New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-09
THE WARNING OFTHE SWORD.
BY GILBERT CAMPBELL.

lie as possible drank Il great deal more beer than
was good Tor me- and did an occasional turn with
the schlagcr in the Angels Meadow. These how
ever are details INTO which there is necessity
for NE 10 enter. The whole point OF my story
turns upon the fact that had an intimate friend.
Young SuaDlan gentleman named otto Won
Gildensheim. He WAS dreamy sort of fellow
and dcllS GIFTED in books which dealt largely with
the superintendent mere ghost stories in which
the impossible is largely mingled with the ridicu-
lous, but those wicrd tales OF second sight, of
mystic warnings ana the power Of the soul 10
leave the body and travel beyond the limits OF
tue earth. He had quite collection of these
quaint old stories, ana would sit porting over them
for hours, while | amused myself with, confess.
literature of an entirely different description,
which he seldom cOndcsccndcd 20 open. once,
however, when, having nothing 10 read, TOOK
up volume of q" Guy Mannering, | found some
thing in 1t which interested otto at once ms
tie description of the unhappy revenue
officer, Kennedy, being extremely hgh-sprlted, ana
the prediction that when man is feN-as nus
is termed by the Scotch-something serious was
very likely to bcfall him. ] pointed ms on, 10
otto, and he became Interested III lnc hia''ci
that he took the volume from me ana remained
absorbed III its pcrusal for a full hour, uhui ao
length | became impatient, ana salu 'onic'
put down that musty old book for the present
YOU know we have promised TO be at ola Hans
Sachss fencing school tonight ana you "o"lo
not. | am sure. like 10 disappoint hlm
NO. no." returned Otto, reluctantly placing
the book upon the table and rising from the scat
in which he had been lounging = must no, 1al
in keeping my promise TO old Sachs; besides
promised 10 have q bout with HIM with blunted
sabrcs. Bnt first of all. | must 60 back TO my
own rooms. My father sent me an ordcr on old
Isaac Wcukheim, the banker, and | drew the
money coming here. You know my weakness
for gold | took all the change in that metal, and
az my dear old father was extra generous this
time | had nearly a thousand marks.
Why did you not go straight nome win u
10 your own rooms instead of bringing II here TO
tempt me? Why, the sum is quite sufficient TO
make one student murder and rob his chum
laughed l.
You may he nearer the mark than You i'm
agine answered Otto. for as left WcnShclm
] saw two most unmitieatcd scoundrcls hanging
about the door. and ! fancicd that they looked
at me rather curiouslv. | had the little bag OF
gold in my hand and. not by any means hklng
their manner ! tried to drop IL into my pocket.
OF course the irony of fate impelled II 10 shp
through my fingers. and 1t fell with a pretty
aurferous Jingle upon the pavement. lo'lcea
the men prick up their ears at the SOUND, ana;
thinking discretion the better part Of ValOr, l
came straight 10 yolr rooms instead OF gong 10
my own. | had originally intended dong
SO. if YOU have a burglarious entry made upon
your premises tonight, you VIII Know 10 WhaU
cause to ascrlbe II.
Most innocent of Suabians, retorled L. 40
You think that if these fellows know their husl-
ness YOU will throw them of the scent ny so
simple device as the one You have Just practlscu
Directly they You enter this house, ne sure
that they will have made every inquiry ana as
covered that YOU are Herr Otto Won GlldcnShelm.
a student of the University of lledclbcr- residing
at 40 Fredericstrasse
"Our German rogues are not so clever as all
that" laughed Otto. and fancy that shall not
he troubled with NM. les Volcurs again. How
ever come along. and we shall be in plenty oil
time. after all.
We accordingly left my rooms and walked
rapidly to the FrcdericStrassc casting suspicious
glances at all The shabtllN dressed persons we
met en- route Otto. however declared tilal ne 'llu
not recognize his friends. and congratulated INN
self in having bafllcd them 50 easily. myself.
however was not 50 confident. but deemed II
wise 10 say nothing OTTO sccmc'. IN WondciluIN
high spirits and laughed and talked IN style
nuite different from his usual quiet and rather re-
served manner.
