The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-09-24

Rather nervous, l see. Sorry. Out
on a jag last night, Ell? Well, I'll see
that you have a good time while here,
old boy. Wide-open town, you know.
Fine place. Will bless the day you
came" said the real estate man, en-
couragingly. as he picked up the valise
and umbrella and threw them to the
porter. After shaking the German
cordially by the hand, he linked his
arm in his and escorted him into the
hotel.
MIR. Schmidt, Mr.. O'Brien," said the
real estate man. introducing the Ger
man to the hotel proprietor. Gentle
mar sent on from our house in Los
Angeles. Tired, 1 suppose-want to
rest, Ell? Well, well, see you this
evening-eight o'clock" And Mr..
Thomas Bragg, real estate broker,
winked his eye significantly, and ejac-
ulated, You know" and, wringing
Jake's limp hand, retired.
How soon a l get out of this
city," asked Jake of. the astonished
O'Brien.
AT four o'clock-to Los Angeles"
No! no! Mein Colt in himmel!
Not to Los Angeles." cried Jake in
terror.
Then TO San Francisco by steamer
tomorrow night"
"Goot. Buy me Il tigget. Can you
gif me a quiet room and hat all my
meals sent dare?"
Certainly"
Il am lick. Don't tell no Won my
numper. l don't want to see no.
pody."
Upon being refused admittance to
Mr.. Schmidt's apartment that even
ing, Mr.. Thomas Bragg. the real es-
tate broker, felt morally certain that
some competitor had got hold of his
man and got him Jagged" and in
wardly cursed himself for his weak
ness in not staying with him. He then
and there determined to see Mr..
Schmidt at all hazards. The next
morning he watched for the waiter
to take up the breakfast. and after he
had retired, Bragg knocked loudly at
the door. Jake was so terrified that
he locked himself in the closet. Sud-
denly the knocking at the door ceased,
and, after cautiously surveying the
room, he ventured out and resumed
his meal. In a few moments he heard
a sound near the door, and, looking
up, he saw, with open-mouth amaze
ment. the head and shoulders of
Bragg, real estate broker, framed in
the transom window. The knife and
fork dropped from the helpless hands
of the German.
$50, you will go put with one of nv
competitors and cut me out. will you?"
go away. 60 away" Jake ~piteously
implored.
Not much. l won't go away until
you have taken my propositions I'M
der consideration with those of my
competitors" And he whisked out :
map from an inside pocket.
At this critical juncture Jake's cum
ming asserted itself. Approaching the
door as if to take the proffered map,
he slyly turned the screw that held
the rod supporting the transom sash,
and bang. went the window upon
the head of Thomas Bragg. There was
4 great crash as the real estate man
fell backward off the ladder, followed
by a volley of oaths.
Yes, it was Il great chase | had, to
be sure" continued the detective. Il
first located him at Pasadena by the
discovery of his trunk. and followed
his trail thence to Los Angeles. San
Diego and San Francisco. He spent
a day at the Baldwin hotel. then all
trace of him disappeared. I was baf-
fled for weeks. One day, while stand
ing on Grant avenue, l noticed a
ragged urchin. carrying a parcel of
food, enter one of the old and almost
]tenantless buildings in that quarter.
Why l stopped and questioned the lad
| cannot say.
"'Oh, there's an old guy 1 carry
grub to upstairs he said. But |
mustn't say nothin' bout it
Its all right l answered. show
ing him my star. I'll go up with YOU
Il followed the lad up to a fourth
story garnet and entered a room after
him.
"'Mein Colt in himmel! The real
estate man has found me. Take dot
money. Don't gill me. don't gill me.
Oh. mein fraU-mine little Gretchen
walled the inmate of the room. crouch
ing in a corner. 1t was none other than
our friend Jacob Schmidt, very dirty
and disheveled. l took my cue in an
instant. I don't want your money
I said; I have been SEM here by your
frau to protect you against the real
estate man and take you home TO her
and the little Gretchen And poor
JACOB Schmidt wept tears of JOY upon
my neck. l am now filling the in
teresting role of protector and de-
fender against the fierce southern
California rea! estate agents"
Such is the history of the adven-
lures of Mr.. Jacob Schmidt. grocer,
in the far. far west, who is probably
the only man who ever returned to
his eastern home from the Los Angeles
boom with exactly the same amount
of money. less expenses, that he
brought with him. Yet at what a