"Open it," said Skinski, and Uncle Peter did so.

"How many of those do you usually take in a day?" asked Skinski.

"Four," replied the puzzled old gentleman.

"Drop four of them in your left hand," ordered Skinski.

Uncle Peter's right hand trembled a bit, with the result that five
of the quinines fell into his left hand.

"If you counted money the way you count pills you'd quit loser,"
chuckled Skinski. "Put four of those dizzy-wizzys back in the box."

The old gentleman did so.

"Now take your penknife and open the pill you didn't put back,"
commanded Skinski.

Uncle Peter obeyed instructions, and he nearly choked with
astonishment when his diamond came to view.

It was a neat bit of work and Skinski became a solid success with
Uncle Peter.

"Did I understand you to say, Mr. McGowan, that you are a
commission merchant in Springfield, Ohio?" the Mayor asked Skinski
when the applause had subsided.

"I'm a used to was," Skinski corrected. "There was a time when I