Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-07-10


the eggs over in his hand, and the
lettering crowd of celestials thickened
to see the well-dressed stranger and
his odd purchase, for he seemed to ac-
cept them without being wrapped up
as matter of course. NORM himself
wondered what Merlin intended to do
with his foolish purchase, but he was
rather used to his companions vagarles.
"Now l am just going to see II
these eggs. are really good" said Mer-
lin, addressing the merchant, land II
they are as good as | think, I'll buy
the whole basket"
Him all good" and the merchant
began TO show signs Of trade activity
at the prospects Of an extensive deal.
Merlin looked about him; there was
quite little group of Cinnamon on the
sidewalk. He took one of the eggs,
struck 1t against the corner of the door
then broke 1t carefully open, and look
ing into It gravely, extracted five
dollar gold piece which he examined
carefully. and then tucked into his vest
pocket. He smiled into the merchants
u
credullty. The crowd Of Cinnamon
edged closer. In mysterious manner
they seemed to thicken and gain num-
bers, as II called by some mystic signal.
Merlin threw the eggshell into the
gutter. One Chlnaman picked 1t up
quickly and examined II carefully. A
subdued murmur of excitement ran
through the crowd. He took the sec
ond egg with a nonchalant manner, and
tapping 1t against his heel broke the
shell. The rapidly swelling crowd
edged closer with a general craning of
necks The merchant, his mouth
agape, his eyes protruding, stood as If
hypnotized Opening the egg. Merlin
extracted a ten-dollar gold piece, held
1t up to the light, tucked 1t into his
pocket, and cast the shell away. A
wild scramble for It Immediately en-
sued.
Merlin smiled into the face of the
shopkeeper nodded al II satisfied thus
far and broke the third egg There
was an lntaking of breath from the
crowd, that was like sudden gust
through sycamore grove, then On
awed silence as Merlin drew out a
twenty-dollar gold piece deposited 1t
in his pocket and cast the shell away,
wiplng his hands on his handkerchief.
The crowd didn't stir
YES" said Merlin pleasantly, to the
merchant who stood like craven
image. they are fresh eggs. l will
take the whole basket"
Instantly the Chinaman was gal
vanized into action. mo, no, nor he
cried wildly selling the basket and dis
appearing into the store with 1t. The
crowd poured in after him, and in
stantly the shop became a bedlam Of
chatter like cage full of excited
monkeys.
Merlin" said NORM quietly, "the
| sphinx has awakened, but don't think
we had better walt until she speaks.
/ have too much respect for lady's
secrets. Besides I don't understand
Chinese"
II should like to see the finish"
hesitated Merlin.
III you linger II Is likely to be ours"
and he drew his companion down the
street, but like Lots wife Merlin lin
gered to look back, and was In his
turn petrifled to see the little shop
vomiting Chinese as from the mouth
Of dragon. They came tumbllng into
the street like human omelette,
streaked and striped with the yOlks
and whites Of eggs, for, reversing the
legend of the goose, they had started
an immediate and violent Investigation.
Leading the van and violently blowing
police whistle, came the proprietor of
the shop, and In an instant Merlin and
his companion were surrounded by
shrleking, chatterlng mob that looked
like sudden exodus of chicks from an
incubator. No shell game artist at
danger Of physical violence from
"wised" yokels who had been fieeced
by him, than was Merlin from the
wrath his own mystic art had brought
upon him.
Just then a burly policeman pushed
through the crowd with gruff inquiry.
Merlln's polite tones were drowned In
the wild bedlam of pigeon English
against the hawk In the dove cot. The
gestlculatlons Of his accusers became
more violent as tlIelr clamOr rose, and
Merlin, fearing that not even the maj
esty of the law would be sufficient TO
protect him, saw that It was case OF
Ill l,
made several passes In the air like the
preliminary movements OF n hypnotlst.
The Cinnamon, convinced that the man
was indeed white devil" fell back
few PAGES and the silence of terror
fell instantly upon them. The police
man, mystlfied, looked from the crowd
to Merlin uncertain as to what action
to take. Merlin saved him the trouble
by turning to NORM, making few
passes over his face and then plucklng
his glass eye from the socket held II
up for general Inspection With wild
yell Of horror the Cinnamon STAN
leded vanishing into doOrways here
and there like frightened rabbits in
warren.
"What the devil Is all this monkey
buslnessT inquired the astonlshed
policeman as soon MS he found his
tongue. Merlin presented his card
with bow The policeman took IT,
md a glow grin over pread his face as
iOrln replaced his @iaSs eye.
"Oh, seen you lie other night At
the Ohphum." he clickltd, but you
better beat II out % H. II amt NJ
lace to give q IRE snow" And lac
aughed uproariOusly at the resi- Of the
story as he escorted them to the limit
Of his beat.
"4 ell A. ho.A