Show c c n 11 n t It i t tI t t t i it r Me Mc Dou galls 5 Good Go d Stories j 0 C hi JL 1 1 dr e n I W 1 r It p 0 d A Curious Story tor From the c Land of o oa olee Mak M a lee ei eve A is Ponce e de deLeon e eLeon Leon His H rs Fountain of or Youth ani and p What at Its is Waters Did Di for a Man aMan aManT Mari about hundred years ago if you yon told a grown gr wn man JUam about T dragons dragona IOU witches basilisks or a fountain of tui tol youth he be would not DOt have a word of your tai tal but nowadays any boy can en ift up 1 p and contradict you yun i if you jou ou tell anything Dl that seems eema improbable imp and aDd he ha t will of be bereal bereal real impudent into the bargain larpin But ut there are lots Iota of nice boys Do and girls who whether the story tory is probable or not are pleased pease d to hear bear it and who know v that in the Land of astonishing things thing are always happening happeD nc and awl to 10 then them the I tell tella all att my DIY stories a you jou ou ma mabe may maybe maybe be sure sore s Old Mr Y Linton who bad when young read perhaps l every fairy tale that was known in his day daft who also knew more his hens history history tory probably than any teacher in town for he be nil reading readi history never neV believed belie a single dingle tiling thing that was waa at all out of the die ordinary after fter he grew FeW gre W 11 u Thus Th his when hell ho he came m across a strang j s tale about prisoners rs in Siberia or some remar i able aWe about Benjamin Franklin or George Washington V for iw instance he be would sneer er turn up his nose none and nd ay ray Hum I How do they the know that any an such improbable thing t ever eYer happened at all aU I Bosh Bah and also Fudge I He actually did not n t believe beneve things that tl be he reI raft in the daily papers so 10 extremely e 1 extravagant had grown this habit of die dis discrediting crediting and disbelieving everything In fact he be nerd bad become so 10 incredulous that unless he saw RW a thing happen raw aw it t with whit his hiA own eyes lie he simply doubted d the report So when one night Didt he fell asleep in ia his hia easy chair in in the lonely big house hou e in which he dwelt everything that i happened to tou him he be concluded ed was merely dreams He EIe bad had been It sea raa nr u The History H of the Spanish Main ain all the tIte evening a Wad and na naturally r med a ned that the book had affected his bis hi steeping thoughts and ia ta dined a n i that th was ww all aD but nt t a as you rou u will wi tee fee e ebe he be was w not DOt long holding this opinion opinio lip r It Ii i seised to io Mr Mx Unton that he h was wu still U wake awake when appeared beside him hire a man clad in ia shining s or OI all damas daina damascened aa ce with t i itin gc Id in ia u a pattern to like lilt a carpet flows flower ower spray sp and leaves leaved amid said twining t twin scrolls alia of gold W ld that gli in inthe i inthe the 18 lamplight with brilliancy brilli bH The visor or peak pe k of oft his great t helmet was pushed up U and Mr b Linton saw a that was wu bold and stern and a pair of or dark eyes that tt seemed to pierce right richt into him His Ria first thought was that the apparition must be some IOme friend of his Me who had stopped in on the tha way wa to a masquerade ball but the face was utterly unknown to hLa N Nevertheless he was not at all alarmed nor even surprised at this thia sudden intrusion on nor did he be seem to wonder how hew the man manin manin manin in armor had bad kin his room roca It seemed somehow to t be quite natural e While n he stared sWed at his bis strange visitor tor he be beard heard the ball bail in in inthe L the City Hall tower to r strike twelve and then he suddenly glanced at a picture which hung on his bis wall just j st behind heh ud she armored knight It Ii represented rep the landing of Ponce de Leon upon the coast coat of Florida and aud showed the Spanish adventurer standing a upon n the strand with his hi Sword raised rained r sed toward a gr at banner He turned his Me ri eyes upon his i visitor ri and immediately recognized recognised z d him as Ponce de Leon himself for every feature a eyes eye beard armor and all aUwas was exactly similar to that of the leader in the old print on the e t waD Just lust why the Spaniard should call upon him he lie was at first int at a loss lose to guess but bat he seemed to think with great rapidity at that moment and almost instantly came to 10 the conclusion that it was ws beci because se be he had taken Spanish sh lessons when A boy But the Spaniard spoke poke in English Enli a moment after and asked where w ere are aTe your yew y children h en r rI I have no children thank Heaven l Mr Linton answer answered c and my name Dame is ia not Roderigo but Roderick Boderick Linton Though you know it not you are my Malt Bode R rigo said the visitor vis tor grimly frowning You have haft beet been par per mitt again sad and again tl Ut to w inhabit it the e bodies of men while wail I Ineat tor neat the sand and under the palms palma bat you yen are still m mine I think I y you ou hAve made some mistake replied Mr Ir Linton calmly for fer er be lie lied bad e already c d i you see lee that be he wee was dreaming I never neer met you before WO