The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-01-14

be so KIND as 10 wire yOur decision you
will find me deeply grateful, and at the
Ritz for the ensuing fortnight.
Faithfully yours,
"MARIS TARNOWSY.'
My white elephant" l was so eager
to get rid of it that l would nave wired
ly 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 l arose to
the occasion.
I waited for three days and then
telegraphed him that 1 would not take
a heller Jess than two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, more than dou-
bling the price I had paid for the prop
erty. ! was prepared, however. to come
down a paltry hundred thousand or so
il he revealed signs of reluctance.
We built another bonfire hat night
and danced around 1T like so many saw
Terms acceptable. VIII come to
SehIoss Rothhoefeu at once to complete
the transfer. TARNOWSY."
CHAPTER XIX.
Burn q Few Bridges.
Accompanied by Hazard and Smith, l
went over the castle from top to bottom.
in quest Of the reason for Tarnowsy's
prompt acceptance of my demand. We
made no doubt that he a a good and
sufficient reason for wanting the place.
and but one thing suggested itself to
our imagination: his absolute certainty
about the venerable pile, treasure of
considerable ma gnitude, you may be
sure, or he would not have revealed
such. alacrity in accepting my terms.
Sentiment had nothing to do with this
surprising move on his part. That was
all bosh. He had an Interior motive,
and it was for ME to get the better Of
him at his own game II l could. While
! was eager to get rid of the castle at
any price, I did not relish the thought
of being laughed at for a fool by MaTis
Tarnowsy after he had laid his greedy
hands upon treasure that had been
mine without my knowledge.
He was no fool h castle meant
vestment.. No doubt he~would blow it
to pieces in order to unearth the thing
he knew its walls secreted.
We spent two Improbable days in
,-sank down tired, defeated and without
the slightest evidence in our possession
that SO much as a half crown lay hid
den there as treasure-trove / gave in
and announced hat il Tarnowsy could
find anything worth having he was en-
cerned, and l wouldn't begrudge him a
farthing'S worth.
He t~elegraphed that he would arrive
on the morning of the third day, ac,
~ ~ hl2 To- y NIs q oliNt
ar architect. My four guests departed
In haste by the late night train, after
extracting 8 promise from me to join
them in Vienna when 1 was no longer
the master Of Schloss Rothhoefen. |
rather relished the thought of a brief
vacation.
Then. like the spider, I crept back
into my web and waited for the foolish
fly. knowing all the time that he would
have the better of me in the long run.
confess to a feeling Of sadness in
parting with the place, after all, ele-
phantine thought it was in every sense
of the word; Within its gray and
called love had come to me, to live with
me forever. 1t had come unbidden,
against my will. against my better
Judgment, and in spite of my prelu-
dices. but still 1T was a thing to cherish
! and to hold in it's virgin youth all
through the long years to come. II
would always be young and sweet and
rose-colored. this %unrequited love OF
mine. Walking through the empty, dis
! I grew sick with longing, and, in some.
! thing like fear. fled downward, absurd
y tears binding my eyes. Verify, | was
, a fool-a monstrous., silly fool!
| Tarnowsy Vas as bland and smiling
as a May morning as he came ~jauntilA
down the great hall TO where ] awaited
! him.
II am here i%ncognite, my dear Smart
} he said, extending his gloVed hand
which l took perforce. "Sub-rosa, YOU
might say" he went on with a wry
, smile. "A stupid, unchivalric empire
, has designs upon me, perfunctorily per
haps, but it's just as well not to still
l up the monkeys, as you American:
= would put it."
. "Our late fNend, the Baron, was no
totally without friends, / take it," sait
drily.
= He made a grimace. Nor enemies,
q he declared. Brave men usually hav,
q more enemies han friends. and he wa
. u brave man, a truly brave man. Be
] cause he was a brave mar l have nj
feeling of regret over the outcome o
3 our-er-meeting. 1t is no honor to xii
r a coward. Mr.. Smart"
t He introduced his three companions
| ! was surprised to see that the lawye
Q was not the fawning Schymansky, an,
? later on inquired for him.. Tarnows,
laughed. Poor old Schymansky! He
= in prison"
= Aha! ] am not surprised said l..
= He was my second, poor chap. !
. did not occur to him to run away afte
the-er-duel. They had to make a
example of someone. His trial come
up next week. 1 am afraid he may b
- dealt with rather harshly. l miss hir
u d~readfullS. But let us come to tn
n matter In hand, MFR. Smart. ! daresa
t your time is valuable. You have n