The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-09-30

fourscore years and TEN aud was laid
away with great pomp and glec by the
people OF the town across the river.
lie was the last Of the Rotlhoefcns,
for he left no male heir His two
daughters had married Austrian noble
men. and neither Of them had n male
descendant The estate. already In a
state ~ financial as well ~ physical
dlsintegration. fell into the hands Of
women aud went from had 10 worse
40 rapidly that long before the last
quarter Of the century was fairly be
gun the castle aud the reduced hold
ings slipped away from the Roihhcrf
ems altogether aud into the control Of
the father of the count from whom |
purchased the property. The counts
father. Il appears. was a distillcr ~
great wealth In his day aud a man Of
action Unfortunately be- died before
he had the chance 10 carry ont his
projects In connection with the reha-
Utilization of schloss Rothhoefen, even
then a deserted. ramshackle resort for
paying tourists aud q Mecca for an.
tlque and picture dealers
Tho new count. my immediate pre-
deccss0r. was not hong In dlssipating
tho great fortune lcfl by his father,
the worthy distlller Tie had run
through with the bulk ~ his patri-
mony by the tune he was twenty ave
and was pretty much run down at the
heel when lee married In the hope OF
recouplLg his Lost fortune
The Schmicks did not like him. They
did not approve 81 him 49, lord aud
master. nor was II possible for them To
resign themselves TO the fate that had
put this young scapcgrace into the
shoes, so TO speak. ~ the grim old
baruus Rothhoefcn. who whatever else
they may have been in high handed
sort Of way. were mrn 10 the core
This pretender. this creature without
brains or blood. this sponelng repro
bate. was not 10 their liking. II am
10 quote Conrad. who becamc quite
forceful Ia his harangue against the
recent order Of things
lie. his wife aud his sons. be assured
me. were full Of rejoicing when they
learned that the castle had passed from
Count llohendahl's hands Into mine
at least would pay them their wages.
and | might. la q pinch bc depcnded
upon TO pension them when they got
too old to BE- of ANY use al'out the cas-
tie
All attempts on my pars 10 connect
the lady In the east wing with the
history Of the extinct Rothhocfens
were futile lie would not commit
himself.
We'll" said |. yawning In helpless
COLLISION with the sleepy Grctcl. well
let Il 20 over till morning Call me az
Z. Britton."
went 10 bed. but not 10 sleep Ia
was very clear TO me that my neigh
bor was disturbcr Ia every sense
Of TIE word she wouldn't let me slecp
For hours I tried 20 get nd ~ her. hut
she Uttered into my brain aud prnddcd
my thoughts into the most violent ne.
tivity. She wouldn't stay Put Hut
finally dropped oil
was aroused from my helatcd sleep
by the sound Of mighty catnracts aud
the tread ~ countless elephants Too
late realized that the tourists were
upon me- Too lnte I remembered that
the door 10 my room had been left un.
lOckedl One hundred aud sixty nine
were huddled outside my door. drink
Ing In the monotonous drivel 81 the
guide who had shrill. penetrating
volce and not the faintesi notion Of
| listened In dlsmay fof moment
and then. actualed by something more
than mere fury. leaped out Of lid and
prepared fv a dash across the room
10 lock the door on the third stride
whlried and made flying leap into
The bed, scuttling beneath the covers
with the speed and accuracy Of a craw
hsh. Just In time. ton. Tor the heavy
iOor swung slowly open second later
and the shrill, explanatory voice was
projected loudly into my lofty bed
chamber
Come a little closer. please" said
The m0rose man with the cap. This
room was occupied FOR centuries by
he masters ~ Schloss Roihhoefen. Il
Il a bedchamber Nee the great Ia
ronlal bed II has not been slept Ia for
more than 200 years The later barons
refused % sleep Ia II because one OF
heir ancestors had been assLaslna.td
between It's sheets at the tender age
" six. He was stnbl,si by a stepuncle
who played him false"
A resolute beholder spoke up. Can't
we step lnsideT'
IF you choose. madame Hut We
must waste no time"
Il do 80 want 10 see where the old
Iarons slept"
"Please do not handle the tedspreads
md curtains. They will fail to pieces
heard no more. for the vanguard
lad pushed him aside aud was swoop.
ing down upon me. A sharp nosed
man led the way. lie was within
.hree feet Of the bed aud was stretch.
ng ont his hand 10 touch the proscrlb