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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1897)
"UNSER KARL" S . Ily I ) HUT IIARTH. I ( CopyrtBht , 1807. by IJret llnrte. ) The American consul for Schlaehtstadt had Just turned out of the broad Kocnlg's alley into the IHtlo square that held his consulate. Ita residences always seemed to him to wear that singularly uninhabited air peculiar to a street scene In a theater. The facades , with tholr miff strlic | < l wooden awnings over the windows , were of the regularity , color and pat tern only seen on the stage , and conversa tions carried on In the street below always seemed to bo Invested with that perfect con fidence and security which surrounds the nctor In htfl painted desert of urban per spective. Yet It was a peaceful change to the other byways and highways of Schlacht- Btadt which Tv'cre alwajs filled with an equally unreal and mechanical soldiery , who appeared to ho dally taken out of their boxes of ' "OaBcrno1' or "depot" and loosely scat tered all over the pretty lleidon-hauntcd Ger man town. Thcro were soldiers standing on street comers , soldiers staring woodcnly Into nhop windows , soldiers halted suddenly Into stone , like lizards , at the approach of of- flztcre , omzlcre lounging stiffly , four abreast , sweeping the pavement with their trolling sabres all at ono angle. There were caval cades of red hussars , cavalcades of blue hussars , cavalcades of Uhlans , with glitter ing lances and pennons with or without a .band . formally parading ; there were ritrag- gllng "fatigues" or "details" coming around the corners ; there were dusty , businesslike like- columns of Infantry , going nowhere and to no purpose. And they ono and all seemed in bo wound ui > for that service and av- parently always In the same place. In the band oC their caps Invariably" of one pattern was a button , In the center of which wn a eauaro opening keyhole. The consul was alwajs convinced that through tula keyhole , opening , by means of a key , the humblest "caporal" wound up his file , the "Haupt- mann" controlled his lleutuiants and non commissioned olllcers , and even thu general himself wearing the same cap was subject ( through his cao ) to a higher moving power. In the suburbs , when the sutpply of soldiers gave out , there wcro sentry boxca ; when thcso dropped off there were "caissons" or commissary wagons. Aud , loot the military Idea should ever fall from out the Schkicht- Btadt burgher's mind , there were police In uniform , street sweepers In uniform , the ticket tokens , guards and porters at the "Bahnhof" were In uniform but all weiring the mine kind of cap , with the probability of having bean wound up freshly each mornIng - Ing for thalr dally work. Even the postniau delivered peaceful Invoices to the consul with his side arms and the air of brlnglug dis patches from the field of battle , and the consul saluted and lelt for u few momentn the whole weight of Ills consular respon sibility. Yet , In spite of this military precedence , It did not eccin In the least Inconsistent with the decidedly peaceful character of the town , nnd this again suggested Its unreality ; wan dering cows Homutlmcs got mixed up with squadrons of cavalry , and didn't &oem to mind It ; sheep passed singly between flies of In fantry , or preceded them In a flock when on the march ; Indeed , nothing could1 bo moro de lightful and Innocent than to see a regiment of Infantry In heavy marching order , laden with every conceivable thing they could want for a week , returning after a cheerful search for an Invisible enemy In the suburbs , to bivouac peacefully among the cabbages In the market place. Nobody was ever Imposed upon for a moment by their tremendous energy and severe display ; drums might bc.it. trumpets blow , dragoons charge furiously all over the 'Excrzler ' plator suddenly flash tholr naked swords In the ( streets to the gut tural command of an oflicer nobody soemei ! to mind It. People glanced up to rccognlr.e Rudolf or Max "doing their service , " nodded nnd went about their business. And , al though the officers always were their side arms and at the moat peaceful of social din ners only relinquished their swords In the hall , apparen'ly that they might be ready to buckle them on again and rush out to do battle for the fatherland between the courses , the other gucsta only "looked upon these weapons In the light of sticks and umbrellas , nnd possessed their souls In peace. And when , oddvd to this singular Incongruity , many of these warriors were spectacled , etudlous men and , despite their lethal weapons pens , were a slightly professional air , nnd sentimental and singularly wore to a man deeply gularly simple , their attitude In this eternal Krtegsplel seemed to the consul moro puz- y.llp.2 than ever. As ho entered his consulate ho was con fronted with another aspect of Schlachtstadl quito as wonderful , yet already familiar to him. For , " In spite of thcso "alarums with out , " which , however , never seemed to psnu trato beyond the towu Itself , Schlach'stadt and Its suburbs were known all over thr world for the manufactures of certain beau tiful textllo fabrics , and many of the rank and fllo of thosa warriors had built up the lame nnd prosperity of the district