The Shasta courier., 1867-03-02
COURIER.
THE BAG OF NAILS;
or, The Dead Mans Revenge.
CHATTER I.-THE CRIME.

Centuries have passed since Vomann, the
teacher died, yet the legend of the extraor
dinary vengeance wreaked by his corpse is
still told.at the firesides of the Polish peas
ants, on the banks of the Vistula
Karl Volman lived in small village of
Amspach, a teacher by profession. At that
date-the sixteenth century-the world gave
little heed to learning, and men of letters
were often troiden down by men of the
sword. Thus when FrancoLia. the daught
of Yolman,, attained her seventeenth year
though she was peerless in her beauty, and
II envy of every high born dame in Poland
she had no dOwry to set off her charms
Still, her extraordinary beauty had captivat
ed the heart Of young Lord Rudolph, the
only son of great and wealthy noble. whose
vast riches were only equalled by his haugh-
tiness.
Having learned thathis son was,infatuated
with the loveliness of the daughter of Vol
mann he summoned the humble teacher to
his presence, and fercely demanded why
Franconia had the presumption to look SO
high.
"Itis not the fault of my child, my lord
if God has made her beautiful, nor is it my
fault that she is lowy born. Can my lord
say aught against her character ?" said Karl
with dgnifed respect.
The girl is well enough, replied the old
baron = but she has not guiIder-nor a
firthing. Had she fortune-well, might
think the matter worthy of attention."
. How great a fortune, my lord ~
g How great?. Come we will put an end
to this NATTER said the baron. IF within
three years from this day, your daughter can
bring twenty thousand guilders as her mar
riage portion, she shall become the wife of
my son. If she fails, I'll marry her to my
lowest vassal. Now 60"
Mobiles were able to be tvrants in those
days, and Karl Yolmann. with little hope
in his heart, replied:
My lords will is law | agree to tie
contract" and departed
On the following day he left that part of
Poland, and 1t was nearly three years before
he was heard of again.
He had told his wife and daughter not to
expect to hear from him for three years, and
that if he did not return at the expiration of
that time, to consider him dead
Before the three years had quite expired,
his family received a letter from him, telling
that he wa, about to return hone, and that
he bad accumulated fortune of more than
twenty thousand gulders in foreign lands.
In his letter he stated that he would pass
through the town of Dallsart, which was
about three days journey from Amspach
and there the young Lord Rudolph deter
mined to meet hims
All passed well with Karl on his return,
until he arrived at Dallsart. Just at sunset
He alighted from his horse at the principal
inn, gave the animal to the care of hostler
and entered the inn, bearing upon his shoul-
der heavy leattern sack
lie entered the main room, and found it
empty, for the guests were at supper, and
only the landlord remained The landlord
burly, black -browed, powerful man,
bold and bluff in speech. and the terror of
the town, because Of bis fierce tongue and
iercer hand.
He darted glance at the poorly clad
traveller, and then at the heavy leathern
sack.
What's in the sack % said Red Richardt,
the landlord
:" A bag of nails, SIR which l hope you
will take care of for me until tomorrow" "
replied Karl, who was a timid man; and
very i'll from over exerfion.
" You need not be afraid that any one will
steal your nails, cried Red Richardt, with
loud laugh.
. Still, see you have an iron chest behind
beg you to lock up my sack"
He opened the mouth of the sack. and the
landlord saw that it was apparently crammed
full of rusty nails.
. Ha! that is queer baggage to travel
with" said Red Richardt, with scof. as
Karl carefully locked the leathern sack
= You must be a fool or Il scholar, and they
are generally the-same. Now, if this were
full of gold, eh? Then I'd say let me lock
it up"
He raised the heavy sack with both hands,
as he spoke. and tossed it into the iron
Karl turned a little pale as he noticed the
avaricious sparkle of the landlords eyes as
he spoke of gold. and remarked, humbly:
- You are already rich, sir Why want
more?'
=" More! | shall never be rich enough
until have sack like yours full, of golden
guiders, or ducats. | want more and more
every day. True, | have houses, lands
horses. and gold but want twice as much
thrice ten times as much. y
harl turned away, wishing that his " bag
OF mails" was safe at Amspach. He thought
of demanding the sack at once, and contlnu
ing his journey. for there was sudden
afablllty IN the manner of the landlord which
alarmed him. But Karl was very i'll and
weary and it was dangerous to ride alone
at night so be resolved to remain until morn
ing.
In the morning he ordered his horse to be
made ready, ate his breakfast, and calling
at the bar IN the great room, asked for his
sack.
Ine room was not empty then-oh. no !
hed Rchardt had thought of all that, and
was treating large crowd to his best wines.
as poor karl advanced to the counter and
Pray, give me my leathern bag which
you locked up in your iron box. and let me
mentn
Your leathern bag What Ieathern
bag reared Red Richardt, very loudly, so
that all eyes and ears were a. once fixed
upon harl Al had forgotten all about
the affair, be suddenly continued, turning