Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-04
.AScapegoat
By Al BERT TUCKER KENYON
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association.

mere II DOug VI boop' IA At"ASS
called the foreign legion. II is COM
posed of men Of all nationalities, most
of them fugitiyes from justice. That
a man Is In It Is prima facie evidence
that he has an object for losing himself
TO the rest of the world.
A soldier In the foreign legion con
spicuous for his refined appearance
passed under the name Of Franz Lud-
wig. He would not admit the country
from which he hailed. and since he
spoke several languages equally well
1t was impossible for any one TO Fix
upon the land OF his nativity.
This Is the story OF the so called
Franz Ludwig:
His real name was Count Joseph
Zadsky. He had been hOnOred by the
intimate friendship OF the crown prince
Of his native land. The prince and he
rode together, hunted together - In
short, all their amusements were in
common. The count was engaged TO
marry the Baroness Sophia. daughter
Of prominent member of the SOW
ereign's household.
The crown prince was possessed by
q passion for gambling. He did not at
tend the public gambling places so
plentiful in Europe His habit was to
play either In his own palace or wher-
ever he was invited. One afternoon
he was playing In the home of no
blemnn where house party had been
invited to meet him. The prince was
playing with bad luck and was drink
ing heavily. Several OF the guests
were also under the influence of liquor.
Count Zadsky was present and. fear
ing that something would occur to ere
ate n scandal, begged his royal high
ness to retire from the game. The
prince refused, and the game went on.
The excitement increased. both with
the increase of stakes and spirits con-
sumed But now the prince was win
ming.
"rhese cards are Marked" suddenly
shouted one of the party. There are
little protuberances on their backs"
"If you can feel them" said Zadsky,
"you must have cut down the skin of
one of your fingers for the purpose.
And If you have done that you have
introduced the cards into the game"
Amid a hubbub the cards were ex-
amlned and were found to have been
made FOR the purpose Of swindling.
Then Zadsky said:
"All show the tips of your fingers"
Every man present made the dis
play except the crown prince. His ex-
preston betrayed him. but his tongue
came TO his defense.
Gentlemen" he said. do you ask
the heir apparent to the throne to ex-
onerate himself from cheating at
cards?'
Zadsky was dumfounded. There
was silence. Then the party arose
from the table and separated.
The story got out. and the priyy
council was convened 10 consider
what action should be taken. Some
way OF generating the prince must be
devised. The people were loyal to the
crown. but IL would never do for one
who must soon sit upon the throne TO
appear before the people as a user Of
marked cards. The council assembled
and, summoning all the pen who had
been Of the gambling party. examined
them separately.
When Count Zadsky was examined
one of the first questions asked was
this:
How did you know that gamblers
using such cards as were used on this
occasion pare the tips Of their fingers
to make them sensitive to the touch!'
II knew II. as I know Of any other
fact OF which have heard"
"You were the person who an
nounced the fact that pared finger tips
60 with these cards to the party. We're
you not?'
II was"
And called upon tie others. inciud-
ing his royal highness. to show their
fingersT
II did"
THAT will do"
The council after examining the wit
nesses continued Its deliberations In
secret and broke up without giving out
any information as to its conclusions
But the next morning Zadsky was
banished from the court, and the pec-
pie breathed freely once more that
their prospective ruler had been vim
dicated-
One morning the soldier in the for
eign legion wrote a communication to
the president Of France. At the same
time the president received q call from
a member OF the diplomatic corps
The result Of the communication and
the visit was the Forwarding, Of dis
charge papers 20 Private Fras< Lud-
wig. and he left the corps with the
congratulations Of bis comrades.
What does u rnean7- asked his cap