over their peaceful looms In wayside cottages. There were great depots and counting houses larger than oven the cavalry barracks , where no other uniform but that of the pos'man was known. Hence It was that the con sul's chief duty was to uphold the flag of his own country by the examination and certification of divers Invoices sent to his ofllce by the manufacturers. Uut oddly enough these .business . messenger * were chiefly women not clerks , tout ordi nary household servants , and , on busy ilaja , the consulate might have been mis taken for a female registry odlce , so filled nnd possessed It was by waiting madehen Here It was that Grotchcn. Ueschen and Clarchen , In the cleanest of blue gowns , nnd stoutly , but smartly shod , brought thel1 invoices In u , plero of clean , paper , or foldei in a blue handkerchief , and luld thorn , wl.h llngoM nvro or less worn and stubby froir jinrd service , before the consul for his sig nature. Once. In the case of a very youn ? madehen. that signature was blotted by the sweep ot a flaxen braid on It as the child turned to go , but generally there was i. grave , serious business Instinct nnd sense o' responsibility In these girls of ordinary peasant origin which , equally with their sisters tors of France , wcro unknown to the Eng lish or American woman of any class. That morning , how over , there was t slight stir among those who , with thel. knitting , wei watting their turn In tin outer olllro as the vice consul usheied tli > police Inspector Into thu consul's private office. Ho was In uniform , of course , and I. took him a moment to recover from hL habitual stiff , military ealute a little stlffer Chun that of the actual soldier. It WHS a matter of importance ! A stranger had that morning 'been arrested In the town and Identified as a. military de serter. Us clamc < l to be an American citizen ; ho was now In the outer odlce waitIng - Ing the consul's Interrogation. Thp consul know , however , that thr ominous accusation had tnly a mild sig nificance hcie. The term "military de serter" Included any one who had In youth emigrated to a. foreign country without first fulfilling Ills military duty to hia fatherland , Ilia nisi experience of Huso cases had been tedious and dllllcult Involving a reference to his minister ut llcrlin , a correspondence with the American State ilcpartment , a con dition ot unpleasant tun&hn , and finally the prolonged detention nf some Innocent Ger man - American citizen , who had forgotten to bring his paper * with him In revisiting his own native country. It so chanced , however , that the consul enjoyed thu friendship and confidence of General Adlerkreutz. wli commanded the twentieth division , anil It further chanced that the same Adlerkrculz was as gallant a soldier as over cried "Vorwartst" at the head of hU men , as profound a military strategist end organizer as ever carried his own and bis enemy's plans In his Iron head and spiked helmet , and yet wltti as simple and unaffected a soul breathing under hla gray mustache as ever issued from the Ilpa of a child. Fo this grim but gentle veteran had arranged with the coiuul that In cases whrro the presumption of nationality was atrong , although the evidence was not prw- cnt , ho would take the consul's parole for the appearance of thw "deserter" or his papers , without the all of prolonged dt ploniAcy. In Mis way the consul had saved to Milwaukee a worthy but Imprudent lifewer , and to New York an excellent lautago butcter and possible alderman ; but had returned to martial duty , one or two tramps or Journeymen who hid never seen America from thd decks of the ships In which they wcro "stowaway , " and on which they wcro returned and thus the tempter and peace ot two great nations were pre served. "Ho says , " nald the Inspector , severely , "that ho Is an American citizen , but he lost his naturallzatlcn papers. Yet he has made the damaging admlfdion to others that he lived several years In Home ! And , " con tinued the -Inspector , looking over his shoulder at the closed door as ho placed tils finger beside his nose , "he eays he has relations living at Palmyra , whom he fre quent:1'slted. ! . Ach ! Observe this untieard- 1" of-and-not-to-bc-trustod statement The consul , however , smiled with a slight flash of Intelligence. "Let me sec him , " he said. said.They passed Inlo the outer ofllce another policeman and a corporal of Infantry , saluted and rose. In the center of en admiring and sympathetic crowd ot Dleeistnmdchcn sat the culprit , the least concerned of the party ; a stripling a boy scarcely out of his 'teens ! Indeed , It was Impossible to conceive of a more Innocent derelict. With a skin that had the peculiar "white and roslners of fresh pork , ho had blue eyes , cclostlally wide open and staring , and the thick , flocculcnt yellow curls of the sun god ! Ho might have been an over-grown and badly dressed Cupid , who had Innocently wandered from IM'phlan shores. Ho smiled as the consul entered , and wiped from his full red lips with the back of hla hand the traces ot a sausage he was eailng. The consul recognized'tho flavor at once he had smelled It before la Lleschcn's little hand buket. "You say you lived at Rome ? " began the consul pleasantly. "Did you take out your first