Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-01-27
HIS ASSURANCE.
BY BAKER.

~
copyright, 1909, by American Press Asso'
ciation.l
Carstairs. though a gentleman. had
the most %unbounded assurance and his
esource 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
scrapes simply by his unmitigated
nerve.
In Paris be 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 Il valuable concession.
When Carstairs went to Naples
friends he net there warned him. as
strangers are always warned, against
the dishonesty and trickery of the Nea-
politans. why" said Il fresh Amer
lean Importation, II go out with 20
francs in my pocket, spend S and re-
turn to my hotel with 3. How they do
it l don't know" Carstairs replied
that he would fail to count his
change and therefore he couldn't lose
anything.
Carstairs had spent so much time in
northern 1taly-he owned a villa on
Lake Como-that he spoke Italian like
a native. While in Naples he decided
to give a dinner to a number Of friends
at the Hotel Murat. On the day of
the dinner and just before the hour it
was to take place there came up a
sudden heavy shower. Carstairs wore
a silk hat and also evening dress under
a thin overcoat and had no umbrella.
There are plenty Of cabs in Naples,
but every one in that neighborhood
was appropriated by persons caught in
the shower. Carstairs stood in the
vestibule Of a shop. Looking at his
watch, he saw that it was within five
minutes of the hour set for his dinner
party. Seeing a we'll 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,
Familiarity and said:
what luck! I've been looking for
you all over the city. I have great
news for you. %Signorina Paoli has
given me a message for you which
she would intrust to no one else,
knowing that you are my most init
mate friend and 1 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 in the park, u, 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 Z o'clock. If
the weather is pleasant and the sea
smooth have a 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 obi
cations to me for %consenting to bear
the message. Had l not loved you SO
well | would not have done it, nor
would the signorina have intrusted me
with her confidence"
At this juncture the two reached the
Hotel Murat, and Carstairs, with u
"Goodby. dear boy! l wish you a
pleasant boat ride tomorrow evening
with your sweetheart" ran into the
doorway
The guests were assembled and all
sat down to dinner. Carstairs was IL
high good humor. One Of the company
was smarting at having received ir
change three counterfeit five franc
pieces.
Never" said the unfortunate per
son, have l mingled with a people sc
tricky as the Neapolitans."
"Oh. you don't know how to handle
them said Carstairs. IF you wish
to be immune from being robbed yor
must tickle their vanity, and the way
to do that is to tell a Ia of SOM
woman who is dying for him."
And Carstairs told of how he hat
secured the use of an umbrella.
But the man must have supposed
that you had made a mistake" re
marked n of the party. He coult
have had no interest in this girl"
"Ah, you don't know the Italians
They are so full Of omanc that the
fellow doubtless enjoyed the matter a.
much as If it were his own"
Your shirt bosom is unbuttoned
Carstairs." said one Of his friends
land your necktie is away up unde'
your left ear. You should have looked
in a mirror before sitting down t
15o~orO