What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Fourth

Name: What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Fourth Gift of the Emir
Author: Wardon Allan Curtis

Mr. Middleton receives an unusual gift from a dignified Arab prince—a small, copper flask sealed with an inscription and a signet. The Emir explains that the container once held one of the two evil genii imprisoned by the great King Solomon, a cautionary talisman linking a family curse of unintended fatal consequences. Although warned of its dangerous history, Middleton accepts the gift, believing it to be filled with a volatile chemical rather than harboring a supernatural menace. He plans to dispose of it by casting it into a river but postpones his intention until the following day. On his journey home, a fellow traveler—a clairvoyant and medium named Jefferson P. Smitz—learns of the flask’s mysterious nature and insists on examining it at a seance he has arranged. Smitz explains his experience with psychic phenomena and his ability to materialize spirits, proposing to reveal the contents for a modest fee. Reluctantly, Middleton agrees and attends an evening gathering where a host of skeptical and credulous individuals have assembled to witness supernatural manifestations. At the seance, the group sits in a circle under the dim light of gas jets. Smitz conducts the session by invoking various historical and legendary figures from different cultures—Leonidas, Confucius, and others—to demonstrate that the barrier between life and death can be breached. Amid this surreal spectacle, spirits are summoned and briefly interact with those present. A chaotic and even combative incident unfolds when one of the summoned entities—a spirit resembling an Irish rebel—clashes violently with another, leading to physical tussles between materialized figures and leaving the audience rattled. During the tumult, a timid young lady, attending the seance for the first time, is overcome with fear. Middleton, serving as her protector, provides comfort and support by holding her through the terror. Following the confrontation and the subsequent dispersal of the materialized phantoms, Middleton prepares to depart with the young woman to ensure her safe conveyance home. Before heading out, however, Middleton remembers the flask—momentarily abandoned during the commotion—and retrieves it. In the process of transferring the vessel into another pocket, he inadvertently dislodges the seal affixed with Solomon’s signet. Discovering that the plug was secured with a wad of wool, he removes it to find not a demonic presence or explosive substance, but a cascade of gold sequins. The gold pieces, which turn out to be valuable coins from early Bagdad caliphates, reveal that the flask was a cleverly disguised treasure trove rather than a prison for a mighty demon. Realizing the unexpected windfall, he promptly sells the coins to a French gentleman for a substantial sum. Despite the magical and precarious circumstances surrounding the gift, the experience leaves him with a considerable financial profit. Later encounters with the Emir are handled discreetly by Middleton, who avoids mentioning the true nature of his fortune and the bizarre events of the previous night. Thus, through a series of uncanny and dangerous encounters at a seance, Middleton’s brush with supernatural forces proves to be transformative—nearly perilous in its manifestations, yet ultimately lucrative.

By Wardon Allan Curtis · First published 1901 · Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural Fiction, Adventure · 5,606 words

First lines

"What an unpleasant surprise it must have been to Klingenspiel," remarked the emir, when he had completed his narration, "to find all his fine experimenting in the science of heredity merely resulting in nearly accomplishing his own death."

"His experience is not unique," said Mr. Middleton. "There is many an economic, social, political, or industrial change which is inaugurated with the highest hopes only to slay its author in the end."

What this Textopian page supports

What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Fourth Gift of the Emir is listed on Textopian as a short story by Wardon Allan Curtis, dated 1901 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Wardon Allan Curtis
Date: 1901 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural Fiction, Adventure, Satire, Historical Fiction
Length: 5,606 words
Structure: 1 section, 52 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Fantasy — Central to the narrative are magical artifacts, enchanted bottles, and mystical entities that drive the plot.
Supernatural Fiction — The story is propelled by paranormal phenomena including séances, materializations, and ancient curses.
Adventure — The protagonist embarks on unexpected, high-stakes journeys filled with dangerous encounters and quests.
Satire — The narrative employs irony and humorous social critiques to expose the absurdities of its characters and situations.