Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-09-04

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Herman Fielder was starting on what
he proposed should be his last trip o..
guide across what is now the Sin
plon pass Of the Alps. That was mofs
than three centuries ago. and a guides
duties were far different from what
they are now. Instead Of conducting
tourists who travel for pleasure they
showed the way to those who Travelled.
for the purposes Of barter. Herman
was to guide Gabriel Arshag, a Greek.
diamond merchant, who was taking q;
valuable lot Of gems to dispose Of 81
Paris. Herman babe farewell to hia
betrothed, Agatha, little peasant girl
telling heratos keep her thoughts fxedl
on the day Of his return. This she
promised to do and to pray daily to the
Virgin that she would bring hinrs back
safely to her
On the first night after beginning the
ascent the two men stopped at litth
inn midway between the low ground
and the summit kept by an old SwedA
Johan Evard, 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
s all there, but really because he loved
to look at them. He was seen through
q 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 bin
hand deity under the pillow and tool
6ut the bag. Then he took several a
the gems, entered Herman's room and
put them IL big pocket; Ihts h.. q2Rs, th4
couple took the bag Containing the rest
Of the treasure, dug hole in the snow
near the cabin and bid them under an
overhanging rock, afterward throwing
the snow back into the hole. Sssssszzs:ssa
The next morning before daylight
Arshag was heard storming and L.
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 wera
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 It is not we who could know
;oI I,,t I,o
All three were searched, and the
gems that had been placed in Herman's
pocket were found there. Arshag was
but half convinced that the guide was
the thief, for It vas not likely that he
would keep stolen property on his per.
son. While they were wrangling q
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
shay wished to take the old couple as
well, but was dissuaded since travellers
counted on being entertained at their
inn and would be disappointed. Per
haps some who We're caught in storm
might perish. So Arshag started back
with the party, Herman going willing
ly. Yet he was much cast down, for
he knew that on the rack he would be
forced to make confession that was
not true.
There was gorge to cross directly
In front of the cabin. The party
crossed it, and when on a crest on the
other side Herman stopped and turned,
the others doing the same. The air
was perfectly still. There had been
an unusual snowfall, and far and near
the peaks were covered. The only sign
Of human abode in all that vast
waste of snowy heaps was the inn on
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 loudest voice, that he might be
heard across the chasm. said:
my Agatha has prayed to the
Blessed Virgin for my protection. ]
curse you, and the holy mother viii
make my curse effective"
Hardly had the echoes Of his voice
died away when there was sound
the mu1ded boom Of cannon-and In
another moment the whole side of the
mountain beyond and above the cabin
began slowly to move. Snow, ice,
trees and rocks poured in one confused
gigantic torrent down on the Inn and
it's keepers. Above the roar there came
Z mingled human shrek, and the spot
where the cabin had stood was buried
fifty feet beneath the snow.
In that superstitious age only Z few
scientists knew Of the delicate bal
ances Of nature and that human voice
setting the air to vibrating could cause
an avalanche. The party regarded thu
destruction that had come to the Inn
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