The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-03-22

dining-room, which opened into the
kitchen, and peeped through crack in
the door.
81 noticed that Gerta had disappeared,
and that my mother was unfastening the
door. When she had undone all the
bolts, she stepped back to the table, and
began chopping meat as if nothing were
the matter.
"The door opened and a gentleman
walked in-at least I thought he was a
gentleman at first, but soon saw that he
was only common peasant, though he
had on very grand blue coat with brass
buttons. He strobe in with a swagger,
and said, grufly, What has your hus-
band done with that money he stole from
me asst year,
"A1y mother looked astonished, as
well she might, but when the man went
on to say: Where is Herr Handelsman
Ruhlfeldt? Tell him to come here
directly my mother took her hands out
of the sage-meat, and rubbing them to-
gether, said, smiling and courtesying, as
she does when the Herr Borgmastre and
his wife, or any other great friends
come to drink tea. Certainly, mein
Herr. Walk in please to the drawing
room. Herr Ruhlfeldt is entertaining
some friends there. Pray walk in.
"Inever saw any one look so astonished
as that man: he seemed inclined to rush
out at the open door, but, commanding
his feelings, he only said, Very we'll,
the Herr Handelsman has no need to
move; can help mysel-I know the
bureau. The guests are very quiet, and
are, perhaps, sitting on the roof" he
added, impudently, pointing at the same
time with grin to the drawing-room
door, which had flown open and showed
the place perfectly empty.
"Saying this, our noctural visitor pro-
duced an ak from under his coat, and
pushing my mother out of the way, pro-
ceeded toward the study, where the
money was kept. My mother resolved
at all events to keep him in the kitchen
until the workmen from the saw-mill
came up, so she cried, Don't hurry
yourself, Herr Robber; my husband is
in the dining-room-I will call him >
and she being strong woman, caught
the thief by his arm, while she cried,
Herr Ruhlfeldt! Herr Ruhlfeldtl
/" Yes, yes, my wife, replied a deep
voice from the dining-room. am quite
sure that must have cracked my voice
trying to make it such a manly bass.
However, my little ruse succeeded.
"The robber sank to his knees, and my
mother looked as much astonished as he
did. 1 could hardly help laughing; but
managed to say, in still deeper voice,
1 come, Brita, come; wait till 1 get
my pistols and then ratified at the
door, while the robber stood irresolute
81 don't know how the matter would
have ended had not Gerta arrived with
the saw-mill men. The robber, on see
ing them, sprang to the threshold, which
he cleared at bound, and was lost in
the darkness. My poor mother dropped
half fainting on chair, but we had no
time to attend to her. Gerta was ex-
hausted with hard running, SO I had to
light lanterns for the men, and then I
managed to slip out after them when
they went to search for the thief.
al kept carefully in the shade of Ossi
Pavola, who, with the other men,
searched the place all over but they
found no one, and all agreed that it was
useless to hunt any more. But knew
of place they had not looked into, SO,
suddenly emerging from behind Ossi, !
said, bravely, Il believe the robber is
hidden in the space between the two
large plank-piles.'"
81 suppose that looked very spectral
in my long white dressing-gown, fol
Matti Wegelius. who had been boasting
about his thief-taking exploits, started
back, and seemed quite scared at my
sudden appearance.
"We went to the place I had men.
toned, and there, sure enough, was Herr
Robber, with two other good comrades
jammed between the deals, and unable
to defend themselves.
"They were easily captured ano
pinioned. Our thief had great stee
knife in the lining of his coat. Ugh
how it looked. He and his friends were
brought before the Ting district court)
and we had no more alarms from Herr
Peskoff"