The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-08-17

CandldatuS LlnsenDarth,
schoolmaster, entered the
city of Berlin In search Of his fortune.
Most men OF sixty would have thought
il rather late in life TO set forth for
tune hunting, but the old tutor had
lost his place In his native village
and, no other employment Offering
there, had resolutely started for the
Prussian capital, confident that bread
and butter could be readily earned
In the prosperity that the wonderful
new King Frederick had created for
his people. A porter wheeled his bag
gage along on n barrow-an enormous
trunk. two bundles of books and a
feather bed, tied into an unwieldy
bundle with rope, while Linsenbarth
walked beside him, belaced and be-
rufIied and moping his kindly wrlnklcd
face with large bandanna handker-
chief-the very ancestor OF all red
bandanna handkerchiefs perhaps.
Presently the travellers reached the
custom house, where the porter
wheeled his load up 10 the door and
the tutor began fumbling through his
and lazily rolled the feather bed into
the footpath, piled the books atop OF
IL. and thumped the trunk with his
big red fist.
'Hlmmel! What may be In there.
nowT' he speculated grufliy. "What
IN ark! Herr Noah himself had not
so big one. Open and we Will have
q look inside"
The old tutor produced pondcrous
key and the officer unlocked the trunk
and began his inspection. Dishes,
clothing. linen and motley collection
of articles were removed aud piled
onto the feather bed, all the things
being passed without comment until
mt the very bottom bag OF coins was
reached. The officer opened this and
took out handful of large silver
pieces, the old tutor looking on proud
ly. This was the nucleus about which
his prospective fortune was TO gather
"Hm-batzen,' growled the officer,
throwing the coins into the bag con
temptuously. "Do you not know, old
fellow, that in Berlin this kind Of
money is contrabandT
Linsenbarth's happy smile nlckcrcd
out instantly. "COntrabandY he
asked anXiously; "contraband? Why.
'7hey are good silver thalcrs-over four
hundred of them"
We'll they are not current In Ber-
lin," returned the officer. "It is not
money. that is-it Is half copper. our
young King Frederick allows no such
potlids among his good silver We
will keep 1t until you send it back
over the border"
"Why, il is all | have" protested
Linsenbarth; "the saving of my whole
life! How am | to live without ~"
That Is your lookout. You should
have known the law. We will seal
up the bag for you, but IL IL Is not
taken away in II week you must pay
storage on IT, We can't keep such
plundcr about for nothing"
The hope and sunshine were gone
from the old schoolmaster's world
He stood with his hands hanging
weakly at his sides, man clearly at
his wits end. The customs officer
lifted the sack TO his shoulder and car
ricd ii inside, while the porter began
reloading the barrow. The transac-
tion was as good as ended, in his opin-
ion. Linsenbarth was aimlcssly pro
cceding to help him when the landlord
Of an inn across the way came over
and accosted him. He had prodig
ious spread Of white apron and had
watched the entire incident from his
doorway.
Il am the proprietor of the "Whitc
Swan" ne explained. Are you in
search of lodging"
Linsenbarth turned listlessly. ALAS"
he said. IL intended lodging with you,
but ! have no money now. They
have seized all my hard-carncd thalers
and | have not silver piece to pay
this porter"
"Well, even So" said the innkccpcr.
cheerily; "even so. that is not SO bad.
You are an honest-loking man and will
find means TO pay your way In our
busy Berlin, never doubt. You are
learnedy"
"Ah, yes" said the tutor, brighten.
ing somewhat; Il am Nerscd I'm polcm-
les. Hebraics. thctics, eXogetics, her
menutics. Latin, math--"
See, now," exclaimed the fat inn.
keeper; "see, now, how well | have
guessed. Say nothing about paying.
Why that fine feather bed is alone
worth fortnights Keep"
He dismissed the porter with coin
from the depths of his ample apron
and led the way to his inn. over n
hot dinner the landlord and the school
master discussed the latters misfor-
tune. and the fat host assured him
that IL was very light matter. one
that could easily be set right.
The following morning they went
20 the palace OF the kings ministers
and the landlord laid the case before
him. To his surprise his official re-.
fused TO take any hand In the matter
even threatening Linsenbarth with i'm.
prisonment for disregarding the law
The landlord was astounded. Back
TO the inn he went I'm awful silence
threw his hat and stick down violently
and lit the pipe Full hale an hour
ne smoked without n word. Then
rising, he suddenly brought his fist
down upon the table with a treinen
dous crash
"When the custom house hounds
and the kings own ministers will dc
nothing II is time to go TO the kits
himself" he growled. shaking his Cat
fist under poor Linsenbarth's nose