The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-04-23

Frau Durm looked at them with cor
rugated brow and shook her head.
However, resourceful woman that she
was, she saw an opening.
I'VE must send for Onkel Carl she
said, with decision.
Onkel Carl was a relative of the
Durms. For a short period, in his ma
tive Hamburg he had kept books for
a wine dealer. He had vacated his
Observation-Disclosures perhaps, averred
he was discharged, and had come to
America with the Durms. While
Onkel Carl made his living stevedor-
ing about the docks he was regarded
by his circle of friends as an expert
in figures due to his having held the
responsible post of accountant.
Onkel Carl answered the invitation
of the Durms promptly and set about
his task in a matter Of fact styl". He
first ate an enormous supper and
then huge pitcher of beer was placed
beside him and the mass Of data be-
fore him. He began adding, subtract
ing, multiplying and dividing in way
that rendered the Durms and Fred
erika mute with admiration.
"These figures show" he said. final
ly, when the beer had all been con-
sumed, that this man his money
loses quick. He will soon bankrupt
be-"
The Durms glanced at each other
eXultingly.
But" continued Onkel Carl, 81
must see the figures for another day.
| come tomorrow night"
The next night Frederika again
stealthily slipped in with fresh papers
containing another days outgoings
and intaNngs. Again Onkel Carl de-
voured an immense supper and again
the huge pitcher of beer stood be-
side him. He calculated awhile and
then announced
"The figures tonight show this man
money makes"
How was it that the figures should
so different be from last night"
growled Herr Durm.
"Sapristi," exclaimed Onkel Carl,
that was the mystery of figures. Per-
| haps you Herr Strumpff, the Hamburg
merchant, remember? One year the
figures in his books showed that he
was rich. He owned carriage and
his family went to the Baths. The
next year the same figures out of the
| Ch ~ he nj
was"
Onkel Carl drained the pitcher and
left the Durms depressed and disap-
pointed.
For ten days Onkel Carl came reg,
ularly supper devouring and beer i'm
bibing. One night his calculations
would point to the speedy ruin of
Hoffman another to his prosperity.
Onkel Carl admitted the unsatisfac.
tory result but limited that one would
be obliged to strike an average of
many calculations before definite
proof of the profit or loss of Hotf-
mans business could be obtained.
AS Onkel Carl's depredations at
supper and his Gargantuan thirst had
not been unnoted by the Durms and
they shuddcred at the prospect Of a
long continuance of such expensive
calculations. Another disturbing ele.
interest. She did not come each night
and on such nights Onkel Carl merely
ate and drank and did nothing else.
On the eleventh morning the Durms
had a conference behind their bar
and the expression on their counten-
ances evidenced that they had decided
upon some important move. With the
night came Onkel Carl but he saw
no prospect of supper nor did the
great pitcher filled with beer greet
his thirsty eyes. He stared and sat
down. Presently light step was
heard and the kitchen door latch
clicked. Frederika came in, her first
appearance for two nights. She shyly
handed a bunch of papers to her aunt
Frau Durm took the papers and
without looking at them cast the
bunch into the stove.
This foolishness stops" she said
firmly. I'VE give lunch from now
on. Onkel Carl you can go. Fred
erika, you will notify Frau Hoffman
that you can no longer with her re
main. You will come to cook for us.
But Frederika did not reply at once
She held down a face suffused with
bushes and looked at the floor.
"Well?" said Frau Durm.
81 cannot come" stammered Fred
erika. Next week | marry Fritz"
"Donnerwetter," exclaimed Herr
Durm.