Schulte heard of this intention of the Baron, he
determined, if possible, to become the owner of this extensive
demesne. His mind was sufficiently alive to the importance of this
railroad movement to convince him that the real estate in proximity
to the line of the road must necessarily increase in value, and he
also realized the necessity of seeing the Baron without delay, in
order to precede any of the railroad contractors, who would no doubt
present themselves ere long.

He consequently waited upon the irate Baron on the morning following,
and upon being ushered into the presence of the last of the von
Lindenthals, at once broached the subject of his desire to purchase
the land.

The gouty old land-owner looked with astonishment as his
shabbily-dressed visitor proffered his request. He had never imagined
that his unobtrusive neighbor was possessed of any money besides his
farm, and the proposition to become the purchaser of "Alten-Hagen"
was a complete surprise to him.

The Baron did not know of the hours of patient toil, nor of the
habits of miserly economy which had enabled Henry Schulte to
accumulate so large a sum of money as to warrant him in entertaining
the desire to increase his estate; nor did he know that his
economical neighbor could see further into the future, and better
appreciate the advantages which would accrue to him from the
possession of this additional property, than could their present
aristocratic owner.

However, the Baron lost no time in idle speculations as to the means
by which his visitor had grown wealthy. His land was for sale, a
purchaser stood before him, and in a short time the wealthy miser
became the owner of the Baron's land for a price entirely inadequate
to the value which he received. When, a few weeks later, the question
of appropriating the land and allowing the damage therefor came to be
considered, the railroad company were required to treat with the
miser of Hagen instead of the Baron von Lindenthal.

The wisdom and foresight displayed by Henry Schulte in becoming the
purchaser of this estate was very soon clearly demonstrated, for in a
very short time afterwards he received from the railroad company, as
damages and for the right of way through his grounds, more than the
sum he had originally paid to the impulsive Baron for the fee of the
entire estate.

A few years after this several coal mines were opened in the
vicinity, iron works were erected, and as Hagen be