Page:Clement Fezandié - Through the Earth.djvu/208

188 his assumption, as he was soon to learn, was erroneous; for, even with his two hands, William found it quite a task to raise the furniture. He, however, finally succeeded, and triumphantly held out this weight of several hundred pounds at arm's length.

"Here you are, ladies and gentlemen!" he cried. "Walk right up and view the modern Samson. I can lift anything you give me, and not half try! Walk right up! Admission, only five cents, or half a dime! Only a nickel, ladies and gentlemen! Walk right up!"

It was really quite amusing; but, to our hero's surprise, the objects, instead of being devoid of weight, exerted a very perceptible pressure on his hand.

Astonished at this, he gave the articles a strong upward push, and up they all went, pell-mell; but, curious to relate, instead of ascending to the ceiling, as William had confidently expected, the objects began to slowly fall again before they reached the top of the car.

"Well, I declare!" exclaimed our hero, hugely astonished. "If I had been obliged to figure out beforehand what was going to happen on this trip, I should never have been able to come anywhere