The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-03-25

II will not permit him 10 share the fate Of
the Others, he decided, - he returned 10
the bar. $50 brave, % young, so like the
warrior. Of my youth. I WIN have him
An hour later the bursomsster. of the VII
lage wsssstsrtIed by "a visit from Gottlieb
Gluck.
"A guard. mein herr" the landlord said.
For what2" asked the burgomaster, q
shade of annoyance in his tone.
Fer the tavern"
ITO fight the ghostss"
NO."
"What them"
II have another mysterious guest In the
interests OF intelligence and justice let him
be watched"
The burgomaster did not hesitate after
his visitors explanation, and shortly after
ward guard Of four men were dispersed
in and about the tavern, to watch the win
dows and doors, the entrances to and exits
from the haunted chamber. sa-,.s.--
Midnight tolled slowly, and what they
had anticipated actually occurred. At the
first tap OF the bell the window of the
haunted room was thrust open. Intensely
startled. they observed the young guest step
through carefully to the beam, walk its
length, steady himself, and reaching up Sc
lect the outside ring of the three that re-
NAMED. He tugged at it for some mo-
ments, and almost fell over when the rotten
wood gave way. Then they observed him
reach into the aperture formed by the screw
Of the ring and take out a small folded piece
OF paper, and retrace his footsteps to the
haunted chamber.
There it was that they surprised him, with
flushed and excited face, perusing time
discolored letter, as they entered the apart
ment.
"what means this intrusion?" he de-
manded. arising haughtily. and half draw
ing his sword from its scabbard.
1T means that We desire you to accom-
pany us to the burgomaster, replied the
officer Of the guard.
For what purpose?'
ITO explain your mysterious actions here
to- night"
The stranger bowed quietly, and took up
his plumed hat from the table.
Il am ready to accompany you," he said.
The officer approached to conduct him
officially from the place as prisoner.
Back" cried the stranger, Indignantly,
Il will not attempt to escape; promise it.,
ON the honor of Rubenstein." f''s
Strange words! They thrilled Gottlieb
Gluck as he gazed earnestly upon the
handsome strangers face.
They reused the burgomaster. late as
was the hour. Once assembled in his lit
tie office, the officer of the guard told his
story.
"And now, SIR" said the burgomaster,
pompously, when he had concluded, "f0r
yours. Your name?'"
Zurich Rubenstein. Count of the
Province of Innsprucken, and soldier of
the King"
The magistrates eyes opened to their
widest possible extent.
what is this farce?" he demanded,
sternly.
at is no farce, replied the young stranger.
Il am the Count Ulrich. stolen by my uncle
when he avenged my mothers death twenty
years ago."
The story he related to substantiate his
claim was strange one. 1t was, indeed,
Lady Agatha's brother who murdered Count
Rubenstein. He had stolen the family
Jewels and the child. had secreted the for
mer and gone to the inn. Here he had
hastily written few lines, and while
crossing the beam to find some place to
secrete it, fearing capture and death, had
found the last OF the five iron rings loose.
He had placed the paper in the aperture
formed for the staple, replaced the ring, as
with the child
But he was desperately wounded. Hasten
ing to an old friend who led a band of free
lances in the mountains. he had placed the
child in his charge, and then had died.
He had first. however, written letter tell
ing all he had done. and establishing the
parentage of the stolen child. This letter
he babe his friend give to- little Ulrich when
he was twenty-one years old.
This letter, the stranger stated. he had re-
ceiyed a few months previous to the present
time. He had found it tn contain the his
tory of his life, and the reason why his I'M
Gle wished him to wait until of age before
he attained his fortune was that the friends
of his cruel father might kill him. to secure
the estates and title of their wicked rela-
tive.
AS to the death Of the men mt the inn.
that the young Count easily explained. His
uncle in the letter had told him to go or
send to the tavern, and that under the Las.
ring fortune would he found. He had
sent two men in succession, but their ava
rice had evidently overcome their prudence.
Believing that there must also be something
of value under the other rings. they had
begun mt the first one, and in removing it
had fallen from the beam.
The paper he had found. rs described, un-
der the last ring, contained the clue TO the
hiding place of the stolen jewels.
These were recovered. the provisional
heir ousted and Castle Rubenstein once
more possessed master.
Gottleb Gluck was made seneschal of
the castle, and, under new Influences, re-
gained his old rubcundity and good humor.
but he never forgot the tragedy and mys-
terry Of the Five Iron Rings.