THE ELIXIR OF LIFE.
"Behold," said Doctor Watson, "the Elixir of Life!"
Robinson looked up from his writing and assumed an expression of deep interest.
"Wonderful! I have often heard of it. Is it the true Elixir vitæ of the ancients, or a new and more subtle compound?"
"Listen, scoffer; if you will behave with a decorum consistent with the gravity of the subject, I will explain how I became the possessor of this wonderful powder. Perhaps in your life of seclusion and deep toil you may not have noticed this advertisement which has appeared for the last month regularly in the morning paper?"
Watson took from his pocket-book a newspaper clipping and read as follows:
"METHUSELAH CLUB.
"The object of this club is to enable its members to live to be one hundred and fifty years old. All persons desiring to become members should apply for particulars to Rengee Sing, No. — Twenty-seventh street, City."