Bucholz and the Detectives | Page 5

portion of his time was passed when at
home.

The adjoining chamber, which was occupied by Bucholz, was scarcely
more luxurious, except that some articles for toilet use were added to
the scanty and uninviting stock.
The supplies for his table were provided by himself, and prepared for
his consumption by Mrs. Waring. In this regard, also, the utmost
parsimony was evinced, and the daily fare consisted of the commonest
articles of diet that he was able to purchase. Salt meats and fish, brown
bread and cheese, seemed to be the staple articles of food. At the
expiration of every week, accompanied by William, he would journey
to South Norwalk, to purchase the necessary stores for the following
seven days, and he soon became well-known to the shopkeepers for the
niggardly manner of his dealings. Upon his return his purchases would
be carefully locked up in the strong box which he kept in his room, and
would be doled out regularly to the servant for cooking in the
apartments below, with a stinting exactness painfully amusing to
witness.
The only luxury which he allowed himself was a certain quantity of
Rhenish wine, of poor quality and unpleasant flavor, which was
partaken of by himself alone, and apparently very much enjoyed. At his
meals Bucholz was required to perform the duties of waiter; arranging
the cloth, carrying the food and dancing in constant attendance--after
which he would be permitted to partake of his own repast, either with
the family, who frequently invited him, and thus saved expense, or in
the chamber of his master.
Gossip in a country village travels fast and loses nothing in its passage.
Over many a friendly cup of tea did the matrons and maids discuss the
peculiarities of the wealthy and eccentric old man who had so suddenly
appeared among them, while the male portion of the community
speculated illimitably as to his history and his possessions.
He was frequently met walking along the highway with his hands
folded behind his back, his head bent down, apparently in deep thought,
William in advance, and the master plodding slowly after him, and
many efforts were made to cultivate his acquaintance, but always
without success.

This evidence of an avoidance of conversation and refusal to make
acquaintances, instead of repressing a tendency to gossip, only seemed
to supply an opportunity for exaggeration, and speculation largely
supplied the want of fact in regard to his wealth and his antecedents.
Entirely undisturbed by the many reports in circulation about him,
Henry Schulte pursued the isolated life he seemed to prefer, paying no
heed to the curious eyes that were bent upon him, and entirely
oblivious to the vast amount of interest which others evinced in his
welfare.
He was in the habit of making frequent journeys to the City of New
York alone, and on these occasions William would meet him upon his
return and the two would then pursue their lonely walk home.
One day upon reaching South Norwalk, after a visit to the metropolis,
he brought with him a large iron box which he immediately consigned
to the safe keeping of the bank located in the town, and this fact
furnished another and more important subject for conversation.
He had hitherto seemed to have no confidence in banking institutions
and trust companies, and preferred to be his own banker, carrying large
sums of money about his person which he was at no pains to conceal,
and so, as he continued this practice, and as his possessions were
seemingly increased by the portentous-looking iron chest, the
speculations as to his wealth became unbounded.
Many of the old gossips had no hesitancy in declaring that he was none
other than a foreign count or some other scion of nobility, who had, no
doubt, left his native land on account of some political persecution, or
that he had been expatriated by his government for some offense which
had gained for the old man that dreadful punishment--royal disfavor.
Oblivious of all this, however, the innocent occasion of their
wonderment and speculation pursued his lonely way unheeding and
undisturbed.
CHAPTER II.

William Bucholz.--Life at Roton Hill.--A Visit to New York City.
William Bucholz, the servant of the old gentleman, did not possess the
morose disposition nor the desire for isolation evinced by his master,
for, instead of shunning the society of those with whom he came in
contact, he made many acquaintances during his leisure hours among
the people of the town and village, and with whom he soon became on
terms of perfect intimacy. To him, therefore, perhaps as much as to any
other agency, was due in a great measure the fabulous stories of the old
man's wealth.
Being of a communicative disposition, and gifted with a seemingly
frank and open manner, he found