Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-03-31

He spoke with q decided accept.
Was it that of Bolivia, or Of Marseillss
or Toulouse? I could not decide, but
l afterward learned that a theatrical
manager had offered him an engage
ment solely because of his personal
appearance and strange accent.
Mustard made the coffee himself,
Turk fashion. AS the fragrant liquid
steamed up in the cups, the host in
a state of perfect bliss, told me how
fortune had at last smiled upon him.
II ''You know was always at some
scheme or another. Well, finally I fell
upon one that succeeded. I was one
Of company to promote, gold mine
on the Congo The public was slow in
subscribing to stock. We had only
three days left in which to raise the
required sum and it seemed as if the
whole matter was about to fall
through. .
1--WE must hatch up some scheme
for interesting the public" one of the
company said to me.
His remark rang in my ears, and
one day, as was passing the Made
leine, saw an enormous negro, shah.
billy dressed, coming toward me. The
fellow stopped on seeing me and cried,
is that you, Mussard?' It was Loulou
my little groom, you remember.
AT sight of him an idea flashed
upon me. Loulou was to come from
the Congo! The next day, transformed
into an African nabob under the name
Of Maroko, the negro was sumptuous.
ly installed at the Grand Hotel in the
royal apartments. I rented a splendid
carriage, which had been used once
for a royal wedding. In this Loulou
went to the Bots and the races. He
was an immense success. He re.
ceived 20 declarations OF love and of.
fers of marriage in as many days.
He was shrewd and intelligent, too.
and coached him. He received re-
porters and talked to them enthusiasts
tically about our mines on the Congo.
The entire press exploited our nabob,
and, incidentally, our mines. Our sub.
scription was soon trebly covered.
Then Loulou disappeared, promising
never to return to Paris. We agreed
to pay him the small sum of 5000
francs, which he had well earned. He
is now living quietly in a provincial
town, where he married lodging
house keeper"
was positively uneasy as my friend
proceeded and could not help show
ing it.
ut was all very clever, wasn't it,"
he remarked.
Every; a little too clever, 1 might
say"
feared every moment lest the
door should open to admit officers of
the law. might be caught in a trap.
rose abruptly, pleaded an engage
ment and succeeded in making my es-
cape.
Once outside 1 seemed to be awak-
ening from dream. Then remem-
bered the thousand francs. If the bills
we're in my pocket I had really seen
Mussard instead of fancying that I
had. felt for them; they were
there!
An exchange shop stood near. !
stepped in and, addressing a clerk
who was reading his paper behind the
grating, said:
Pardon me, monsieur, but l would
like to ask you for some information.
Will you kindly examine these bills
and tell me If they are genuine?"
The man regarded me with a sur.
prised air, then took the bills and ex.
amined them carefully. Handing them
back, he said:
"They are good"
That was all wanted to know.
had dined with my friend Mussard
but, it is needless to state, I dined
there no more.
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