Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-12
HIS ABNORMAL AMBITION

Just after the memorable three days
OF July. is the floating population OF
Paris was mode~tlY increased by the AZ
rival in that city from his native pro-
vince of Symphoreu Ba.yeau
The owner of this curious and not
entirely eupaoniou, paUonymc was
young man OF about - years neither
handsome nor ugly, fat nor lean-the
type. i'm fact. that one daily elbows ON
the bouleyards and never looks at twice.
need not add, OF course, that such
was not his own opinion; on the con-
trary. he was deeply impressed with the
consciousness OF his own charms, and
equally determined 10 profit by them for
the attainment of the object OF his am
bition- uotoriety.
Everything j. in my favor, " said he
good looks money and determine
ton to succeed. All | want is a short
cut 10 celebrity; a due will give me
that"
The next evening while he was treat
Ing himself 10 a bavarose al TortouiS,
"A short, muscular individual. dressed in
the latest mode, with a bristing mus
seat at an adjoining table
The provincial after critical inspec-
ton of the newcomer rose from his
chair and, salutug HIM courteousiy re-
que,ted him TO favor him with the adj
dress of his tailor.
The stranger glanced a,kance at his
questiouer.
Why" inquired he curtly
because ! am struck. monsieur said
Symphoreu, with the good taste of
your costume. That green coat with
silver buttons becomes you so admir-
ably"
You think so? Well. your wish can
be easily grattied, for chance 10 have
a card OF my tailor in ny pocket. Be
hold it,
Thanks, monsieur. May ask if YOU
have also the address of your shoemaker
in your pocket
The same thing j, in my pocket,
monsieur the little man answered with
great suavity. and tearing out leaf
from his notebook be wrote on il the re-
qUired address and handed il TO Bali
veau.
is there any more you desire to
know monsieur"
Only this-your halteI's name, if i
NAV bc 30 bold.
That. regret To say sir, | cannot
afford YOU tonight | have it at home,
and tomorrow morning two of my
friends will bring it 10 YOU if you will
kindly obiige me with your address"
With pleasure, monsieur replied
Symphorieu mere j. my card
And here, monsieur, j. mine"
Nothing could be better" thought
Baliveau as. exchanging a polite bow
bavaroise, he strolled leisurely out and
down the boulevard.
He drew the card from his pocket
approached lighted window, and on
the little square of pasteboard, in clear
sharp etching, read; Martial Rogue"
Rogue said he, starting back and
paling visibly, the great duellist. who
never misses his man, but either splits
him with a thrust impossible to parry
or brings him down with bullet sent
evenly between the eyes. Bon dieu!
What a mistake I've made, all for the
sake of a little celebrity. III be cele-
brated tomorrow, that is certain. But
what good will it do me if I'm not there
10 see it?'
a secluded spot on the Bots de
Boulogne-less frequented in those days
than now-agrced upon at + o'clock in
the afternoon, proposed and accepted.
Nj. Roque's friends announced that
their principal, having the choice of
weapons selected pistols and this
formality over, left Symphorien to his
meditations, none of the cheerfuest, as
you can see.
While ruefully rejecting on whom he
could apply to in his dilemma, he
CHANGED to pull from his pocket the two
addresses given him by Rogue.
Aud without seconds delay he de-
spatched message to NM. Staub and
Sakosky, the fashionable tailor and boot
maker of that epoch, requesting their
immediate attendance al the hotel where
he was stopping.
Thirty minutes later they were there,
and As wise measure of Cancellation
-Symphorien was no fool. after all
he gave them an order considerably
larger than they were wont to receive,
even from their most eXtravagant GUS
toners, then the necessary selections
and measurements made. he amazed
them still more by demanding the
amount of the bill, a. he desired TO settle
ii beforehand.
With one accord they protested
against the need Of so speedy settle
ment; they had every confidence in
monsieur's solvency, and were not in
the slightest hurry!
"That may be, replied he. "but I
am. have a duel this afternoon with
Martial Rogue, and though | am no
novice in such matters and have caught
swallow on the wing many and many
time, one cannot be sure with so