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Half the troubles of men of our race come through self-inflicted injury to the nervous system. We are tormented by the "fool-killer." If we could revert to the child's simple purity, the free movement of its machinery of life, we should find ourselves in a new heaven on a new earth. We could understand for ourselves part of what the Master meant.
In the earthquake of 1812, when the tower fell, one of the domes was crushed, but the others remained fairly solid and intact until the sixties of the last century, when, with a zeal that outran all discretion, and that the fool-killer should have been permitted to restrain, they were blown up with gunpowder by mistaken friends who expected to rebuild the church with the same material, but never did so.
"Why, that may be true enough," replied Prince Marvel. "But I think, under such circumstances, your Fool-Killer is a needless servant. So I will rid you of him in a few moments." With that he whipped out his sword and stood calmly confronting the Fool-Killer, whose grave face never changed in expression as he advanced menacingly upon his intended victim.
But before they could make any comment, he rose stiffly and blazed forth: "But I won't start to-day. I hurt too much, and my mits is froze. If you want to wait till I'm healed up so I can die in comfort, why, go ahead and buy that fool-killer boat, and we'll all commit suicide together." He stumped indignantly out of the room, his friends too greatly dumfounded even to smile.
"Do you not know that women loathe non-observing men?" "So do I. Stodgy devils! Sooner or later, the fool-killer gets them all. Please do not judge me to-day, Miss Parker. Perhaps, after a while, I may be more discerning. By Jupiter, those very becoming riding-togs will create no end of comment among the natives!" "You said Panchito was to be mine while I am your guest, Don Mike." "I meant it."
"Well," said the Fool-Killer, briskly, "I must be going. You had better go home and sleep it off. Good-night." At this I was moved by a sudden fear for Kerner to a softer and more pleading mood. I leaned against the gray man's sleeve and besought him: "Good Mr. Fool-Killer, please don't kill little Kerner. Why can't you go back South and kill Congressmen and clay-eaters and let us alone?
And any time in future that you see me bettin' on any man's game, you send for the fool-killer, will you?" "Yes, if I happen to be around," promised the doctor. "I ought to know 'em; I was raised right here in Wyoming among 'em," said Walker. "I thought that feller was square, or maybe off a little, because he talked so much. He was the first talkin' gambler I ever met."
Seeing that Redfield was really in earnest, the proprietor obeyed the order promptly, and in half an hour the boy reappeared, rather red, a little uncertain, but decidedly altered for the better. "Now go," cried the cynic, with a smile, and a shake of his hand, "and thank your stars the fool-killer did not come along before you." "Nineteen dollars and a half! Bless me! what am I coming to?
And he has an army of fierce soldiers, who are accustomed to beat the people terribly if they do not carry every bit of their wealth to the sorcerer. So there is no choice but to obey him." "We certainly ought to hang this wicked creature!" exclaimed Wul-Takim. "I wish I had brought my Fool-Killer with me," sighed King Terribus; "for I could have kept him quite busy in this kingdom."
"Rudolf," said the Fool-Killer, "I'll give in. Bring her up to the house. Give me your hand, boy." "Good for you, dad," said Kerner, shaking hands with the old man. "You'll never regret it after you know her." "So, you did see him when he was talking to you at the table?" I asked Kerner. "We hadn't spoken to each other in a year," said Kerner. "It's all right now." I walked away.
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