The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-25
CONTINUED

MY wnlte elephant. | was so ea-
ger to get rid OF ii that | would have
wired at once. naming a figure proper
tionately low had it not been for the
united protests of my four friends and
the canny advice of Mr.. Poopendyke.
Soak him. said he. and | arose to
the occasion
| waited for three days and then tel
egraphed him that would not take
heller less than So50,000. more than
doubling the price had paid for the
property. l was prepared. however. TO
come down a paltrv hundred thousand
or so II he revealed signs of reluctance.
We built another bonfire that night
and danced around il like 50 many
savages.
Terms acceptable. Win come TO Schloss
Rothhoefen at once TO complete the trans
fer .TARNOWSY.
Accompanied by Hazard and Smith,
went over the castle from top 10
bottom in quest of the reason for Tar
nowsy's prompt acceptance of my de-
mand We had no doubt that he had
a good and sufficient reason for want
ing the place, and but one thing sug-
ges;ed itself TO our Imagination: his
absolute certainty that treasure was
hidden somewhere about the venerable
pile. treasure of considerable magni-
tude, you may be sure, or he would
not have revealed such alacrity in ac-
cepting my terms. Sentiment had
nothing TO do with this surprising
move on his part. That was all bosh.
He had an ulterior motive, and it was
for me TO get the better of him at his
own game if | could. While / was
eager TO get rid of the castle nj any
price. | did not relish the thought of
being laughed al for fool by Maris
Tarnowsy after he had laid his greedy
hands upon treasure that had been
mine without my knowledge.
He was no fool. The castle meant
nothing TO him as home or as an in
vestment. No doubt he would blow il
to pieces in order to unearth the thing
he knew its walls secreted.
We spent two Improbable days in
going over the place. and in the end
sank down tired. defeated and without
the slightest evidence in our possession
that so much as half crown lay hid
den there as treasure trove. I gave in
and announced that if Tarnowsy could
find anything worth having he was en-
titled TO it so far as was concerned
and | wouldn't begrudge him a farth |
ings worth.
He telegraphed that he would arrive
on the morning of the third day, ac.
companied by his lawyer. a notary and
an architect, My four guests departed
IN haste by the late night train after
extracting promise from me 10 Join I.
them in Vienna when was no longer
The master OF SchiosS Rothhoefen. | I
rather relished the thought of a brief
vacation.
Then. like the spider, I crept back
into my web AID waited for tue fool
ISL fy, knowing all the time that be
would have the better OF me in the
long run.
confess 70 a feeling of sadness in /
parting with the place, after all. ele. |
phantine though it was in every sense /
Of the word. Within its gray and an
cient walls that beautiful thing called /
love had come TO ME to live with ME :
forever. Ii had come unbidden. against
my will. against my better Judgment
and in spite of my prejudeces, but still
It was thing TO cherish and TO hold .
in its virgin youth all through the long
years to come. 1t would always be
young and sweet and rose colored, this
unrequited love of mine Walking
through the empty, dismantled rooms
that had once been hers. grew sick
with longing and in something like
fear fed downward, absurd tearStlind. /
ing my eyes. Verify, was a fool-a
monstrous, silly fool.
Tarnowsy was as bland and smiling
as May morning as he came jauntil-
down the great hall to where l await
ed him
Il am here incognto, my dear
Smart" he said, extending his gloyed
hand. which l took perforce. Sub
rosa, you might say" he went on.
with wry smile. "A stupid. unchiv-
alric empire has designs upon me, per-
functorily perhaps. but it's just as well
not to stir mp the monkeys, as you
Americans would put it,"
Our late friend, the baron was not
totally without friends, | take it," said
| dryly.
He made grimace. "Nor enemies"
he declared. Brave men usually have
more enemies than friends. and he was
brave man. a truly brave man. Be.
cause he was brave man | have no
feeling of regret over the outcome Of
our-er-meeting. 1t is no honor to
kill coward Mr.. Smart"
He introduced his three companions.
was surprised TO see that the lawyer
was not the fawning Schymansky and
later on inquired for him. Tarnowsy
laughed. Poor old Schymansky. He
is In prison
Aha. | am not surprised" said l.
He was My second, poor chap. 1t
did not occur to him to run away aft.
er the-er--dueI. They had to make an
example of some one. His trial comes
up next week. | am afraid he may
be dealt with rather harshly. l miss
him dreadfully. But let us come to
the matter In hand. Mr.. Smart l dare.
say yourDime is valuable. You have