Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-02-05
HIS ASSURANCE,
BY cUTABERT BAKER.


Carstairs, though a gentleman, had
the most unbounded assurance, and his
resource was not less. He was very
fond of telling how he got into places
where there was no admittanCe except
for a favored few and got out Of
scrapcs simply by his unmitigated
nerve.
In Paris he had secured an inter
view with the president Of the French
republic by dashing up to the Elysee
palace in an automobile, alighting and
stalking past the guards and attend
ants as though he were some immense
ly important parsonage, and having
thus gained the ear Of the president
secured n valuable concession.
When CEstairs went to Naples
friends he met there warned him, as
strangers are always warned, against
the dishonesty and trickery of the Nea-
politans. why" said one fresh Amer
lean importation, Il go out with 20
francs In my pocket, spend and re-
turn to my hotel with 3. How they do
it | don't know" Carstairs replied
Nndl he NouIu ltN VI Iitll " tOuil HIS
change and therefore he couldn't lose
anything.
Carstairs had spent so much time In
northern Italy-he owned villa on
Lake Como-that he spoke Italian like
native. While In Naples he decided
to give dinner to n number of friends
at the Hotel Murat. On the day OF
- hn
was to take place there came up Il
sudden heavy shower CarStairS wore
silk hat and also evening dress under
thin overCoat and had no umbrella.
There arc plenty Of cabs In Naples,
but every one in that neighbOrhood
was appropriated by persons caught in
the shower. CarStairS stood In the
yestibuc of shop. Looking at his
watch, he saw that it was within five
minutes of the hour set for his dinner
party Seeing a well dressed man go
by with an umbrella in the direction
which he himself wanted to go, his
assurance and inventive power came
to the front Dashing out from cover.
he slipped his hand on the mans arm
Familiarity and said:
What luck, I've been looking for
you all over the city. l have great
news for you Signorina raoli has
given me message for you which
she would intruSt to no one else.
knowing that you are my most Init
mate friend and l am yours"
The man started to interrupt, but
Carstairs gave him no opportunity.
She regrets exceedingly" he went
on, her treatment Of you and wishes
to make amends But her parents are
very watchful. She wishes you to
meet her i'll the park, or, rather, at
the sea wall opposite the park, tomor-
row evening just before dark. She
will walk from north to south, while
you are to walk In the opposite direc-
ton, starting at exactly I o'clock. II
the weather Is pleasant and the sea
smooth have 4 boat at the center steps.
She fears to meet some one who
knows her, so she will be disguised,
but YOU will know her by a flower that
she will carry In her left hand
There, you lucky dog, YOU should
consider yourself under undying Obli-
cations to me for conSenting to bear
the message. Had not loved you so
we'll / would not have done 1t, nor
would the signorina have intrusted me
with her confidence"
At this juncture the two reached the
Hotel Murat, and Carstairs, with
"Goodby, dear boy, l wish you a
pleasant boat ride tomorrow evening
with your sweetheart" ran into the
doorway
The guests We're assembled and all
sat down to dinner. Carstairs was In
high good humor. One Of the company
was smarting at having received In
change three counterfeit five franc
pieces.
Never" said the unfortunate per
son, have l mingled with people so
tricky as the Neapolitans."
oh, you don't know how to handle
them" said Carstairs. IF you wish
to be immune from being robbed you
must tickle their vanity, and the way
to do that is to tell a man OF some
woman who is dying for him"
And Carstairs told OF how he had
secured the use of an umbrella.
But the man must have supposed
that you had made mistake" re-
marked one of the party. He could
have had no interest in this GIRL
"Ah, you don't know the Italians!
They are so full Of romance that the
fellow doubtless enjoyed the matter as
much as if it were his own"
Your shirt bosom is unbuttoned,
Carstairs," said one of his friends,
land your necktie IS away up under
Your left ear. You should have looked
In mirror before sitting down to
dinner"
Carstairs put his hand to his shirt
front, where he wore two diamond
studs for which he had recently paid
$500 each. They were both gone. A
trihe pale, he thrust his hand into the
pocket where he kept his wallet. 1t
was not there 1t had contained $500.
1t was not the loss OF the studs or
the money that affected Carstairs. 1t
was the fact that he had been done"
by an Italian upon whom he thought
he was playing an innocent joke. The
expression on his face was one of
shamefacednesS.
What is it, old MANI" asked guest.
what is 1t! Why, have given two
diamond studs and 1000 Ira for the
use of that umbrella"
For n few moments all looked Seri-
uuSly sympathetic, then the ludicrOuS