day wore state of mind passed from wonder to elation, albeit the circumstances dismissal Long Dragon were still disagreeable to recall, and garbled account matter that had reached his colleagues led to some badinage evident careful how he lifted frangible articles, but in other ways his gift promised more and more as he turned it over mind He intended among other things to increase his personal property by unostentatious acts of creation into existence pair of very splendid diamond studs, and hastily annihilated them again as young Gomshott came across the counting-house desk afraid young Gomshott might wonder how he had come quite clearly the gift required caution and watchfulness in its exercise, but as judge the difficulties attending its mastery no greater than those he had already faced study of cycling It analogy, perhaps, quite feeling that unwelcome Long Dragon, that drove him out after supper lane beyond the gasworks, to rehearse few miracles in private

possibly certain want of originality attempts, for, apart will-power, Mr Fotheringay was not very exceptional man The miracle of Moses' rod came mind, but the night was dark and unfavourable proper control of large miraculous snakes Then he recollected the story of "Tannhuser" that he had read back Philharmonic programme That seemed to him singularly attractive and harmless He stuck his walking-stick--a very nice Poona-Penang lawyer-- turf that edged the footpath, and commanded the dry wood to blossom The air was immediately full scent of roses, and of match for himself beautiful miracle was indeed accomplished His satisfaction was ended by advancing footsteps Afraid of premature discovery powers, he addressed the blossoming stick hastily: "Go back " What he meant was "Change back;" but confused The stick receded at considerable velocity, and incontinently came cry of anger and bad word approaching person "Who throwing brambles at, you fool ? " cried voice "That got me shin "

"I'm sorry, old chap," said Mr Fotheringay, and then, realising the awkward nature explanation, caught nervously at his moustache Winch, three Immering constables, advancing

"What d'yer mean ? " asked the constable "Hullo ! it's you, ? The gent that broke the lamp Long Dragon ! "

"I don't mean anything ," said Mr Fotheringay "Nothing at all "

"What d'yer for then ? "

"Oh, bother ! " said Mr Fotheringay

"Bother indeed ! D'yer know that stick hurt ? What d'yer for, eh ? "

moment Mr Fotheringay think what he had done it for His silence seemed to irritate Mr Winch "You've been assaulting the police, young man, That's what you done "

"Look here, Mr Winch," said Mr Fotheringay, annoyed and confused, "I'm sorry, very The fact is----"

"Well ? "

think of no way but the truth " working miracle " He tried in an off-hand way, but try as he couldn't

"Working a-- ! 'Ere, don't you talk rot Working miracle, indeed ! Miracle ! Well, that's downright funny ! Why, you's the chap that don't believe in miracles . Fact is, another of your silly conjuring tricks--that's what Now, I tell you--"

But Mr Fotheringay never heard what Mr Winch was going him He realised he had given himself away, flung his valuable secret to all the winds of heaven violent gust of irritation swept him to action He turned constable swiftly and fiercely "Here," , "I've had enough , ! I'll show you silly conjuring trick, ! Go to Hades ! Go, now ! "

alone !

Mr Fotheringay performed no more miracles that night, nor did he trouble what had become flowering stick He returned town, scared and very quiet, and went bedroom "Lord ! " , "it's powerful gift--an extremely powerful gift I didn't hardly mean Not really . I wonder what Hades is like ! "

He sat bed taking off his boots Struck by happy thought he transferred the constable to San Francisco, and without any more interference with normal causation went soberly to bed night he dreamt anger of Winch

The Mr Fotheringay heard two interesting items of news Someone had planted most beautiful climbing rose against the elder Mr Gomshott's private house Lullaborough Road, river as far as Rawling's Mill was dragged for Constable Winch

Mr Fotheringay was abstracted and thoughtful all that day, and performed no miracles except certain provisions for Winch, miracle of completing his day's work with punctual perfection of all the bee-swarm of thoughts that hummed through his mind extraordinary abstraction and meekness manner was remarked by several people, and made matter for jesting most part thinking of Winch

On Sunday evening he went to chapel, and oddly enough, Mr Maydig, who took certain interest in occult matters, preached about "things lawful " Mr Fotheringay was not regular chapelgoer, but the system of assertive scepticism, already alluded, was now shaken The tenor sermon threw an entirely new light novel gifts, and he suddenly decided to consult Mr Maydig immediately service So soon was determined, himself wondering why he done so before

Mr Maydig, lean, excitable man with quite remarkably long wrists and neck, was gratified at request for private conversation from young man whose carelessness in religious matters was subject for general remark town After few necessary delays, he conducted him study manse, contiguous chapel, seated him comfortably, and, standing in front of cheerful fire--his legs threw Rhodian arch of shadow opposite wall--requested Mr Fotheringay to state his business

At first Mr Fotheringay was little abashed, and found some difficulty in opening the matter " scarcely believe me, Mr Maydig, afraid"--and so forth for He tried question at last, and asked Mr Maydig his opinion of miracles

Mr Maydig was still saying "Well" in an extremely judicial tone, when Mr Fotheringay interrupted again: "You don't believe, I suppose, that some common sort of person--like myself, for instance--as it sitting here now, some sort of twist inside him that made him able things by his will "

"It's possible," said Mr Maydig "Something sort, perhaps, is possible "

"If make free with something here, show you by sort of experiment," said Mr Fotheringay "Now, take that tobacco-jar table, for instance What is whether what going with miracle or not Just half minute, Mr Maydig, please "

He knitted his brows, pointed tobacco-jar and said: "Be bowl of vi'lets "

The tobacco-jar did as ordered

Mr Maydig started violently change, and stood looking thaumaturgist bowl of flowers nothing Presently he ventured to lean over the table and smell the violets; they were fresh-picked and very fine ones Then he stared at Mr Fotheringay again

"How did you ? " he asked

Mr Fotheringay pulled his moustache "Just told it--and there miracle, or black art, or it ? And what 's the matter with me ? That's what to ask "

"It's most extraordinary occurrence "

"And this day last week no more that do things like that than It came quite sudden It's something odd will, I suppose, 's as far as "

" -- Could other things besides that ? "

"Lord, yes ! " said Mr Fotheringay "Just anything " He thought, and suddenly recalled conjuring entertainment he had seen "Here ! " he pointed, "change into bowl of fish--no, not that--change into glass bowl full of water with goldfish swimming That's better ! that, Mr Maydig ? "

"It's astonishing It's incredible either most extraordinary . But no----"

" change it into anything," said Mr Fotheringay "Just anything Here ! be pigeon, ? "

In another moment blue pigeon was fluttering round the room and making Mr Maydig duck every time it came near him "Stop there, ? " said Mr Fotheringay; pigeon hung motionless air " change it back to bowl of flowers," , and after replacing the pigeon table worked that miracle "I expect want your pipe in bit," , and restored the tobacco-jar