declaration of your Intention of becom ing an American citizen there ? " The Inspector cast an approving glance at the consul , fixed a stern eye on the uherublc prisoner , nnd leaned back In his chair to hear the reply to this terrible question. "I don't remember , " said the cul-rlt , knitting his brows In Infantile thought. "It was either there or at Madrid or Syracuse. " The Inspector was about to rise ; thl.3 . was really trilling with the dignity of the mu nicipality. But the consul Mid his hand on the officials sleeve , and , opening an Ameri can atlas to a map of the Elate of New York , said to the prisoner as he placed the In spector's finger on the sheet , "I see you know the names ot the towns on the ISrlo and New York Central railroad. But " "I can tell you the number of people In each town and what are the manufactures , " Interrupted the 5011115 fellow , with youthful vanity. "Madrid has 6,000 , and there are over 00,000 In " "That will do , " said the consul , as a mur mur of "Wundershon ! " went round the group of lls.enlDg servant girls , while glances of admiration were shot at the beaming ac cused. "Hut you ought to remember the name of the town where your naturalization paper , } were afterward sent. " "But 1 was a citizen from the moment I made my declaration , " slid the strange : smiling , and looking triumphantly at his ad mirers , " , ind I could vote ! " The Inspector , since he had come to grief over American geographical nomenclature , was grimly taciturn. The consul , however , was by no means ceitaln of his victory. His alleged fellow citizen was too encyclopaedic la his knowledge , a clever youth might have crammed for this textbook Information but then he did not look at all clever ; Indeed , he had rather the stupidity of the mythologi cal subject he represented. "Leave him with me , " said the consul. The Inspector handed him a precis of the case. The cherub's name was Karl Schwartz , an orphan , missing from Schlachstadt since the ago of 12. Relations not living or In emigration. Identity estab lished by prisoner's admission and record. "Now , Karl , " said the consul , cheerfully , as the door of his .private ofllce closed upon them , "what Is 'your little game ? Have you ever had any > papers ? And if you were clever enough to study the map of New York state , why weren't you clever enough to see that It wouldn't stand you In place of your papers ? " "Dot's Joost ft , " said Karl In English , "but > ou see dot If r hat declarit mine intention of begommlng a citizen , It's all the same don't It ? " "By no means for you seem to have no evidence of the declaration ; no papers at all. " "Xo1. " sali Karl. Nevertheless , hp pushed his small , rosy , plcklod-plg's-feet of fingers through his fleecy curls aud beamed pleas antly at the consul. "Dot's wets de matter , " he said , as tf taking a kindly Interest in some private trouble of the consul's. "Dot's vere you vos , eh ? " The consul looked steadily at him for a moment. Such stupidity was by no mennc phenomenal nor at all inconsistent with hs ; appearance. "And , " continued the consul gravely , "I must tell you that unless you have other proofs than you have shown , it will be my duty to give jou up to the au thorities. " "Dot means I shall serve my time , oh ? " said Karl with an unchanged smile. "Exactly so , " returned the consul. "Zo ! " said Karl. "Dese town dese Schlachtstadt is fine town , eh ? Fine vomcns. Coin men. Und beer und sausage , plenty to eat und. trlnk , en ? Und , " looking around the room , "j'ou and to poys hat a guj times. " "Yes , " said the consul shortly , turning away. Uut he presently faced round again on the unruffled Karl , who was evidently in dulging In a gormandizing reverie. "What on earth brought you here , anyway ' ' way ? "Vcs Is das ? " "What brought hern fnm you America-- or wherever you ran away from ? " "To see te volks. " "Hut you are an orphan , you know , and you have no folks living heio ? " "But all Shcrmany Is mine volks de whole gountry , don't It ? Pet your boots ! How's dot' oh ? " The consul turned -back to .his desk nnd wrote a short note to General Adlerkrcut/ In hl own American-German , ilo did not SO PROFOUND WAS HIS ABSTRACTION TH'AT ' IT WAS A MOMENT UKFORH a 13 LOOKIpI ) UI > . think It his duty in thp present case to Interfere with the authorities or to offer his parole for Karl Schwartz , But he would claim that as the offender was evidently an Innocent emigrant ami still young , that any punishment or military degradation be omitted , and ho be allowed to take his place like any other recruit In the ranks. If he might have the temerity to the undoubted , far-seeing military authority , of suggestion making here ho would mige t that Karl was for the commissariat fitted. Of course , he still retained thr right , on production of sat- Ufaetory proof , his discharge to claim. The consul read this aloud to Karl. The cherubic youth smiled and tald. "Zo ! " Then "Z'hadKIOj ( [ ' "Is nand te added the word , The consul shook his hand a little re morsefully , and preceding Mm < 0 the outer room resigned him with the note Into the iiupector's dands. A universal sigh went up from tbo girls tiud glaucci of appeal sought the consul but ho wlsel ? concluded that It would bo well , for a while , that