Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-16
CHAPTER III. I Defend My Property

first thought had been of ghosts but it almost in
stantly dispeed by significant action on the part OF
the suspected wrath She turned to whistle her
shoulder, and to snap her fingers peremptorily and
then she stopped and picked up rather usty chow dog
which promptly barked at me across the intervening
space. The lady in white muzzled him with her hand
and | could almost imagine | heard her reproving
whispers. After few minutes she apparently forgot
the dog and lifted her hand to adjust something in her
hair. He again barked at me- quite feroclously TOR
a chow. This time it plain to her that he not
barking at the now shadowy moon. She peered over
the stone baustrade and instant later disappeared
from view through the high narrow window.
Much exercised, | set out in quest of Herr Schnlck,
martialng Poopendyke as went along. We found the
four Schrncks in the kitchen, watching Britton
while he pressed my trousers oak table SO large
that the castle must have been built around it.
schmiek was weighted down with the keys Of the
castle which d his b day or sd nh to
inform who the dickens that woman in the
east wing of the castle2'
woman, Mein HERR" He almost dropped his keys
His big said something to another that |
couldn't quite catch; but 1t sounded very much like
"Dey duyvHi'
"A woman in white dress, with dog.
"A dog?' he cried 4But, Mein Herr, dogs not
permitted to be in the castle"
@Who is she? How did she get there?" =
@Heaven defend us, Sir! 1t must have been the
"Ghost your granny" | cried relapsng into English
"Pease don't beat about the bush, Schmck She's over
there in the unused wing, whichI haven't been allowed
topenetrate in spite of the fact that belongs to me-
You you can't find the keys to that side of the castle
Will you explain how it is that IS open to strange
women and-and dogSo"
"You must be mistaken, Mein Herr he whined abb
jectly "She cannot be there. She--ah, have it, 1t
may have been my wife. Gretel, have you been in the
east"
NONSENSE" / cried sharply "This won't do,
Schnick Give me that bunch OF keys Wen invest
gate i can't have strange women gallivanting about
the place if they owned it. Well get the bottom
of this at once. Here you Rudolph, fetch couple of
lanterns! Max, get sledge two from the forget If
can't unlock the doors, we'll smash EN- in"
The four Schnicks wrung their hands and shook
their heads and then repairing to the scuery growed
and grumbled for fully ten minutes before deciding to
obey my commands.
TWO abreast filed through the long, vaulted halls
Rudolph carving gigantic lantern and Max a
sledge. We traversed extensive corridors, mounted
tortuous stairs, and at length to the sturdy oak
door that separated the east wing from the westa
huge, formidable thing strengthened by many
pieces and studded with rusty botheads. Padocks as
large horseshoes corroded by and rendered alb
soutely mpractcable by age, confronted
Il have not the keys, said old Conrad Schmick
sourly. This door has not been opened in my time.
1t is use
1T use repeated his grizzly sons leaning against
the moldy walls with weary tolerance.
"Then how did the woman and her dog get into that
part of the castle?' | demanded Tell that
They shook their heads almost compassionately, as
much say, at is always best hurnor mailman
"And the baby" added Poopendyke
"Smash those padlocks, Maxi | commanded
Max looked stupidity at his father and the old man
looked his wife, and then all four of them looked at
me- almost imporingly.
why destroy perfectly good paddock, Mein Herr?'
began Max, twiring the sledge in his hand if it
bamboo cane
Doesn't this castle belong to me2' l demanded.
"Srnash that paddock"
Very reluctantly Max barred his great arms, spit
upon his hands and with pitful look at his parents,
prepared to deal the first blow upon the ancient pad
lock. The old couple turned their heads away, and
put their fingers to their ears, cngng like things about