urney.

To his disappointment, however, he discovered that no vessels were
likely to sail from New York directly to Australia, and the limited
means he had brought with him were insufficient for the expense
necessary to travel overland to a point of embarkation. He was
therefore compelled to delay his journey until he could receive
sufficient funds to enable him to continue farther. He immediately
wrote to his family for the money he required, and it was while
awaiting their reply that he met Frank Bruner, the servant of Henry
Schulte, whose acquaintance was destined to produce such a marked and
dramatic effect upon his future life.

CHAPTER XVI.

_Frank leaves the Service of his Master._--_A Bowery Concert
Saloon._--_The departure of Henry Schulte._--_William Bucholz
enters the employ of the old gentleman._

We left William Bucholz and Frank Bruner in conversation at "The
Crescent Hotel." The young Hussar who had been reared in luxury,
whose life until this time had been a round of pleasure and gayety,
and who had come to America to seek his fortune--and the servant of
the strange and silent old man who had crossed the sea to escape the
imagined dangers which threatened him and to find peace and comfort
in his declining years.

"You have just come over from Germany, I understand," said Bucholz,
addressing his companion in German.

"Just arrived to-day," replied Bruner.

"Did you come alone?"

"Oh, no; I came with the old gentleman who has just gone to bed."

"Have you been long with him?"

"Long enough to want to get away from him," was the reply.

"What is the reason?" inquired Bucholz, with some indication of
surprise and curiosity.

"Well, he does not use me properly, and I have grown tired of his
abuse," answered Frank, sullenly.

After further questioning him, Bucholz learned the story of the old
man's eccentricities, the fact of his large possessions, and the
probability of his extending his travels as far West as California.

"I would not leave him," said Bucholz, after Frank had finished his
narrative; "he may not live very long, and he will no doubt do
something handsome for you."

"I don't care for that," replied Frank Bruner; "I would not continue
many days longer in his service even if I knew that he would leave me
all his money."

At that moment the sound of a cane struck angrily upon the floor
above them admonished Frank that his master desired his services, and
also that he