Evening star., 1928-06-28

tRichsrd Harris Bsrham, 17ss-is45. wrote
under tde pen name OF Thomas 1ngoiosby,
rsfuated i,y the famous sTnsoidsby Leeends. .
They often combine hnmor and traseoy9
You wouldn't think that a wig worn
on a mans head could become tmbued
with wickedneSs and something of the
devil himself, but so it was, as the
story Of Jerry Jarvis wig proves. Jerry
Jarvis was, by act OF Parliament, a
solicitor. No one questioned his hon.
esty, openly. But every one talked
about how he had become rich. being
executor for this estate and that, law
yer in this and that case, and so on.
It was common knowledge that he was
hand in glove with the devil.
1t all started in the celery patch,
where his hired man, Joseph Washford,
was working in the hot sun with no
some generous impulse quite unusual
with him. Jarvis offered Joseph an old
wig of his. Joseph would much rather
have had a drink Of beer. but that
was not forthcoming, SO he took the
wig. put il on and tried-without sue
ceSs-to be content.
Jerry Jarvis old wig fitted washford
an right It also tickled him. He
worked In the hot sun. il anything.
with less gusto than before. And he
was very thirsty. He stopped frequent
IL to stare into space. and there, ahead
Of him in space, and IN his direct line
Of vision. was great apple tree fun OF
attractive, alluring fruit.
Fairer fruit never tempted Eve. and
II now attracted the optics and discom-
posed the inner man Of the thirsty,
patient and perspiring gardener. His
thirst seemed supernatural when at this
moment his left ear experienced slight
and tickling sensation. stu, small
voice seemed 10 say: Joe. take an
applet" Could that whisper have come
from the wig? No one can say. but it
is well known that when Jerry Jarvis
wore IL no trickery Was too wicked
II II would net him profit.
Honest Joseph, however, started at
the suggestion He scratched his ear
and resumed MS work. But the celery
patch led down under the apple tree.
and one branch, heavy with fruit. hung
10 the very ground. Joseph worked
down that way. AS he stopped TO in
sart the last plant in the earth. lus-
Giols apple grazed his knuckles. But
Jarvis was watching him from his
window.
The same small voice whispered
again: He's taking snuff. Joe. He's
sneezing nos, Joe Now" Ere pool
Joseph could recover from his surprise
and alarm at this temptation. his hand
had severed the fruit. The wig seemed
to laugh naerriiy. With one Fanc
JOSEPH snatched IL from his head, helc
the apple IN the other and departed
II did taste good
Bat ali that night the humble couch
Of the once happy gardener was haunt
ed with fearful dreams. He saw him.
self stealing apples-robbing henroosti
and he awoke in the very act Of cut
ting the throat Of neigfbor's sheep
And there, on his pillow, lay Jerry
Jarvis wig!
How come that thing there?" asket
Joe of his wife. who had awakened.
Il put II there" she said "Yol
we're 50 restless, Joe, that l thought j
was your cold head. and, lacking q
uigi1tcap. put the wig on you"
Next morning Joseph eased his con
science with: Twas but an apple
after all" II Il had been an apple pie
now-~iJut no, it vas just an apple.
Nov there was neighbor Who loyet
tulips. Jarvis mad tulip bed caret
for By Joseph, but the lawyer did no
care about them at all They yer
there because one Of his clients sen
him the bulbs. yet he would not Civ