Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-05
NUMBER 10.

my table is here; sit by the window.
Who was 1t said that the world Is
smanT
Fitzgerald spread his napkin over bis
knees. There was only one other man
breakfastlng. He was q small. wiry
person, white of hair. and spectacled.
and was at that moment curiously EN-.
ployed. He had pinned to the table a
small butterfly. yellow. with tiny dots
on the wings He was critically in
specting his find through a jewelers.
glass.
II 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 | am
sending to New York for my luggage.
and will 90 up this morning" he saw
no reason for giving fuller details.
$50 1t must have been you who
brought the admiraTs note. It is fate.
Thanks. Some day that casual dinner
may give you good interest"
The little man with the butterfly
bent lower over his prize.
"Do you believe in cursesY asked
Breitmann.
"Ordinary. everyday curses. yes: but
not I'm Roman anathemas."
Neither OF those mean the curse
That sometimes dogs man day and
night-the curse Of misfortune. was
hungry that night In Paris; have been
hungry many times since. haze held
honorable places: today become
servant at SO a month and my bread
and butter. A private secretary"
"But why aren't you with some
newspaper asked Fitzgerald. break.
ing his eggs.
Breitmann drew up hfs shoulders.
"For the same reason that am rent.
ing my brains as a private secretary.
None of them will employ me-"
I'm New York, with your creden.
tialsY'
even So"
II don't quite understand"
ut would take too long to explain"
II can give you some letters"
THANK you. 1t would be useless.
Secretly and subterraneously. have
had the bottom knocked out from under
my feet. But no more Of that Some
day will give you my version"
The little man smiled over his but
terhy, took out wallet, something on
the pattern Of fisherman's, and put
the new found specimen into one Of
the mica compartments. in which other
dead butterflies of variant beauty re-
posed.
$50 become q private secretary till
the time offers something better"
Breitmann stared at the sea.
~ am sorry. l wish I could help
you. Better let me try" Fitzgerald
stirred his coffee. You are convinced
that there Is some cabal working
against you in the newspaper busi-
nessl That seems strange Some or
them must have heard Of your work
London, Paris. Berlin. Have you tried
them all"
"Yes. Nothing for me but promises
rs thick as yonder sands"
The little man rose and walked out
of the room. smiling.
"Splendidr he murmured What a
specimen to add to my collecton!'
"Do you know what your duties
will be? Fitzgerald inquired.
"They will consist Of replying to
begging letters from the needy and
deserving. from crazy inventors and
ministers In the meantime am to
do translating. together with indexing
vast library devoted to pirates.
Droll. isn't itT Breitmann laughed.
but this time without bitterness.
1t is a harmless hobby" rather re-
senting Breitmann's tone.
More than that" quickly; 1T is
philanthropic. since It will employ me
for some length Of time"
when do they expect your
at half after TO-
well so up together. then. DID
you See the admiral's daughterT
"a daughter: Has he oneT Brett
mann accepted this news with an ex.
preston Of disfavor.
"Yes. and charming, can tell you.
It's all very odd. In Paris that night
they both sat ut the next table
why did you not speak to themT
Didn't know who they were. The
admiral was one Of my fathers boy.
hood friends and did not meet them
till very recently" which was all true
enough. For some unaccountable rea-
son. Fitzgerald found that he was on
guard. II have ordered an open car
rage. II you have any trunks. can
take them up for you"
ut will be good Of you"
They proceeded to finish the repast.
and then sought the Office for their
reckoning Later they strolled toward
the water front. Fitzgerald. during
moments when the talk Jagged.
thought over the meeting. There was
false ring to 1t somewhere. II
Breitmann had been turned down In
all the offices in New York there must
have been some good cause. News
papers were not passing over men OF
this fellows experience. unless he had
been proved untrustworthy. Brett
mann had not told him everything; he
had even told him too little. Still.
he would withhold his judgment TILL
he heard from New York on the sub
ject Cathewe hadn't been enthusias'
tic over the name: but Cathewe was
never inclined to enthusiasms.