Kurl helpless orphan should be unlcf some sort ot discipline. And the securer business of certifying Invoices recommenced. l > ate that afternoon he received n folded bit ot blue paper from the WAlstbelt of an orderly , which contained In English charac ter ; ! , and as a single word , "Alright , " fol lowed by certain jagged pcnmarks , which lie recognized as lAdcrkrcutz's signature. But It was not until a week later that he learned anything definite. He was returning one night to his lodgings In the residential part of the city , and In opening the door with his pass key perceived In the rear of the hall nlfl handmaiden , Trudechcn , attended by the ueual blue or yellow or red shadow. He wno passing by them with the local ' "n 'abend ! " on his lips when the soldier turned Ills face and saluted , The consul stepped , It was the cherub Kdrl , In uniform. But It had not subdued a single one of lila characteristics. His hair had been cropped a little moroc lonely under his cap , but there was Its color and woollness ttlll Intact ; his plump ilguro was girt by belt ind buttons , but ho only looked the more unreal and more like a combination of pen- wlner and plncushlcn , until his puffy breast and shoulders seemed to offer ( y positive In- \ nation to any one who had picked up a pin. But wonderful according to his brief story lie had been so proficient In the goose step tha * he had been put In uniform already and allowed certain small privileges among them evidently the present cne. The consul smiled and passed on. But it seemed strange to him that Trudschen , who was a tall , stropping girl , exceedingly popular i'tudcnt lam , ? on the table , deeply engaged In apparent study. So profound was his abstraction that It was a moment before ho looked up , and the consul hod a good look at Ills i Dually braining and responsive ( ace , whlrh , however , now struck him as wearing > i singular air of thought and concentration , When their eyes at last met , he rose In stantly and saluted , and his beaming smile returned. But either from his natural phlegm or extraordinary self-control , bo be trayed neither embarrassment nor alarm , The explanation ho gave was direct nnd simple. Triidsehen hud gone out with the Corporal Fritz for a short wslk , and had asked him to "keep house" during their absence , He liad no' books , no paper ? , nothing to read In the barracko , and no chance to Improve his mind. He thought the herr consul would not object to his looking at his books. The consul was touched It was reilly a trivial Indiscretion and as much Trudschen's fault an Karl's ! And If the poor fellow had any , mind to Improve his recent attitude cer tainly suggested thought and reflection ttio consul wcro a brute to reprove hltn. He mulled pleasantly as Karl returned a stubby bit of , ] rncll and some greasy memoranda to hU breast pocket and glanced at the table. But to his surprise It was a largo map that Karl had been studying , and to hl still greater surprise a map of the consul's own district. "You seem to be fond of map studying , " said the consul pleasantly. "You are not thinking of emigrating again ? " "Ach , no ! " said Kurl simply , "It Is ray couslne vet hat lit near here. I find her. " But he loft on Trudschen's return and the consul was surprised to see that while Karl's attitude toward her had not changed , that the girl exhibited less effusiveness than be fore. Believing It to be partly the effect of the return of the sergeant , the consul taxed her with faithlessness. But Trudschen looked grave. "Ah ! He has nnw friends , -this Karl of ours , Ho cares no mere for poor girls like us When fine ladles like the old Krau'von W'mp- ' fel make much of him what will you ? " i appeared , Indeed , from Trudschen's account , that the widow ot a wealthy shopkeeper had made a kind of protege ot the young salJU-r and given him presents. Furthermore , that the wife of his colonel h 4 employed'him ' to act as page or attendant at , an atternoou gesellscbafl , and that since ( hen .the wives ot other officers had sought hlmDid not tbo herr consul think U was dreadful that * * fbk&fr * 3 * * * , * * , t this American , who could vote and laws , should be uubjcctcd to such things ? The consul did not know what to think. It seemed to him , however , that Karl was "getting on" atid that ho was not In need of his assistance. It was In the expectation of hearing moro about him , however , that he cheerfully accepted an Invitation from Adlerkreutz to dine at the Caserne ono even ing with the staff. Hero ho found , somewhat to his embartassment , that the dinner was partly In his own honor , and at the close of five courses , and the emptying of many bottles , his health was pioposcd by the gal lant veteran , Adlerkreutz , In a ne-it address of many syllables containing all the iiarts of fcpeoch nnd a single tcrb. It was to the effect that lei his soul friend , the herr consul , and himself w s i the nevcr-to-be-sevcred I union of Qcrmanluaiid Columbia and In their [ perfect understanding was the war-defying alliance or two great , nations , and that In the cccisul's noble restoration of "Unser Karl" to the German nrtnyi there was the astute diplomacy of / < \ great mind. He was satisfied tl.vit himself and the hen * consul still united In the