The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-01-29

brothers. circumstances, and ! wss
afraid that the old fox would see into
my play as he did into the game Of
chess at the coffee-house, "you have
certainly been directed to the wrong
person. l must beg pardon for request
ing you to be brief; have not Il mo-
ment to lose."
"Have patience only u minute" re-
piled he; "it Is important for me that
l should speak with you. You appear
disquieted. Has anything disagreeable
happened to you? You area stranger
here. l myself do not belong to
Prague; and l see the city now for the
first time for twelve years. But have
considerable experience. Conlide in
me. You look like an honest man. Do
you need money?n
Then Inc smiled, or rather grinned
again as if he wanted to buy my soul.
His manner became ever more suspic-
ioUs. InvOluntarily 1 cast glance at
his club foot, and really began to feel
q supefstitious dread. l was resolved
in no case to commit myself with this
sugicious gentleman, end said, "I need
no money. Since you are so generous
in your offers, sir may ask your
ne'ne?n
MY name cannot be of much conse-
QUence to you," replied he; "that's
nothing to the matter. am Mande-
vile. Docs that name give more con-
hdence?"
"a Nian-devil E" said /, in odd en-
barrassment, and knew not what to say
or whether the whole thing were in jest
or in earnest.
Just then some one knocked at the
door. The landlord entered, and hand
ed me letter which had just come by
post.
"Road your letter first" said the red
coat, "and then we will talk further.
The letter is, without doubt, from your
lovely Fanny"
/ was more startled than ever.
"Now do you know" continued the
stranger with grin: "do you not now
know who am, and what want with
you?"
1t was upon my lips to say: "You
are, sir, 1 verify believe, Satan himself
and want my poor soul for breakfast,
but I restrained myself.
."But further" added he, ,"you are 60
ing to Eyer. Good! my way lies through
that town. 1 start tomorrow. Will
you take place in my carriage ?"
thanked him, and said that 1 had
already ordered a post-chaisc.
At this he became disturbed, and
said, "There is no getting at you,-but
your Fanny, and the little Leopold and
Augustus, must get acquainted with
in going through. Can you not guess
who l am and what I want? The
Deuce! Sir, would render you a SER
vice. Do speak"
"Well," said at last, "since you are
a wizard, my pocket-book is missing.
Advise me how shall get it again."
"Boh! what signifies pocket-book
Is there not something else--?"
"But in the pocket-book were lmpor.
tant papers-more than fourteen hun
| dred dollars in value. Adviseme what
l shall do if it is lost, and what, If sto.
| len.n
GLOW did the pocket-hook look?"
at had silk cover, light green, with
| ~ hrnilnrxr md w. in{fia1S t1rrnpn lf
in flowers piece of my wife's work.
"Then the cover is worth more than
the fourteen hundred dollars" With
this he smiled upon me with his hOrri-
BE familiarity, and then added, "we
must see about it. What will you give
me, if | supply your loss ?"
At these words he looked at me as
sharply aud strangely a if he expected
me to answer, I will make you a pres.
ent of my soul but as | remained EN-,
barrassed and silent, he plunged his
hand into his pocket and drew out my
pOcket-book.
"There have you your jewel, the four
teen hundred dollars, and all" said he
was beside myself. "How came
you by ?" cried l, tearing it open
and finding all safe.
~ found it yesterday afternoon
about four o'clock, upon the Moldau
Bridge"
Right just about that time l had
crossed the bridge, had had the pocket.
book in my hands, and had, as tho't,
put it into my pocket.
at probably did not go into the pock-
ct" said the red coat. "But could not
tell whether it had been lost by person
on foot or on horseback, before or be-
hind me. waited an hour upon the
bridge, expecting to meet some one in
search Of it. AS no one came, went to
my hotel. l read the contents of the
letters, to discover tho loser. An ad =
dress gave me your name and residence
here. So / have come now to you. l
was here last evening but did not find
yon."
Good heavens! How one may be de-
ceived by a mans physiognomy 1
was ready to throw my arms around
the neck Of my NIan-devil. / said the
most obliging things to him. My Joy
was now as excessive as my previous
voxation had been. But he would lis
ten to none of my thanks. l vowed
that as long as | lived l would never
again trust to physiognomical impress
siOns.
Remember me to your beautiful Fan
ny,-a pleasant journey to you! we shall
see crchIother again." said he, and de-
parted.
(C0HtiHued.)
--s SEzr -