The stone's power had a range limitation, though. There was only one well within range of the stone's power. That well was affected by Jon's wish and became a genuine wishing well.
Some hours later, after Jon had gone to bed, an old man passed the well. He was Mr. Cecil Lansdale, who had been a star athlete in his youth, and later a successful coach of athletics. But he had been forced to retire due to arthritis and other ailments. Now he was 73, and he walked slowly, with the help of his cane, past the well.
Mr. Lansdale still had a great deal of pride, which is why he was taking a walk alone, despite the advice of his children and grandchildren. Still, every step reminded him that his best days were past. He longed for his younger days, and wished he had his youth back.
He noticed the well. He hadn't believed that tossing in a coin would make a wish come true since he was a kid. But now, he figured, he didn't have much to lose. He was that desperate. He took out a dime, and tossed it into the way, muttering "I wish I was a healthy young man again."
Mr. Lansdale didn't expect the wish to work, but almost instantly he felt himself becoming younger, his aches and pains gradually fading away until they were gone. Within less than a minute, he was an old man no longer. He now possessed the young and healthy body of a twenty-year old. "I don't believe it! It worked!"
Overjoyed, Mr. Lansdale began running and jogging down the street, shouting joyfully into the night "It worked! It worked!" He was so caught up in the moment that he wasn't thinking about how people were going to react once he told them the good news. Right now, he was happier than he had been in well over a decade. And he didn't care how many people knew it, or how much of a commotion he made.
He continued his joyful shouts as he ran through the residential neighborhood where Jon lived (he didn't know Jon, or know that Jon was responsible -- he just happened to pass Jon's house during all this). Several residents opened their doors and took a peek out to see what the fuss was about...
