Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-08-12
THE MAN WITH MALACHITE STUDS.
A True story.


q am going to tell you q story of real
lifc,s said friend to me in the club the
other night--a friend who has lived in many
countries, and seen very much of the
world
Many years ago was living in a fur
nished apartment in Paris One day my
servant brought me the card of Mr.. Charles
Dumont The name was not known to ME,
but told him to show the gentleman in. A
tail and very good-looking fellow entered
He was extremely well dressed, and /
noticed particularly that he wore three very
handsome malachite studs, and sleeve but
tons of the same material He addressed me
in frank and hearty manner
1'You do not know me, Mr. he said,
but we ought to be well acquainted, for
am nephew of your old friend, Col. Charles
Merritt of New Orleans, and have heard
him speak so often and so warmly about
you that cannot regard you as stranger.
81 was extremely prepossessed by the
young fellows appearance, and delighted TO
meet a countryman OF good connections and
with time on his hands
sWe soon became very intimate, and were
much together for some weeks thencefor-
ward Dumont was a very accomplished and
agreeable man, and / found him most excel
lent company
sone day, returning from journey, re-
ceived n call from SergsHt de Viie l had
no idea what be could want with me, but !
soon learned
Pardon, Monsieur said he. I am sorry
to trouble you, but do you know one NJ
Charles Dumont?
Yes, very well, said
May ask If you knew him well In Amer
icae'
Il was abcut to answer that / did, when /
suddenly recollectsd that did not know him
well in America So said, i knew his fam
lily and friends there, very we'll
: regret 10 inform you, Donsieur,' said
the officer, that he Is in custody, and that
his extradition for the crime of forgery is
demanded by the United States. VIII you GO
with me. and see him?'
s0f course assented, and IN q short time,
and after elaborate formalities. / was taken
to cell in the prison of ST Pelagie. where
found my new acquaintance, apparently in
excellent health and spirits, and jauntily
wearing his inalachite studs.
i am sorry to see you here, said L
How can such shocking mistake have been
nader
1T was no mistake at all, said he, stand
ing erect, and with perfect GOODNESS; i am
guiltyr
Good heavensi What do you meang' 1
cried
81 will tell YOU said he. L have deceived
you My name is not Dumont at all 1t lie
Ashley. am the son of an English gentle
man, and lived in Wisconsin until a place
was offered me as clerk in q commission
house in New Orleans My work was hard
and my salary small; bnt / always dreamed
of the day when would be rich, and assume
my righttul position in society. In this
direction was desperately ambitious One
day the devil tempted me. / was sent to
the bank with check for $i4 The humor
seized me to alter it, as a Joke, TO one for
fourteen thousand. / did this, In the pres
ence of the cashier. / assure You / had
not the slightest idea but that the teller
would notice the alteration, and take the
thing as l meant it To my in
finite surprise, be handed me 81 4, 900 When
the money was in my hand, it suddenly oc-
CURED to me that my opportunity had come.
steamer was to sail for Havana in an
hour, and on that steamer l took my pass
age, having Just time to reach the wharf
without luggage From Cuba / went to
Spain, then came to Paris Ihave been here
some time have stayed too long, and sup
pose some one has recognized me- No mat
ter; have enjoyed myself TO the full, and
now Unjust pay the piper. have only one
favor to ask of you, am gentleman. Do
not let me bs ironed l give my word not
to jump overheard or try TO escape in any
way. Aud, by the way, of the $l4 600 which
] brought here have just 81 900 left You
will find it hidden behind the pier glass in
my apartment, where it escaped the vigilance
the bills OF which l hand you a list and
beg of you to attend to this matter for me
SThere was little for me to say / prom
ised TO do what he wanted, and / babe him
goodbye In few days he was duly sx-
tradited
4Three years later / was seated in my
house in St Louis when a gentleman was
announced; and to my surprise, in walked
Mr.. Ashley, alias Dumont, neat as a new pin
and wearing the malachite studs looked
at him in speechless astonishmenti
i thought you were in the penitentiaryp
said
oh, MOI said he. i was only In jail, and
/ have never been tried The cashier OF the
bank died suddenly, and there was no one
10 prosecute The TAILOR and l became
great friends He was a Know Nothing and
a tremendous partisan, and mucn interested
in that movement wrote articles for him,
and was useful TO him in MANI ways One
day he said to me: The door of this Jail IL
open Why do you not walk outg ibid SO,
and here / am. have no money, and want
TO earn an honest livelihood VIII you help
me to do soy
'Dumont.' said !, you cannot possibly
stay here, with crime hanging over you.
There is just one thing for you 70 do Twill
buy yoe some clothes, and pay your railroad
fare to New York win write you letter