The Washington critic. (Washington City, D.C.) 1890-1890, 1890-02-16
MY FRIEND THE DUTCAMAN
DY FREDERICK nAnDMAx.
Continued from last Smddy)
CHAPTER il.

seven reds, Monsieur. Take up your
money
81 fastened to the table. By strange
caprice of fortune the colone's proph-
ecy had come true. Red had won seven
times, and my forty francs had become
5000. ] took up my winnings, the
colonel looking on with triumphant
smile. This was suddenly exchanged
for portentous frown and fierce
twist of the gray mustache.
Mile millions dc tonneJresi Not
dollar left to follow up that splendid
rum And, with a furious gesture, he
upset his chair and dashed his cards
upon the ground.
IL took the hint, whether intended or
not could not do less in return for
the 5000 francs the old gentleman had
put in my pocket.
"'If Monsieur said, will allow me
the pleasure of lending him
impossible, MORNeUrP interrupted
the colonel looking as stern as if about
to charge single-handed q whole pulk
of Cossacks. But / knew my man.
lie was the type Of a class of which
have seen many.
'Cependdnt, Monsieur entire mill.
t6iT6s, between brother soldiers
AN Monsieur est militaiTeP ex-
claimed the old gentleman, his alarm
ing contraction of brow and rigidity of
feature simultaneously dissolving into
smile of extreme benignity. That
alters the case. Certainly, between
brothers in arms those little services
may be offered and accepted. Although,
really, it Is encToaching on Monsieur
complaisance Z at the same
time y q hundred francs y
y till TO- morrow 4 u
quarters at some distance y y
ETC., etc., which ended in his picking
mp his chair, cards and pin and apply
ing all his faculties to break the bank
with ten l0uss which lent him, and
which, need hardly say, / have not
seen from that day to this.
such sudden stroke of good for
tune would have made gamblers, of
nine men out of ten, but / decidedly
want the organ of gaming, for have
never played since. My narrow escape
from suicide had made some impression
on me, and now that had 5000 francs
in my pocket, looked back at the at
tempt as an exceedingly foolish pro-
Ceeding.
For month or more / lived with
what even you would admit to be great
economy, writing frequent letters to
Amsterdam and trying to come to terms
and an arrangement with my family.
All in vain. They had no confidence
in my promises, proposed nothing [
could accept, talked of Silesian exile
roots and water in the wilderness-and
the like absurdities, until plainly saw
they were determined to cast me off,
and that, If | was to be helped at all,
1t must be by myself. How to do this
was the puzzle. There are few things
can do that could in any way be rem
dered profitable. can ride horse,
lay gun and put battery through its
exercise; but such accomplishments are
sufficiently common not to be paid at q
very high rate; and. besides, | had had
enough of garrison duty, even could
have got back my commission, which
was not likely. Sol put soldering out
of the question: and yet, when | had
done so, was puzzled to think of any,
thing better.
81 had no fancy to turn rock, and
rove from place to place in search of
plgeons-no uncommon resource with
younger brothers of an idle turn and
exhausted means. / had fallen in with
afew birds of that breed, and had come
to the conclusion that, to save them
selves work and trouble, they had
adopted by far the most laborious and
painful of all professions.
In the midst of my doubts and I'M
certainties, the fair Sendel and her
mother made their appearance. The
1lrst sight OF their names upon the hotel
book was ray of light to me- Within
an hour made up my mind to sac
riflce my independence to my necessi-
ties and become the virtuous and do
mesticated spouse of the charming and
well-paid Emile. A hint and dollar
to the waiter placed me next her at the
tabled 'hote, and | Immediately opened
my intrcnchments and began a siege in
due FORM
(Which you expect will soon ter
inmate by the capitulation of the gar
rison?"
Undoubtedly. The result of the
first day or two's operations was not
very satisfactory ] ratified away and
the divinity was shy, and the guardian
OF the temple ian old gorgon whom l
shall suppress before the honeymoon is
QUIT looked askance at me and pulled
her daughter by the sleeve whenever
she seemed disposed to listen. They
evidently thought the rattle might be
long to snake; did me the injustice to
take me for an adventurer. On the
third day, however, the ice had melted.
| soon found out the cause of the thaw.
The head waiter, whom o little well
timed liberality had rendered my de-
voted slave, informed me that Madame
Sendel had been making minute in
quiries concerning me Of the master of
the hotel.
1.-The worthy man, who adored me
because.I dispised gib 0rdtnaire and
looked only at the sum total of his
bills, said that was son of Van Hau-
bitz, the rich banker of Amsterdam,
which was perfectly true; adding,
which was rather less so, that was
partner in the house and millionaire.
The effect of this information upon the
speculative firm of Sendel Mere Ell File,
was perfectly electric. Medusa smothed
her hOrrid locks and came out at that
days dinner in cherry ribbons and fresh
artificials. Emile was all smiles and
suavity, laughed at my worst jokes,
nearly burst her stays by holding her
breath to raise blush at my soft
speeches, and returned from that even
ing's promenade talking about the
moon and leaning tenderly on my
arm"
with such encouragement, I am
surprised you did not propose at once, E"
$50 hasty a measure-oh, most un-
sophisticated of Britons" replied Van,
with look of grave pity for my sim
plicitY-"MOuld have nreatlv nersllnl