The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-08-12

the surveyors had already marked the
new streets and cut trees for the thor
oughfare, and shortly after there was
an auction sale of the beautiful lot in
Spring Hill addition, and common re-
port had it that the agent sold $121,O0O
worth of slightly lots before the setting
of the sun.
Zenf had almost lost Griest, and even
with his $4,000 wondered what he
should do with himself. a man has not
lived all his life when he is only Al years
old, and Zenf had no inclination for 60
ing farther away and buying another
farm. One day an inspiration came 10
him. He would open a saloon.
Griest thought this was an excellent
idea. Ten thousand dollars was there
fore paid for a 50-foot lot in the city,
which was now becoming metropolis,
and for similar amount a fine brick
building was constructed.
Zenfs saloon was prosperous from
the start. but it was much less placid
than had been the house under the
grapevines. There were new friends
and new business associates and many
calls upon the eX-farmer for his time.
He had two barkeepers, and prosperity
seemed to be raining upon him. He
went down to the city hall one night
to appear with a committee of citizens
who wanted something done or some
thing undone, and his little speech
made so favorable an impression that
the leaders of the political party with
which he voted called upon him to go
forth and work in the vineyard, talking.
Politics had never before tempted him
because he had been so idly busy ar
guing with Griest about Bismarck, but
somehow he showed remarkable apti-
tude, and his family saw him less and
less as he penetrated further and fur
Their into the jungle of Craftsmanship.
In the end he was nominated for county
treasurer as a compromise candidate,
and when he went home to tell his fam
| ilv about the honor which had come to
him his wife, in hysteria, interrupted
| him to say that Emsie had run away"
with one of the barkeepers. 1t was a
| bitter blow, for Emsie was the apple
of his eye, and the barkeeper was a
worthless sort of fellow. But times
were too busy for grieving. and politics
called for him. The greatest feeling of
sorrow came to him when he was elect
| ed and Emsie was not there to be glad
of it.
He had been raised to the farm. He
knew all it's administering. and as a
Young man he had studied in its severe
| school. OF accounts, although man
Unacceptable education, he was ignorant
Or, at most, he was not an expert. So
he yielded to the suggestion of the ora
tor who had presented his name and
chose that mans son as his deputy. 1t
| pleased him to go down to the office
in the county building and to look about
him and think that he, Otto Ienf, farm
er, was the highest-salaried man on
the pay roll.
Anton, however, took to drinking.
Grest came to him one day and told
him that Anton had forged his name
to check for 50 900, and it would take
that much to balance up the GTiest ac-
count. Zenf paid it and whipped the
! boy, who broke from home that night
Zenf was such a good fellow. All
those who had helped him in the cleo
ton told him so and asked him to lend
them money. He lent his $4,000 in
pieces to various people, and when he
told the other good friends that he had
no more they suggested that he might
lend the county funds and not only ac-
commodate them, but earn interest.
| He thought it was in some way wrong,
| but they said assuredly no, that all
| treasurers had done so. Persuaded
then, he yielded, and piled his drawer
with papers of promise. But he made
enemies as well as friends, as every pub
lie officer must, and when the next elec-
ton came around he was defeated in
| his aspiration for reelection. The night
after the luctless election his deputy
disappeared. There was paralysis in
| the Office until in the passage of time
| Zenf'S successor took charge. Then it
was found that in the drawers were
many papers, but very little money.
| The Jury declared some months after
ward that the dazed Zenf had embez-
zled $2OOOOO. He could not understand
it. for he had squandered nothing and
had lost his own funds. Nevertheless
they sentenced him TO IS years impris-
onment, and some of the people wanted
to lynch him.
Zenf sews shoes all day. Sometimes
he thinks of a rapevine-covered house
and the great apple trees under which
he used to talk with Griest about Bis
marck and he wishes he could get out
to just see them once again. But it is
very foolish in him. Even if he were 10
be released tomorrow his wish could not
be gratified. A big stone schoolhouse
spreads far out over the place where
the first baby was buried and streets
paved with vitrified brick run down
where the orchard was, and children
ride their bicycles where the jimson
grew on Montmorency boulevard.-Chi'
cago Record.