New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-11-20
But at the end Of the month he had

But at the end of the month he had
disappeared; the house was locked up and no
vestage Of Occupati On about it. We gave him
plenty of ROY e, but at the end of another two
months, legal steps were taken for his eviction.
The Judge, the Mayor, the Grefier-all the
officials were in attendance The cottage
was summoned to surrender. Itmade no re-
ply. Thereupon, after three several demands
for admittance, the door was broken open.
There was nothing inside but a worm eaten
oaken buffet" and q pile of tishing-nets. The
place was cleared out and the nets deposited
at the marie; and now thought should be
cost of the cOur Already had had several
applications for it, houses being in great de-
mand; but had not yet settled upon tenant,
being anxious to get neighbor to my TASTE
But when offered the place to the man had
chosen, to my surprise he declined at once TO
take it. And it was the same with all the rest
OF my proposed tenents. They were very sor-
ry, but the house would not suit. Presently
found out the reason. Gown had made it
known in the village that he had sworn
great oath that the first intruder who slept in
his house should not leave it alive. In vain
rallied the people upon their cowardice
WELL" said the stoutest and most courage
Gus among them: "If Monsieur Will himself
sleep there for the first time, agree to take
the cottage without another word"
/ soon saw that this was the only way to
quench the dread of Gown in the minds Of the
villagers, and as long as that dread lasted
there was no chance of letting the cottage. 1
felt too that there was kind of challenge to
my courage in the mans insolent threat.
Therefore I made known in the village that on
such night would sleep at GOWNS cottage.
should be armed with loaded revolver, and
let jokers beware for should certainly fire up.
on any one who disturbed me.
The wind howled in melancholy fashion,
with great swaying, rushing sound from the
path that led to GOWNS. had to grope !or
the garden gate in the darkness, and as I
touched the handle, the door Of the loft went
to with loud bang. I had not thought of
locking that, and now the wind had got it
open and was blowing about it, or perhaps it
was Gown on the lookout for me. 1 climbed
up the outside stair that led to the loft, shell
tered by the overkanging caves of the thatch-
ed gable, closed the door and locked it, first
lighting my lantern in the shelter and looking
carefully around. Then l made my way to
the front door along the garden path all
chOked up by luXuriant vegetable growth
The branches and tendrils of the unpruned
vine caught at me and drew me back like de-
tanning fingers, but went on and opened the
door boldly.
The first thing came in contact with was
an object hanging from the r.fters, something
in the shape of man swinging slowly around
It was Gown no doubt. Yes, there he was in
his habits as he lived, coat, trowsers and fish
erman's boots-but nothing inside them. Sim
ply GOWNS clothes hanging there. It was
relief for the moment, and yet the fact itself
was startling. The clothes were GOWNS; they
conveyed a distinct impression Of their owner.
They had not been there in the morning.
Gown must, therefore, have visited the place
very recently; perhaps even now he was hid
den somewhere within. Perhaps, too. there
was secret meaning and significance in this
conveyed in it? Why was not the Professor
here TO tell me what it sgnitled in his wretch
ed code of primitive morals?
1soon satisfied myself that Gown was not
concealed on the premises, and I discovered
too how he might have effected both exit and
entrance. There was a window unfastened
in the inner room quite big enough for the
purpose, and the marks of muddy feet fresh
upon it. But why should he have taken all
the trouble?
Oh! there was paper pinned to the suit of
clothes. It was the summons Gown had re-
ceived to appear in cancellation" There
was significance about this, as if it had heeu
might be meant, Gown should see, how esti-
mated his thrests. cut down GOWNS clothes,
and, squeezing them into a bundle, threw
them out of the window. Then I closed all
the shutters and fastenings, and lay down on
the mattress had sent up for the purpose,
with my raugs carefully wrapped about me
and the loaded revolver ready to my hand
had lit 3 fire in the hearth With faggots,
and that at first threw a bright glow, but by
degrees the light dwindled and went ont
The wind roared and beloved as If the for
est had been full of wild beasts. But I was
tired and must have slept, although was not
conscious of it when I finally found myself
10 Il 10 h,,tx
of sleep. l had an idea that was being tried
for making away with Gown, and that the
verdict was Guilty, to be beaten with a rod
of fire." And there was the fiery rod, sure
enough-foatlng in the air, as itseemed to me.
Aroused the full consciousness, / gazed at it
resolved itselfinto glare Of light, shining
through longitudinal crack in the wooden
shutter. That window looked over toward
my house. That was the cause of the light?
There was no moon. Could it be fire? /
threw open the shutter. There was bright
fire Of light from just below and luminous
smoke rising through the trees. At the mo-
ment the terrible thought shot through my
brain: "My house has been fred. Perhaps
here is GOWNS revenge!"
In my mad rush toward home remember
ed that a ladder was the most indispensable
thing, and that there was one under the caves
of the stable. I'd save precious moments if I
caught this up on my way. There was now
no doubt of the fire: tle sky all of glow, and
a vivid tongue Of flame darling heavenward.
The ladder had been removed; the tiend who
had planned this had carried out his wicked
work completely. hurried on. The village
was already alive, and heard the great
church bell changing out the alarm vigorous
~. My home was in a blaze; what had be-
come of wife and child?
:, Happily my wife was safe; she stood by the
: arden-gate wrapped in cloak-half dis
t-acted, wringing her hands and crying.
Where was Oracle? No one answered my
frantic demand, and the next momeut I was
trying to Chamber up to the upper windows