The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-10-12

FouSh-neWn leHOW, Win whom L ha
lodged in one of the remoter villages, afte
reciting, to an attentive circle, my feats il
walking, running, climbing and leaping
wind up with, And he knows how t.
write
That was the day that / got this pis
toll pursues my Amphitryon; "and gooe
services he did me that day. If it hadn't
been for him | should have lost a gooC
handful OF money, and mayhap my life into
the bargain ,"
T." All how did that happen ?" asked /,
This is just the time for a good story
suppose you tell me about it before turn
in"
Nothing loath, my host knocks the ashes
cut of his pipe, recharges it and, clearing
his throat vigorously begins as follows:
You must know then, BARN, that | had a
cousin, EasilE Maslof by name, who in
stead of sticking to the village, as | did,
was all for getting away to one of the great
towns, thinking to push his way there, and
pick up money as you would mushrooms in
the wood. And sure enough, one day he
went off to Moscow; and after a time, / got
word that he had managed to find work in
one of the big German shops on the Kouz-
netski Most, he was fame Us hand at wood
carving and such like), and that he was
getting on pretty WE'LL for as our proyerb
says, Heaven helps the helpful man.
and Vasllli was always one to stand on his
own feet. And after that l had no news
Of him for long time, and was beginning
to forget all about him, when, all of sud
den, there comes to one day big package
of bank-notes, and letter with them, saw
,,,r h.t l.
kingdom of heaven y and had left me all
the money he had saved-some two thous-
and roubles or so, (about f260, which
was great wind-fall to poor fellow like
me-"
You should just have seen him that
day, BARN, chimes in,laughing the lady of
the house, who had just finished herpfApar-
ations for my further accommodation
When he opened the packet, and saw the
notes he stared about him like Il dog that's |
lost his MASTER and all the rest of the dav |
he went about as if he didn't know where |
he was"
Well, you needn't laugh at me- Vas |
ilissa,' rctorts her husband with a broad |
grin; .'you kept on counting the notes
yourself for an hour or more, and never
counted EN- right after all and the two
augh in lusty chorus.
You may be sure, BARN. he contin-
les, turning to me, " that l wasn't long in
INVITING my friends to come and rejoice
with me over the good luck that God had
ent: and by in the evening l had already
or 'em-the tea urn boiling, the black
,read and bacon laid out, Il dish of salted
ucumbers, and a halfgallon of 'volka
corn brandy into the bargain. Just as
d finished laying out the table, (my wife
lad gone out to buy some sausages,) there
anne knock at the door. Thinks l, {
There are my guests come already; and !
went to let them in. But when | opened {
he door, heaven preserve usD what
hould | see but three men in black masks, 4
nd the foremost of EN- with t, pistol in c
is hand-this very same pistol that's t
ing on the table now a
"Oho . that pistols trophy taken from q
ne enemy, then" remarked l. "This
egins to get interesting. Go on, pray"
I'm not going to say | wasn't fright t
ned" pursues the starosta. 81 was
'ightened, and very badly frightened, too, f
can tell you. But before | could say a u
ord, the foremost blackguard clasps his
md on my shoulder, and says to me in :
,icc that sounded as if it came down the
limney. Hand over that money YOU got
lis mornino: nnickh. ar | wiz s-,..A 49,
ard the pistol click as he cooked 1t.
ell, as YOU know, when needs must,
,cre's no time for brewing beer so |
ent to the big chest yondcr, and out with
lc bank-notes: but in handing them out,
managed to tuck two or three OF them
to my sleeve. The rogue counted them
vice over and shook his head.
s.This won't do" says he, catching me
v the collar. I've know exactly how
uch YOU got this morning, and we mean
, have it all; so, ont with what you've 0
idden, or it will be the worse for you. $
Then all at once thought came into
" head, lust as if somebody had whis ,
cred it to me: and | shook the bank-notes ,
1t of my sleeve on the floor, so that they ,
cw this way and that way. The rogue, 4
airing, no doubt, that some of them might l
1t lost, pounced upon them to plck EN- 4
p, putting down his pistol, just as l
fought he would. But the minute he
osed hold of it snatched it up and shot
IN dead on the spot"
Nv driver gave a hoarse, chuckling laugh
: intense enjoyment; while the starosta,
lused for a moment in order to heighten
lc effect of his last sentence, handles the
.pturcd pistol with a belligorent air.
"Well donc!" put in |, you had trick :
| him very nicely. But what did the
.her two do? Run away, | suppose"
- You may say that" replied the narra-
n, with a louder grin than ever; they
ere gone almost before | could turn
round. Well, when | found myself safe
gain, and the field clear, | felt so dazcd
nat | almost thought | should have
linted; but | knew there was more to be
one vet, so l dipped my head in pan Of !
-ater, to clear it a bit, locked up the house, {
ut the key in my pocket, and ran away as
ard as | could 20 to the 'kvartalnl, (dis ,
rict police inspector.) But when | got !
here he was not at home. They said he ]
ad gone out more than an hour before,
nd hadn't come back yet; so there was
othing for it but to 90 on to the next sta
ion, across the river yonder, and tell the
vartalni there.
The minute he heard what had happened,
e clasps on his coat, calls three or four Of
is men, and away we all went to my hut,
where we found the dead fellow lying on
he floor Just as | had left him. The
vartalni's 5 men pulled off his mask; and
yho should it be but the very police inspec-
or | had been looking for And the other
wo robbers, as | found out afterward,
we're the village postmaster and the priest.
And now, BARN, here's your place ready
or you; and may heaven send you good
lights rest