Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-03-16


tom Of the stairs, disappeared from
my eyes, as il the ground had sud
denly opened under him to swallow
him up.
/ had scarcely taken two steps
forward to assure myself as to what
had become of him, when the floor
cracked under my feet, and fell
into a subterranean chamber, al
ablaze with light. On finding my
self safe and sound on q pile oi
straw, l perceived six strange com
panions ranged in circle around a
large fire. and Mephistophelea was
there also. All sorts Of odd tools
lay about on the ground, and on
two large tables stood heaps of mon
ey, both silver and gold, all new
and shining. l understood then
where ! had found myself; they
were nothing less than band of
cOunterfeiters, in flesh and blood
who thus employed the absence of
the master of the chateau. re-
GREETED then, although too late, not
having listened to the advice of the
inn-keeper; for ! was soon thrown
into a still deeper hole, and quite
dark. where / heard the criminal
companions celebrating on the best
method of ridding themselves of me.
My death was voted for, and was
about to be pronounced, when one
OF them suggested that it would be
prudent; before anything else, to
find out my name, my profession,
and the object Of my journey. They
then brought me back before them
to interrogate me. When they
learned that was a person of note,
expected by the king at Copenha-
gen, they looked at each other with
wide-open eyes, and, after having
led me back to my hiding place,
they said among Themselves
This is a disagreeable affair, for,
il he does not re-appear the inn
keeper will say that he passed the
night at the chateau, and tomor-
row morning the soldiers will be
sent.'F
Having well weighed it, the coun-
terfeiters concluded that the best
thing to do would be to leave me
my life, and give me Immediately
my liberty, on condition that ]
should promise, under oath, not to
denounce them; they wished, be-
sides, that should give them my
precise address at Copenhagen, with
ont doubt to be able at the same
time to watch my doings. Ibid oil
they desired; after which they re-
galed me with an excellent Burgun-
dy wine, and / saw them making
their pretty silver 'thalers' and their
beautiful gold sovereigns till day
break. At the first cock-crow |
took leave of them, and returned to
the village, without remembering
to take with me my watch, my pipe,
and my pistols. The inn-keeper
no sooner perceived me than he ex-
claimed, 'God be praised, see you
again; could not close my eyes all
night. Do tell me what has hap
pened to you =
But | had sworn to hold my
tongue, and remained faithful to
my oath. 1t was the same at CO.
penhagen, and, in the midst of nv
affairs, soon ceased even to think
of my adventure. Nevertheless
only a few weeks had passed by,
when | received by post a little box
containing a pair of pistols entirely
new, and all inlaid with silver and
gold; magnificent gold watch, also
entirely new, and ornamented with
with pearls and diamonds; and, f.
nally, a Turkish pipe, very valua-
BILE, with a gold chain of beautiful
workmanship, and tobacco-pouch,
also embroidered with gold, and in
which / found a little note. This
note said, we make you this little
present in compensation for the
alarm we caused you, and in recog-
milton of your discretion. Now
that everything has to take its reg
ular course, and there is nothing
more to fear, we give you back your
promise, and you are at liberty to
make what use you will of the Sc
cret.'
1t was thus that the stranger saw
no obstacle in telling me his remar-
kable story; and it is thus that
still have another example for dis
believing in ghosts.