Year: 1879




around the ancient castle, whose tow
ers had wIthstoOd the storm of TWO CEN
turies.


Gus Gaehler, the present lord of the
castle, was seated alone in his chamber.


He had that day, late in the after
noon, received heavy sum of money,
and was busy now in counting 1t over,
intending to deposit it early on the fol-
lowing morning in the bank Of Keil.
1t was rather risky in those days-which
date as far back as l732-for the master
of even so strong a castle as his, to re-
tain long upon his premises golden
treasure of such weight.


But that the shadows of the short
winter day were already falling when
the money was received, and the escort
he could muster was SO few in number,
the banker would not have suffered ii
to remain single night under his roof.


The silence of death had reigned for
some time in the old castle. Gaehler
had nearly finished his work, when
suddenly he was startled by Il noise it
was heard but an instant, and ceased so
suddenly that he could not determine
its character.


But scarcely five minutes had
elapsed ere he heard the noise repeated,
and this time it continued longer, and
more distinct, too. Hardly turning
the key, he hurried to the door, and
after cautiously listening for few
moments, became convinced it pro-
ceeded from below. He Immediately
lighted dark lantern, armed himself
with his cutlass and dOuble-barreled
gun, descending with nOiseess tread
the grand staircase. He soon found
that some one was hard at work on the
outside, striving to make break in the
wall Immediately beside the great en-
trance door, which was guarded on the
inside by strong iron bar.


He at once awakened his son and
servants, and revealed to them their
peril. Without the least noise or sign
that might betray alarm to the robbers,
Gaehler stationed one domestic in the
rear of the mansion as sentinel, to ap-
prise them should the brigands divide
their force in the hope of succeeding
there more easily. The other was sent
to the armory for strong rope, and
ordered to rejoin him and his son at the
door as soon as he procured it.


Silencoand darkness reigned through
out the castle. The dark lantern alone
indicated to those within the progress
made by those without in their deep
laid villiany, and, as they fancied, in
the most perfect security. AS soon as
the banker saw that mans arm was
thrust through, the opening in the wall,
and that the robbers hand sought to
raise the iron bar that secured the door,
he was on the alert. He quickly made
a running knot Of his rope, passed it
around the wrist of the rObber, strained
it tightly, drew the arm further
and fastened the other end Of
the rope 70 the iron balu5trade in such
a manner that the rObbcr found him
self pinned to the inner wall, unable
to stir an inch.


A breathless hush for few moments
succeeded, then confused sound from
the outside, and something like the
muff1ed tread of men in deep drift.
Gaehler, as soon as he was satisfied that
the robbers were fleeing, directed his
lomestics to dispatch after them
round Of gunshOt. They then waited
quietly awhile longer, until fully as
sured of the flight of all but the pioneer
man, and then unbarred the massive
door, and swung it slowly back to
seize their prisoner.


A sight to chill the blood of even
those stern men greeted their vision.
Instead of living mal struggling to
be free, they saw nothing but naked,
blood stained corpse; and what most
appalled, them was the fact that 1t was
4 headless one.


They closed the door upon it, and
linging a robe over the white arm and
land which hung in the deadly moose,
hey fastened to an upper and distant
'oom, and waited with Impatient
hearts for the break of dawn. Slowly, |
ediously wore the hours away, but |
lot until the sun was quite high in the |
heavens could the four men break the |
,pell which the last nights horror had |
lung over their nerves and hearts, and |
proceed to their duties. 1t was deter
mined after some consultation, to dis
,atch young Gustaye with one of the
I'D retainers to the neighboring town,
lot only to call upon it for a suitable
,scort to carry thither the treasure
which had come nigh being fatal to
hem instead of the headless prisoner,
,ut to summon with them detachment
# police to hold the corpse, and see If
{ would give clew by which the liv-
ng desperadoes could be detected.


Some time after the clock had struck
he hour of noon they entered, with
lot only those for whom they had been
ent, but a number, too, of the first
itizens of the place. They entered as
hey were requested in the rear Of the
and proceeding to the grand
lall, were Informed by Gaehler Of the
uccessful strategem he had employed;
nd the mantle being withdrawn, were
hown the rigid arm and hand with the
ope yet fastened on the wrist. Then
he door opened; each had strung his
erves to look unblanchingly at the
light. But the blood which had cur
led in their veins as they looked upon