnificent height: BY the fifth
wheel Of the chario he shall come. I"
Il haven't seen many chariots,"
said the lady, but never saw one
with five wheels"
Progress" said the professor
progress in science and mechanics
has-accomplished it-though, to be
exact, We may speak of 1t only as
an extra tire. Progress in occult
art has advanced in proportion.
Madam. I repeat that the Chaldean
Chiroscope has succeeded. ! can
not only answer the question that
you have propounded, but I can
produce before your eyes the proof
thereof"
And now the lady was disturbed
both in her disbelief and in her
poise.
20. profesorw she cried anxious
ly-" -"When?-where7 Has he been
found? Do not keep me in sus-
pense."
Il beg you will excuse me for
very few minutes" said Prof. Che
rubusco, "and I think I can demon
strate to you the efficacy Of the
true Art"
Thomas was contentedly munch-
ing the last crumbs Of the bread
and fowl when the enchanter ap-
peared suddenly at his side.
Are you willing to return to
your old home IL you are assured
of a welcome and restoration to
favorr he asked, with his courte-
Gus, royal smile.
DO look bughouse?' answered
Thomas. Enough Of the footback
life for me. But will they have me
again? The old lady is as fixed
in. her ways as a-nut on a new
axle