The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-08-31


"'What do you want?' inquired
Excuse me for disturbing you, but
on the other side Of the parlor another
Beneath the third plank on the north
II great treasure Look for it, He
bowed and passing his hand through his
curs dissappeared-I could hardly tell
how. He did not seem to 60 into the
parlOr again. Being very busy all day |
soon forgot this singular dream, as |
considered it, and after spending the
evening at the house of one of the mag
mates ofthe place returned to my room
as late as ono at night. I soon fell
asleep and the boy appeared to me
again saying:
You paid no heed to what told
you last night about the treasure under
the floor. | assure you it will be very
little trouble for you to search for it, you
will be well rewarded"
Here Madame Mikailitsch stared ear
nestly at her husband, who seemed to
avoid meeting her eyes lay turning to
the colonel, who was lister ing attentive
ly, stroking his whiskers meanwhile.
II attributed this second dream to the
impression left on me by the first, and
W. LAC ANNt tAA<SV AAStO C0CCI p1CVty ScoN
supper at the house of my new acQuaint-
ance. The youth left me- with an ex-
preston Of displeasure on his counten-
ance and omitted to bow. In the morn
ing Agatha knocked at my door, and
taking out of the bosom o her dress two
letters handed them to me. They re-
4uired my presence at the house of Il
farmer some miles distant" There the
narrator arose, lit another cigar, drank a
little wine and looked out at the sky be-
fore resuming his story. Meanwhile the
lightning became less frequent and ill.,.
thunder a mere distant growing.
II returned to my quarters" contin-
ued Mikailitsch, "about 8 O'Clock, and
after tea put on my dressing gown and
seated myself at my round table to write
letters. 1t was half past II when I fin
ished my labors and went to bed. After
sleeping awhile I awoke suddenly. \
hand seemed to touch the chords of the
old dulcimer, actually played a tune on
it. | seized g! match and hastily lit my
candle. looked everywhere, there was
nobody to be seen. The door leading in
to the parlor, was closed and locked,
though had left it open. unlocked it
empty room, empty all except the stove
on the other side Still nobody to be
seen. This room I found communicated
with another, also empty not containing
even a stove. Going into this my atten-
ton was attracted by a small, low door,
partly open. Beyond were three steps.
Going down these steps, at the risk of
having my candle extinguished by the
draught, entered Il small yard filled
with rubbish, empty bottles, broken
boxes, and where the ceiling was too
low to permit me to stand upright. There
being nobody in sight, there was moth
ing t. do but return to my own room. I
don't at all object to say that, although
nothing Of a coward, 1 did feel my heart
beat faster than usual. I examined the
sympathetic instrument 1t was open
although it was closed when 1 went to
bed. There might have been rat
running over the keys, but how could he
play a tune? So blew out my candle,
and, lying down, slept till morning"
"What the devil could it have been?"
asked the Colonel.
''Who knows? Well ihe next night I
took care to lock the door between me
and the parlor, as we'll us the one on
the other side, 10y means Of While Il access
garnet. heard a distant clock strike
lNClSS. CllNC<\N OiCNt ~ IClILtlAll NNt:kC.
From my bed I could in the dim light
distinguish the ducimer, it was closed.
Everything was hushed in the silence of
midnight, except my watch. After some
time heard Footsteps in the parlor,
they came nearer and nearer-thcy
paused--;hen the dulcimer was heard
one tune and the another. lgrasped my
friend, the matchbox. The first match
failed me, as first matches generally do
OH an emergency. With the second I
lit my friend, the candle. Again l
distinctly heard footsteps in the parlor.
l went there, but found no one. It was
now, by my watch, two o'clock l went
to the table and wrote on scrap Of pa
per wi led pcncil, Two o'clock. 1
am awake In the morning when I
awoke there lay the paper on the table.
Icould not comprehend it. Could I have
got up in my sleep to write that I was
awaken"
How did it all endw asked the colonel.
"1ou mean to inquire what took place
the course of that day l received a tele-
gram obliging me to leave Varilof, and
have never been there actually
came away without the treasure, with
out even looking for it."
''How unfortunate! would not have
gone; would have sent word that I was
Ill. Such strange sOunds-the DEVIL
and the treasure, too! What could it
have been?"
81 don't believe one word of it," said
Madame Mikailitsch; mot one word. It
balcony door. "How delightful the air
is! Come here, gentlemen. Is not this
better than any ole storyM =
They all arose. The freshness of the
atmosphere after the storm was most ex-
hilarating. The gentlemen brought out
their chairs and sat in the balcony slnok-
ing until the first streaks of dawn
stretched across the eastern sky. The
lady went on an exploring expedition,
such as the sex. loves, through the cd
house.
"Morning," said the Colonel, and we
have been up ali night. think I will &c
to my room and get an hours sleep OF
SO and join you at breakfast, Sergei.'
las you please, Colonel, you know
the way"
'By the way, Mlkailits:h, is there
any use in asking you to stay to break
''None at all. l see my horses ready
down below, and I think I hear my
wife coming"
"A word before she comes-how was
it about that ghost Of yours"
"Well, I really did 60 to Variloff, an(
really slept in the deserted old house
and saw the musical instrument. The
| old man told me some nonsense while
drank my tea, and in repeatingit
have substituted II for he. That is all
| Here she comes"
To preserve cucumbers for winter use
pick them from the vines each day
leaving short stem on each. Cover the
bottom ola wooden tub or key with sew
eral inches Of salt, put in a layer of GU
cumbers and then one of salt; fill the
tub in this manner. Lay cloth oye1
the top and fit a board cover which
should have weight on it to hold the
cucumbers under the brine. A scum
will rise which may be removed once :
week until it ceases to appear, by taking
off the cloth and washing it out. Cucunl
bers will keep in this way for two years
When wanted for use they must be thor
ouyhly freshened, and then pickle by
pouring over them hot vinegar will
spices.
I EHifh