gieat future , loohlng down upon a common brothcriiood the i great aermanlc-AmoHcan confederation , woilld'fcel ' satisfied with them- reives ami each other and their nevcr-to-bc- forgottcn earth-labors. Cries of "Hoh ! Hoh ! " resounded through the apartment with the grinding roll of heavj-bottomcd beer glasses und the consul ) tremulous with emotion and i reserve verb In his pocket , coseto reply. Fully embarked upon this perilous voyage nnd steering wldomnd clear of any treacher ous shore of Intelligence or fancied harbor of understanding and rest , ho kept boldly out should follow A merely foreign noddy craze , or niter her Knglleh household eo as to admit the Impossible. Karl , struck him oddly. A month or two elapsed without further news of Karl , when ono Afternoon ho sud denly turned up at the consulate. Ho had again sought the consular quiet to wrllo n few letters home ; ho 1md no chance In the confinement of. the barracks. "But by this time you must bo In the family of a field marshal , at least , " suggested the consul , pleanantly. "Not today but next week , " said Karl with sublime simplicity , "then I nm going to servo with the governor commandant of Rhelnfcstunij. " The consul smiled , motioned him to a scat nt a table In the outer office and left him , undisturbed , to his correspondence. Returning later he found Karl , his letters finished , gazing with childish curiosity and admiration at some thick official envelopes , hearing the stamp of the consulate , whlrh wcro lying on the table. Ho was evidently struck with the contrast between them and the thin , flimsy affairs ho was holding In his hand. Ho appeared still more Impressed when the corsul told him what they were. "Are you writing to your friends ? " con tinued the consul , ton cried by his simplicity. "Ach Ja ! " said Karl eagerly. "Would you like to put > vour letter In ono of these envelopes ? " continued the official. The beaming face ahd eyes of Karl were n lUfllctcnt answer. After all , It was a small . 'avor granted to this odd wait , who seemed to still cling to the consular protection. Ho handed him the envelope and left htm ad dressing It In boyish pride. It was Karl's last visit to the consulate. IT WAS THE DEAD KAHL , HIS PLUMP F IGURB BELTED IN A FRENCH OFFICER'S TUNIC , HIS FLAXEN HAIH CLIPPED A LITTLE CLOSER , ITS FLEECE SHOWIN G UNDER. HIS KEPI. with the military anl who had never looked lower than n corporal at least , should accept tie attentions of an einjahrlger like that. Later he Interrogated her. "Ach ! It was only unser Karl ! .And . the consul knew ho was Amerlhanlsh ! " "Indeed ! " "Yes ! It was such a tearful story. " "Tell mo what It Is , " said the consul , with a faint hope tlwt Karl 'had ' volunteered some communication of his past. "Ach Gott ! There In America ho was a man and could 'vote , ' make laws , and , GoJ willing , become a town councilor or oobcr intendant and here he was notning but a soldlc/1 for years. And this America was u flue country. AVundershon ! There were such big cities and ona , 'Booflo' could hold all SchlnchEtadt , and had of people 500,000 ! " The consul sighed. Karl had evidently not yet got oft the line of the New York Central and Erie roads. "But does he remember yet what he did with hia papers ? " said the consul persuasively. "Ach ! What does ho want with papers when he could make the laws. They were dumb , stupid things these pa.pers to hltn. " "But his appetite remains good , I hope ? " suggested the consul. This closed the conversation , although Karl Mine oil many other nights , and his toy figure quite supplanted the tall corporal of hussars In the remote shadows of the hall. One night , however , the consul returned home from a vlalt to a neighboring town a day earlier than he was expected , As he neared his house he was a little surprised to find the windows of his sitting room lit up , and tli-it there were no signs of Trud- ficlien In the lower hall or passages , Ho made his way upstairs In the dark and pushed open the door of his apartment. To his astonishment Karl was sitting comfort ably In his own chair , his cap off , before a at sea. He faJrt that , while his loving ad versary In this battle of compliment had disarmed him and .left him no words to re ply to his generous panegyric , IIP could but join with tbat gallant soldier 'In ' his heart felt aspirations for the peaceful alliance of both countries. But. while he fully re ciprocated all Ms host's broader and hlghe-r sentiments , he must point out to this gallant assembly , this glorious brotherhood , that oven a greater tie of sympathy knitted Mm to ; he general fthe- tie of kinship ! For , vbllo It was well known to the present com pany that their gallant commander had mar ried an English woman , he , tfae consul , although always an American , would now for the first time confess to them that he him self was of Dutch descent on his mother's : side. llu would' ' say no more , but confi dently leave them In possession of the tre mendous significance of this untll-thcn-un- known fact. Ho sat down , with the forgot ten verb still In hla pocket , but the applause w&Ich followed this perfectly conclusive , sat isfying anl logical climax convinced him of his success. His hand was grasped eagerly by successive warrlora , the