The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-01-28

Ing to make It naOltaDie- SfeigeT came
along while he was at work and with
the usual abuse and oaths threatened
II he made any changes In the house
he would prosecute him under the law.
Chris deslsted for the time being, but
when steiger went away he proceeded
with his repairs.
However. 1t was plain that there
would be no peace III the house, and
the couple talked over the matter OF
leaving 1t. They finally decided to
stay, Chris for the reason that he was
TOO determined to be driven out and
Gretchen because she was of such q
sweet disposition that she was fitted
to get on with Satan himself. But
Steiger seemed determined to drive
them out They made Il difficult for
him by denying him pretexts The
rent they invariably paid before 1t was
due. They never asked for anything to
be done to the property. Indeed, what
ever patching they did was for It's i'm
provement, as any court would have
decided Notwithstanding all this care
Steiger made 1t SO hot for them that
Chris at last gave out and told Gretch-
en- that he must either give MP their
lease or 60 into a lunatic asylum.
Gretchen's lovable disposition seemed
not whit shaken, and they decided
that thereafter Chris should keep out
of Steiger's way and she would receive
the abuse.
Then came a tusale between good
and evil. When Steiger was seen com
ing down the street Chris would es-
cape by a back door, and when the old
man stopped to abuse his tenants
Gretchen would neekly submit 10 the
lashings Of his tongue. Gretchen took
1t into her lovely stupid head that II
Steiger had little piety he would not
be so unreasonable, so one day when
the door opened and he stood glaring
at her she took d cruciflx or the man
tel, intending to tell him the story Of
the Saviour. What was her surprise
to see him the moment he saw it turn
away and hurry on down the street.
sending back volleys Of execrations.
Just as retreating soldiers will turn and
fire at an enemy.
But Gretchen had found an expe-
dent After that Steiger let them
alone for a long while, Indeed, be did
not call again till just before the ex-
nlration of the lease, when be made n
fierce onslaught, accusing Gretchen Oh
having been trying to burn the house.
She covered before him for q moment,
for be looked more terrible than ever
she had seen him; then. taking up the
crucIfix, she was beginning to tell him
Of the example and sacrifice Of the
figure on the cross when with a howl
he made or again, just as be had done
before.
Having found way to protect them
selves. they decided to renew their
lease. but steIger did not appear, and
the tenants submitted the matter to
the court or wills.
One day the Judge sent for the ten
ants. and they went to him together.
''You have accepted the Tagblatt
property for year r he asked.
''One year. Here is the lease. 1t
expired month ago. TO whom shall
we pay rentT'
.stelger has disappeared After dis
covering this looked up the will.
which is on record. II seems that Tag
blatt bad shrew FOR a wife. and they
were always quarreIing. Mrs. Tag
blatt died first, and when her husband
followed her be left their home to the
devil"
ITO the devil!' exclaimed Chris and
Gretchen, the woman crossing herself
eyes, to the devil, with the provision
that If any couple could be found to
live In 1t one year they were to be its
owners
@Gott in himmsIr' exclaimed Greteh-
en-.
Where this agent named Steiger
came from and where be got bis au-
thority no one seems to know. He got
hold Of the property before ! came on
the bench. But that is now Of no FIN
portance. viii have the property
made over to you Jointly"
"Jesu Maria! We have been paying
rent to the DEVIL
1900. F.A. mitchell.
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