The daily Alaskan., 1912-09-05
A Dealer In
 Foreign Fruits
By LUIGI ooNrA

and Oil" One day a young man enter ed the shop, and, seeing the proprietor working on his books. said to him tn the Italian language:
 "Slgnor, 1 have just come from Ns. ples to America tn letter my condition. wish position
 "I cannot atf0r. q clerk 1 wish | could. au popr at aCNpunts. They bother me."
 q kept books for one of the largest exporters of oil In Naples. ] know all about bookkeeping
 That may be. but have told you my business does not admit of an as SiStant"
 "Let me work for you without pay. have brought over with me little money on which | can live while l am getting a knowledge of America. l will serve you for, say, year By that time my money will be all gone, but | can then find position with a salary"
 MartelIl was much captivated with the proposition. He told the man. who gave his name as Giovanni Micele, to take hold of hts books and straighten them out If he showed that he knew how to do so he would teach him his business. He told Micele that his face was familiar to hirn, but he could not tell where he had seen him, to which Micele replied that nothing was more likely. since they had both lived in the same city.
 Micele did not know anything about bookkeeping. but he talked very learn edly about Martelli's accounts and sue. ceeded in confusing the merchant and showing him that his affairs were In much better condition than he had supposed. Micele became a great ia. vorite with his employer. and. with the formers assistance, the business seemed tc improve lt did not appear that the sales were larger, but some how or other when Micele took on statement from the books he always showed an increased profit Indeed, so pleased was Martelli that he told his clerk he might draw $5 week for salary. But MIccle said that he pre- rerred to stick to his contract and would not accept any pay for his work.
 Martelh lived In room iu one of the narrow streets ot lower New York. When he left his shop after business hours he invariably went to this sleep ing apartment alone But one day, after drinking a bottle or two of wine with his clerk. he invited Miccle 10 go home with him and have a game Of cards. Micele accepted the invitation. MartelH bought some more wine on the way, and during the evening the two finished it. The wine came from California and Is much stronger than the wines one gets in Italy. Martelli showed Its effects When he got up from his seat to get some tobacco Mi- cele slipped q little pellet into hts glass. When MarteTi returned he was too drunk Co notice it lying In the bot. tom of his glass. and it was soon dis solved. Soon after he had finished his glass his eyes began to look heavy, his head sank down on the table. and he wns unconscious.
 Micelc arose and began to search the room. Producing skeleton keys, he un- locked everything that was locked and searched under the bed and In every nook and crauny. Unlocking the closet he found an old pair Of shoes Thrust. ina, his hand down into the toe of one. he withdrew a channels bag, from which he poured a number of valuable diamonds into the palm of his hand. From the toe of the other shoe be se- cured several papers, which he hastily glanced over and put them In his pock- ct Then he turned and contemplated for a few moments the senseless hg- ure of his victim
 Taking up the glass from which Mar teIli had drunk. he rinsed and wiped 1t. then partly filled it with wine. His next act was to carry Martelli to the bed. take Sfr his outer garments and nut the bedclothes over him. Then, putting out the lights, he left him.
 In the morning Martel1 awoke and looked about him Empty bottles and his own half filled glass stood on the table. He got Of the bed. staggered to the table, took up bis glass, smelled of u. slipped 1t and. discovering no taste. seemed relieved. Going to the closet be felt In the toe of one of his shoes. He started. Thrusting his hand into the other shoe. be gave a cry of an- guish. Rushing to the door, he tried to open 1t, but found it lOcked. He was looking for some other avenue of exit when he heard footsteps without the door was opened. and Micele. backed by two policemen, stood In the opening.
 Good morning, Signor Fabroni." he said. ''I shall have to trouble you to make sea voyage with me to our be- loved Naples. Signora Marielll missed some valuable diamonds and at the same time her butler disappeared. He was traced to New York. and was deputed to come over and bring him back. The government. being interest ed in murder case of which he is suspected. chose me, member of the national police. to do the work"
 q have been a fool knew had seen you before. Now remember you