Morris tribune., 1903-08-01

,, law. Some there be who say thai
! 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 bust
ness"
Then came shambling 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 fig
ure 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 even
ing with John Verlocht up at his
gristmill the other side of Corlears
Hook, teaching and explaining to
him the new method a& multiplica-
ton. We had scarce half a score
mugs of ale, and my head was clear
as a bell when / saw gray cloaked
figure hastily enter the door of the
Wursthaus."
''You will agree, Herr Won
Schneist, that it is my bounden du-
ty to search your premises ?" quoth
the captain.
"Assuredly, herr captain he re-
piled, ''but before you begin will
serve you and your men with some
of my new ale.'' Without giving
them time to answer he hustled to-
ward the big butt in the dark corner
and straightway dispensed a gener-
Gus measure Of the beverage to
them. Not having such high opin-
ions Of the power of his Satanic maj
esty 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 an I'M
seemly manner, and though closets
were upturned, beds overthrow
and the whole house pulled out at
corners, she never murmured or
complained.
But nothing was found, and,
though the taproom was lightly
passed over, there was no place in it
that a man could hide, except pos
sibly the big butt in the dark cor
ner. That, however, was full of ale,
for had they not drunk some Of it?
And so the watch marched away
empty handed and left to the host
and his vrouw the task Of putting
things to rights.
The gray cloaked demon was seen
several times thereafter, but no con-
certed attempt was made to follow
it up. About two months from the
time of the fruitless search the few
faithful adherents of the Wursthaus
noted that both Hans and his wife
wore very grave faces. In few
days they announced that young
traveller from Boston was danger
ously i'll in the darkened bedroom
upstairs, and the Dutch physician,
who had but just arrived from Hol-
land, was sent for. He came again
and again, and the faces Of the wor-
thy couple showed a deep sympathy
for the youthful guest. Finally the
doctor came in the middle of the
night and stayed till morning, but
the soul of his patient fled before
the dawn.
Heavy grief o'erhung the Schneist
household, and the Wursthaus was
closed till after the funeral. Even
then old Hans showed a settled
grief in his altered demeanor.
Observant neighbors noted that
he big butt in the corner was never
used after the soldiers drank from
t, and when few months had sped |
md comparisons came to be made
t was found that the gray cloaked
phantom had never been seen since
he young stranger was taken sick.
t was also commented upon that
10 one came from Boston to inquire
bout him. But there was a many
Who believed till their dying day :,
hat it was genuine ghost that had
,een seen by Jacob Twiller ct al.
gliding along the old Bowerie road.
Wanted Them Jumped.
At the first commencement Of