Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-11-26

1 Oflcer, VINO came nome from the III
| quiry man about whom nothing def
mite is said, but good deal is implied.
and in tins unenviable state OF mind
he found waiting for him Nellie, his af-
famed bride, and blue envelope.
The latter was from firm OF solicit
tors, announcing that his old uncle
had died, leavinghim his sole heir.
Thank God!' he exclaimed. Poor
old gentleman, he has done me u
good turn at the moment re-
quired it most. Nelie-sweethear
i am rich man. Tomorrow /
throw up this profession, which, II
cared little about before, Iloathe now.
This day three weeks, darling we will
be married, and then we'll 90 abroad
for six months. Does this suit your
views?"
The answer of the young person
addressed has not been recorded; 1t IL
sufficient for us TO know that, two
months later, Nellie-Mrs. Ralph Nut
ford-was installed in an exquisite
little apartment looking out upon the
Champs Elysees, and her husband,
who had been down to the Riviera to
look out for n permanent habitation
for himself and his bride, was hasten
ing back to her in n first-class car
riage on the Paris Marseiles railway.
In the corner opposite to HIM sat
an American, who, with the ailabllity
OF that free-born race, had entered
into conversation with him, and the
conversation had turned upon the
shipping at Marseilles.
you seem to know n thing or two
about boats, stranger, observed the
American.
well, | ought to, seeing that | was
connected with an American line Tor
some years.
you were Then you must have
come across some funny yarns IN con-
nection with those same steamers.
nance connected with those lines, |
could tell you story-but. there, 1T
wouldn't interest you perhaps.
ION the contrary replied Mr.. Nut
ford, II should very much like TO hear
some OF your experiences; we have the
end OF long Journey before us.
"Oh. they re not my experiences; but
a friend OF mine from Chicago told me
rum story about the Gable line a
few days ago. Remember the Para
gon? Went down mysteriously, be-
ginning of the year? Yes, YOU know.
I'll tell you a story about that, ii YOU
like Shall |? Very well-we We got
half an hour. 1t happened like this;
but mind, you promise on your
British honor never TO let this 20 any
further All right
"Col. Jedadiah L. Spinks got planted
last fall with huge consignment OF
hides; got 'em as his share oi n steal.
or something OF that kind. and all his
pals laughed at him because they said
even he couldn't get a profit out Of
EN-. SO what dye think he does,
ship EN- all aboard the Paragon
as cargo declares them rs
Indian bullion cmbroidcriO~, and in
-ures them against all RISKS at 5000
600 lIespotted tine Paragon because
there was a young TOOL of a fifth officer
on board. named Nudtord, or Ret
ford. or something like that, who was
lust the Kind oi soft he wanted, and he
had him sounded, to make sure, one
/ day at DeimOulcO' S, by a friend, who
went and sat with him, and entered
. into COuVersatlOn-lust rs You and !
have done; and then the colonel
got n girl lovely and without relG
tions, with the cheek and the pluck
and the beauty OF the devil, but down
on her luck and hard upf for cash and eX-
element, and sent her on board AZ
his niece, making the voyage to
Seringapatam under the care OF
| the captain She made ire
mendous love to the young spark,
playing the pompous old ass OF a cap
tain OFF against him. ana got him to
herself on deck one dark night, when
| there was no else on deck but two
men sent on rs part of the extra crew
/ by the colonel himself, ard instructed
! by him. While she hrted with HIM
well out OF sight under the bridge,
| these two men let down over the side
a Remington dynamite machine and
| blew the blessed old boat TO blazes,
and then cockered up "A yarn about
n mysterious vessel that had come
upon them suddenly. run them down
and got clear away Lord
/ knew you'd laugh. This young
fool is no end of n funk about
his certificate, supports their yarn,
and, OF course, never says a word
about the GIRL. They come over; the
loss is proved bona fide accidental,
ana Col. Jedadlah IL. Splnks nets
200, 600 steil ling clear profit bang
out OF the insurance offices, But wait
minute. The ends the tragic part
OF it. That beautiful girl, with her
marvellous talents, that would make
her an empress il she wanted to be
one, goes and falls in love-the real
thing-with the man, and won't touch
a penny OF her share of the plumber
Waste of genius, | call it. But all
women are alike. And egad, sir, she's
married him! What d We think OF that
for "A yarn"
"Most startling and amusing. But
here in Paris. Thank you SO much
for your delightful company. Your
story has indeed interested me great
ly."-London Truth.
~ n.