The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-05-28

"Herr Schmick," said 1, abruptly
hating my party in the center Of the
hall, "what has become of the rugs that
were here last week, and where is that
pile of furniture we had back yonder7"
Rudolph allowed the lantern to swing
behind his huge legs, Intentionally l
believe, and l was compelled to relieve
him OF it in order that we might extract
ourselves from his shadow. have never
seen such colossal shadow as the one
he cast.
Old Conrad was not slow in answer
ing.
"The gentleman called day before
yesterday, mein herr, and took much
away. They will return tomorrow for
the remainder.
"Gentlemena" gasped. Gre
mainderi"
"The gentlemen to whom the Herr
Count sold the rugs and chairs and
chests and
"What!" l roared. Even .oopen.
dyke jumped at this sudden exhibition
of wrath. 'Do you mean to tell me
that these things have been sold and
carried away without my knowledge or
consent7 Ill have the law"
Herr Poopendyke interviewed. "They
had bills of sale and orders for removal
of property dated several weeks prior
to your purchase, Mr.. Smart. We had
to let the articles 60. You surely re-
member my speaking to you about it. !"
81 don't remember anything" l
snapped, which was the truth. "Why-
why, | bought everything that the cas-
tic contained. This is robbery! What
the dickens do you mean by"
Old Conrad held up his hands as if
expecting to pacify me. sputtered out
the rest of the sentence, which really
amounted to nothing.
"The Count has been selling off the
lovely old pieces for the past six months,
sir. Ach, what sin They have come
here day after day, these furniture buy
ers, to take away the most priceless of
our treasures, to sell them to the poor
rich at twenty prices. 1 could weep
over the sacrifices. have wept,
haven't !, Gretelf Eth, Rudolph
Buckets of tears have l shed, mein herr.
Oceans of them. Time after time have
implored him to deny these rascally
curio hunters, these bloodsucking-"
But listen to me, - broke in. "Do
,you mean to say that articles have been
taken away from the castle since | came
into possessionf"
Many of them, sir. Always with
proper credentials, believe me. Ach,
what spendthrift he is! And his poor
wife! Ach, Gott, how she must suffer.
Nearly all of the grand paintings, the
tapestries that came from France and
Italy hundreds of years ago, the won
derful old bedsteads and tables that
were here when the castle was new-all
gone! And for mere songs, mein herr,
the cheapest of songs! IL"
Please don't weep now, Herr
Sehmick," !" l made haste to exclaim.
seeing lachrymose symptoms in his blear
old eyes. Then became firm once more.
This knavery must cease, OF I'd know
.ho reason why. "The next man who
comes here to cart away 80 much as a
single piece is to be kicked out. Do you
u'sdeistandi These things belong to me.
Kick him into tho river. Or, better still.
notify me and I II do it. Why, if this
goes on we'll soon be deprived Of any
thing to sit on or sleep in or eat from,
Lock tho doors, Conrad, and don t ad-
NIT any one without first consulting me.
BY love, ia like to wiring that rascal 5
neck A Count! Umph!
"Ash, he is Of the noblest family in
all the land" sighed old Gretei. ellis
grandfather was fine man, l con.
irlyed to subdue my rage and disap-
pointmont and somewhat loudly returned
to the tepic from which We wsro drift
ing
" IA for those beastly padleeks,
shau have them filed off tomorrow. !
gIyo you warning, Conrad, il the keys
arc not forthcoming before noon tomor.
row, u file 'em off, SO help me.
They are yours to destroy, mein
| herr, God knows,b said he dismal]y