Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-02-14
The Title of Countess
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press)
By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY

from after it has been shipped over
there by the Cotton Seed trust. Be
sides, again, it would be so nice to
have a husband who could swear
by simply struggling his shoulders!
Yes, the count left a pleasant i'm
preston behind, and four days later,
when he invited Mrs. Dareforth to
dine with him at restaurant, chap
eroned by her aunt, the invitation
was accepted.
| Mr. Fred Nevins met them at the
door and conducted them to a table
in the most ceremonious way. He had
got place as headwaiter. That is,
he was to have week to make good
in. He did not smile. The widow
was so astounded that she couldn't
have smiled for cash down. The
aunt, who also knew Fred, had to
swallow an olive or perish. The only
one maintaining a complacent de-
meanor was the count, and he
snapped his fingers at the head
waiter and said:
Fellow see that my orders are
attended to with promptness!"
At that dinner the count grew con-
fdential He was in America to buy
the right of a patent flying machine
| for a million dollars-one he could
sell to his government for five mil
lion He didn't need the four million,
but he was a charitable man. He
would devote the profits of the deaf
to orphan asylums He was praised
and fattered, and on the way out to
the taxi he dared to press the. widows
hand. At her door he dared to press
! it again.
It was at his third call at the house
that with a simple shrug of the right
shoulder he let the widow know that
he was in love with her. Then
shrug of the left warned her that
proposal might come at the next call,
and that she had better get ready for
it.
It would be ungallant to say that
Mrs. Dareforth was ready for it, but
it can be related that the proposal
didn't come. The count just ran in
to say that he had bargained for the
patent. but was short $4,000 cash.
He must raise it within two hours or
lose the four millions profit. He
would have money from Rome by
next steamer, and if the widow
would
She would and she did. She was
happy to give him a check for the
amount needed, and the count shrug-
ged his gratitude with both shoulders
at once.
Two hours later Mr.. Fred Nevins
told her over the wire:
1--WE got the bounce at that res
taurant!"
'Of course you have" was the re-
ply. 'eWell, what now?"
"I'm in the detective business.
Went into it only twenty minutes
ago, but have already struck clew."
"To what?"
'To Count Lugi!"
whats What! Fred Nevius, l
command you to"
But he shut her off, and she had a
night of anxiety. Next forenoon Fred
came again This time he said
Hot on the trail!"
what do you mean!
Count Luigi. He got your check
cashed, but I hope to get him with
the goods on him"
Erred Nevins, have you gone
crazy!"
| No answer He was off again. Two
awful hours passed. and then came
| the ring again.
Got him at last"
Got who?"
Count Luigi Took him off the
steamer about to sail. Got your $2O,-
600 back for you. He was formerly
a barber"
That night the jolly bachelor was
taken seriously for once. When he
had finished telling his story he said:
$50 you can see how bad you need
a husband who is in the detective
| business"
"Y-e-s," was the long-drawn reply.
(Which is me-"
"Ye-s!"