The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-04-14
THE FRENCH COUNT.
Story of the "Man With the
Diamonds"

Dudley Amerlink was one of those pecu-
liar beings called in the newspapers ''men
about town" He lived in excellent STYLE
with an unmarried aunt of uncertain years.
dressed in fashions most ridiculous ex-
tremes, always had plenty of money in his
pocket, and as a consequence plenty of
friends, and endeavored somewhat fruit
bessly to amuse himself
1t was his custom every evening to
lounge about the lobby of the Windsor
Hotel, in the hope that something might oc-
cur that would interest him; | shall account
for his presence in that house on the night
when this story opens, without having bored
my readers with irrelevant details.
Mr.. Amerling had failed to meet anybody
he knew, and was feeling the full force of
an irresistible ennui. He threw himself
listlessly upon one of the green velvet seats
in the lobby, and in few moments, the
heat producing comfortable lethargy, he
dozed. Had he only known that his attitude
was simply death to the wonderfully glossy
eXpanse of shirt front which adorned his
evening DRESS he might have been less
drowsily inclined.
Dudley Amerling awoke with a start. He
had probably slept for an hour. The lobby
was nearly deserted, but on the seat oppo-
site to that on which he sat was a gentle
man, the contemplation of whom soon
aroused Mr.. Amerling to utter wakefulness
His vis-a-vis astOnished him. He saw tall
slightly built young man, undeniably foreign
and presumably French. Diamonds of purest
ray serene glittered on his shirt front, a
magnificent stone shOne on his finger his
dress suit was exquisitely made, and he was
enveloped in fur overcoat, which must
have cost many hundred dollars. Withal,
there was no appearance of vulgarity in this
display. The diamonds that on another
man would have looked horsey and horrible,
on this young elegant seemed entirely in
place and almost necessary.
"Who the deuce can he be?n was the
question Mr. Azierling put first to himself
and then to the hotel clerk who answered
rather abruptly that he didn't know. The
clerk evidently resented the presence of any
one wearing so many diamonds They
eclipsed his own. Hotel clerks love to be
unique in their rmagnifcence They gen
orally are.
Mr.. Amerling was at the Windsor Hotel
the following night. He went early and
stayed late. He saw ''the man with the dia-
monds," as he mentally christened the
stranger, enter the hotel and again occupy
one of the cushioned seats, with a French
repassed him, prey to curiosity, but the
man with the diamonds was apparently I'M
conscious of this delicate attention.
For five nights this state of things lasted.
Mr.. Amerling went to the Windsor to un-
ravel the mystery of the man with the dia-
monds. The gentleman declined to be I'M
raveled until the sixth night Every seat in
the Windsor lobby was taken except part of
that on which the man with the diamonds
was seated. So Dudley Amerling found
himself suddenly by the side of the stranger,
who looked up with pleasant smile.
'Good evening, SIR" he said, with a
French accent.
Mr.. Amerling promptly returned the salu-
tation, and then said by way of breaking the
ice, which salutation, by tho by, only
slightly chips "You are very diligent
reader of the French papers. Do you not
care for ours2r
The man with the diamonds dropped his
eyes and said in low tone: 81 like to be re-
minded of my country. All, am so misera-
BILE, here. l do not amuse myself l have
no friends. l am alone. But | return to
France in leetle time. Mon Dieu! how
glad shall be-"
81 am sorry you don't like it here" said
Dudley Amerling gently. Then with Uncle
Sans Instincts Most foreigners do"
''They have friends" was the tenderly sad
reply
''Did you bring no introductionsl asked
Mr.. Amerling.
"Md fol, nonr' was the answer "My
name, is it not an Introduction in itself2 All,
monsieur, see you do not know me. Par
don the conceit that makes me think you