Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-02-24


issued by Government, that the inhabit
ants should on no account be permitted
to disturb a stone Of that ancient monu
ment.
On arriving at the spot, rejoined the
the stranger, I made known in louC
voice the spiritual authority by which
my mission was appointed. When, 10
the spirit to whom is delegated the guar.
dianship of the hidden treasure, replied
that he was no; permitted to divulge the
spot where it was buried, unless adlureC
BY three persons at once, and unless the
vault containing it was opened by a mag,
ic key--to be formed of pure gold. But
alas! however tempting the project, gen
t'emen, how is a POOR mortal like myself
to procure the twenty-one ducats which
the spirit asserts to be Indispensable for
the casting of the keyj orthe attendance
Of two enterprising companions willing
to share my exploit and its noble re
ward?'
Your twp companions are before you,
exclaimed the boozy burgomastor, if you
will accept our company. Let me see
what money have in my purser
Even without paying the reckoning,
] including a fresh bottle Of wine called
for to dix success to the expedition,
the purse Of the burgomaster did not
furnish half the necessary sum. Moth
ing was easier for him, however, than to
dispatch his clerk to the strong box OF
his ufiee, which, as he was obliging en-
ough to acquaint them. contained nearly
couple of hundred dueats.
In as short time as the condition Of
his intellect would allow, OsterwaId re-
turned with the requisite sum; and the
three companions, after an intpiriting
bumper, took their way towards the ru-
ins of the old castle.
Having arrived on u platform before
the venerable gateway, distinctly viSi.
bic by the brilliant Ii ight Of the moon,
the stranger drew from has pocket i
short. black stick, with which be traced
upon the Parched turf a small circ'e
adjoining it with several mystical devices
and symbols.
Within this magic circle, said he,
addressing his companions, who were
overcome partly by wine and partly by
awe, 'yOa must place yourselves, in
order to be secure from the molestation
of the evil spirits be>etting the spot,
while l proceed to fulfil the conditions
Of the guardian spirit Of the eastern
tower
The two drunkards, not a little pleas,
ed to be thus secured from an interview
20 tremendous, readily complied; and
having furnished the stranger with the
purse, took up their position within the
circle For some time intense anxiety
Kept them silent At length they ven.
tured to communicate to each other theiI
opinion that the interview between the
strange student and the spirit of the
castle was someWh hat longj but being
fortified by their position within the mag.
ic circle, weary Of standing, and oppress
ed 10y drowsineSs, they agreed to stretch
their iimbs on the ground. Next NOR.
ming, the village of Brummersdorf wa.
disturbed by the discovery that in the
course Of the night the Office Of the bur
gomaster had been broken into, and Its
strong box pillaged, the iron safe being
left empty on the floor. A further search
was Immediately instituted, but no bur.
gomaster was to be found; and his clerk
being also absent, the dissolute character
0: LiStenbach aud Osterwald caused then
to fall under suspicion of having embez
zIed and carried off the public funds.
The testimony of the village landlord
however, soon induced other surmises
and the constables, by whom the rob
berry was discovere /, having proceeded
at the head of body Of peasants to tn,
ruin Of the old castle, the haPless burgo
master and his drunken clerk were dis
covered stretched on the ground-not, as
was in the first instance apprehended
bathed in tieir gore, but quietly sic. p
ing off the tunes of their carouse.
The loss of his mo3ey was succeeded
of course, by the loss of the place fot
which he had shown himself so incompe
tent. But in the course of the summe
the cunning imposter was arrested, anC
it was the evidence of the parties them
selvps, or his trial which gave publicit,
to the story!
'TIs time to fear when tyrants seem t,
kiss.