314 LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
had been sold and scattered, all except a few old letters, and some
odds and ends of no value. However, through those letters, I traced
out a son of Kruger's, the only relative he left. He is a man of
thirty, now, a shoemaker by trade, and living1 at Xo. 14 Konigstrasse
Mannheim—widower, with several small children. Without explain-
ing- to "h™ why, I have furnished two-thirds of his support, ever
since.
Now, as to that watch—see how strangely things happen! I
traced it around and about Germany for more than a year, ^at con-
siderable cost in money and vexation ; and at last I got it. Got it,
and was unspeakably glad; opened it, and found nothing in it!
Why, I might have known that that bit of paper was not going to
stay there all this time. Of course I gave up that ten thousand
dollars then; gave it up, ttnd dropped it out of my mind: and most
sorrowfully, for I had wanted it for Kruger's son.
Last night, when I consented at last that I must die, I began to
make ready. I proceeded to burn all useless papers ; and sure enough,
from a batch of Adler's, not previously examined with thoroughness,
out dropped that long-desired scrap 1 I recognised it in a moment.
Here it is—I will translate it:
* Brick livery stable, stone foundation, middle of town, corner of Orleans
and Market. Corner toward Court-house. Third stone, f onrth row. Stick
notice there, saying1 how many are to come.*
There—take it, and preserve it. Kruger explained that that
stone was removable ; and that it was in the north wall of the foun-
dation, fourth row from the top, and third stone from the west.
The money is secreted behind it. He said the closing sentence was a
blindly to mislead in case the paper should fall into wrong hands. It
probably performed that office for Adler.
!fr>w I want to beg that when you make your intended journey
down the river, you will hunt out that hidden money, and send it to
Adam Kruger, care of the Mannheim address which I have men-
tioned. It will make a rich man of him, and I shall sleep the sounder
in my grave for knowing that I have done what I could for the son
of the man who tried to save my wife and child—albeit my hand
ignorantly struck "him down, whereas the impulse of my heart would
have been to shield and serve him.