San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-28
PAUL JONES'S ALIAS.
BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.
Author of "Joseph's Coat" AUNT Rach
e." "CyniC Fortune" Etc.

sus, with a name of auburn hair a copper
colored close-cut peaked beard and an
enormous mustache, was painfully STUN
bling over French sentence, and the con-
cierge was listening TO him with an air OF
unusual Difference. The young Colossus,
who looked very picturesquely handsome,
laughed in an embarrassed way at his own
failure, and the concierge, with slightly
lifted shoulders and head bent deprecat-
ingly OH one side, smiled respectful en-
enlargement.
What do you want to say" Captain
Medhurst asked. Perhaps | can help
you"
The handsome Rufus turned with an
immediate smile.
understand that somebody must go to the
North Station and get my traps for me,
and that this is the ticket for them"
He had full, deep voice, which was in
excellent keeping with his great chest and
shoulders, and in rather comic keeping
with an unusually pronounced New Eng
land tone Medhurst translated, the con-
cierge took the slip of paper, and the hand
some American, with smile of great
sweetness and candor, thanked his helper,
and rushed upstairs three steps at time.
Have you any letters for me?" Med
hurst asked The concierge searched
gravely amongst pile of letters on the
table of his own little room, and shook his
head.
There is nothing but this, SIR"
This" was the hotel bill, and Medhurst,
coldly accepting it, turned away and
walked slowly and deliberately upstairs.
Arrived at his room, he broke open the
envelope in which the bill was enclosed.
and found it accompanied by note re-
Questing immediate payment. The Gals
sier informed him that it was the custom
of the house to ask payment of its clientele
every eight days and added that fifteen
days had expired since Captain Harley
Medhurst's arrived at the hotel An im-
mediate response would oblige. He read
this, thrusting his mustache into his
mouth meanwhile, and biting at it with
an angry perplexity.
"Confound the fellowr he muttered.
Internal impertinence Tell him so, be-
gad"
His hands strayed forlornly to his pock-
cts, CROPPED there, and came out again,
empty. He took cigarette-case from his
oVercoat and opened it. That was empty
also: and he returned it slowly, looking
downward intently at the pattern Of the
carpet. Then he COMPOUNDED" the fell
lows impertinence again, and sat down in
an armchair beside handful Of wood-fire
which fingered on the hearth. By-and by,
he rang the bell, and, one of the hotel
servants appearing in answer, he babe
him bring a carafe of cOgnac, a syphon of
Ia hall a;r
The man bowed with perfect respectful
ness and went away, but, after lengthy
pause, returned, furtive and ashamed.
Would Monsieur have the obligingness to
descend? The manager would be honored
if Monsieur would speak with him.
Captain Medhurst replied that if the
manager had anything to say, he might
come there and say it. The embarrassed
waiter bowed and tried to smile as he
edged himself out of the room. He would
deliver Monsieur's message, he replied,
and without doubt the manager would at
once ascend. In effect, he presented him
self minute later He was very polite,
very respectful and regretful, but ineXor-
lie. Captain Harley Medhurst was I'M
known in the hotel; it was his first visit
there. Doubtless his remittances would
arrive. The manager devoutly hoped so,
and was utterly desolate at the thought of
submitting him to inconvenience. But
without money nothing more could be
found for the Captain in that house.
Captain Mednurst was wrathful, and
stood upon his dignity. lie made certain
statements about his family, his cOnnec-
tons by marriage, and his friends, which
might perhaps have sounded little pite-
Gus if any other English gentleman had
been there to listen to them. 1t was all
true. no doubt, said the unmoved mana
ger: but people who kept an hotel kept it
to make profit 1t was their misfortune
not to know Captain Medhurat more init
mately. Monsieur spoke so perfect a
French that without doubt he had many
acquaintance in Paris. His room was in
absolute requisition: a lady was even now
waiting to inspect it, ard, in short, there
was apparently nothing for it but for Cap
tain Harley Medhurst to retire.
The Cagtain was naturally and bitterly
indignant. He gave the manager to I'M
derstand that his enormous social infiu-
ence in England would be devoted for the
rest of his days to keeping travellers away
from a house in which he had received so
little consideration. The manager said,
over and over again, that he was desolate,
but did not look it in the least
But, sacred Heaven, the Captain de-
manded to know what was he to do? He
expected remittances by the next post.
He had not franc in his purse; he did not
know single person at that hour in
Paris. Did they mean to thrust him-an
English gentleman, an officer in her Bri-
fannie Majesty's service, a cousin of Lord