The Washington herald., 1911-02-12
CHAPTER VI.
Snme ExnIannfionH.

IhOOT D6SfQe MS CHdlT. fTINdl6 SCCEcl<2i
to Rear Admiral KfIligrew, retired; Karl
Breitmann! He drew on the second shoe,
and placed it, with military preciseness,
close to the first. Absently, he rose,
with the intention Of putting the pair in
the hall, but remembered before he got
as far as the door that it was not custom
ary in America to put ones shoes out
side in the halls. Ultimately, they would
have been stolen or have remained there
till the trump of doom.
Could there be two Breitmanns by the
name of Karl? Here and there, across
the world, he had heard of Breftmann.
but never had he seen him since that
meeting in Paris And. simply because
he had proved to be an enthusiastic stu
dent of Napoleon like himself, he had
taken the man to dinner. But that was
nothing Under the same circumstances
he would have done the same thing again
There had been something fascinating
about the fellow, either his voice or his
manner. And there could be no doubling
that he had been at ebb tide, the shiny
coat the white but ragged linen, the
cracked patent feathers.
A baron, and to reach the humble grade
of private secretary to an eccentric mil
lionaire-fOr the admiral with all his
kindness and common sense, was eccen-
uic-this was a fall. Where were his
newspap pers? There was a dignity to for
eign work, even though in Europe the
pay is small There was trouble going
on here and there, petty wars and po-
litical sQUabbles. Yes; where were his
newspapers? Had he tried New York?
If not in that case, he-FitzgeraId-
be of some solid assistance. And Ca
thewe knew him, or had met him
Fitzgerald had bUffeted the high and
low places; he seldom made mistakes in
judging men offhand, an art acquired
only after many initial blunders. This
man Rreitmann was no sham; he was
d scholar, a gentleman, a fine linguist,
Versed in politics and war Well. the
little mystery would be brushed aside in
the morning Breitmann would certainly
recognize him.
But To have forgotten the girl To have
permitted a course of events to discover
her. Shameful! He jumped into bed,
and pulled the coverlet close 10 his nose,
and was soon asleep. sleep broken by
fantastic dreams, in which the past and
present mixed with the improbable
chances of the future.
Thump-thump, thUmp-thmp! To Fitz-
Eerald's fogged hearing. it was like the
pulse beating in the bowels of a ship,
only that il stopped and began at odd
intervals, Internationally. At the fourth
recurrence, he sat up, to find that it was
early morning and that the sea lay. gray
and leaden. under the pearly haze of
dawn Thump-thump! He rubbed his
eyes, and laughed. II could be no less a
person than the old sailor in the summer
yachting tOggeTy. Drat EN-, These sail
ors were always trying to beat sun-up.
At length, the peg left the room above,
and banged along the hall and bumped
down the stairs Then all became still
once more, and the listener snuggIed
under the covers again, and slept sound
" till s. Outside, the day was full,
clear, and windy.
On the way to the dining-room, he met
the man The scars were a little deeper
there was no shadow of doubt in Fitz-
gerald's mind
''Breitmann?' he said, with friendly
hand
The other stood still There was no
recognition in his eyes; at least, Fitz-
gerald saw none.
''Breitmann is my name, sir" he replied
court eously.
7 am Fitzgerald; don't you remember
me? We dined in Paris last year, after
we had spent the afternoon with the
Napoleonic relics. You haven't forgotten
Macedonia
Breitmann took the speaker by the arm,
and turned him round Fitzgerald had
been standing with his back to the light
The scrutiny was short. The eyes of the
Bavarian softened, though the quizzical
at the corners remained un-
All at once his whole express
sion warmed.
1T is you? And what do you here?'
both hands.
Some doubt fingered in FitzgeraId's
mind: yet the welcome was perfect, from
whichever point he chose TO look. Come
in to breakfast he said, "and TIL tell
you"
Ny table Is here: sit by the window.
Who was it said that the world is small?
Do you know, that dinner in Paris was
week? And l didn't recognize you at
once! Herr Gott!" with sudden weari-
ness. Perhaps I have had reason to
forget many things. But your
Fitzgerald spread his napkin over his
knees. There was only one other man
He was a small wiry per
son. white Of hair, and spectacled, and
was at that moment cUriousy employed.
He had pinned TO the table a small but
terffy. yellow, with tiny dots on the
wings He was critically inspecting his
It am visiting friends here began
Fitzgerald Rear Admiral Killigrew
was an old friend of my fathers / did
not expect TO remain, but the admiral and
his daughter insisted; so l am sending to
New York for my luggage, and will go
ID this morning" He saw no reason for
giving fuller details.
so it must have been you who brought |
he admirars note 1t is fate. Thanks. |
Some day that casual dinner may give |
you good interest"
The little man with butterfly bent lower |
over his prize.
DO you believe in cursesT' asked |
Breitmann. |
Ordinary. everyday curses, yes; but |
not in Roman anathemas."
Neither of those. mean the curse |
hat sometimes dogs a man, day and
night: the curse of misfortune. I was
hungry that night in Paris; 1 have been |
hungry many times since. 1 have held |
honorable places: to-day, I become a |
servant at seventy-five dollars a month |
and bread and butter. A private secre-
.ary."
But why aren't you with some news |
oaper?' asked Fitzgerald, breaking his |
Eggs.
Breitmann drew up his shoulders. For |
he same reason that I am renting my |
brains as a private secretary. IT was
he last thing could find, and stiIl re-
ain a little self-respect- My heart was |
lead when the admiral told me he had |
lIready engaged secretary. But your
lote brought me the position
But the newspapers"
None of them will employ me-"
I'm New York, with your credentials?'
ssENxroT, so,,