e although I know from front that toad picture yonder who you are What do you wish wiM r Can Cau I airy you in any way we f How many children love you your I asked the frowning froWD DC vision T Oh Db bosh replied Mr b Linton What have I t to do with wish wi children I Thank goodness I am lUll neither it u er a school superintendent I nor in the toy business I am a in the fire be insurance business e How many children do d you yon 30 love J then f eked asked the knight t still tin persistent U 10 I hate all the brood snarled the old oW man mae If If I had wj was all be smothered mOthered as soon as ae they were born Hasty N deity s noisy nolay fidgety inquisitive sticky brats brat bra I haft aa no w t e elor for lor any of tt thear r rW Would W o ld you rou not Dot be a boy oy again apin if you yon Coull shed Med Bones Po PoM de M Leon WeD well WeB haute bum v I cant answer that t O replied Mr JEr Link Lin Linton Linkton ton Depends on what st sort of boy and perhaps whose where ow boy bor 3 If U 1 could eow b be the son 1011 of a Millionaire weft perhaps I night might con eo eon e ebent bent Com Cc with me st n said the th knight turning to the t door dOo which to te his bis surprise Mr r Linton saw uw was wide we opens open V t J Hs s rose slid and followed his bis visitor sot not certain whether be he was wan really Jb walking or floating along b t before he could determine be found himself h in aa lID entirely different rent atmos atmosphere phere p re and amid other and utterly strange st surroundings 8 Great Grent pam palms waved over his bead head ferns and ad cacti grew in ia the glaring white sand and beneath neath his feet while birds of gorgeous g hues bues stalked along the edge of the wide dark clark flowing slowly by He lie knew at once that he was in iii the tropics trop ce although his knowledge of strange lands was wa confined merely to books boob ani AD i pictures as 8 he had bad never nefer traveled v z He lIe had little time to speculate and Ponce de Leon leo strode tro e away beneath the overhanging ng palms and he had to follow for something seemed to draw him along In a few minutes they thes e stopped topped again this time beside a still pool whose wh velvety sur stir surface surface face reflected the green foliage and the deep deeD blue sky above and seemed like a great polished gem of emerald and It rested in a basin buin oft of the purest t whitest rock and nd when he be look into imo its ita it depths be he could see lee every tn tiny tin grain of the 0 tone tODe at the tUe very bottom so clear and limpid was WAI the sparkling water AH An about the grass frass grew green and tall and not a footprint nor a bended beDded blade was visible showing that the lovely pool pew pou was WU never nee v r visited rutted by man maD or beast bea t apparently Know you tOu this f asked ked the Spanish knight as he point pointed d 1 to the water Never Neer saw laW it before I em am sure M re x plied the men man It lt is f 10 vei very pretty l Then Mr Linton remembered suddenly what Ponce Je J 1 II c Leons quest had hd been and recalled how bow that ill fated and lees lovs 10 man had lost his bis 1 M lif i tic seeking in ill the Florida swamps for the fabled f Jed Fountain of Y Yc Yuth uth He lie asked in an awed tone toie t of voice oice Is I this can this really ft be bo the Fountain of Youth Y on h urlis Tie Tia that charmed pool po l replied the thc Ii I its ita it mr waters J 3 lit lie Youth Y Youth Y perpetual and aDd fresh He Tie who bathes in it emerges tone with brew u w life and powers and keeps them forever frever C Then ht lie lIC goes Koes cried Brie Mr r Linton immediately I 1 wont oot von t k Icse e this e cl t tHe c cHe He spra pr l into the tar fountain clothes doth and all aU before befort Ponce ale Teen Leon J n could top him clear to IK it it pearly button n u if I an aD M instant and ther his h bar ba d coming Dl Dg in i n contact t with f fb Ine 8 lie I e seized Sf Jf d it At nt once o When he hc to the sr surface f se e bo b fo the dle f knight ht at ut hire him h amid nn l he also aln l saw that Y 1 1 r 1 Q Y p Q 0 0 4 Q 0 O Q p Q f t tr I r I 1 tL iii r I sr sri t e X i t if is 1 1 II 9 I l I Ir n nf nHE I r f H f r J HE RECOGNIZED THE VISITOR AS PONCE DE LEON ha ho h held ia is i his own ha o a curious bottle or vase rase He ou oti smiling mil and said Wall Noll I have liar tested your our dId old fountain Mr r Ponce de Leon Leonand and aad now we wo will see ee what it cando can do i As A he spoke lie he saw aB the Spanish knights face faco alter a ill and fl e ewhen when whan hie his Whole figure seamed to pale Ale and od became misty He lite hard harel at the vanishing vIl lhing form and it slowly faded away into forest forest leaving him standing there with the antique boW bottle in his hie hand Then the forest also vanished the sunshine sun e sham chaW to the glare of 0 his lamp and he found himself hims lf ie u s old 01 d chair dum a at t home borne r Suddenly he started in amazement en for there his stood the curious bottle both filled llod Ito to ie top with a I iI that th gleamed like the purest crystal in the lamplight la He reached rC oat oit bis hia hand band in doubt doubs and aud took it up v This is marvelous 1 he exclaimed How did dial this get here herel l Somebody has been here