Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-24
The Mischief Maker
By E. PHILLIPS OPPENE4ELM

Julien sat with folded arms in the cor
mr. O. the automobile. lie had no fancy
for his companion. lie was anxious, so
far as possible TO avoid speech with
I him. Estermen, on the contrary, seemed
only too DESTROYS OF removing the impress
sion of dislike of which he was acutely
conscious He talked the whole time of
the cafes and the women, of everything
he thought might be interesting to his
companion. Julien listened in grim ST.
lenee. Only once he interrupted.
,'tWhat brings Herr Freudenberg to
Paris he inquired once more.
-ster. en- was suddenly reticent
go has al,airs here" he said "He
IS also like US others-a man who loves
his pleasure. You will find him tonight
with most charming companion-Mado-
moiselle Ike of the opera. Before the
coming of Herr F'reudenberg, 1 remem-
Der her well-the companion at times of
many. Too y she is changed, triste when
he is not here. faithful in a most I'M
Parisianlike manner"
They swung round 70 the left.
Herr Freudenberg," Estermen con-
tin~I, lis a great lover of the night
life of Paris. He goes from one cafe to
the other. He is untired. sleepless. He
seems 10 find inspiration where others
find fatigue
Julien raised his eyebrows. but he said
nothing. These were not his impressions
of the man whom they were seeking.
They drew up presently at the doors of
the Abaye Theleme. There were crowds
of people trying to gain admission. Es-
termen elbOwed his way through.
Herr Freudenberg?" he asked of the
man who stood at the door.
The mans forbidd.ng face changed like
magic.
lie Freudenberg left but ten minutes
ago for the rat Mort. Those who in
quired for him were to follow"
Estermen nodded and touched Julien on
the arm.
We will walk" he sand. 1T is at the
corner there"
They presented themselves at the
doors of smaller and dingier cafe. Es-
termaI elbowed le way up the narrow
stairs. They emerged in small room.
brilliantly lit and filled with people, the
usua little band was playing gay music.
A corp--ent maitre d'hotel bowed as they
appeared
Herr FreIdenbel g." Estermen began.
The walters bow by this time was
different affair.
Monsieur will follow me-" he invited.
At the corner table at the far end of
the room-the most desired of any-sat
Herr Freudenberg with Madomoiselle Ike
by his side. They met the flower girl
coming away with empty arms. The
table of Herr Freudenberg was smoth-
cred with roses There was a shade
more color in toe cheeks of Mademoiselle
Ike. in her eyes light as soft as any
which the eyes of a woman who loved
could know. Herr Freudenberg unruf-
fed, had still the air of a man who finds
life pleasant. AS the two men came up
the room he rose and held out both his
hands.
"Ah! ne exclaimed. at is indeed my
friend of Berlin! Welcome dear Sir
Julien! We meet on neutral ground, is
it not so? We meet now in the city of
pleasures. Let us sit for a little time
and talk, and fol get that you and / once
wrote a chapter together in the history
of toymaking. But first" he added,
turning to Mademoisselle Ike, made
moiselle permits me to introduce a very
dear and cherished acquaintance to an
equally dear and cherished friend This
gentleman, dear Marguerite. and 1 make
toys in different countries, and there
was a time when it was necessary for
us to consult together. So he came tot
Berlin and ! have never forgotten his
visit. For the present, join us, dear Ju-
lien. You permit that l call you by
your first name? 1t is after midnight,
and after midnight in Paris one permits
everything. Now we drink together, we
three, for Estermen must leave us, /
know. We drink together to the max
ing of toys. the building of toy palaces
and the love of )ne another. Come Mon
sieur Albert, see that your sommelier
opens that bottle that you have chosen
for US so carefully" he continued, turn
ing to the manager who WAS lowering
close at hand. This is a meeting and
we need the best wine that ever came
from the vineyards of France. A dear
friend. Albert. Bow low to him, indeed,
for he is worthy of it, Afterwards we
will perhaps eat something. Send your
waiter. But above all, monsieur, see to
it that mademoiselle with the fair curls
dances once more. My friend, / think,
would like to see her. And we must
have music. Let the band never cease
playing. All! il is here, dear Albert,
that one learns to forget how strenuous
life really is. 1t is here that one may
unbend. The wine!"
While Herr Freudenberg talked the
sommelier had gravely served the cham
payne in some tall and wonderful
glasses brought from a private cabinet
by Monsieur Albert himself to honor
his most treasured visitors. Herr Freu-
denberg raised his glass, clinked it
against the glass of mademoiselle,
clinked ii against Julien's glass.
Come he cried, "to our better &C
quaintance, to our better understanding!
Mademoislle," he added to lowering his
tone, ito the eternal continuance of
those things which lie between you and
mel"
Esterrlan had departed and Julien
breathed the freer for it. Mademoiselle
Ike chartered 10 him for few moments,
and Herr Freudenberg whispered in the