The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-02-04
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.

should ne lOFRlNeu!- nate Nannah.
| 4 STRANGE ADYENTUR
The night was clear and frosty. but
bitterly cold, rs l. DIETRICH Stein,
| dancing master, shrank back SILVER
ing into my corner OF the railway car
riage, and wished myself safely home.
1t had been a busy, firing day, and
no longer possessed the strength and
elasticity OF spirits so necessary to
carry me through my duties. There
| was no denying the fact-my health
was giving way; nothing but ruin re-
NAMED for me and my eight children
the eldest not yet ten years OF age.
How much better for them could
they have now been lying beside their
dead mother, was my reflection,
Tor then | should have stood or
fallen alone, and not dragged others
with me-"
As the train stopped at me last sta
ton before kleinstadt. my destina-
ton, man jumped ;.nto the compart.
ment and procee,L ed to settle himself
III Ihe cofn.r facing me. At first
scarcely noticed him, being occupied
WIN my own thoughts; but as the
' stst'" moved on again he leant for
"" ID, and after looking at me keenly
or moment, said
| Pardon Inc. sir, Tor addressing you
so abruptly, but time presses, and
have some important questions to
ask you, If you will permit my doing
so.
| | bowed wonderingly.
You are, | believe, Herr Stein-a
dancing master-universaly respect
ed as an honest and upright MANI"
This time my bow was depreca-
tory.
"You have family"
Eyes, sir, eight children"
amy OF them six years old2"
1.-TWO boys OF that age-twins.
Dark or fair?'
| karl is very fair-Otto is dark;
but really, sir, ii may ask>-"
patience, Herr Stein; vii explain
myself in a n.Oment. Your PROBES
sion often calls you across the from
ter2"
81 have spent two days in NJ
every week for the last SIX years"
| "Do you sometimes take one OF
Jour children with your"
Occasionally take one or two OF
| the children on n visit to their grand
mother, who lives at NJ.
You are well known by the officials
on the liner
Perfectly So
"You are miserably, desperately
poor2'
This was going too far, and looked
| across angrily at my companion, who,
| however, never took his keen eyes
| from my face, and eemed quite sat
siied with my wrathful answering
| nod.
al know / must appear imperti-
| nent." he went on, "but let this be
my excuse. | have it in my power
| to put you in the way OF earning six
thousand marks, and merely ask you
in return to give me some hours OF
your time, swearing to keep absolute
silence as to all that you may see,
hear, or be called upon to perform,
and asking no questions. am some
| thing OF physiognomist, and your
| face but confirms to me the high opin-
ion OF your character and manner OF
life which someone lately expressed in
my hearing. have followed you to-
night in order to Judge al your fitness
myself, and, If necessary, lay the
matter before voup so now it remains
| with you alone to decide whether the
offer shall be accepted or not
"You must first tell me more,
stammered, for the thought OF the
money, and all that it would do for my
poor little children, fairly dazzled me
"Iou must swear to me on your hon
| or that there is nothing disgraceful or
unlawful in what you wish me to do; |
cannot act blindly."
At this the man rose to his feet, and
looking solemnly Mt me, swore by all
| he held most sacred, that my part in
this business was strictly in accord
ancc with law and right then he sat
down, and / having agreed to help
him TO the best OF my ability, we fell
to discussing matters in good earnest,
BY the time the train stopped Mt
Kleinsuadt | knew exactly what Ihad
to do, although my friend-he gaveno
name-was very careful to let out
nothing moro than was absolutely
necessary. 1t appeared that on the
following morning, my usual day for
going to M, l was to meet this
man and little boy at summer
house in the wood above the town,
bringing with me, in the black bag l
always carried when on my rounds, a
complete suit OF my Kar's clothes;
the little boy was to be dressed in
these and he and were then to make
for the station in time to catch the
$40 train to NJ. During the
Journey 1 was to pass off the child as
Karl, and be very careful on the from
tier, where there might be people on
watch to stop him. At Nj should
meet on the platform a tall man in u
black cloak, who would hand me over
packet OF notes, and with whom l
| was to leave the child.
1t was all clear enough; but as /
walked briskly bomewards, felt that
for tho first time in my life / had got
involved in u mystery, and should
have to play double part.
Friday came-a bright, frosty day
and at nine O'Clock ! stood waiting in
the summer-house. My friend soon
appeared, rather breathlessly, leading
little boy by the hand. He was a
pretty child, Just the size of my Karl,
with wonderful big blue eyes, which
had u wistful way OF looking at one,
and reminded me so much OF nv dead