The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-22
SCHMITT'S GRAND COUP


If wooden nutmeg or bone pepper
artists ever .ourished in the Father
| land. Schmitt should have been crowned
king of them ALL Ny observations of
thur before the war Justify me, think,
in making this statement. But he was
nothing if not progressive, and it is not
of his petty achievements that [ wish
to tell In Port Arthur they are still
talking about the grand coup he planned
and of how ii was carried through to
successful conclusion.
At the time Of which / speak, Schmitt
had cs-tured the hearts Of the military
| by his iovial activities, and had become
the social hub around which the social
spokes revolved. Then man was Judged
by his storage ability; and for the vari-
GUS and sundry braus on the Manchu-
rian market Sehmitt had a capacity like
bulk oil freighter.
Moreover. he had good, sosid, North
| Country headpiece, 80 firmly set on his
vast shoulders that the highest tide of
burgerliches brau could not bulge II
from its balance. Vaselinovitch, the
Russian colonel who used to be the
champion absorber, tried conclusions
with schmitt a few times, but always
floated away from his mooriugs, and
finally resigned his title, and became
thenceforth humbled but ardent ad
mirer of that mighty man.
Schnitt flourished in those prosper
Gus days. and the adulterated foods.
French wines. German beers, and other
necessities of life which he supplied to
the Russky hordes enjoyed tremen-
dous popularity. Vaselinovitch was real
ly responsible for this satisfactory state
of affairs, for he let the contracts for
all supplies of the kind. He exacted
the usual Russian "squeeze," and
Schmitt hjc one per cent. so both seemed
satisfied, loved each other apparently,
and become bosom companions. There s
where the colonel made a mistake. He
was All kinds of a riproaring good fell
low, but he allowed valuable informa-
tion to spill over from time to time that
should have reposed forever in his faith
full breast Governmental secrets thus
came into the possession of Schmitt the
unscrupulous Rosy rainbow dreams of
mile high stacks Of rubles lulled to
slumber every night that acquisitive
deceitful. thieviug. tricky, treacherous
son aof Gamhrinus. In an old, yellow
bank in his native city he had what he
called his hamburg stake, which con
sisted of goodly store of ill.gotten
gold, drawing interest and awaiting his
return.
On the other hand. Vaselinovitch was
generous TO a fault and spent his money
like the royal prodi gal he was. Schmitt
shared the Colonel's pleasures, took de
LIGHT in his company, and accepted his
hospitality. but clung to his own cash
like burdock to little woolv lamb
And so it was wine, feasting and song
to an unconscionable degree, and botf
, of the worthless were having the time OF
! their lives. But one bright day II
changed, as all thinos will, and thl;
is the way it came about.
At o 'clock on that calamitous af
ternoon the colonel closed with Schmitt
q monster deal for army supplies. ano
, to celebrate ii they repaired straight
! way to a drink emporium. In a retired
corner they talked things over again
! meanwhile consuming Just enough llq
uor to raise their spirits to a never mind
pitch, Soon they had not a care in
| the wide, wide world-all was sunshine
roses, and marguerites, and the more
good friends who came in TO Join them
in a draught. the more care free they
became. In fact, Faseinovitch became
downright reckless.
''I tell you what, - said he, his mind
, reverting to former occasion when tn,
: same convivial crowd sat grouped
around the same table; 81 bet you s
il, thousand rubles I can drink more beel
, , than you this once.
"Done," said Schmitt. "I take it. ,
[ haDPlA1S cONlu nave QcSCTlpeu ln'
bout that ensued. I cannot. Suffice tC
say that at the end of three hours OF
strenuous application Schmitt was still
bright eyed and rosy checked, wherea:
poor Vaselinovitch sank back IN his arm
chair with gurgling cry of "Nc
NETS! -
"Get him to his room at once" saiC
one, and this they did with the as
j sistance of some Cinnamon with {
q wheclbarrow.
"'What has happened ! don't know
$ but can fix it - said Schmitt. "Leav,
S me TO him;' and he waved the Grove
r from the house.
I, I, Scbmitt undressed the unfortupat,
fellow to the accompaniment of string
of sputtering. gasping, choking pro
testations, and placed him on couch
''I drown" murmured the colonel
feebIy
t Schmitt worked harder than any coal
r HEAVIER. He was past master of all th
d arts of first aid to the injured in
!; struggle with the amber tide. Soon h.
had the satisfaction of seeing tn
!, colonel established in comfort upon hi
!, bed, where he sank forthwith into dec
r sleep, Poor. poor Petrofsy. Makarof
}; Vaselipovitchl His life was saved, bu
!. at what price!
= And now Sing makes his appearance
|, Sing was Shanghai man, bright as
shiny brass button, and crooked as
hopvine gone wrong, Schmitt and h
were after-dark cronies, and togetbe
they had pulled off many and many
shady deal. They met presently in th
3 street, exchanged a few words, aud a
3, Z that evening Scbmitt slid through tn
It side entrance to Sing IS house. Dime
) was ready, and the two sat down.
: "What thing?' asked Sing. munct
!. ing a ifty.two.yearo old egg His bead
- black eyes were two glittering interrc
cation points.
Fine pidgin,' said Schmitt "Thi
time have catchee telegraph code an