WILL HE WIN HER?

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 74, 25 September 1880, Page 3

WILL HE WIN HER?

BY J/AMES Q-RANT, . -♦ = Chapter LV. I <( Pardon, main herr, but of that, as yet I know no more than of what is going on among the men m the moon or the Georgiutn Sidus, if men there are m either. But, without dabbling m magic or leaguing with Satan, it is pouible to foretell the future by cardi — yea, even by vulgar playing cards." " Fortune-telling be hanged, sir," laid the major. "My fortune was told long ! ago. I know that if I live five years longer I sha.ll he a full colonel — ten years longer, a lieutenant general, and I then X shall be content. We hare not come to endure the inummtry of haring our fortunes read." ',' You, will, perhaps, be good enough to '< explain on what errand you hare come;" "To inquire into the misfortune of another person -a misfortune m which you have had gome guiltj hand." "I, mein herr?" " You, Moses Adderfang, quack and conjuror. Let u» fully understand each other," said Yon Gordon, casting off , his cloak, and showing his uniform, with sword and gorget, as a Prussian field office. " You furnished a drug or drugs, medicines or specifics of some kind, during the month of April o.r May, for a lady who resided with Ulrik Rosing, the miller* at Ependorf." <• Perhaps," said the quack doctor, looking pale and rather disturbed. "In my extensive practice, I furnish drugs for so many that I cannot recall th's particular case." " The burgomaster, shall find means of refreshing your memory," said I, '■' so consider -well w.hat you are about. We have reason to believe that the lady mci with foul play; She died on thi. twenty-fifth of May, after getting from the hand- of . her husband, Herr Va.n Nieukerqueja drug, prescribed and furnished by you." " I mad* this allegation to brjag him "to the point at once, and the shot told. "Dead !" exclaimed Adderfang, wi f ,h an expression of astonishment a,ud dismay too genuine to. be feigned. " Dead, and now buried m the public cemetery outside the Damm Gate," ■aid I.; " And her husband— rr-" "Is still m Hamburg, but uider. an assumed name." "And the name, itself a falsehood, he has dared to carre upon her tombstone," added the major. ' • ' "-The drug I prescribed to the herr — \xet hußband-^-wa* harinlesi. It was but a sleeping draught, to gire the apqi &*% 4^% tibm

certainly one ingredient, but Himmel! he cannot have buried her alive !" This was a new and terrible idea that had not occurred to us. It froze us into silence, and for a full minute we looked blankly into each other's faces. Our dismay wis increasing. The quack doctor took a vellum-bound volume from a private drawer, selected a pai*e, and ran Irs finger and «jes over it. Ho then spoke. "On the 22nd of May — her* it i.« duly entered — I gave a sleeping draught for the wife of Herr Van Nieukerque, of Ependorf." "OX" what was it composed P Speak, charlatan!" I exclaimed, with irrepressible fury , but he replied — " If its component parts would defy all the scrutiny and acumen of a college of physicians, what would it avail to attempt enlightening you." ♦* What were its properties ?" "To cause a sleep resembling death for at least eighteen hours, and a total disorder of tV.e intellects for some days after, but no ing more, nothing worse, as I shall answer to heaven. Even the worst of men are not bad at all liims." " And you were paid for this vi 'ny of course P' 5 "You give a hard practice of physio, 1 ' replied the unabashed Jew. " Ye.«, yes I was well paid — nobly and royally paid — -by two hundred Prussian dollars." "Derteufel! — the day's pray of a regiment a thousand strong, for twelve hours of such work as we had m Holstpin," exclaimed the major. But death could not result from the potion, unless j her coustitulion was utterly ruined. If the Men* Van Nieukerque has played me fahe — or if, as I fear, he has interred her m her sleep, I shall be ready to come forward with you m the duty of exposing him." " I fear your appearance m a court of law will not bo favornblo lo yourself said Von Gordon," wrapping himself once more m his military cloak. " The slumber was to last eighteen hours, you say r" " Kiglitcen, at least?" "And for what purpose was the apparent madness that was to follow afterwavds ?" ' That was the business of her husband, not mine," he replied looking down. " And you gave the draught on the 22nd of May ?" " Yes ; my entry is accurate." " The lady died on the twentyfifth," " Three days of difference ; but I know not wh«u he may have given it." " Yours is an honorable art truly," said .the mnjor, sternl}'; "but I would advise you.to give up pharmacy and slick to conjuring, or you may find that precious neck of your* m a light noose some day, herr doctor, and what a loss you would be to' Hamburg !" "Every one m this wicked wicked world is the victim of somebody's envy or malevolence, and find listeners for their evil wordg, so I caunot be singular." "Wo have nothing more to learn here, gentlemen, so we may as well begone," said the major, turning on his heel. "Get a light, fellow, and conduct us to the door." ' I have learned that to-night which has put a climax to m/ horror and dismay. Oh, major, we must see this matter to the end, otherwise I shall go mad," said I, as we descended the staircase, and issued from the strange dilapidated old house into the dark " cul de sac." During the whole of the day I saw nothing of Major Von Gordon, on whose advice and assistance I know mainly replied as he was occupied on military duty by the great review and brigade inspaction at Altona before the Crown Prince of Prussia, and 1 saw little of Graves, as he, perhaps finding me but dull society, had gono to see the military show where, as he informed me on returning m the evening, he had seen Sebenrne van Nieukerque caracoling on a fine horse beside the carnage el: the beautiful Kathi, the Countess of Klamptnborg, with whose name hi* was associated m the mouths of all as the Baron Elaudberg, and as an affianced pair. One oppressing thought occupied me during the whole of that long and weary day. Was she buried alive ? Could this dreadful catastrophe have occurred — this inhuman crime been perpetrated—and by that man who was now, as yet, free, happy, and to all appearance enjoying all the pleasures of wealth and the luxuries of life? Oh to think of this event m all its harrowing details "m the dead waste and middlfa of the night !" I saw it all clearly enough now. He had trapped the softhearted and some what lonely Clarice into a marriage which had gratitude, not love, for its basis. He had squandered her little fortuue and grown weary of her, and was now ready, if rid of her, to repair hi» shattered finauces by another marriage with t" c wealthy but somewhat loose Countess of Khun pen borg — (he widow of an old and doting merchaut and miser. Early next morning the major entered my room with his sword and spiked helmet on, for the Prussian officers never wear " mufti " like us, and I could see that his grim, brazoned, and soldierlike face was firl of eagerness and importance. " Hem lierr," said he, "no apology ; will be accessary for my coming upon you at an hour so early wneu I tell you of the tidings I have. Last night, after the review at Altoua, I was driven into Hamburg m the carriage of the senior burgomaster, who is an old friend of mine. 1 told him all your story — our story, I may call it now — and he was ■ filled with indignation and astonishment." " Well might he be so." "So he sent at once for the chief of the police, and two warrants were instantly issued— one to arrest Schcnckc Va,u .Nieukerque, alias tho Baron .iilandberg, aud the other to exhume the rem*,ias or his wife." A deep groan escaped me. " Or the person who is buried uuder that name. I see how deeply you are moved ; but this last measure 18 most necessary." " For tr hat purpose, herr maior? My whole soul revolts at such a violation." " First wo must ascertain whether she has beeu buried alive while under the influence of some powerful narcotic

