The Shasta courier., 1867-03-02
CHAPTER 1.-THE CONFESSION.

The rawlings of the landlord, and the report
OF the fearful scene gathered a great crowd
about the inn, and pale faces peered in upon
the wretched Red Richardt
Confess confess ~ cried the mob.
Never confess Never ~ screamed a
shrill voice. and the landlord darted terri
bic glance around, for lie knew it was his
| handsome wife, and he had half mind to
confess if but to thwart her designs.
Hours passed on, and still the unrelenting
corpse held its prey. The grave magistrates
Of Dallsart met and delberated upon the
strange affair. Physicians, pale and trem-
bling. touched the wrists of Karl Volmann,
peered into his CLASSY eyes, and pronounced
him dead.
AT length a voice in the throng about one
of the crowded doors shouted:
Make room for Lord Rudolph, Baron of
Hanoski ~ and tall, elegant and hand
some young man entered the room. He did
not notice the exhausted landlord, except
with a terrible glance, but laid his hand
gently upon the white hair of Karl Vol
mann.
Alas, poor Volmann," said the young
lord, as he gazed sadly upon the dead father
of his betrothed, How unfortunate to die
almost in sight of the home you loved so
well Your wife received your letter and
have FASTENED to meet you T.: ah. had you
but lived to hear that my father agreed to
my marriage with your lovely daughter
before this sudden death, and that |, rich
and Baron in my own right am eager to
wed Franconia -
Then turning to the landlord, he said
g Red Richardt, l have heard Of your
crime from every tongue in Dalsart Your
punishment is terrible, bat just"
just or unjust, my lord, am l to die or
to live living death in this manner? |
never wronged this man, growled the land
lord.
:" The magistrates of your town have de-
cded the matter. | am the friend of this
unfortunate man, or was while he lived, and
shall see that he has burial worthy of so
good and honest man, replied Lord Ru
dolph
. Burial And whenl And how ex
claimed Red Richardt
Day after tomorrow Karl Volmann shall
be consigned to his grave
:" But, saints III Heaven suppose that
am still then as now ~ roared the landlord.
giving vain though furious tug at bis bonds.
bonds all the more terrible because of the
dead. " Will you bury me too? Will you
:" The corpse of my friend shall not be
mutilated," replied Lord Rudolph sternly.
Then, great God am to be buried
allveE' gasped the landlord in despair.
=" Your neighbors, the people and magis
trates of Dalsart, and |, Lord of this Prov
ince. have decided that the body of Karl
Nolmann. the just, the simple, the good /,
shall receive an honorable burial. You may
free yourself by freeing your right hand,
for then you can cut the leathern sack to
pieces"
But, curse my fate ! l cannot free my
right hand.'
1T is not for the living to interfere with
the vengeance of the dead" replied Lord
Rudolph, leaving the room, gravely and
sadly.
All that day, and all the night following,
the wretched landlord remained alone with
the dead, and the great deserted inn rescund-
ed with his cries and terror.
But the cold and icy hand of the dead held
its prey, despite his screams and his strug-
! giles.
- Helpl'' he screamed Wife, at least
/ free my left hand Ny knife is in my belt
free my left hand-cut this accursed bag
of nails to pieces, and then, by my beard !
W tn my knife | can soon cut loose these
dead fingers. Helpl Does no one answer
You that owe mel will give you all you
owe me- thrice and again, if you will help
me ~
But be howled in vain. His neighbors
all feared and hated him. His wife-well.
his wife cared more for Dandy Kelperman' s