The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-09-25
up courage to advance or retreat.

place Quaked i'll their very shoes at the
bare supposition that they had been
drinking the brewings of one who was
seemingly i'll league with the evil one.
And so it came to pass that the stout
old captain Of the watch, at the head of
his little squad, came to investigate the
Wursthaus. For some reason old Hans
did not come to the door. and when the
captain of the watch entered the big
taproom he found mine host Tightening
the hoops of an enormous butt that stood
in the darkest corner. The crowd of
sightseers, at first fearful of fOrked
tongues of fam& and other chrOnicled
attributes of the evil one, were timorous
of entering the house. But gathering
courage from the assembled military,
and particularly impressed by the gal
gradually iuched forward, until very
soon almost every available space was
occupied.
"Good morning, Herr Won Schneist!''
spoke the captain.
Good morning to you, herr CAP
tain, and to you, soldiers and fellow
citizens! - answered the sturdy old tav-
ern keeper. "What means this array?
Am I accused of treason, or are you
merely come to test the malt in my
brewing:"
cit is neither of false brewing nor of
treason you are accused, Herr Won
Schneist, nor yet of anything coming
within the civil or military law Some
there be who say that you are in league
with the evil one. Step forward, Adam
Roelandsen, and tell your tale again, so
that this worthy man will know our
business. -
Then came stumbling forward the
pedagogue, who, with many pauses and
apologize utterances, spoke as follows:
"You have all heard, and some few
have seen, the gray cloaked figure that
walks the Bowerie' road at night time.
Some there are who say it hath tail
like unto the evil one, and divers others
aver that it is surrounded by clouds of
rolling birthstone smoke. [ spent last
evening with John VerlOcht up at his
gristmill the other side of Con lears
Hook, teaching and explaining to him
the new method of multiplication We
had scarce half a score mugs of ale and
my head was clear as bell when I saw
gray cloaked figure hastily enter the
door of the Wursthaus. -
" gu viii agree, Herr Won Schneist,
that it liz my bounden duty to search
your prem ses?" quoth the captain.
"Assuredly, herr captain" he re-
piled, ''but before you begin 1 will
serve you and yon1 men with some of
my new ale" Without giving them
time to answer he hust led toward the
big butt in the dark corner and straight
way dispensed a generous measure of the
beverage to them. Not having such high
opinions Of the power of his satanic
majesty as the citizens, they quaffed it
down, but pronounced it stale and fiat.
Then began a scene of turmoil and
confusion, enough to make the vrouw S
heart break with anguish. But though
the iron bound linen chest was turned
upside down and emptied Of it's contents
in all unseemly manner, and though
closets We're upturued, beds OverthrOWn
and the whole house pulled out at cor
nerS, she never murmured or complained.
But nothing was found, and though
the taproom was lightly passed over
there was no place i'll it that Il man
could hide--eXcept possibly the big butt
i'll the dark corner. That, however. was
full Of aIe-for had they not drank some
81 -