Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-29

very mucn. IL lS QuleG huu uedlGuy'
Your table Is excellent, but we don't
altogether like your rooms. Suppose
you allow US to erect an addition to
your house; it shall cost you nothing.
We wish an apartment that looks out
on the garden, and here, just by this
wall, which is all tumbling down, by
the way, we'll build you snug apart
ment."
Peter opened his eyes very wide at
this proposition, and at once consen-
ted. Then he fastened to Helst and
told him what had occurred.
"It is the strangest thing I ever
heard" replied the brother. "Peter,
those men must either be crazy or
fools. I think they are FOOLS"
"And I should be a fool, too, if I re-
fuse to have my property improved at
their expense" replied the other.
Helst scratched his head and appear
ed perplexed.
"And really can make nothin of
it," he said"
Very soon mechanics began to bring
lumber, and in due time pretty
frame structure, with two rooms,
arose at the rear of the inn. One side
of it was directly against the wall OF
the garden. Peter was happy; the
Englishmen's gold flowed into his
Golfers, and all went well.
One night when the brothers sat to-
gether Helst said:
give been talking to old Adam
Klomp, and he tells me that about 60
years ago an eccentric or crazy En-.
glishman built a large house where
the Red Lion now stands. Nobody
liked him, and few knew anything
about his history. He got into some
trouble with the kings officers, and
left the place suddenly. Soon after
ward the house was burned down. I
never could comprehend these Eng
lish; they are the queerest people In
the world"
"They pay WE'LL" laughed Peter,
slapping his pocket; "they pay well,
Helst."
July came, and the weather was
delightful, but, for some singular
freak, the Englisbmen stayed great
deal in their rooms. Once Peter came
upon them suddenly, and caught them
intently examining map or diagram
which they had spread on the table.
,"Ah, hal" he muttered "they are
surveyors. Doubtless they came to
purchase land. How foolish my
brother Helst was with his suspicious"
But what bothered Peter the most
was that the strangers were up burn
ing his candles late into the night.
Everybody else was in bed. What
are they doing up like owls?
All at once the strangers began to
take drives. They wouldn't 20 out to-
gether, but would take turns, one
always remaining at home. These
things continued for several weeks.
When this was told Helst he had a
new source of perplexity.
"They certainly are fools !" he ex-
claimed. "Who but fools would sit
up late summer nights, doing nothing
and 20 driving about the country with
out companion? Peter, these men
may have wealth, but they certainly
have no brains"
At length there came variation to
the monotony. Both the strangers
went out to drive together one morn
ing. Night came, but they did not
return. Peter smoked his pipe and
meditated at their absence, and Helst
scratched his head for a thought.
Two-three-four days went by,
but the strangers returned not, and no
one about the country give any infor-
nation concerning them.
Finally, when a week bad elapsed,
it was determined to break open the
door of their room. With all forms Of
law this was accomplished. And 10 u!
beside the garden wall was a great
hole in the earth. On the table
Law letter addressed to Peter Steen,
from the strangers, informing him that
wears before one of their number had
lived on the spot and buried large
sum of gold in an old chest by this
garden wall. Immediately after he
was obliged to flee the country. They
found some papers in England which
accurately described the spot where
the treasure was concealed, and they
had come and built the addition to the
house over the spot, and thus possess.
ed themselves of what really belonged
to them.
"In consideration of your kindness"
they wrote, "we leave you the hole,
hoping you may long live to smoke
your pipe in peace"
Helst looked at the hole, and then
at Peter, as he remarked:
"They are not fools, after ALL"
Peter took a long breath and smiled.
He could not laugh just then, for
sort of consciousness that he had been
outwitted made him unusually quiet.
He walked into his inn, and sitting
down in chair, said:
"And I've been living on q gold
mine all the time, and didn't know it."