Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-21
RAISING 4 LOAN.
The ID Desperate ExpcdIent RosOrted to
by u Broken dam mbler.

Among the visitors at Homburg in the
year preceding my arrival Mt the Spa was
a certain Count f., whose right to the
title borne by him was, according to all
accounts to say the least, contestable,
and who, having lost at roulette what
little cash he originally possessed was, at
an early period Of the season. without
sou. A scheme occurring to him by
which he proposed to replenish his cof-
fers, he repaired one evening to NJ.
Blancs private abode, and inquired of
the servant in attendance at what hour in
the morning he could see his master
"Not before ten o'clock, was the reply /;
"Monsieur is not an early riser. ''That
will be too late," answered the Count !;
81 am leaving by the flst train, and
must see him, as | have news for him
which he will be glad to hear. So, as the
matter presses" he continued, slipping
five louis which he had borrowed for the
occasion into the valet's hand, 81 shall
count upon your showing me into his bed
room when ! come.
This being agreed on after some hesita-
ton on the servants part, the Count with
drew, and as 8 o'clock struck on the fol-
lowing morning lie was ushered into the
luxuriously furnished chamber where NJ.
Blame was reposing. Carefully closing
the door and bolting it, the Count ad-
vanced toward the bed, the occupant of
which, aroused by his entrance, started
up in surprise, and, recognizing his Wis
tor asked what he wanted.
"My dear Blanc. said E., composedly
seating himself at the foot of the bed
II want ten Thousand francs, and natural
ly come to YOU for them"
"But, stammered the other, still hal
: asleep, ''you are aware, Count, that an
not at liberty to dispose of our fund.-
without consulting my colleagues Wal
till this evening, and"
"Not an hour" interrupted the intrud
ell 'you have only to open your saf'
and hand me the money. Will You d'
it? Yes or no?"
4 "Impossible |"
Every good, then must take IN,
measures accordingly"
With these words he rose from his seat
drew from his pocket small nail and
s hammer, and began to drive the forme
S into the wall, rs if about to hang up
. picture. Blanc started in utter amaze
e ment.
It "What are you doing?" he gasped
e stretching out his hand toward the bell
e rope.
). Take care - cried f. 'if you touc
+ the bell, us sure as You are lying there,
it will strangle you before they have tim
g to break open the door,"
It Blanc glanced at the tall and powerful
y ly knit figure before him, and shudderet
81 don't understand" he murmured.
e Don't you?" ironically, retorted til
N Count. "You see this nail? Well,
le have a rope in my pocket, and am g
'e ing to hang you. Now, will you give N
u the money? No? Very good" And /
y went on hammering until the nail WI
IS firmly fixed in its place ; then, turnin
ie toward his victim, who was sitting NJ
right in the bed, trembling in every liml
t. he coolly remarked that before procee'
IN ing to extremities he would give him or
ut more chance. Blanc, perceiving tn
he matters began to look serious, thought
e. best to comply with the audacious d
to mand, and, opening the safe, extracts
be from it roll of bank notes which
es handed the Count, warning him that
er he remained another hour Mt Homburg
,e. would be at his peril.
ry "You may be perfectly easy on til
lis score, replied E., who had already pock'