Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-16
CAUGHTIN A STEEL TRAP.


CAUGHTIN A STEEL TRAP.
The following story was told to me by
my old friend, the venerable DIR. Lr-g:
I sat one evening on the verandah OF
the principle hotel Of a city on the N. T..
and E. R. r, smoking and watching the
persons lettering about the entrance.
Among these was strengthening
man who had excited my curiosity at
dinner by his peculiar dress and appear
ance.
He was very tall and strongly built,
had large, fierce, black eyes, a dark, pale
complexion, a huge, carefully -waxed,
lefty mustache, and he wore his thick,
coarse, black hair, somewhat long. His
ares was striking, although Of fine black
material and fashionable make. But,
doubtlessly, the "loud'' effect was pro-
duced by the long cape, the Haunting red
necktie and the broad brimmed, pictur-
esque hat he always wore. He exhibited
also his prodigious diamonds too profuse-
ly for good taste. The cane he carried
was unique, its gold head being shaped
precisely like small pistol.
Altogether, the tout ensemble of this pre-
tentious person was decidedly STACEY"
AS I watched him, one of the under
walters of the hotel came whistiing into
the small reception room behind me.
This waiter was called Matthew Sparks,
and especially disllked him. He was
as cunning as an Indian, talKative and
grotesquely polite, and loved money like
miser. While he was as full of pranks
and funny jests as Il court fool or the
clown of circus.
sMatthew!" l called to this under
sized buffoon of sixteen.
He reared his heels IN the air, attempt
| ed waltz on his hands, turned somer-
sault and landed on his feet by my side.
What can 40 for you, sir?" he in
quired, with a courtesy that was laugh
ably like that of a trained monkey.
"Who is the gentleman yonder, with
the red necktie and the broad brimmed
hat?'
Where, sir" he asked, ipnocently,
looking everywhere except in the direc-
tioa Indicated vainly, until had clear
ed his vision by the magical touch of sil-
yer, when ne became as communicative
as could wish.
30. that fellew?-looks like one of the
pictures on the bill post yonder, don't
he?" and my comic and sordid informant
grinned and looked wise.
''Is he an actor?" l demanded impa.
tiently.
"Bless me, no. He's the Count-count
Pedro Columbia. He's Teller who does
nuthin' but travel and spend money
And his diane nds! 0, lor! worth thirty
thousand dollars--I heard him say So
This was all the information I could
obtain from the promising young waiter
and it seemed without doubt correct
as I soon discovered that the Counts
magnificent diamonds, his apparent ex.
travagence with money, and his evident
ignorance of American customs, made
the gossip Of the hotel.
'Why," said the clerk to me one morn.
ing, 1.-The Count is probably the richest
man the country. He has large estate
in Mexico and mines in South America
He lives high, too. He has the best
rooms, the best wines, ant: most costly
dinners. He makes odd mistakes occas.
ionally, gets on the wrong floors and into
tie wrong rooms, and scarcely can speak
nor understand a word of English He
came on from New york, and BY some
mistake his trunks were sent the wrong
way. He is kept here waiting for them
Just then the subject Of his remarks
came into the office.
His hair was in disorder, he wore Meth
er coat nor vest, and his suspendcrs were
flying behind his heels.
II have been robbed See!' he cried
in his broken English, exhibiting his
wristband and shirt front, from which hi
studs and buttons had seemingly beer
roughly torn away.
And then gesticulating violently anc
muttering Spanish curses, he demanded
to see the proprietor, who at once came II
to hear the complaint of the distinguish
ed and unfortunate guest.
The counts complaint was something
like this: He was sure he was in the
land of thieves; his trunks probably had
been stolen, and all the money he had il
them, as we'll as the letters OF credit. H
was in a strange place and he couldn'
pay his board, and now he was robbed O.
all he had that was worth security, anc
he would be put in the streets or perhaps
in prison. But he would go to Washing.
ton. he would see the Minister of SPAR
or somebody, ano the scoundrels who hac
taken advantage of his ignorance shoulc
hang very high indeed!
In vain the landlord assure;l him tina
be should be kindly treated until hi
missing property should be recovered
which likly would be soon--the coun
only rolled out big Spanish oaths, ant
frantically waved his arms and pointed
to the places his lost diamonds hac
adorned, and groaned, and mutteret
that " they would kill him if he stayed
in the diabolical country-the beasts, tn
llains, the assassin
| The proprietor was greatly disturbed
and finally persuaded the high mindet
count to accept fifty dollers as {; loa,
and not to hesitate to ask for NOR
if he should need it: and somewhat ap
peased, the guest went out of the Office
II am sorry the count" observed
the landlord to me; !" and doubt if h
ever RECEIVERS anything he has lost. Fo
some time a gang Of there's has beel
working between here and New York an.
scarcely any hotel has escaped. In sew
eral instances checks for baggage hav
been taken with other things, and Q