The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-20
THE MAN WITH MALAcHITE STUDS
A True Story.

I A True Story.
Il am going to tell you story of real
life" 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 I 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
tall 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 mo
In frank and hearty manner.
You do not know rue, 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
I you that cannot regard you as q stranger.'s
Il was extremely prepossessed by the
I young fellows appearance, and delighted to
( meet countryman of good connections and
with time on his hands
we soon became very intimate and were
/ much together for some weeks theucefor-
I ward. Dumont was very accomplished and
F! agreeable man, and found him most excel
4 lent company
One day: returning from journey. re-
ceived Il call from serqent de uiRe I had
no idea what he could want with me, but
I soon learned
Pardon, monsieur said he, 4 am sorry
to trouble you, but do you know one N
Charles Dumont?'
Yes, very well. said Z
May ask you knew him well In Amor
| icas'
Il was about to answer that I did. when I
suddenly recollected that did not know him
well in America. So said, 1 knew his fam
! lily and friends there, very WE'LL
/ Il regret TO inform you, monsieur said
the officer, that he Is In custody, and that
| his e1tradition for the crime of forgery is
demanded by the United States. Will you 60
! with nle. and see him?
SOf course assented and in q short time
and after elaborate formalities, was taken
/ to cell in the prison of ST Pelagie, where l
found my new acquaintance, apparently in
excellent health and spirits, and jauntily
! wearing hia malachite studs
~ am sorry to see you here said L
How can such shocking mistake have been
madey'
1t was no mistake at ALL said he, stand
ing erect, and with perfect coolness; I am
Good hoavensl What do you meant I
cried
81 will tell you, said he. 4 have deceived
/ YOU MY name is not Dumont at all 1t is
| man, and lived in Wisconsin until a place
'''"s offered me as clerk in commission
/ ~ in New Orleana MY work was ba,c
| my salary small; but I always dreama.,
/ u the day when would be rich, and assume
direction was desperately ambitious One
day the devil tempted me I was sent to
the bank with check for $l4 The humor
seized me to alter it, as joke, to one for
fourteen thousand l did this in the pres
| ence OF the cashier. / assure you 1 had
| not the slightest idea but that the teller
/ would notice The alteration, and take the
thing as meant it. To my in
finite SURPRISE he handed me S14 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 ! took my pass
| age, having just time to reach the wharf,
without luggage. From Cuba l went to
some time. have stayed too long. and sun
pose some one has recognized me- No mat
ter; have enjoyed myself to the full. and
now must pay the piper. have only one
favor to ask OF you. l am gentleman Do
not let me be ironed. I give my word not
to jump overheard or try to escape in any
way And by the way, of the Sl4 900 which
brought here have just 81 900 left You
Will lind it hidden behind the pier glass in
OF the police, 1t will just bout sufilce to pay
the bills OF which ! hand you q list, andI
beg OF you to attend to this matter for me,
There was little Tor me to say. l prom
ised to do what he wanted, and I bnde him
good In few days he waa duly ex-
tradited
SThree years later was seated in NV
house in St Louis when gentleman was
announced; and, to my surprise, in walked
Mr Ashley, alias Dumont, neat as . new pjn
and wearing the malachite studs looked
at him in speechless astonishment!
said L
@'oh, NOT said he. I was only in jail, and
I have never been tried The cashier OF tho
bank died suddenly, and there was no one
70 prosecute. Tho jatlor and became
grent friendA He was Know Nothing and
tremendous partisan, and much Interested
IN mat movement wrote articles for him,
and was usefnl to him iu many ways One
day he said to me: The door of this iail IA
open. Why do you not walk out?' did no.
and here am have no money, and want
TO earn an honest livelihood viii you help
~'Dumono,' said 1, you cannot possibly
stay here with crime hanging over you
There is just one thing for you to do. Iwilr
buy you some clothes and pay your railroad
fare to New York. will write you letter
To a man there who will at once forward you
I to Gen. Walkor in Nicaragua, and will give
you an introduction to my friend Heminp-
ssn wbo ,sr Is %ith III h@ Throw
be an officer in three montha II they sue
ceed you will be q patriot and hero He
grasped my hand and thanked me warnoiv
kept my word, and tho.ght I had dons
the best possible thing for him
ABOUT SIX monthh later, when was still
IN 81 Louis, the card OF well ,-nown law
yer, in official position, was brought to re
This gentleman showed some embarras.ment
IN addressing me. Finally he told me thai n
friend OF mine had become intimate in HI.
| family, and that he would like to know
something from mo about him I should
mention that this gentleman was the brother
OF two young ladies' who afterward attained
niuch celebrity in the literary and dramatic
world asked him the name of tho person
10 whom he referred, and he said it was De-
iorme | assured him that knew no ner
son of chat nal,e. w poi
You must know him. said he .He
tadhn oi you as none Dut an Intimate friend
| we argued the matter for some time
DOM q us being very persistent Suddenly
wild idea crossed my mind i asked the
gentleman II the man who claimed to be INV
iriehd wore malachite studs, and, 10 and be-.
hola ne 'ld! 1t was Ashley, alias Dumont.
alias Delnr,ne, whom had supposed to be
serving bravey with Hemingsen, | then
discovered that he was very Intimate w;th
the two young ladies' to whom have ra
ferred; had won the affections OF one y,
them, and had become engaged 10 herr
When explained matters to INV vis,t,-
ne was terribly enraged, and vowed yenpe-
ance against the man who had deceived
him l wisted to aid him, and persuaded
MIN to promise to use no violence; to be
guided by me. and to go with me TO New
1ork, where MIS- sisters and my old ac
quaint&nce taen wera He did SO. and