El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-22
The Trick That Failed
By Viggo Toepfer.

y ENERAL POLTRIKOFF was
~ leaning back in his comfortable
leather covered desk chair. At
ter a few moments deep thought he
turned around and looked at his adju-
tant, major Shelmotin, who was ar
ranging a pile of official dispatches
and papers on another desk.
1T is ID unpleasant" he growled.
Kuntoff is q fool. Now he has been
in Berlin for more than three months
and sent, God knows how many re-
today he writes that he can't do any
thing, that he has wasted all this
time. He is a fool
''Of course it is annoying" replied
major Shelmotin. 'T knew it would
be difficult, but 1 certainly did not
think it would be impossible. L know
Berlin pretty well. Kuntoff might
have made a success Of the business
and 1 think he is making a great mis-
take in giving it up now. but he is too
young to be diplomatic"
but what will we do now, Shelmo-
tin?' asked the general, who was
thinking of the order of St. Nicholas
of the first class.
I'VE viii have to send somebody else
to Berlin" replied the major, who was
thinking of the order of ST. Nicholas
of the second class, and a lieutenant
colonePs commission.
But whom the devil are we to
send?"
Let me go. general"
"YouI And what do you think / am
going to do here without you? We
have all we can do to get the work
done here now, and you are the only
one who knows all my affairs No,
I can't let you go, Shelmotin."
You oVerestimate my assistance,
general You are surely able to do
just as much without my help for a
month or two" the major replied.
Captain Poykoff can take my place
while 1 am away and you won't notice
the difference. Besides, what does 1t
matter if things do get a little behind
here, if we succeed in Berlin?"
81 suppose you are right" said the
general, after bordering over the
matter for a minute or two. But if L
do let you go, are you sure you will
succeed?''
"Quite sure, general Quite surel"
Two days later the major took the
train for Berlin, and a few days after
his arrival he was comfortably settled
in flat near the war department. He
was suffering from some eye trouble
and had come to consult an eminent
oculist, he said.
The major took his dinner every day
in a large hotel much frequented by
officers connected with the war depart
ment, with several of whom he was
soon on intimate terms. Unfortunate
~ the oculist had told him to stay in
doors as much as possible, and espe-.
cialIy to beware of the sharp evening
air, but many of the officers soon made
it habit to spend the evenings in the
majors coy flat, where they were
sure of a game of cards, excellent
wines and choice cigars.
A few weeks passed, and every
evening little party assembled
around the green table at the majors.
The stakes were always rather low.
German officers are not over paid
and the major himself was opposed to
excessive gambling. At the tables he
quietly studied the character of each
Of his guests. One evening, when
they had all gone, he said to himself:
Captain Won Fritzelwitz Is the man.
He is a born gambler. Anyone can see
that from the expression of his eyes
when he takes his winnings. His
hands trembIe and he hates to leave
the table. He is in the artillery and