Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-11-07
A BANKRUPTS CLEVER SCHEME.
Startling Developments That Enliyened
a Dinner to His Creditors.

Startling Developments That Enliyened
Dinner to His Creditors.
This story is going the rounds at vi.
emma: Among the prominent citizens
of the capital of the Austrian empire is
gentleman called Fritz. He is the
proprietor of large factory and is,
moreover, well known as q jovial,
whole souled fellow, who delights to
give large dinner parties.
Not long since he sent out invitations
to all his business friends to partake of
his hospitality at dinner party.
AT first, as is 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 became more lively under
the stimulating influences of the wines.
Their tongues became loosened by the
frequent lubrications, and there was a
flow of geniality and wit such as is
found only on press excursions.
Good humor prevailed to an almost
alarming extent. Everybody present
was in hilarious mood. Just at this
crisis Fritz stood up and intimated that
he would like to make a few remarks.
"Bravo!" said fat man with a red
face, pounding on the table with the
handle of his knife.
Nov we ewill hear something funny, -
remarked another guest, getting his
mouth ready to laugh.
Speech, speech" exclaimed several
of the guests who had contemplated
the wine when it was red.
There was solemnity about the host
that almost convulsed the merry gen.
tlemen present. Gentlemen, l see
around me all my creditors, and I have
some important information to impart
to you" And he paused. The fat man,
to whom Fritz was owing 10000 marks,
turned trifie pale, and seemed to be
unable to close his mouth, in which
he had deposited a morsel of pate de
foie gras. Several other creditors looked
at each other.
"Gentleman," continued the orator,
"you will regret to hear that ana
bankrupt"
Roars of laughter. "That is good.
Over the Hills to the Poorhouse, ~
sang another.
The orator did not join in the laugh
ter. With increased solemnity he said:
II wish, gentlemen, for your sakes
and for my sake that l were testing,
but l am not. OF late l have expert
enced severe losses. 1t is impossible
for me to meet my obligations. If,
however, you gentlemen are willing to
give me six months time, l can pay off
everything and thus save my honor
and my life, for"-and here Fritz drew
a revolver-"I propose to blow out my
brains in your presence, "and he placed
the deadly weapon to his temple.
The horrified guests sprang to their
feet. A few of the more courageous
endeavored to wrest the revolver from
the desperate man, but they did not
succeed. Fritz declared that he would
not give up the revolver until certain
document giving him an extension of
six months was signed, and he sudden
ly drew the document from his breast
pocket.
AS we have already intimated, all
the creditors, owing to the wine, were
in 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 the fat man that
told of an aching heart. Fritz put up
his revolver, which, so it has been init.
mated, was not even loaded.