Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-02-02
HIS ASSURANCE.
BY cuTHsERT aAkrR.


where there was 40 admittance exrart
tor favored few and got ont az
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, aIighting ana
stalking past the guards and attend
ants as though he were some immense
" important parsonage, and having
ehus gained the ear of the president
secured valuable concession.
When Carstairs went to Naplea
friends he met there warned him. az
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 S and re-
turn to my hotel with 3. How they do
! don't know" Carstairs replied
that he would never fan 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 he spoke Italian like
q native. While in Naples he decided
@ give dinner to number Of friends
at the Hotel Murat On the day OF
the dinner and just before the hour II
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 a 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 70
by with an umbrella In the direction
which be himself wanted to 20, his
assurance and inventive power came
to the front. Dashlng 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 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 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, 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 o'clock. II
the weather is pleasant and the sea
| smooth have 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
well / would not have done it, nor
would the signorlna have intrusted me
with her confidence"
At this juncture the two reached the
Hotel Murat. and Carstairs. with
"Goodby, dear boy! wish you
pleasant boat ride tomorrow evening
with your sweetheart" ran into the
doorway.
The guests were assembled and all
sat down to dinner. Carstairs was In
high good humor. One of the company
was smarting at having received III
change three counterfeit five franc
|. pieces.
''Never." said the unfortunate per
son, ''have | mingled with people SC
tricky as the Neapolitans"
"Oh. YOU don't know how to handle
them said Carstairs. IF you wisf
! to be immune from being robbed yot
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 haC
secured the use of an umbrella.
@But the man must have supposed
! that YOU had made a mistake, re
marked one Of the party. He eoulC
> 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 a
much as il it were his own"
.sYour shirt bosom is unbuttoned
Carstairs." said one Of his friends
aand your necktie is away up unde
YOUR left ear. You should have looke'
IA a mirror before sitting down u
dinner"
Carstairs put his hand to his shir
: front where he wore two diamond
j studs for which he had recently pail
r $500 each. They were both gone
a tribe pale, be thrust his hand into tn
nocket where he kept his wallet !
was not there. 1t had contained $aVV
IT was not the loss Of the stuas Q
] the money that affected Carstairs'
: was the fact that be had been done
n nv an Italian upon whom be though
q he was playing an innocent joke. IN
u