The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-07
A SHARP DEBTOR.
How He Secured an Extension from ]
Creditors.

A SHARP DEBTOR.
How He Secured an Extension from His
Creditors.
Avery amusing story is going the
rounds in Vienna. Among the promi-
nent citizens Of the capital of the Aus
trian Empire is a gentleman whom we
shall call Herr Fritz. He is the pro-
prietor of large factory, and is, more
over, well-known as a jovial, whole
souled fellow, who delights to give large
dinner parties.
Not long since he sent out invitations
to all his business friends to partake of
his hospitality at dinner party.
Herr Fritz was known to be q good
entertainer. His wines were so good
that some members of the nobility,
whose social status was much higher
than that of Herr Fritz, condescended
to associate with him, so they could
guzzle some of his fine wines. His cook
was. major-general among cooks. As
might be inferred, all the invited
guests were present at the appointed
hour. They were disappointed in their
expectations, bat agreeably so. for the
banquet was even more excellent than
any they had ever attended. The menu
was conceded by experienced gour-
mands who made menus their specially,
to be head and shoulders over any they
had ever tackled. The wines were not
fit for prince. They were too good.
1t occurred to some of the guests, who
were not as busy as the rest with their
knives aud forks, that it was little
singular that neither the wife nor
daughters of the host were present, but
they supposed that perhaps they had
gone to the skating rink. 1t was a reg
ular stag party.
At first. as is frequently the case at a
dinner party at which there are gentle
men only, the proceedings were some
what tedious. By degrees, however,
the guests became more lively under
the stimulating influence of the wines.
Their tongues became loosened by the
frequent lubrications, and there was q
flow of geniality and wit, such as is
found only on press excursions.
Good humor prevailed to an almost
alarming extent. Everybody present
was in an hilarious mood. Just at this
crisis Herr Fritz stood up and intimated
that he would like to make few re-
marks.
"Bravor' said fat man with red
face, pounding on the table with the
handle of his knife.
''Now we will hear something funny"
remarked another guest, getting his
mouth ready to laugh.
speech! Speechn' exclaimed several
of the guests who had contemplated the
wine when it was red.
There was solemnity about the host
that almost convulsed the merry gentle
men present.
Gentlemen, l see around me all my
creditors, and have some very import
ant information to impart to you"
and he paused.
The fat man, to whom Herr Fritz was
owing 10000 marks, turned trifle pale,
and seemed to be unable to close his
mouth, in which he had deposited a
morsel of pate de foie gras.
Several other creditors looked at each
other.
Gentlemen" continued the orator,
'.you will regret to hear that I ana
bankrupt"
Roars of laughter. THAT is good"
"Over the hills to the poor house, sang
another.
The orator did not join in the laugh.
ter. With increased solemnity he said:
II wish, gentlemen, for your sakes
and for my sake, that | was jesting, but
1 am not. OF late l have experienced
severe losses. 1t is impossible for me
to meet my obligations. If, however,
you gentlemen are willing to give me
six months time, l can pay off every
thing, and save my hOnor-and my
life, fsr"-and here Herr Fritz drew a
revolver-'I propose to blow out my
brains in your presence" and he
placed the deadly weapon to his temple.
The Mortified guests sprang to their
feet. A few of the more courageous en-
deavored to wrest the revolver from the
desperate man, but they did not sue
coed. Herr Fritz declared that he
would not give up the revolver until a
certain document. giving him an ex-
tension of six months, was signed, and
he suddenly drew the document from
his breast pocket.
As we have already intimated, all the
creditors, owing to the wine, we're in a
most genial mood. They had perfect
confidence in the honesty and ability of
Herr Fritz, and in a few minutes the
document was signed by all the creditors
of Herr Fritz.
Then the merriment was renewed in
earnest, although there was hollow
ring in the laugh of the fat man that told
Of an aching heart. Fritz put up his
revolver, which, so it has beeneintimat-
ed, was not even loaded Translated
from the German for Teras Sitti"gs.