The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-25

III.
The unexpected visit from the munihcent
Won Spreckdal quite bewildered mel was
ecstatjc. Yesterday" saif TO mysclf,
as contemplated the pile OF ducats shining
IN the sun" yesterday sinfulIy consider
cd the ACCESSIBILITY Of cutting my throat,
aud sll for the want OF few miserable
forms. How fortunate that did not open
nv razor II ever I atB again tempted 10
end this existence, | will probt by ex'
perIence aud put it Of till the morrow"
After making these wholesome reflections
I sat down TO finish my sketch. Few
strokes OF the pencil was all u required.
But these few strokes found II Impossible
10 make: had lost the thread a my IN.
spirstion. Cudgel my brain rs would l
could get nothing from IL that barmonized
any better with the rest OF the sketch than
figure Of Raphael would with the frequent
ers OF one of Teniers's pot-houses.
While was thus absorbed, was sud-
denly INTERRUPTED by Rap. who, a. be was
in the habit Of doing. entered my room
without rapping. AS his astonished eyes
fell upon nv pile Of ducats. he cried out IN
tone that enraged me beyond all control !:
$50, so, Mr.. Painter, | catch you, DO l!
Perhaps you'll tell me now you nave no
money tn. ~.
As he spoke he came forward with bis
fingers crooked. ms though about to seize
something, and with certain nervous
agitation that the sight OF gold so often
produces in the avariciOus.
For n moment | was stupefed; but the
recollection OF the indignites had been
compelIed TO submit TO from the fellow, MS
greedy look, and his insulting smile, were
more than sufficient TO arose me. l sprang
toward him, seized him by the shoulders,
and, quick a. thought, put him out OF the
room. slamming the door in his vulgar race.
But no sooner was he outside the room
than the old curmudgeon began 10 cry out,
at the top OF his voice:
"My money! pay me my money, you
thief! Give me my money !"
Nv neignbors came out OF their rooms,
and added to The confusion by shouting out !:
=. Whats the matter? Who's thief
What's all this 2"
Before the worthy Rap could satisfy any
OF these inquiries / flung my door open,
and By wel.drected kick sent him heels
over head down the first flight OF stairs.
"Tha's what's the matter." | cried. and
returned to my den, boiling the door
securely. while my neighbOrs made the
house reSound with loud pealS OF laughter.
was well satisfied with myself; felt
truly triumphant. The episode had put
new life into me. | returned 10 my sketch,
and bad Just finished it quite 10 my salts
| faction, when my attention was arrested by
an unusual noise. II reminded me OF the
striking OF the butts Of muskctS on the
pavement. | looked out OF the window,
and saw three gendlrmes in full uniform
leaning on their carbines and standing
directly before the street-door.
"The devil" said to myself, not lit
tie terrified, "have /, perhaps, broken
some of the fellows bones ~
Suddenly some one tried my door. 1t
was fastened, which seemed TO give rise TO
general camor. But soon a voice was
heard above the others; it cried out
| "Open, in the name OF the law
arose, to find that my knees had sud-
denly become very week.
"Open the door," the voice repeated.
At the third summons, "Open the door,
or we shall force it," seeing that escape
was impossible, | slipped back the bolt.
In an instant a stalwaTt fellow seized me
bv the collar. and little, pompOus official.
whose breath was extensively odorous OF
alcohol, announced:
'Sir, you are my prisoner"
They thrust me into q cab between two
brawney fellows, armed with heavy clubs
secured 10 their wrists with leather straps
was glad they drove away without de-
Law, as in very few minutes we should
have had all the iders in the neighborhOO
about us.
As soon as had sufficient control over
my OF cans OF speech turned to one OF my
glIardians-tbe one whose mien seemed to
me the least fOrbidding-and asked what
had done.
"Hans. he asks what he has done ha, ha,
ha - says he to his comrade.
Their laughter fairly chilled my blood.
II was not long before shadow enveIOp-
ed us. and the sound OF the horses feet
echoed under an archway. We were at the
entrance Of the kaspelhaus. 1t is there
that one may say
Dams Get antre,
j vols fort ben CONNIE IOn entire.
Fl he vols point CONNIE on en- SORTS
The police officers and the iaier put me
Professionally into sort OF ante-rOOm.
The taller, as well as | remember, was
called Kasper Schluessel. With his gray
woollen cap, his pipe in his mouth. and his
bunch OF keys at his waist, he reminded me
OF the god HbOu OF the Caribs. He had the
same large eyes, with & yellow circle, that
see in the night. noise like comma,
while his neck disappeared between his
shoulders.
SChlueSse locked me in as mechanically
as one locks his bureau-draWer, his thoughts
the while seeming to be far away. As for
me, | stood fully ten minutes with nv
hands behind my back, looking down at the
floor.
crap" said, | to myself, after taking a
complete survey OF the SITUATION" Rap
cried out rs he fell, Il am killed! | am
killed!' but he did not say by whom.
will swear it was my neighbor, the old
merchant with the green spectacles, and he
Will be hanged in my place."
| / sat down on the straw and claSped my
hands around my knees in the most I'M
enviabe frame OF mind imaginable. | had
not been long seated when it occurred TO
me that Rap, before breathing bis last, may
have denounced me. The thought brought
me quickly to my feet; | couehed inyolun-
tariv, and imagined felt choking sensa-
ton as though the hempen cord were
already round my neck.
just at this moment my Authorizations
were interrupted by footsteps in the passage
way. Schuessel opened my door and babe
me follow him. He was still assisted by
thV i"O ODCcls VINO ndu udu TIC uOuol vi
lodging me In prison. They received me
with a triumphant smile as | issued forth,
| as though they were proud Of their achieve.
meDt. seemed to take no notice OF them,
but, summoning all my fOrtitude, / followed
with tOIerably firm step.
We passed through long galleries. lighted
from distance TO distance by small grated
windows. On the way / saw, behind mas
size bars, the famous Jic-Jack, who was to
pay the pepalty of his crimes the next day