The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-02-24


One morning in the early autumn
gentleman was performing his toilet in
one of the handsomest bedchambers of
certain hotel near Union square i'm the
city of New York. He was apparently
about 80 years of age, of medium
height, stout, with broad, fiat head,
from the top of which the hair had dis
appeared, leaving bushy ring round
the sides and back. His face. which was
ruddy and broad. with large nose and
thick mouth, indicated coarse good
nature and shrewdness. tempered by
irritability
AT the moment we come upon him he
was standing in his shirt and trousers
before the looking glass, endeavoring to
adjust a scarf necktie of brilliant colors.
Something seemed to be wrong with the
fastenings, and after few Intellectual
struggles he wrathfully flung this i'm
portant article OF a gentleman's attire on
the dOor, emphasizing the act with an
audible expletive. He then walked to
the mantelpiece and poured some of the
contents of a decanter into tumbler,
gazed at the liquor for a moment, and
tossed 1t down his throat He turned to
the table, upon which, among various
other articles, was lying foreign cable
gram. He took this up and glanced over
1t gloomily, then thrust his hands into
his trousers pockets and strobe heavily
TO the window, where he remained, max
ing inarticulate grunts and mutterings
and occasionally puckering his thick lips
to whistle few bars of some operate
air
After while his wandering gaze was
arrested by the figure Of a gentleman
fashionably dressed. who was coming
along the street in the direction of the
hotel He stepped hastily across the
room, and pressed the button of the cleo
tric bell beside the door.
Tell the clerk" he said to the servant
who presently answered the summons,
ito ask Mr.. Hamilton Jocelyn IL he'll
come up here; want to see him.
guess you'll find him in the Office Look
alive nowr'
"All right, general" replied the SER
want, who was complacent negro, and
seemed to entertain kindly regard tor
the stout gentleman. "Nothin' else, sahy'
"Go to the devilw the general an
swered testify; upon which the colored
person smiled indulgentiy and gently
withdrew
An interval of several minutes fol-
lowed, during which the general march
ed up and down the room with preOc-
cupied and impatient air, like lion
moOdily pacing his cage. At last there
was loud and brisk knock on the door,
which opened at the same moment, and
Mr.. Jocelyu came in, with jaunty
smile and cigar in his mouth.
"Halloo, Signor Don General Impre-
sario Inigom he exclaimed, rs his gaze
perused the wrathful and lugubrious
figure of the owner Of the room; "who's
been crumpling your rose leaves now?
Do you know it's half-past l0o'clock and
you ought to be-
II ought to be! Oh, yes: of course |
0ught to be! shall be, too. before long
with such gang of thieves and scoun-
drels as I've got to deal withi Now.
look herei'
I'm looking" said Jocelyn. seating
himself in rocking chair and crossing
one knee over the other. "Have . cigar?
Why don't You put on your vesta de-
clare, general, you're getting stouter
every day. Why don't you adopt the
Turkish costumer II would suit your
figure to dot, besides giving your inno-
cent victims warning Of your charac-
ter. When ! was in Stamboul"-
Nov, just You listen here" interrupt
Cd the general, slight Jewish pronun-
citation becoming perceptible in his
speech. He drew up chair in front Of
bis guest and sat down ON it, with his
feet drawn up underneath, and his fat
hands ON his knees. "Just you listen
here I'm an honest man, amt I? pay
my way cash down, don't II I'm no
slouch nor deadbeat. am p When l