Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-12-04
: A CURSE CONFIRMED.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

! A CURSE CONF lRNe1tO. u
sss - - - #
= lorigluall
Herman Fielder was starting On what
he proposed should be his last trip as
a guide across what Is now the Sim
plens pass Of the Alps That was more
than three centuries ago, and a guides
duties were far different from What
they, are, now Instead Of conducting
tourists who travel for pleasure, e.! they
showed the way to those who Travelled
for the .spurposes of~barteE i Hermann
:wasFtof guide iGabrier Atshag, ID Gteek|
diamond merchant, who Vas taking al
valuable lot Of gems to dispose Of In!
Paris. Herman babe farewell to hisi
basrothed. Agatha, a little peasant girl
telling her to keep her thoughts flxed|
on the day Of his return. u, This she
promised to do and TO PRAY daily to the
Virgin that, she would bring him back
safely to her 49,,
On the first night after beginning the
Inn mid way, between the low ground
and the summit Kept by an old Swede.
johann EYard. and his wife for the en-
tertainment Of those making the pass.
Before getting into his cot Arshag must
needs look over his jewels, making an
excuse to himself to see that they were
all there, but really because he loved
to look at them. He was seen through
a crack In the partition, by Evard and
his wife, whose cupidity was excited
By the sight of the sparkling gems.
They saw him put them under his Pill
low. and in the middle Of the night
-Evard stole into the room, inserted his
hand deity under the pillow and tooh
out the bag. 7 Then he took several OF
the gems. entered Herman's room and
put them in, his pocket. This done, tho
couple took the bag containing the rest
Of the treasure dug hole in the snow
near the cabin and hid them under ar
overhanging rock, afterward throwing
the snow back into the hole.
The next morning before daylight
,Arshag was heard storming and la
menting. Herman and the old couple
went to him. and he accused the latter
Of stealing his jewels.
you accuse us, of theft-we who
have kept this inn ever since we were
young people, we who have enter.
tanned many strangers and have al
ways borne good characters! Rather
look to your guide to recover your
loss. 1t is not we who could know
that you carried jewels. but he"
All three were searched, and the
gems that had been placed in Hermans
pocket were found there Arshag was
but half convinced that the guide was
the thief. for 1t was not likely that he
would keep stolen property on his per.
son. While they were wrangling a
party Of travellers and guides came
down the mountain and stopped at the
inn. Arshag consulted with them, and
they advised him to go back, taking
Herman with him. He doubtless knew
where the rest Of the ewels were and
under torture would confess all AR
shag wished to take the old couple az
Well. but was dissuaded since travellers
counted on being entertained at their
inn and would be disappointed. Per
haps some who were caught in a storm
might perish. So Arshag started back
with the party, Herman going willing
ly. Yet he was much cast down, fol-
he knew that OH the rack he would be
forced to make confession that was
not true.
There was a gorge to cross directly
In front Of the cabin, The party
crossed it, and W hen on a crest on tho
other side Herman stopped and turned
the others doing the same The al,
was perfectly still. There had been
an unusual snowfall, and far and nea,
the peaks were covered. The only sign
Of human abode in ali that vast
waste of>snowy heaps. was the linn or
the other side Of: the gorge. The inn
keeper and his wife were standing, in
front Of" It watching the travellers
Then Herman raised his hand and In
his! Abudest- voice. that he might be
heard acress the, chasm. said:
"My Agatha has prayed, to the
Blessed Virgin for my protection.
curse you. 'tand the holy mother vii
make my 'curget efective."3 ...- ~.
]iH Hard bad the eeheesaef his, voice
YEA HsA away when there was a 2 sound =
the muffled boom Of cannon-and in
I another moment the whole side OF thee
I mountain beyond and above the cabin
3 began SLOWLY to move. j: ; Snow, ice
trees and rocks poured in one confused
\ gigantic torrent deWn on, the Inn and
its keepers. Adore the roar there came
4 q mingled human shriek;' aniil the 500 s,,
u where the cabin had stood was buried
u dfty feet beneath the SNOW. 80; :..,
Y IL; that superstltious age only a few
q scientists knew OF the delicate bal,
ances Of nature and that human voice
setting the air to Vibrating could cause