general turned and embraced Mm before the breathless us- Eembly ; there were tears in the consul's eyes , As the festivities progressed , however , he found , to his surprise , that Karl had not only become the fashion as a military page , but that his naive stupidity and sublime sim plicity was the wondering theme and inex- haustlblo delight of the whole barracks. Stories were told of his gcnlua for blunder ing which rivaled Handy Andy's ; old stories of fatuous Ignorance were rearranged and fitted to "our Karl , " It was "our Karl" who , on receiving a tip of 2 marks from the handset ot a young woman to whom ho had brought the boquot of n gallant lieutenant , exhibited some hesitation , and finally Mid : "Yes , but , gvvullgo fraulcln , that cost us 9 marks ! " It was "our Karl" who , Interrupting the regrets of another woman that she woa unable to accept his master's Invitation , said politely : ' 'Ah , what matter , gnadlgsto , I have still a letter for Frauleln Kopp ( her rival ) , nnd I was told that I must not Invite you both. " It was our Karl who astonished the hostess to whom ho was sent at the last moment with apologies from an officer , unexpectedly detained at barrack duty , by sugge-itlng that he should bring that unfortunate officer his dinner from the Just served table. Nor were these charming Infelicities confined to his bocial and domestic , service. Althoughready , mechanical and Invariably docllo iln the manual and physical duties of a soldier which endeared him to the German drlll- maatcr ho was still Invincibly Ignorant as to its purport , or even the meaning and structure of the military Instruments ho handled or vacantly looked upon. It was "our Karl" who suggested to his Instructors that In field firing It was quicker and easier to load his musket to the muzzle at once and get rid of Its death-dealing contents at a single discharge than to load and fire con secutively. It was "our Karl" who nearly killed the Instructor at sentry drill by ad hering to the letter of his Instructions when that Instructor had forgotten the password. It was the same Karl who , severely ad monished for his recklessness , the next time added to his challenge the precaution , "Un- Jess you Instantly My 'Fatherland' I'll fire ! " Yet his perfect good humor and child-like curiosity were unmistakable throughout and Incited his comrtutts and his superiors to show him everything In the hope of getting some characteristic comment from him. Everything end everybody was open to Karl and his good-humored simplicity. That cvenlngvus the general accompanied the consul downito tbo gateway and the waiting carriage , la figure In uniform ran Bpontaneously tleforo them , * and shouted "Heraus ! " to the . .sentries. But the general promptly checked ' "the turning out" of the guard with a paternal shako ot his finger to the over-zealouscBoldler In whom the consul rocogrlzed Karl. "Ho is my burshe now , " said the general explanatorily , "my wife bsw take-i ) . a fancy'toliim. Ach ! ho la very popu lar with these vwoinen. " The ' consul was still more surprised. The Frau Gencraltat Adlerkreutz heknew to bo a pronounced English woman--carrylng out her English ways , proprieties and prejudices In the very heart of Schlacbtstadt uncompromisingly , without tear and without reproach. That she He appeared to have spoken truly , srad the consul presently learned that he had indeed been transferred , through some high official manipulation , to the petonal service of the governor of Rhelnfestung. There was weep ing amcng the Dlenstmadschen of Schlacht stadt , end a distinct less of originality and lightness In the gatherings of the gentler camen. His memory still survived in the barracks through the later editions of his. . foimer delightful stupidities many of them. It Is to be feired , weie inventions anci stor'cs that were supposed to have come from Rhelnfestung were described In the slarg of the offizlere as being "colossal. " nut the consul remembered Rhelnfca'ung , and could not Imagine it as a home for Karl or In any way fostering his -ecullar quali ties. For It was eminently a fortre-ns or fortrcsie" , a magazine of magazines , a depot of depots. It was the key to the Rhine , the citadel of Westphalia , the "Clapliam Junc tion" of German railways , but defended , fortified , encompassed and controlled by thd newest as well as the olde-st devices of mili tary strategy and science. Even In the plplngest time of peace whole railway trains went Into It like a rat In a trap and might have never come out of it ; It stretched out an Inviting hand and arm across the river that might In the twinkling of an eye be changed Into a closed fist of menace. You "defiled" Into it , commanded at every step by enfilading walls ; you "debouched" out of It , as you thought , and.found yourself only before the walls "re-ontered" ; you - It a every possible angle ; you did everything apparently but pass through It. Yon thought yourself well out of It , and were stopped by a bastion. Its clrcumvallatlens haunted you until you came to the next sta tion. It had pressed even the current of the river Into Its defensive service. There wcro secrets of Its foundations and mine * that only the highest military des , ots know ncd kept to themselves. In a word It was