The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-28
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1t was time for me to 90 to work
Seated at my table just removed
from the throngs on the sidewalk
slipping my vermouth, arrived re
luctantly at this conclusion. Mo-
that poverty pressed me! On the
contrary, from the proceeds of {
certain bit of legcrdemain there re.
NAMED to me, after paying my pass.
age across the Atlantic, my expenses
in Paris these last three months
! and restoring my wardrobe to its
present satisfactory condition, some
ten thousand dollars. Certainly
benefited by the exchange, I could
hope to live deccntly for another
six months at least.
Not so long ago, would have been
overjoycd at assurance of financial
security for six weeks, or even six
days. Indeed, sufficient food in my
stomach to keep hunger away for six
hours was rare condition with me
But our ideas change with our
changing prosperity. Let those who
think that the mind governs mater.
ial things ponder this obvious re
verse.
l am. l think, one who makes up
his mind quickly, and act imme-
diately. Certainly when I had de-
cided that l would rather live a
thief than starve an honest man,
had acted instantly. Let me say, in
parenthesis, that l had not yet ar
rived at regret for that decision. ]
acted, in this perhaps less import
ant matter, as suddenly as l had act
ed on that evening when had kiss
ed an airy farewell to the traditions
of all the Ainsleys, of whom l, John,
was the first to turn to crime.
l raised my finger, and an atten-
tive garcon leaped to my table.
paid him for my aperitif, rose, and
with one stride was mingled with
the crowd that surgcd from the
Place de POpera up the Boulevard
dcs Capucines. 1t was an observa-
ton of the individuals who made up
the crowd that had brought me to de-
cision.
For it was springtime, and the
world had come to Paris. From my
place at the table l had seen for
tunes in furs and jewels pass by.
The profiteers of all the world we're
here; and their wives and daughters
and mistresses flauhted the SUCCESS
Of their males before the others of
their kind.
Swarthy Argentinians grow rich
in beef and hides, shining-eyed Span
iards who had traded while Europe
bled, munitionsmakers from Eng
land and America--they rode and
walked the streets of Paris, gross,
vulgar and overfed. As, after a ter
rifle storm, strange carcasses arise
from the depths and float offensive
~ upon the surface of the sea, SO
now upon the surface of society
.drifted weird carrion.
The sight of them, obese and opu-
lent, made me realize that it was
time for me to set about the acquisi-
ton of some of their more merchant
able gauds. Not that l intended to
prey directly upon these nouveaux
riches! But where the carrion lies.
the vulture flies. 1t was toward the
vulture, his talons gripping choice
mOrsels, that l would bend my
energies. l would let the culture do
all the unpleasant work, and l would
reap his profit.
For do not think that had spent
these months in Paris in mere stupid
qualification of appetites that had
been baked so long by poverty. 1t
is true that had INDUCED in sundry
luxuries and pleasures, that l had
lived once more as gentleman
should live, embarrassed by soiling
economies; but had devoted myself
studiously to thought of the future.
That that future must be outside
the claw l had determined. My first
venture into crime had yielded me a
profit so great, for such slight
effort and risk, that l never for a
moment considered anything but
continuing upon the career that the
needs of existence had made me
choose. For understand that these
are not the penitent confessions of
a paltry pickpocket, they are the
narratives Of an artist.
In the apartment which l had
rented, on the Rue Daunou, l had
deliberately studied my problem. !
had acquired all the literature deal
ing with criminals that could find.