The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-12-19
This Singular Titled Austrian Refused
TO Disclose His Identity Whom His
Good Fortune Became Known, and
His Fate Is an Unsolved Mystery.

UttTb Ol All BIdhtS, dll VI NiN
armies OF all countries, magistrates,
financiers, diplomats, lawyers and
professional functionarles OF all sorts;
honest adventurers who simply want
10 "see the world" the neurasthenic,
the dlsheartened, the unemployed;
those who. having lost everything but
honor or having lost honor itself,
would make n new start
All this diverse human metal, thrown
into the melting pot together, Is even
tually nodded into that brave. stole,
loyal, devoted, patient and tenacious
prototype Of the man of arms, the
Leglonary.
OF the Foreign Legion a thousand
romantic tales are told. OF which the
following true story may be taken as
an example:
One day General Bruneau, command
er OF the legion. received n registered
letter. postmarked Vienna and signed
by the representative OF well known
Austrian detective agency, to the fol
lowing effect:
Monsieur le General-Will you kindly In
form me II a young man Of Austro- Hun
garan nationality, supposed To have en-
listed I'm the Foreign Legion under the
nnme OF Justus Perth. is now at SadiaY
You will understand the Interest we have
I'm finding him when | inform you con
ndentlally that I'm consequence OF unfore-
seen happenings he has become. without
his knowledge or expectation, sole heir 10
n fortune OF 100000 crowns lncloeed IL
n photograph taken when he was "A stu
dent at the University OF Prague
The photograph showed stocky
youth of perhaps twenty to twenty-five
years OF age and whose somewhat
beefy face was fringed with precocious
whiskers. He wore eyeglasses, which
made II difficult to judge Of the form
and shade OF his eyes.
General Bruneau's first step was to
have his secretary-adjutan search the
enlistment rolls for the name of JUS
tus Perth. No such name appeared.
Then he had all the Austrians Of the
detachment line up aud scanned their
faces In the hope Of identifying the
original OF the photograph. Only two,
both of whom were recent arrivals.
showed possible traits OF resemblance.
and these I'm very imperfect degree.
These two Austrlans were closely
examined by Dhuermer, the secretary,
who spoke the German language flu
emily. Both denied stubbornly that
they had ever used or heard of the
name OF Justus Perth.
Possibly 1t may loosen your
tongues" pursued the secretary, "if
tell you why the general Is looking for
this Perth. The fellow has Just inher-
tied 12.00O.O00 crowns. Now, is either
one of you Justus Perth?"
"Nein"
"Nein"
"Send them back to their companies.
II Is of no USE" said General Bruneau
Time passed and the incident had
been forgotten when I'm 1902 there
came to Bruneau formidable looking
envelope bearing the government seal
OF the minister of foreign affairs. II
inclosed letter which drew from the
officer an exclamation OF surprise.
This letter was n diplomatic para
phrase OF the former inquiry by the
Vienna secret service agency regarding
Justus Perth. IL insisted upon fur
ther investigation. to be conducted
with more care and discretion than in
the previous instance. Furthermore,
the commandant was conhdentially adj
vlsed that "Justus Perth" was only
fictitious name and that the real title
of the person To be found ut any price
was Count Otto Won y.
Another photograph, more recent
than the one which had accompanied
the first inquiry. was appended
"No sooner did set eyes ON this pho
tograph." continued Bruneau. than |
made the astounding discovery that
the Count Otto Won ". the pseudo
Justus Perth. was none other than the
secretary adiutant, Dhuermcr. who
had SO cnergctically questioned the
! two bewildered Austrians called mp he
| fore me ON the former occasion.
"NIy course was now simple enough
| shortly after that first interrOg0tory
our retary-interpreter Dhuermer.
! had been transferred 10 Tonkin. In
regular course of the annual relief Of
the battalions serving there. This in
formation | wired to headquarters
next day the response came:
"Legionary Dhuermer sent home ac-
count OF health. en- route Singapore.
Another cipher telegram TO the
French consul at Singapore brought
the following:
"Leglonary Dhueumer. alias Count otto
Won X. disappeared from transport steam.
er. roadstead OF Singapore: cannot b.
found.
"And the mystery remains unsolved
10 this day"
Around their campnres In the Sahara
what tales might not bc told II ever
these silent. impassive Trappists Of ac-
ton should hut speak their stories =
Los Angeles Tribune.