The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-18

~-<I
WHEN HE SAW ME HE HALLoED
TO ME.
miles from Munich. at eight o'clock in
the morning. AS he had been so frank
, with me 1 determined 10 be the same
with him, and told him exactly how l
! stood; how i had lost every cent of my
patrimony, and OF the course which
| was now taking.
IL am very glad to hear this" said he,
with a sardonic grin.
Are you?" j exclaimed, while felt
an inclination to tumble him backward
out Of the car.
Certainly, my dear Herr Perkins.
And for this reason: 1t will give me an
opportunity to aid you. You need not
frown. i would certainly not aid you
unless would thereby be benefited my
self. You see 1 am thoroughly frank
with you. The proposition which i
wish to make to you is as follows: There
are certain very cogent and peculiar
reasons why it is no longer agreeable
for me to reside in this country-why
1t is no longer advantageous for me to
go about under the name of August Won
Dunkelheim."
"What have You been doing?" asked /.
'Herr Perkins," he answered, with
his hand upon his heart, II assure you,
upon my honor, that 1 have broken no
law; unless there is law that n man
shall not make fool of himself"
"If there had been such law then,
I infer you would have broken it," in
terposed.
II should have utterly annihilated
st." said he, with decision. This is the
main reason why would willingly
change my name and identity. 1 have,
however, another, which of itself would
be sufficient. Have you ever seen the
reigning monarch of this country"
II have not" saidI.
swell, you see him when you look at
me; that is to say, you see his exact i'm
age. We are as alike as two peas. This
photograph of his majesty, Ernest Will
helm, which I always carry with me,
will convince YOU"
He produced photograph and hand
ed 1t to me. 1t certainly resembled him
ns much as though he had sat for it.
"This unfortunate resemblance is al
ways placing me in absurd and unpleas-
ant situations. What / am resolved to
do is to change my name and leave the
country. What / propose is to give you
twenty-five hundred marks for your
name, your identity and your passport.
OF course, you have it with you. or You
could not travel in this manner. Your
age, height and complexion approach
mine so nearly that it will answer my
purpose very well. / would also stipu-
late that you assume, in some public
manner, the cognomen and personali-
ties which discard; at least for few
days. And, that during these few days,
you remain hereabouts; that is to say,
in the vicinity of Munich"
in other words" said /, "I am 10 pro-
vide you with the means for proving an
alibi."
"sot at all. my dear Herr Perkins. I
may as well tell you that my object in
this is to delay pursuit ON the part of
my friends until / am safely out of the
way. Is it n bargain?"
i considered his offer for n few mo-
ments. / wanted the money exceed
ingly, and my reason told me that, in
complying with his terms. would be
giving him quid pro quo. So far, il was
all right. III the fellow had really com
mitted n crime, i could easily escape the
effects of IL, by showing that was not
Won Dunkelheim.
II am agreed" said I. "Trom this
time forth, i am August Won Dunlkcl-
helm, of Munich"
you are n man OF sense and de-
cision,' said he. "lIcre is the money"
With that he counted me out the sum
OK twenty-five hundred marks. the most
OF II being in Bank of England notes.
II will now proceed TO the nearest
town." said he, "and fetch some one
who will pack and remove this balloon.
You will oblige me by remaining here
to look after IL. until l return.
There is one thing more. You will
notice that am wearing nm exceeding
" weil-nGde Prince Albert coat. OF n
:ine and expensive texture. II Is not the
garment In which would like 10 appear
before these country pumpkins. Nor
81 Il good one 20 travel In. Would YOU
mind letting me have your tweed coat
b cAchange for ~ 1 assured hIm
hat Il would give me great pleasure 20
,ecommcdate him. and we al once made
be proposed change. Before handing
i'm my ccat | was careful 90 remove
shat few articles were in the pockctsof
T. lie neglected to 10 the like BY his.
loGgh | did not know of IL I'LL alter
yard. He now descended to the ground,