Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-27

refugees from justice, and they read
newspapers to discover what efforts
are being made to effect their can
ture."
Peter laughed boisterously.
All Englishmen spend q great
deal of their lives in reading news
papers," he replied. "It's charac
teristic of the nation; they are great
readers, just as we Dutch are great
smokers"
"l hope you may be correct" re.
sponded Helst; "but l don't like
these persons hanging about here for
no object"
"They may have an object" sug.
gested Peter; Z" they know best"
But I'd like TO know, too.n
Perhaps you'd better ask them,"
replied the practical Peter.
My doors are double e-barred," :"
muttered Helst, as he moved away.
During the winter the strangers
ate, drank, were merry, sat up late
at night in their room, and paid their
bills punctually. Peter Steen grew
to like them vastly. Spring came
warm and balmy, and the strangers
seemed to welcome it. One day the
elder Of the two came to Peter Steen
and said:
Landlord, we like your place
very much. Your table is excellent,
but we don't altogether like your
rooms. Suppose you allow US to
erect an addition to your house; it
costs you nothing. We wish an apart.
ment that looks out on the garden,
and just by this wall, which is all
tumbiing down, by the way, We'll
build you a snug apartment"
Peter opened his eyes very wide
at this proposition, and at once con-
sented. Then he fastened to Helst
and told them what had occurred.
" 1t is the strangest thing | ever
heard" remarked the brother.
"Peter, those men must either be
fools or crazy. L think they are
fools"
land l should be fool, too, if l
refuse to have my property i'm
proved at their expense" replied
the other.
Helst scratched his head and ap-
peared perpleXed.
"And | really can make nothing
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 Englshmen's gold
int,
well.
One night when the brothers sat
together, Helst said:
"pve been talking to old Adam
klomp, and he tells me. that about
sixty years ago an eccentric or crazy
Englishman built 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 afterward the house was burned
down. l never could comprehend
these English; the are they queerest
people in the world"
"They pay WE'LL" laughed Peter,
slapping his pocket; " they pay we'll,
Helst."
July came, and the weather was
delightful. but, for some singular
freak, the Englishmen stayed great
deal in their rooms. One day Peter
came upon them suddenly, and
caught them intently examining a
map or diagram which they had
spread on the table.
All, ha!" he muttered "they
are surveyors. Doubtless they came
to purchase land. How foolish nv
brother Helst was with his suspi-
cions."
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 60 out
together, but would take turns, one
always remaining at home. These
things continued for several weeks.
When this was told Hels! he had a
new source Of perplexity.
"They certainly are fools !" he ex.
claimed. Who but fools would sit
up late summer nights, doing moth
ing, and go driving about the country
without a companion Peter, these
men may have wealth, but they Ger.
tainly have no brains"
At length there came variation
to the monotony. Both the strang
ers went out together one morning
| Night came, but they did not return
Peter smoked his pipe and meditateC
at their absence, and Helst scratched
his head for thought.
Two-three--four days went by
no one about the country could Civ,
any information concerning them.
Finally, when week had elapsed
it was determined to break open tn,
door Of their room. With all forms
of law this was accomplished. Ant
10 ! beside the garden wall was
great hole in the earth. On tn,
table lay letter addressed to Pete
Steen, from the strangers, informin,
him that years before one of thei
number had lived on the spot an,
buried large sum of gold in an oil
ches. by this garden wall. Imme
diately after he was obliged to fle
the country. They found some pa
pers IN England which accuratel.
described the spot where the treasur
was concealed, and they had com
and built the addition to the hous
over the spot, and thus possesse'
themselves of what really belonge,
to them.
"In consideration of your kind