or whether she was fairly poisoned cutright, for we eaunofc al together accept thp assertions of that wretched quack, Mosas Adderfang, who is now under the surveillance of the police, lost he should attempt to escape, as we already fear our baron has donr, for already he is no where to be found." " Indeed ! So soon ?" "Yes, lie is ijonp. Oie account says for Berlin, another say« for Copenhagen." " I shall follow him to the end of the earth ! But, oh major, how can I repsy you for all your kindness ?" " L/ taking a littla courage." " It has not been wanting m me m past times." " Of that I am assured. The remains of the dead lady must bo by some means identified." " Identified?" "Yes; and the task— a terrible one nertainly— must dcvolvo on you, Hevr Graves, or my old comrade, Ulrik Eosing, and his rtife." "Oh, any one but me, herr major — oh, any one but me mo !" I. exclaimed m a faint voice. " However, ' if 'twere well 'twere done, then 'twere well it were done at once- ;' and the sooner this chapter of horrom is over the better." " I quite agree with you. ' When pain is to be borne, better bear it at once,' as the surgeon said when he cut the .Danish bullet out of my leg at Duppel." The major, who lookod somewhat gravely himself at the repugnant task bofore us , handed me a bumber of seltzor water strongly dashed with brandy put on his black glazed leather helmet and looking at his watch, said — " A guard of gendarmes is to take possession of the coinetery gates at this very moment." " For what purpose ?" "To keep away a crowd. The vulgar are so nsorbidlj curious, and we must be preserved from unseemly interruption." " Alas, I comprehend." " Come then, my friend, lot us go." And taking his arm I went forth like one who was walking m his sleep. Graves soon joined us, and m silence we proceeded along the beautiful green avenue of the Alsterdamm, issued from the city gate and were admitted into cemetery by the gendarms, and there we were met by Moses Ar'derfan^, who looked very ill at ease. His noso seemed to be more hooked than ever, and his quick, beady eyes more restless than wlun we saw him last. He bowed with abject humility to the major and me, but without receiving the least response from either of us. There, too, were Ulrik Rosing, the miller of Ependorf, and Gretehen, the buxom wife, from whoso cheeks the roses had fled, for she was scared by the sight of the Prussian gendaiT's, pale with terror, aud m tears at t in event and proceeding so uausua.l. Already the violation of the tomb had '• commenced, for there was noi a human being present who had any legal right to protest against il. The smooth turf which for four months was now removed and rolled carefully away on one side two grarediggers were calmly and stolidly shovelling out the earth, aud close by were two gendarms, and two eminent doctor, and a fifth, one of the four syndics of Hamburg, stood at the head of the grave. He was clad m olli-. cial costume — a black velvet cloak, an Elizcbethan ruff, and had a golden chain round his nock of golden links, a white rod or stall' m his hand, and on his head a high-crowed kat, which ha lifted at our approach. " A painful affair, meiu herr," said he to me. " Harrowing, indeed." " The lady 1 behave, was your sister — at least rumor say? so," My lips moved, my teeth chattered ; but 1 was ir.capable of reply, and cared littls c»f what rumor said. Though feeling as one m a terrible dream all the details of this morning scene were impressed upon me keenly and most vividly. I saw the great red steeple of St. Michael's towering skyward, and I beard the roar of human life m busy Hamburg like a drowsy hum m my ears. (To be eonthiutd.)