The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-22
STORY OF A POTATO

Mile. Aglae, m1lllner by trade, was
sitting one fine Sunday morning by the
open window peeling potatoes. The win
dow was on the fifth floor and looked out
on the Rue Lepic. Suddenly one of the
potatoes slipped through her fingers,
dropped over the edge OF the window sill
and disappeared into space. 1t fell with
. bang upon a gentleman who was pass
ing beneath, and made q deep dent in
his elegant silk hat.
This gentleman, who had only just
been to pay bill at his hatter's, was
seized with sudden and uncomfortable
fury. l.
He glanced up at the house, and seeing
a window on the fifth story shut down
hurriedly with bang, he forgot every
thing in his rage and made rush for the
front door. opened it, tore through it and
ran precipitately upstairs. with no other
intention than making the guilty person
suffer for his clumsiness.
1t took but two seconds to reach the
landing on the second floor, when door
suddenly opened and a person rushed
out in a great hurry and fell heavily into
his arms.
The two men eyed each other for a mo-
ment with angry and astonished looks,
ready to abuse each other, when both
simultaneously uttered an exclamation OF
surprise.
"Anatole!''
"Edgar'
Anatole Baudruche and Edgar Brihce-
ton we're two old college chums. They
had not met since the day when they
81 Dc
er twelve years before. In spite OF this
long interval in their intercourse they
found on the occasion of this sudden
meeting that they had very little ready
change of conversation. Edgar was the
first to speak.
''say, your hat looks very pretty" he
said.
g. Do not speak of it. 1t has just served
as a target for a putato that fell from the
fifth story
'And now You are going upstairs to
restore the potato TO its owner? That's
very nice of you.
Not by any means! I'm going to
charge the clumsy devil with his crime
FRY to make him pay for new hat.
well, so far as that is concered, you
might as well tackle a corpse.
''And why, if you please2'
because, old Bidoche is an old hedge
hog. who will kick. you down stairs.
even If he opens the door Tor you at all. -
..Old Bidoche?''
eyes, the man you are after. for it can
be no other than ha. All the tenants in
the building are always having trouble
with him. One might think that he
made point OF being as disaagreeable to
every one as he possibly can"
''Ihen do you live in this house2''
reno, but an aunt of mine does, and
scarcely day passes without her having
. scrap with old Bidocne. If you will
allow me will go up with you; two
heads are better than one in a matter like
this
SO Edgar and Anatole went three
fights together and stopped outside a
door through which came softly the
sounds OF melodioas musical instru-
ment.
This is:the ROOM" said Edgar.
''He's practicing on his bassoon.'
With these words he pulled the bell and
the bassoon suddenly ceased. Then the
shutting of feet was heard along the
floor. the door opened and there, framed
in the doorway, stood a little. old man,
with a benevolent. smiling face and a
large-sized bassoon resting across one
arm.
:. "What do the gentlemen desire?" asked
the little old man.
IN. Bidoche," replied Edgar.
eyes, the wretched Bidoche," added
AnaCOle, 1QaRnR MS ruined nat IN on C
hand and with the other placing the
potato on the tip of the musicians nose.
IN. BidocheY" replied the old man
politely. ~ do no know him, 1 never
heard of him."
whats that? What's that?'' cried
Edgar. Are you trying to deceive us?"
mot at ALL answered the old man,
quietly. ''There must be a msta Ke
somewhere. My name is Molesuin. |
am the solo bassoon in the orchestra OF
the Theater des Gobelins, and l moved
in this morning"
''Just our luck. cried Edgar. "Bidoche
must have moved ont"
''Then," continued Anatole, ''you are
not the man who threw this on my hat %
TIL .nly eat green vegeta bles," answered
MoIesquin. Nevertheless if the gentle
men will come in for short time l will
play them by part in the Tour de Nesles.
There are some interesting passages IN
it,"
Anatoie and Edgar did not like to re.
fuse, and went into the old musician
room. Molesquin gave them seat and
some cigarettes. and then, going up tc
mis- music stand, be played through fol-
their benefit the whole of the first
bassoon part in the Tour de Nesles.
Edgar made a brave face over it. while
Anatole sat mt the window with his
potato in his hand and scarcely able to
contain his mpatience.
Suddenly the musician struck false
note. 1t Increased Anatole's i'm patiencs
30 much that ne gave jun p. and in