Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-03-20
A sAskRvprs CLEVER SCHEME.

ssastiisE De,eispsss,s That Isisssses
sDissss ts iiis Cr~dissss
Thi. story Ia going the rounds ai
viennai Among the prominent citifsn'
of th. capital of the Austrian empire i'
q yestieman called Fritz. Hois the pro.
prietor of q large factory and is. more
over. we'll known as jovisl. whole
-oule,i fellow. who delights To give large
dinner parties.
Not long since he sent cut invitations
90 all hi. business friends to psrtske Of
his hospitality at . dinner party.
Al frt, ne IL frequently the case at q
dinner party at which there are gentle
men only. the proceedings were some
what tedious. by degrees. however. The
guests tecame NOR. lively under the
stimulating influences of the wine-.
Their tongue. became ico>ened by ths
fr,qu.ut lubrications. and there was q
now % gcnialiiy and wit such a. i'
found only ON pres excursions.
Good humor prevailed 90 an almo-'
alarming extent. Everyboiy prr-en'
Vas In a hilarious mood. Just at this
crisis Fritz .tccd up and intimatcd tina,
be would like 90 make q few remarks.
"Brayo,' said q fat man with red
face. pounding ON the table with the
handle IL his knife.
Now We will hear something fun
ny. remarked another gucst, getting
"a. ...lx a. l.ns,h
"sp..ch. spccch!' exclaimed several
d th. guests who had contemplated ths
wine when 10 was r-d.
There wa. q solemnity about the ho-'
that almost convul,ed the merry gentle
men present. Gentlemen. i go around
me all my creditors. and I have soms
important information to impart q
YOU" And he paused. The Tat man. q
whom fritI was owing 10000 marks,
turnel ,riti, pal. and seemed to- be un'
able 20 clo-e his mouth. IN which be-
had Deposited q mofssl u pate de fois
gras. several other creditors looked nj
each other.
"Gen,lemen. continued the orator.
"you will regret 90 hear that ! am-s
bankrupt"
Roars of laughter. That 10 good.
over the Hills TO the Poorbouse. "
sang another.
The orator did not Join In the laugh
ter. With increased solemnity he said
II wish, gentlemen. for your sake'
and for my sake that ! were jesiing,
but I am not. OF late l have expcri'
enccd severe Losses. II 10 impossible fo'
me TO meet my obligations. II. however,
you gentlemen are willing TO give me
siI month"; time. l can pay of every
thing anil thus save my honor and my
life, for''-and here Fritz drew w.
volyer-"l propose 20 blow out my
brains In your presence. and he placed
the deadly weapon 10 his temple.
The borihed guests spiang to theiI
feet. A few of the more courageous en-
deayored 90 wrest the revolver from The
desperate man. but they did not sue
ceed. Fritz declared that he would mol
give up the revolver until q certain doc
ument giving him an extension Of sil
months was signed. and hc suddenly
drew the document from bis breast
pocket. .
A. we have already intimated, all
the creditors. owing 10 the wine. wers
In a most genial mood. and In = few
minutes the document was signed by all
the creditors Of Herr Fritz.
Then the merriment was renewed in
earnest, although there was . hollow
ring In the laugh Of ths tat man that
told Of an aching heart. PrtE pot ny
his revolver. which. 20 Il has been init
mated, was not even loaded.