The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-22
HIS ASSURANCE.
BY cuTHBERT BAKER.

lCopyright. 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Carstairs. though a gentleman, had
the most unbounded assurance, and his
resource was not less. He vas very
fond of telling how he got into places
where there was no admittance except
Tor favored few and got out of
scrapes 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
~ important parsonage, and having
thus gained the ear of the president
secured valuable concession
When Carstairs 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. II go out with 20
francs in my pocket, spend and re-
turn to my hotel with 3. How they do
1t l don't know Carstairs replied
that he would never fail to count his
change and therefore he couldn't lose
anything.
Carstairs had spent so much time in
northern Italy-he owned a villa on
Lake Como-that be spoke Italian like,
a native. While in Naples he decided
to give 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
silk hat and also evening dress under
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 shop. Looking at his
watch, he saw that it was within FIVE
minutes of the hour set for his dinner
party. Seeing 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. Dashfng out from cover,
| AC S1PEc0 LIS AdhO Oh Tic AIdA dk LII
Familiarity and said:
What luck! I've been looking fol
you all over the city. l 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 l am yours"
The man started to interrupt, but
Carstairs gave him no opportunity.
''She regrets exceedingly" he Wen
on, 'her treatment of you and wishes
to make amends. But her parents arr
very watchful. She wishes you t
meet her in the park, or, rather, a
the sea wall opposite the park, tomor
row evening just before dark. Sh
will walk from north TO south, Will
you are to walk in the opposite direc
ton. starting at exactly O'Clock. l
the weather is pleasant and the Sc
smooth have boat at the center steps
She fears to meet some one VII
knows her. so she will be disguised
but you will know her by a flower tina
she will carry in her left hand.
There, you lucky dog, you shout
consider yourself under undying obi
! cations to me for conserving to bea
the message. Had l not loved you
: well l would not have done it, nc
/ would the signorina have intrusted 10
e with her confidence
: At this juncture the two reached til
S Hotel Murat, and Carstairs, with
: "Goodby, dear boy! l wish you
< pleasant boat ride tomorrow evenin
[ with your sweetheart" ran into II
4 doorway.
;. The guests were assembled and
+ sat down to dinner. Carstalrs was
= high good humor. One Of the compaI
e was smarting at having received
l. change three counterfeit tive fral
Il pieces.
2 "Never." said the unfortunate pc
e son. have | mingled with a people
tricky as the Neapolitans."
" "Oh. YOU don't know how to hand
. them" said Carstairs. If you wi
Is TO be immune from being robbed Y
II must tickle their vanity, and the VI
K. to do that is TO tell a man of sol
$. woman who is dying for him"
n, And Carstairs told Of how he b
e. secured the use of an umbrella.
At "But the man must have Suppos
OF that you had made a mistake
# marked one of the party. He cot
have had no interest in this girl"
as "Ah, you don't know the Italian
p They are so full Of romance that
s. fellow doubtless enjoyed the matter
d. much as if it were his own
to your shirt bosom is unbutton
To- Carstairs," said one Of his frien
re land your necktie is away up un'
on vour left ear. You should have look
he in a mirror before sitting down
dinner"
1e Carstairs put his hand to bis 81
ial front. where he wore two diane
re studs for which he had recently P
al $500 each. They were both gone
tes trifie pale, he thrust his hand into
ng nocket where he kept his wallet.
had contained -