New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-28
THE FAT MAN WITH THE
THIN FACE.
-cocxAroNE. IN THE SAN FRANCISCO ARGo.
NAUT.

"COCkAI6NEr IN The DAN FNhNSAoSo Hnoo'
NAUT.
(conctuded)
Wcstcrfeldt appeared to know everybody on
board and be was never tired of introducing some
man to me- or me to some new young lady. Ills
cav unrestrained manner made him popular with
every one He was the life Of the dinner table.
and 1t is q question which were in greater de-
mand, his stories in the smoking room by the
men, or his songs (which he sang in fine tenor
voice. in the saloon by the women. I said he
was popular and favorite with every one in the
ship. And he was-with one exception. 1his
exception was a young New-fork doctor, named
Appleton, a quiet, unobtrusive young fellow, as
different from Westerfeldt as chalk from cheese
There happened to be on board the ship certain
dashing New-York belle. There scores of
beauties from the different cities cast very much
In the same mould, to an English eye; but this
Miss Blanche Croker seemed to eclipse them All
She was travelling with her mother, middle
aged lady, who, by the bye did considerable fiirt-
ing on her own account, and the daughter was
fair sample of American girls to be met with =, n
dozens the Continent during the summer IL
appeared that Appleton had had the two ladies',
mother and daughter, put under his charge Tor the
voyage by some male relative in New York, and
while performing the duties of custodian and es-
cort he had become an admirer Of the young lady:
At all events, his attentions were more marked
and partook of more eye-making than mere
looking after demanded Westerfeldt. who
o masher," in the full sense of the American ac-
ceptation Of the slang, seemed to have time to
smile upon every woman on board in turn, and
In the course Of each day Miss Croker came In Tor
her share Of his attention. For Westerfeldt she
showed a decided preference, while AppletoL's
tender speeches and exigeant poGteness were re-
ceived with indifference 1t did not take Apple
ton long to this, and naturally man turns
against q successful rival At least so / inferred
was the case from short conversation we had
pne morning. We sitting together in the
smoking room, and Westerfeldt passed the open
doorway walking arrn-n-arm with Miss Croker.
/ saw Appleton frown and chew away at his
cigarette
Il wish Blanche wouldn't make. herself so
pronounced with that fellow" he growled.
hon L. L
thought everybody liked Westerfeldt."
We'll don't, for one" he answered. Hes
&c is hail fellow well met with every. one, and
nobody ever set eyes on him before they came
aboard the ship"
that all the people he has introduced me to- your
Ielf among the number, are not old friends Of his?
rou surprise me. He's townsman of yours,
Not that know Of"
why, he told me you and he were members
If the same club in New-York, and belonged to the
q He told You that, did he P' shouted Appleton,
laughing why tell you never saw the fel-
low in my life until he came up and asked me for
he old friends, so far as he was concerned
People can talk of Americans having brass aud
cheek, and beng, too familiar on first acquaint-
tpce, but that fellow can beat any of us"
why, he is an American isn't he p
"He an American P" exclaimed Appleton.
'creWing up his face in disgust: No indeed d.
like to know what he is. He's not English, that
tn swear
what he is. Easy enough to tell that, should
lave thought"
An Irishmanp ?" I exclaimed. Nonsense
I've been too much among Irishmen not to know
sne when meet him.
Where? In 1reland?'
II thought So" said Appleton. That's
where you're out Of it. An Irish Irshman is one
thing; an American Irishman is horse of an
American Irishman. We have thousands of them
But Westerfeldt isn't an Irish name" urged.
"No more it is. But it sounds better than
Shaughnessy O'Raffcrty, and a man with it is
ipt to be taken for scion of one of the Knicker-
booker families OF Manhattan Island, don't you
lee? A man may call himself what he likes"
.atisied lie talks just like an American"
No, he doesn't" said Appleton You think
20, of course; but we Americans can detect the
difference. He's like thousands Of Others who
come TO America and live long enough there TO
acquire certain sembancc of American ways and
manners. and get rid of their brogue. Abroad he'd
pass for genuine Yankee dare say, and be &C
credited with the possession of the American &C
rent as the English papers cali at: but an Ameri
can would catch him out in minute
." confess" said /, " / can't in what way
bis manner of speaking differs from that of any
American | ever met"
perhaps not But it does, all the same Now
ri tell you one little thing that shows what
mean in Wcsterfeldt. It's the way he says All
Now, you watch and notice the next time he says
Il, and see if it isn't fiat in tone We don't
tall it 'Aw,' as you do in England, but we pro
hounce it quite differently from the way. they, do
In Ireland There cords of other things, but
that one is quite enough to satisfy me. We may
guess and reckon every three minutes, and say
why Certainly and once in While , and t all
American people i've upon but he can't take away
the effect of his All"
On American P" said l. still unconvinced by what
seemed to me a very weak explanation.
Oh. that ! can't tell you. replied Appleton
But that he has some reason for 1t You may de-
pend He's too wide-awake a chap not to have
some motive for whatever he docs. There's
something fshy about the fellow l feel certain.
never takes off his lefthand glove-not even at
bis meals ~ l. /, ou.
. glove without fingers at his meals
"'Of course" retoried Appleton, nodding his head
Il don't know. Pm sure replied rather out
trifes. ITO keep his hand warm, perhaps He |
says he's sprained one of his lnuckles"
oh that's too thin shouted APPLETON ad You
S branded on that hands
are rather OVERRIDING it. 1 confess didn't take
to Westerfet myself, at first; but it was only an
empty prejudice that man should gb, be Ashamed
TO base it upon. think he is all right
And / think he is a irst-cass fraud,' cried
Naturally" said I. glancing out the doorway
through which Westerfeldt and Miss Croker could
be seen, leaning the ships rail But Appleton
took no notice of the remark. / felt disguised
with man who could let bit Of pque at the
success of a rival so embitter his tongue and got
up to go.
Hold on a minutel' Appleton called after me.
There's no need for us TO quarrel over the thing
You can have your opinion. and I'll have mine.
That's fair, isn't IL? Well see which is right
some day, perhaps"
] bowed and took the hand he offered.
You and Westerfeldt room mates, be-
lieve? So he told me. but perhaps that's another
yarn"
No. it is not 1t is quite true
Pm glad 10 hear it, Would you mind telling
me the number of your stateroomP'
Not the least" / replied No "a Just
Ior,ror I'd 81 the salmon ON the main deck