Impregnable. That fliich a place could not bo trifled with nor misunderstood In Its rlght-aml-acuto- angled severities seemed plain to every one. But set on by his companions , who were f-howlng him Its defensive foundations , or In Ills own Idle curiosity , Karl managed to fall Into the Rhine , and was fUhcd out with diffi culty. The Immersion may have chilled his military ardor or soured hla good humor , for later the consul heard that ho had visited the American consular agent at an adjacent town with the old story of his American citizenship. "Ho seemed , " said the consul' colleague , "to bo well posted about American railways and Amerlccu towns , but he had no papers. Ho lounged around tbo ofllce for a while and " "Wrote letters , home ? " Busgmtcd the con sul with a flash of reminiscence. "Yes ; the poor chap had no privacy at the barracks , and I reckon was overlooked or bedeviled. " This was the last the consul hoard of Karl Schwartz directly. For a week or two later he again fell Into the Rhino , this time so fatally and effectually that , In spite of the efforts of his companlore , ho was swept away by the rapid current , and thus ended his service to hla country. His body was never recovered , A few months before the consul was trans ferred from Schlachtetadt to another post his memory of the departed Ksrl was revived by a visit from Alderkreutz. The general looked grave , "You remember Unser Karl ? " he said. "Yes , " "Oo you think he was an Impostor ? " "As regards hla American citizenship , yesl But I could not say more. " "So1' ! .said the general. "A very singular thing has happened , " he added , twirling bis mustache. "The Inspector of police has notl- fiod us of the arrival of a Karl Schwartz In th ! town , It appears that he Is the real Karl Schwartz. Identified by his sister a * the only one. Tbo other , who was drowned , was an Impostor. Heln ? " "Then you have secured another recruit ? " sgjd the consul , smiling , ' 'No , For this ono has already served his time In Elsaes , wbero he went when ho left hero an a boy , But , donnerwetter , why should'that dumb fool take his name ? " "By chance , I fancy. Then he stupidly stuck to U , and bad to take the responsl- New Standard of Prices FOR STERLING SILVER FORKS AND SPOONS STANDARD of prices for Sterling Silver Forks ANEW Spoons is announced by tbo Qorhnm Co. , S51 vorsmitha. Under this now schedule the Sterling Silver Forks nnd Spoons mndo by the Gorkam Co. , Silver smiths , nro sold at fixed prices per dozen. The prices Imvo been carefully ndjustod in accordance with the present condi tion of the silver bullion miirkot , varying with the merits of the individual design nnd workmanship involved in its produc tion nnd the quantity of sterling used. The most elaborate patterns made by tbo Gorhnm Co. can now bo bought at extremely - ' tromoly reasonable prices , while the simpler forms of loss ornate design nro offered atlowor prices than over before known. For sale by all regular Jowolora. Gotham Mfg. Co. , Silversmiths. TRADE MARK. STERLING. NUW PL'lllilOATIO.tS. are the days of greater things. In this aggressive , progressive country of ours we are not satisfied to stand still. The "good enough" thing of today will not be good enough for tomorrow , we must have something better and better and always better. & that was good enough for last year good enough to eclipse the records of all new publications the world over , good dp enough to establish itself on a firm paying basis on the very first issue , good enough to outrank in picturesqueness and di ) beauty ana general merit any publication of its class any where is not good enough for this year. It is one thing to know this ; it is another to act on it. We have acted on it : Our first move was an increase of fifty per cent in the size of the paper. This change was made last month. It was only the beginning. We shall spend the money , and have the art and the literary features and the fine paper and the fine printing necessary to place THE PURITAN far and away in the lead of all publica tions of its class. on all news stands , 1 n pf r. Yearly dj or from the publisher , lu Lu > . Subscription , p 1 FRANK A. MUNSEY , in Fifth Avenue , New York. "IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED , " TRY . . . . _ epriwrlp- lion of a famoui French physician , will quickly cm u > on of nil HIT- \oti3 or ( llsi'usi-s of llii geuerutlve drains , such ns I.ost Muiilicnil. Insomnia , l'ulnslntlio.RucllbGmliiul jmlsil.HF : ( . , Nprvoni Debility , 1'lmplfs , Unfllncss to Harry , ICxImustliiK Driitne , Vnrlcncclo nml Constipation. It stopnnll lo-ws by day nr nlK'-i. I'ipvciiti link- ! . nffisof cllsctinrgp , wlilch If notchcricnl lopcN toHpormatorrlKPuan.J nil the horrors of Impotcncy. tUBII : > t.SEclcaniCstlie liver , Uia BEFORE AMD AFTER kidneys nml tliPiirlnnryorgnnsof ull Impurities. ClXOabox.s'lifiir f5.0) , by mall. Hcntlforrucuclrci.larund ti'sllmontola , Address HAVOf. . JTCEHICINC CO-.l'.O. Jloxano.BauI'ryiicloco.CnL For Bale MI Myc-rx Dillon Druff Cu. , S. n. CHI-JILT Kith a nil Fiiriiam Six. , Oiniilid , NvI ) . bllltlcs with It. Don't you sec ? " said the consul , pleased with Ills own cleverness. "Zo-o ! " said the general slowly , in his deepest voice. But the German exclamation has a variety of