The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07


 1 to him. and all their selfish attempts to get his property.
 It was long list, but not bit longer than the record justified. When, at last, the knight reached the end of the registry of misdeeds he raised his voice, and the l twins, listening with perturbation up to that point, gasped and turned pale with rage and bitter disappointment
 Kuno, Count of Zollern and Stag's Burg, willed that his entire estate and property, | except the jewels of his mother be sold | on his death to the kingdom of Wurttem- | berg. The price set forth in the will was l a Zollern fiorin, which was to pass to his brothers as their legacy. The brothers tried to laugh, but could 1 not and had to bite their lips to refrain from cursing in the presence of the high emissary from the powerful kingdom. | They tried to comfort themselves with the 1 thought that the magnificent jewels had been excepted. But the next moment the knight read that Kuno had left them to 1 the city of Balingen for the purpose of founding a home for the poor. Wolf and the Rogue glared at the knight, glareo at each other, clenched ] their fists. but said nothing. They knew too well that they could not re- sist Wurttemberg. So they had lost erything-Stags Burg, forests, fields, the town of Bolingen and even the lake. Wolf defiantly picked up the f1orin and thrust it into his purse The twins clapped their feathered caps to their heads. stared furiously at Wurttemberg's com missioner. strode past him without salute. swung themselves silently on their horses and rode away, muttering curses to them- selves.
 The next morning the Countess plagued Wolf so bitterly with tears and abuse, blaming him for having lost the inheri- tance, that at last he arose with an oath and rode to Rogue's Burg, thinking that even his brother, little as he loved him. would be less annoying company than his mother.
 Shall we gamble away our inheritance or drink 1t up?" he asked.
 well drink" said the Rogue. "Then we will both win what there is to it. Let us ride to Balingen and show ourselves to the people there just for defiance, so that they will see that we can stand it even if we did lose the town through the shameful treason of our stupid brother"
 That's not a bad idea, said Wolf ''They have red wine in the Lamb of Balingen that is as good as any that the Emperor himself can get.' Bdl1nRen ing the way by swearing at each other. Stalking kaughtily into the tavern they demanded a florins worth of the red wine and drank 1t with thoughts so bitter that the sun-kissed grape whose juice had fur nished the precious red liquid might as well have been the sourest grape that ever grew on starved northern mountains. When they had drained the measure Wolf took the forin stamped with the rl1p ct a a a missioner had paid to him, threw it on the table and: said to the tavern keeper 'There. you, is your pay" The host picked up the f1orin with an odd smile. He looked at it out of the corner of his eye, then he looked side wise at the brothers and laid the f1orin down again.
 "The forin was all right once," said he. But yesterday royal messenger ar rived with an edict from Wurttemberg ordering the use of Wurttemberg coinage. This morning they read 1t to the sound of drums in the market place. The Zollern- minted fiorins are declared out of cir culation in this town, now that it be- longs to Wurttemberg. So you will please to give me good money"
 The two brothers looked at each other, pale with shame and anger
 You'd better pay" said one at last, in voice that was not nearly go loud as Ho- henZoHerns voices usually were.
 Haven't you any coins?" asked the other.
 Alas, the purse of each was empty. So they had to owe a fiorin to the tavern keeper of Balingen.
 Silent and thoughtful they rode away. When they reached the point where the paths parted, one leading to Rogue's Burg and the other to Hohenzolern, the Rogue said:
 "Welli Now we have actually inherited less than nothing; and the wine was not good"
 Yes replied Wolf And what that Feldheimer woman foretold has come true after all We will see how much of your estate will be worth a Zollern forin' Now we haven't been able even to buy measure of wine with it."
 Know all about it. grumbled he of Rogue's Burg.
 "Rubbsh!' said he of Hohenzollern, and rode to his castle, hating himself and the world.
 Next Sundays one-page classic will be "The Mysteries of Paris" by Eugene Sue.