The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-30

OF tho noighborhood; that your castle was full
OF blood stained treasure and shamefully nc
qured booty; and that he now regarded 1t rs
the personal duty OF himself. the conservator
OF lawful order and good morals. to march
against Wenstcn and exterminate you for the
common good"
THE hypocrltlcal piratel" exclaimed Twenty
Flasks.
which he proceeded to do continued the
pilgrim. supported not only by his retaners
but by your own. must say that you male n
sturdy defence Had not your rascay Senes-
chal sold you out to Schwinkcnfels and let
down tho drawbrldgo one evening when you
were as usual fudding your brains with your
twenty bottles. perhaps Conrad never would
have gained an entrance. and my young eyes
would have been spared the horrid task Of
watching the body OF my venerated parent
dangling at tho end OF rope from the topmost
turret OF the northwest tower"
Tho Baron buried his face in his hands and
began to cry like baby. They hanged me,
did they 2" he faltered.
II nm afraid no other construction can be put
on IT," said the pilgrim. 1t was the inevitable
termination Of such career as yours had
been. They hanged you. they stranged you.
they choked you to death with rope; and the
unanimous verdict OF the community was
Justihable Homicide. You weepl Behold.
father also weep for the shame OF the house
OF Won Weinstelnl Come to my arms"
Father and son clasped each other In a long.
nffcctionate embrace and mingled their tears
over tho disgrace OF Weinsten. When tho
Baron recovered from his emotion he found
himself alone with his conscience and twenty
four empty bottles. The pilgrim had disap-
peared.
Meanwhile. in the apartments consecrated to
the Offices of maternity. all had been confusion
turmoil and distress. In four hugo arm chairs
sat four experienced matrons. each holding in
her lap a pillow OF swansdown. On each pillow
had reposed an innnitesimnl fraction OF hui
manity. recently added to the sum total Of Won
weinstcin. Ono experienced matron had dozed
over her charge: when she awoke tho pillow in
her lap was unoecupied An immediate census
taken by the alarmed attendants disclosed the
startling fact that. although there were still four
arm chairs. and four sage women. and four pill
lows OF swansdown. there were but three in-
fants. The Soneschal. rs an expert In matho-
mates and accounts. was hastily summoned
from below. His reckoning merely confirmed
the appalling suspicion. One OF the quadruplets
was gone.
Prompt measures were taken in this fearful
emergency. The corners OF the rooms were
ransacked In vain. Piles OF bedclothing and
baskets OF linen were searched through and
through Tho hunt extended to other parts OF
the castle. The Seneschal even sent out trusted
and discreet retainers on horseback to scour
tho surrounding country. They returned with
downcast countcnances; no trace Of the lost
Won Weinsten had been found
During one terrible hour the walls Of the three
neglected infants mingled with tho screams OF
the historical mother. to whom the attention OF
the four sago women was exclusively directed.
At tho end OF the hour her ladyship had suf-
nciently recovered to implorc her attendants to
make a last though hopeless. count. On three
pillows lay three babies bowling Justify in uni
son. On the fourth pillow reposed fourth in
FAINT. with mysterious smile upon It's face but
chooks that bore traces Of recent tears.