Producing key from his pocket. my friend
opened the door Of his rooms, which were entered
from the courtyard. and the windows Of which
faced the street. They were much more II VI
rolisly furnished than the generality Of students
dens. and were filed with cnryed-oak cablrci>'
quaint old tables aud comfortable arm-clalrs
bookshelf occupied almost one side OF The room,
filed with those quaint volumes OF sGpcTnai nral
lore ir which my friends soul delighted. There
were several chamngly executed Ma'crc"ior
drawings upon the walls. the Work OF my iI!cnu
twin sister. Ouila. who was no mean prOhclcnt
with the brush and over tie chimney -plcce-ior
there was an open fire place instead OF the Gus
tomary German stOVe-was trophy OF arms
chiefly OF Eastern manufacture. There were the
tinlar of tie Indian Empire, the Turkish sclnlitar
and the long straight sword Of Ahysslnia, Malay
krcescs, japanese swords and few clumsy-look-
mo Instruments Of murder from China. My
friend was extremely proud OF this cCHecucni
which he kept in the most perfect ordeI Al
She various weapons were arranged IN quaint
fantastic patterns. and in all cases the scabDards
the opposite end of the room.
Otto secured his bag Of coin in huge oaken
bureau. and then, turning to me. remarked as
he pointed to a black French clock. which tucked
nosily from its pOsiNcn between the windows
You chopped me of from that interesting book
hebcr bruder. with most unnecessary haste 81
down and smoke a pipe. while Just rchears,
few acts with which | intend TO make Oid Hans
Sachs's lcathern Jacket smoke. You know that
we are, to play with the bldnied sa9i,s; ana IL
YOU a feint by which will lay yOu Il dozen of
Rudcshemer tina, | will hit the old old fox three
times out OF five.
lie laughed mcrIly as he spoke ana | again
wondered at his unusual spirits. and once more the
remembrance of tie Inflated Kennedy flashed
Quo meanwhile was standing on tiptoe, en-
dcavOring 10 reach down one Of the sabres with
which he intended utterly 10 break through The
guard Of the old fencing master. lie had taken
of his coat and waistcOat so as TO gave his arms
free play. while ] had repaired 10 thr remote
corner be had polnicd orr as an asylum OF refuge
from the keen edge Of the blad"
should have mentioned that OTTO Won GidcIs-
helm was a most cOnsunmatr sworGsman lie
told me that a. soon lie was Of an age 10
grasp light substitute for a sword. his father
an old 6tvalry officer had daily given him les
sons. and consequently a. the age OF 'wcnty-one
ne possessed a wrist Of iron and IN eye winch
could in moment caich me NedkAeSs OF an All
versarN'S guard.
Take care. OTTO remarked !. as he strove -
reach one OF the tOpmos' weapons; ynn will
bring the whole lot about your ears. rake
chair. man. and do the thing properly
Not !, replied Otto; see ! have got II in
my hand" And he about TO turn away,
when a straight Abyssnan sword. which had
somehow become detached from It's fastcnlngs,
fell. striking him lightly upon the breast and ring,
ing upon the floor with ! loud clang. started
from my place Of refuge in alarm.
Il told you how it would be- OTTO cried,
=" but you are obstinate mule. But, great
heavens. you are hurt, -" added. as caught sight
OF spot of blood upop his shirfront
otto made 10 reply to my question Ills face
CHASTITY pale and his lips livId approached
him. laid my hand upon his shoulder. and then ]
heard him mutter. in almost inaudiblc accents:
The Warning Of the Sword the fatal Warning
Of the Sword
What on earth do you mcan Otto,' ex-
claimed l.
iiave YOU never heard the old superstition Of
the Warming Of the Sword? II has been men
tioned by various writers. in different languages
Ashmoud lbn SUE man. who wrote at the time
Dr.. linz L1.l1lr ninrS IL IL