significance , according to the Inflection , and Adlcrkroutz'a ejaculation seemed to contain them all. * * * * * * * * It was In Paris where the consul had lingered on hU ; way to his new post , He was elttlng ! in a well known cafe among whose habitues wcro several military officers of high rank. A group of them were gathered - ore-d around a table near him. He wa Idly watching them with an odd recollection of Schlachtstadt In h's ' mind , and as Idly glanc ing from them to the morf attractive boule vard without. The consul waa getting .a little tired of soldiers. Suddenly there was a ellght stir In the gesticulating group , and a cry of greeting. The consul looked up mechanically , ami then bin eyes remained fixed and staring at the newcomer. For'It was the dead Karl ; Karl , surely ! Karl Ids plump flKUio , bcltcJ In a French officer's' tunic ; his flaxen hair clipped a little , closer , but still its flccco showing under his kepi. Karl , his checks moro cherubic than ever unchanged but for a tiny yellow toy muotacho curling up over the corners fcf his full lips , Karl , licamfng at his companions In his old way , but rattling off French vivacities without the faalntest trace of accent. Could ho bo mistaken ? Was It some phenomenal re semblance , or Olid the boul ot 'the ' German [ irlvato been transmigrated to the French officer. The consul hurriedly called the garcon. "Who Is that ofilceil who has Just arrived ? " "Jt Is Captain Christian > : f the Intelligence bureau , " said the waiter , with proud alac- ilty. "A famous oflicer , brave as a rabDIt un fler lapin and one of our beat clients , > o droll , too , such a farceur and mltnlr , M'slcur would bo ravished to hear his Imi tations , " "But ho looks like a German ; and hla name ? " "All , ho la frpm Alsace. But not a Gor man ! " said the waiter , absolutely whitening with Indignation , "Ho was at Bclfort. Eo wfta I , Mon Dleu ! No , a thousand times no ! " "But has ho been living here long ? " paid the consul. "In Paris , a tow months. But his depart ment , m'aleur understands , takes him every where ? Everywhere where ho can gain In formation. " The consul's eyes were still on Captain Christian. Presently thu officer , perhaps In stinctively conscious of the scrutiny , looked toward him. Their eyes met. To the con sul's surprise tbo cl-Jevant Karl beamed upon him , and 'advanced with outstretched imnd. But the consul stiffened slightly , and re mained co with his glass In his hand , At which Captain Christian bp ught his own easily to a military ealuto and said polltclyi "Monsieur lu consul toss been promoted from his post. Permit mete congratulate him. " "You have heard , then ? " said the consul dryly. "Otherwise I should not presume. For our And Surgical Insitut ( ) 10n ( ) IodB'oSt. , Omaha , Nub CONSULTATION I'HHB. ' Chronic , Kcrvous and Private Diseases nml nil Wl-AKNI'.HS fif FM nml IHSOIIDlJUSof Si. . til HYUUOCKLKami VAKfMOir : U tnvHiaiiuntly ail miCCC'HHfllll Mllrll 111 " - ' - } ( ( "VPI-y u'lHL- 1ILOOD AND .SKIN DlhcnHPH. Soio Spoil IMui OH , Surofiilii.TnniurM TcltniKcziMim mid llloot I'olfun tliorouiflilv clfaimeit fiom tlic HyHtuni NUIlVdlJS Di-hllllj. SpTiimtorrliiM , Kumln.'i LObHI'H , Klltllt KmlHHlllllH , Loss Of Vital I'OWOM IH'imum'mlyjiiid Hp.'rdllv curcil. ( Vitality Wr-nki. mniYo HO lu'io'o CIOHO application to biiHliictiH or much : hi.vcro . nir'iitiil xtralii u Biii'fi snxrjAr , i\vissis : : : in micidiu life or r lli < ! nlU'clB of \ millifiil folllos. Call or wrllo thu ff today , Uox 17" ! . 0 malia Medial aad Surgical Institute. B. W. Cor , ictli aim department makes It n buslniea In Mon sieur lo consul's tauo It becomes a pleasure to know everything , " "Did your department know that the real Karl Schwartz has returned ? " aald the con sul dryly. Captain Christian ehiugged his shoulder.- ! . "Then It appeaiH that the sham Karl died none too boon. " ho said lightly. "And yi-t " ho bent his ejes with mischievous 10- preach upon the consul. "Yetwhat ? " demanded thu COIIMI ! sjornly , "Monsieur le consul might Imvo saved thn unfortunate man by accepting him as an Amorlcan citizen uml not helped lo for o him Into thu German cervlco , " The consul saw In a flash the full mili tary significance of this logic , and could not repress a smile. 'At which Captain Christian dropped easily Into a chair beside side him , an4 as raolly Into 'broken German English : "Und , " too went on , "dees town-dec * Schlachstadt Is fine town , eh ? Fine womcnu ? Qoot men ? Und pvt-r and sausage ? Dimly to eat and trlnk , eh ? Und you uud to poy * litif a gay times ? " The consul tried to recover his dignity. The waiter behind him , recognizing only the delightful mimicry of this adorable of ficer , was In Ilia of laughter. Nevertheless , the consul managed to eay dryly ; "And the barrackr , the magazine , ttm commissariat , the details the rcseives ot Schlaclutadt were very Interesting ? " "Assuredly. " "Aivd the HhclnfcHtunt ; Its plane Its de N tails , oven Its dangerous foundation ! by the river they were -to a soldier singular/ ! Inulructlte ? " "V0u have reason to say eo , " Mid Captain Christian , curling his little mustache. "And the ' " W * torltt'Ht you think ? "Impregiublol Mnlsl " The consul remembered dene Ml Adl r- kreutr'e "Zo o , " and wondered.