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There were some fifteen men eating in the place. Then our friend, despite his unassuming appearance, was evidently a creature of wealth! Well, this was growing interesting. We ordered wine again. "Ask Mr. Sklarz if he will favor us by joining us at our table for this drink," I told the waiter. The message was delivered. Mr. Sklarz arose and bowed, but sat down again.

Financial reverses are believed to have caused him to end his life. According to friends he was on the verge of bankruptcy. His liabilities were $8,000. Yesterday morning Sklarz cashed a check for $700, which represented the remains of his bank account, and disappeared. It is believed that he used the money to pay a few personal debts and then wandered around in a daze until the end.

"Say, that old boy over there is trying to wigwag me," said Anderson. "He keeps winking and making signs. Do you know him?" I looked and said no. The waiter appeared with a box of cigars. "Mr. Sklarz presents his compliments," said the waiter, smiling. "Who's Sklarz?" Anderson asked, helping himself to a cigar. The waiter indicated the red-faced little man. "Him," he whispered.

Anderson and I beckoned in pantomime. Mr. Sklarz arose once more, bowed and hesitated. Then he came over. As he approached a veritable carnival spirit seemed to deepen around us. The face of this little man with the elaborate black mustache was violent with suppressed good will and mirth. He beamed, bowed, shook hands and sat down.

And Anderson quoted, rather imperfectly, I thought: Oh, but life went gayly, gayly In the house of Idah Dally; There were always throats to sing Down the river bank with spring. Mr. Sklarz beamed. "Yes, yes," he said, "down the river benk mit spring." And he stood up and bowed and summoned the waiter. "See vat all the gentlemen vant," he ordered, "and give them vat they vant mit my compliments."

Sklarz reseated himself and, with many head bowings in our direction, returned to his soup. "What do you make of our magnanimous friend?" I asked. Anderson shrugged his shoulders. "He's probably celebrating something," he said. "A queer old boy, isn't he?" The waiter appeared a third time. "What'll it be, gentlemen?" he inquired, smiling. "Mr. Sklarz is buying for the house." For the house.

We drank one another's health and, as politely as we could, pressed him to tell us the cause for his celebration and good spirits. He began to talk. He was a Russian Jew. His name was Sklarz. He had been in the Russian army years ago. In Persia. From a mountain in Persia you could see three great countries.

We continued our meal. Both of us watched Mr. Sklarz casually. He seemed to have lost interest in his soup. He sat beaming happily at the walls, a contagious elation about him. We smiled and nodded our thanks for the cigars. Whereupon after a short lapse, the waiter appeared again. "What'll you have to drink, gentlemen?" the waiter inquired. "Nothing," said Anderson, knowing I was broke.

The waiter raised his continental eyebrows understandingly. "Mr. Sklarz invites you, gentlemen, to drink his health at his expense." "Two glasses," Anderson ordered. They were brought. We raised them in silent toast to the little red-faced man. He arose and bowed as we drank. "We'll probably have him on our hands now for an hour," Anderson frowned. I feared the same. But Mr.

He laughed, or, rather, chuckled. "I must be going. Excuse me," he exclaimed with a quick little bow. "I have other places to call on. Good-by. Remember me Sam Sklarz. Be good and don't forget Sam Sklarz when there are throats to zing down the river benk mit spring." We watched him walk out. His shoulders seemed to dance, his short legs moved with a sprightly lift.