Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-04-14

III tnree months.
Greta's happiness was truly refresh.
ing, and / felt that my interest in tn,
girl had reawakened. | turned nv
oaek on the hotels and pensions freouen.
ted Dy the travelling public, and. hiring
room IN chalet near the mill. had
ample. time to make the ACQUAINTANCE
OF Greta's lover, Max UIrIch. an honest
KIND hearted fellow, quite the one to
make my little friend happy. They
seemed pleased and flattered-thougf
indeed there was no cause for the latter
Ieellng-at my interest in them, and
we made many pleasant excursion
together up the mountains and along
the river. But one never-to-be-forgot
ten day sad interruption came to all
our gaity.
Here must pause for moment and
glance back at some of the past affairs
OF the little community among which
found myself.
A family of the name of Harteck
llVed near 1nterthal, upon farm OF
their own, considered a valuable one.
One of the sons, Adolph, had been
much of rover in his early youth
had run away to sea, and had led rather
wild life, people said. lie had re-
turned to the farm year or so before
my second coming to the neighborhood
and had lived there quietly enough,
though they said he occasionally drank
glass too much, and had an uncertain
temper, which made his neighbors shy
OF making friend OF him.
y few months after his return to the
farm, Harteck found himself in straits
for money, and applied to Ulrich,
Greta's lover, who was known to have
quite hord in view of his approaching
marriage. Harteck's security in farm
property was undoubtedly good, and
he promised to pay a very high rate of
interest if Ulrich would lend him q
sum of money for six months. Ulrich,
thinking it good investment, advanced
two hundred pounds-his entire savings
for the past ten years. Both men
agreed that the transaction should be
Kept as secret rs possible, as Ulrich
was little afraid of being thought im-
prudent, and Harteck did not care to
have it known that he needed to borrow
money.
4 note in high sounding legal phra-
seology had been drawn up; Harteck
had signed it in Max Ulrich's
presence; and the paper lay in an
old pewter coffee-pot among the rafters
of Ulrich's cottage, where formerly his
money had been hidden. a lawyer had
seen the paper just after it had been
drawn up, and said that it would be
valid as soon as the borrowers sigma
ture was added; 50 Ulrich'S mind was
quite at ease.
Time passed, and Greta's wedding
day was only three weeks distant.
"By-the-way, Max" said one af-
ternoon, as the young mans mother
was serving me with a glass of butter
milk in her tidy kitchen and drawing
room in one, "let me see Harteck's
note: it must be nearly due now."
The young man he'd taken me into
his confidence; but neither Greta nor
the old mother knew anything of the
loan. Frau Ulrich was very deaf, SO
my request was no betrayal Of conf
dence.
"YeS, sir" he answered. 'I mean
to ask Harteck for my money next
week; have delayed as long as l can,
for the sake of the interest he has
promised to give me-"
While his mother was busy outside,
Max climbed up TO the loft called by
courtesy his bedroom, and presently
returned with a battered pewter coffee
pot minus a handle. With a certain
air of triumph, he produced care
fglly-folded paper.
81 think you will find nothing wrong
with that, sir" he SAID. The school
master wrote it, and the Gerichtsrath
Monch said it would be as good rs
gold when Harteck put his name TO
it."
I looked at the paper narrowly, and
turned it over and over, conscious that
my face was growing long and serious
as an undertaker's, and that Max was
watching me intestly.
'.Is this all the security you have for
your money!" asked while my breath
came with difficulty.
why, yes, sir! Isn't that enoughP"
said Max, turning pale.
THAT paper is not worth brass
farthmgl" L exclaimed. "There IS no
s'No signatureI Surely, sir, you are
"See for yourself if 1 speak truth or
not"
The space left after the words "sign
here" in a badly executed circle was
perfectly blank, and there was not
vestige of the name OF Adolph Har-
Leck anywhere on the paper.
Max looked as If he had seen a ghost
Drops stood out on his forehead and
lis hands shook violently.
1T swear 10 you, sir that Adolph
Harteck wrote his name on that note
IS surely as I'stand here. did not
zee hint was bitter cold day, and
was warming my hands at the lire
but heard the scratch of the pen, and
looked at the signature as he gave
ne the note with the sand sticking
.hickly over the letters, but all plain
md clear. l folded 1t up carefully,
md have not disturbed it since; and
am sure no one else has. There Is some
about it which i cannot un-
ierstand."
'It is certainly very strange, and l
confess 1 do not understand how the |
lame YOU saw written upon this paper
;ix months ago should have vanished
70 completely. But let US trust that
fIarteck Is an honest fellow, and that
ne will pay his debts without raising
my objections"
If he wished to play the rogue, his
yay Law clear before him; but hoped
he best for Ulrich.
The affair, alas, turned out as my
lrst fears had predicted Harteck de,
Jared that the loan had been discussed
md the paper drawn up, but thas
,Jlrich at the last moment had changed
lis mind, and had never given hlm the
money. The whole village was In ex-
ltement, the majority sympathlSng
With Ulrich, but many believing Har'
eck,s story-that Max had been TOD
,ed of his savings. and was trying 10
make good his loss by forcing it ou. Oh
lim-Harteck. The ex-sailor had
landsome face and figure, and an eio-
Iuent tongue when he chose to SPEAK,