The Harlowton news., 1913-01-31
ADealer In
F Foreiigrl + ruits
By LUIGI coNTA

n. Martelli. Dealer In Foreign Fruits
and OIL" One day young man enter
ed the shop and, seeing the proprietor
working on his books, said to him in
the Italian language:
"Signor, l have just come from Ma
pies to America to better my condition.
I wish position
II cannot afford a clerk. ] wish
could. | am poor at accounts. They
bother me-"
II kept books for one Of the largest
exporters Of oil in Naples. know AL
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.
I have brought over with me a little
money on which can live while am
getting knowledge Of America. will
serve you for, say, a year. BY that
time my money will be all gone, but |
can then find position with salary
! Martelli was much captiyated with
the proposition. He told the man. who
gave his name as Giovanni Miceie, to
take hold of his 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 him. 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
1 Micele did not know anything about
bookkeeping, but he talked very learn
edly about Martellis 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 to improve. 1t did not appear
that the sales were larger, bnt some
how or other when Micele took off a
statement from the books he always
showed an increased profit Indeed
so pleased was Martelli that he told
his clerk he might draw SIS a week for
salary. But Micele said that he pre-
: ferred to stick to his contract and
would not accept any pay for his work
Marteli lived in a room in one OF the
narrow streets OF 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 bottle or two Of wine
with his clerk, he invited Micele to go
home with him and have game Of
cards. Micele accepted the invitation.
Marteli 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. Martelll
showed it's effects. When he got up
from his seat to get some tobacco Mi
cele slipped little pellet into his
glass. When Martelli returned he was
too drunk to notice it lying in the bot
tom of his glass. and it was soon dis
. solved. Soon after he had finished his
. glass hts eyes began to look heavy, his
head sank down on the table. and he
was unconscious.
Micele arose and began to search the
. room. Producing skeleton keys, he un
{ locked everything that was locked anc
=, searched under the bed and in every
}. nook and Granny. Unlocking the closet
n he found an old pair of shoes. Thrust
o ing his hand down into the toe of one
e he withdrew chamois bag, from
J. which he poured number Of valuable
+ diamonds into the palm Of his hand
From the toe of the other shoe he Sc
f. cured several papers, which he hastll.
. glanced over and put them in his pock
)f ct. Then he turned and contemplate
for a few moments the senseless fie
af ure of his victim.
Taking up the glass from which Mai
: telli had drunk, he rinsed and wiped i
= then partly filled it with wine. Hi
next act was to carry Martelli to th
bed, take off his outer garments an
put the bedclothes over him. Thel
putting out the lights, he left him.
In the morning Martelli awoke an
looked about him. Empty bottles an
his own half filled glass stood on tn
table. He got off the bed, staggered t
the table, took up his glass, smelled
1t, slipped it and, discovering no tast
seemed relieved. Going to the close
he felt in the toe of one Of his shoe
He started. Thrusting his hand int
the other shoe, he gave a cry of al
guish. Rushing to the door, he trie
to open it, but found it licked. i
was looking for some other avenue
exit when he heard footsteps Withou
-l the door was opened, and Micel
- backed by two policemen, stood in tt
= opening.
= Good morning, Signor Fabroni,"
said. II shall have to trouble you
make a sea voyage with me to our b
loved Naples. Signora Martelli misst
some valuable diamonds, and at Il
same time her butler disappeared. {
was traced to New York, and ";
deputed to come over and bring hi