The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-04-06

mine who had got rich IN America
} making beer and with the proceeds
bought one Of those ruined castles on
the Rhine. repaired 1t and spent bis
summers there We were sitting one
afternoon IN a room facing the west
The weather being warm. the blinds
were closed to keep out the sun See
ing what ! supposed 70 be a silver coin
on the door. ] arose. went to Il and
was about to pick IL up when ] saw
that It was one Of those little round
sun images that wiz come through a
chink shuster. my host. laughed af
me and said:
That reminds me OF legend about
this castle. II was formerly owned By
Baron Hugner The story goes that
the baron was a great gambler When
be succeeded to the castle lot Of
money went with It. You see. Il lies
on one Of two hills. and a road has
always led between them down 70 the
river. This road was frequenfed BY
merchants who took goods down TO
the Rhine for shipment BY water.
When the baron saw a party Of them
IN the distance be had only to swoop
down on them. levy tribute Of some
% to 50 per cent Of the value Of their
goods for toll. and there you are.
This baron ] was telling you about
Hubert Hugner was his name-in-
herited the property Just about the
time that people got virtuous. and II
wasn't considered any more the way
for nobleman to rob- he did It aft
er this BY serving the sovereign. and
when his king bounced upon a state or
a duchy or something like that the
baron got a slice
well. as I was saying. Baron Hug
ner was rich. a gambler and Withal
virtuous He gambled all day. and be
gambled all night Now. the legend
has Il that the devil had for centuries
been interested in the vcalth the bar
on had extorted from the merchants
and wanted his share But he didn't
want It In money He has no use FOR
material. only spiritual things What
he wanted for his share Of the plum
der was a soul. and the soul he had
set his viIlainous heart on was Baron
Hubert Hugner.
The way the devil managed to get
a hold on the baron was through his
passion for play. Whenever Hugner
gambled the devil stood behind him
and 50 Influenced him to make his bets
that gradually every bit OF the gold
that the Hugners had for centuries
taken from the merchants went By
the board Then one day when the
baron had lost It all the devil came
into the room disguised as a Jew and
told him that be would discount his
note for a large sum without either
security or interest When Hngner
came TO find out what the devil want
ed In lieu OF security and interest it
was the usual thing Satan hungen for
his soul
The transaction was completed. the
conslderation-the soul-to be delivered
six months after date without grace
The baron was furnished with thou
sand pieces Of gold. with which be
went on gambling and gradually re-
covered al be had lost getting his
financial Affairs into a satisfactory
condition a few days before his note
came due
The night before Hugner's soul was
to be delivered the baron had dream.
He dreamed that an angel appeared to
him and said: Tomorrow Satan VIII
claim your soul in lieu Of his interest
10 the plumber exacted In the past By
your ancestors from merchants. II IS
not meet that be should reap this bene-
it. Tomorrow when be comes for you
tel him that you can win money from
him without even a piece OF money 50
big as head Of pin. he win demur
. that Then offer to bet him the
'oul Of your oldest son that you can
10 what you have said.
When the baron awoke Il seemed
hat he had really seen the angel and
eceived he advice. Hugner was
carcely out OF bed before a stranger
allied and asked to see him. The baron
ecognized at oace the lend who had
allied for HIS soul with a faint
lope he obeyed the instructions OF
lis dream The devil accepted the
hallcnge. and they sat down before
oard used on that day something IKE
arc. The devil dealt and. seeing what
y lA0AHuA WAS SILVER com on the
reen, turned up a card that won. with
ut examining the coin be threw the
anon one OF equal value.
II would respectfully call your at
sntion,' said the baron. to the fact
hat what you thought was a coin Is
My a hound sun spot coming IN
trough a chink in the window blind
Upon my word said the devil. I
elieve yon are right
n think We are quits pursued the
aron. and my soul is my own.
The devil answered never a word.
Ut got up from the table. went out Of
le door and never returned. But that
Ight be sent a fierce storm OF light.
Ing and han that partly destroyed
Ie castle. and Il had never been occu-
ed an came here myself"
Ny host assured me that all Of the
,ople at the foot Of the Schloss knew
this legend and that most OF them
llieved Il.