while I slept r But he soon found that his door was locked rocked securely Theta There grass W the tie strange bottle bottIe however and the thought came to him of testing ting te its powers and without thinking of the possible dog dogger d dof ger g of such a teat host he undressed and d then bled himself from ro head to jo f with the sparkling fluid r t Er ran rain to the mirror mirror and aDd looked lB in He t ai aiman aim m man u of His Hia once white hair was x a rich brown and UKle at aft e e smiled n a row w of eif longboat teeth t showed gleaming ng in tbs 1 1 yeti wv Bles my soul I he cried cr jumping jump Dg back bek ton feet It WM wae the water of You Youth h after alter all 1 a BAd and d I Idid did not DOt dream eam I am young again m He Ire punched pinched his hie full round muscles t and noted noad how strong be he was wu then looked in the glass gus and grinned Ha Ra ha hat hal I he Shouted l It is ia only r a little past midnight bt why go o to bed hd ao so early I will win D abroad a d in search roo of adventures res instead of wasting my ins fond youth nath in ia sleep I Ill fed to dowA to the l be he said aid with a grin and nd see seethe what the old fogies who o pro are 18 perhaps still sitting si up tip p will spy y when w they then see He me met meAt m mAt s At the he door doo of the club he was met meet by the t old colored man who for twenty years had bad stood guard there but when lie he 8 chefer fully said Mid Good evening eyen Isaac the man maD stared red it t him hima and they said Excuse me sah but who ho do you ou wish ish to see l lIIa IIa Ha ba ha lit laughed Mr Lint Linton on Dont you know me nee Isaac Isaa I II I am art Mr r Linton Li ton Dont know only one Mr Linton an hrs hes mor morn n twice as a Sl old as you be he replied Isaac Iau somewhat sourly bourly for he was n Rt t used use to jokes from the club members m hI I reckon you has made a 8 mistake and aud got into the wrong club sah Why Vb is it U possible that I am so o altered asked Mr Linton Cant yo Y i see anything that reminds you jou ou of me mel Isaac stared bard 1 rd and nd then said I reckon youse ouse son SOil cause e I done remember that he look some something something something thing like Uke you twenty Y years ago alga but bat I know that you aint I nt him Let me mo in and an we will see bce what my old friends will say sav laid taM Mr Lr Linton Xo No rah Hah I cant cau let no lie one OM in t the dub club members m said aid old Isaac firmly and I know you 01 aint Linton nor liis hi hil bon l bo on cau c u e he aint got no son So you cant come in Mr Linton insisted d upon entering and aud was so 60 loud in his demands that several members who were all dl old friends too to came tanie to the door but they also firmly refused to admit the hearty hale man who claimed to be old Mr Linton Limon nd lad when he be insisted that he lie was waa w i that person ie of them telephoned for fOT the tbt police While they were we arguing two officers cen came and aud took Mr r rJ Linton inton J away to the thi station house in hi spite of his indignant pro protests protests protests tests They put him in ip n acell s cell coll a a once one as the sergeant who knew old Mr ir Linton refused to listen to his bis story for an He sat down in the narrow cold col cell and reflected ted for a minute and then concluded to take tab thins thing calmly for far after all 11 he be now saw that it was w impossible impo to tG make people credit hn hB hi wondrous tale Then he ho went to sleep In the morning rooming his cell door was opened by a policeman who started hack back in surprise saying saving Whit What is this t t I arrested a 8 man and put him in ia here above about two this thia morning and heres bere Who a big boy are you J o and anti how did you get t hero h f 1 You have a poor memory replied re lies Mr kr Linton You thrust thesis me in hero last bast night yourself Dont t try to tu fool me W answered the officer i f put a man about twenty flee IYe years t ars old in lieu here boy bo Wh Where e is he and ow did he be get gt ou 1 Im the man you locked belied up replied Mr Linton l HI I ilIA am in sorry erry to say By it but I think thi you u must mu t have been drinking officer o The angry policemen policeman boxed his ears ean shouting Dont get g t fresh with ith me young feller teller Come Conic out of that said and lets leis see w sergeant and Dd the judge jade win wilt say sae He hauled haul d M Anton into the e t court room next to the police station and the flee judge asked hint him What is 11 the charge cb rge against this lad hid hidI ladI I II I dunno yer Honor I found him in the cell where here I left the man that ned to he be old Mr Linton and who was very likely craZy canny I cant nod find man however K Mr ter Linton teat zaw the judge very ery well 11 in fact had Jaad helped heI to tomake make hin h a judge and he interrupted the officer saying sang II f rd this tiis t is man has bes been d g I am sure suit you mu must mut mutT t tf T d be able e to see enough romaine remains of my former leeks leks to fie r rIna j f me mo meThe moThe The judge fudge stared and said sid sidY Y You 01 are a very Tery impudent boy bo to ol a me e by my t r I sever cr aw you before Who are you and nd where are fui iii enter enri i c I am nm your old friend |