Marshall County Republican., 1867-05-10
The Three Pellets Of Bread.
THE FIRST PELLET.


In 1924, towards the end of October, ten
young men were concluding repast at one
of the tables of the Cafe de Paris. The
succulent dishes had been apparently well
seasoned with wine, for all their faces were
illuminated, and all were talking at the
same time.
Nor was it surprising that the meeting
had been jovial one. The amphitryon-
George Benier by name = only the other
day sub-lieutenant in the 5th Regiment of
Dragons, had Unexpectedly inherited a
fortune estimated at six hundred thousand
francs. Barely month had elapsed since
he had received, whilst serving in Spain,
the news of the death of an uncle, who had
left him heir to the accumulatiOns of an in
dustrious and wellspent life. He had OBJ
tanned leave of absence, and had hurried Oft
to the capital to realize his fortune. He had
also invited what few friends - chiefly col
lege chums- he had in Paris to participate
in his happiness He had nine,-in a day
or two he would have fifty. A man with
well-lined pocket has always plenty of
friends The banquet held in honor of this
sudden accession of funds was coming to
conclusion, = that is to say, the party were
at their last bottle of champagne. Await
ing coffee. every one was laughing, talking,
or gesticulating, without concerning him.
self about listening or being listened to.
The host, who was more animated even
than the others, probably because, in his
quality of host, he had deemed it necessary
TO set good example, was endeavoring to
get word in concerning his feats of valor
In the Peninsula expatiating upon the as
sault of the Trocadero on the 31st of August,
1923, and the delivery of Ferdinand VII.
from the hands of the Cortes but every one
was too happy to listen to details.
In the mean time, coffee had been brought
in. The young man George Benier was
in his twenty first year was lifting his
cup to his lips, when he suddenly put it
down again with an exclamation ofsurprise
and disgust
"Garcon!" !" he shouted, in voice that
made the whole establishment start, take
this cup away at once"
And, as he said this, he pointed to two
flies that had been stupid enough to take
bath in the hot fluid, "a bath which had
cost them their lives One of the garcons
took away the cup, whilst another busted
himself in repairing the disaster The
guests were laughing heartily at the dis
comfiture of the lieutenant of dragons.
"Ahl ah :" said one, George is afraid
of flyl'
But Prosper Dyonnet college chum,
lnterposed :" Don't yoG remember,-h
used to kill them by hundreds his con-
science troubles him, and now the sight of
two dead flies awakens his remorse"
This Interpolation excited renewed
laughter, in which George joined heartily.
True" he said, gentlemen, l always
had a horror of flies, and i became so skill
ful by dint of practice in killing them with
pellets of bread, that got the surnarne Of
'Tueur de mouches.' have not lost my
skill yet, / can tell you; but if assassinate
flies, that is no reason should also swallow
them"
"Well said" observed one of the guests I;
and with after-dinner thoughtlessness, and
the love of fun natural to youth, he pro-
posed that George should give them proof
that he was still entitled to what he was
pleased to designate as glorious title to
distinction.
To this effect roll of bread was taken
from table close by George Benier, as
serious as if he were about to solve prob
lem in mathematics, broke it, took out the
crumb, and began to prepare his ammuni-
ton. Having made three pellets, he.held
them out in his open hand.
"Now," he said, "who'n bet that don't
kill fly with each shot!"
we Dtt, buOutcu Tic k0SX&D-
"What shall it be? A monster punch ~
Good; but what distance do you allow
mes"
1--WE leave that to you-a pellet Of bread
is not precisely conical ball"
In the interval, a man, apparently above
fifty years of age, with gray mustaches and
coat buttoned up-evidently an old soldier
had come iuto the cafe. Ordering up a
cup of chocolate, he had taken up news
paper, and was reading as he awaited his
refreshment. The room was crowded with
flies, half stupeded by the approach of
winter, and George Benier observed that
three had settled upon the new-comer-one
on his arm, another on his neck, and third
had the impudence actually to alight on the
very hand that held the paper The guests
watched the direction which Georges ewes
had taken, and the same malicious idea oc-
CURED at the same moment to all their
excited brains. This idea was mutually
exchanged by mods and smiles and intelli-
gent glances, but not formulated into words.