Show A genuine raphael ru by U H M EGBERT w U I 1 the little italian advanced nervously into the majestic presence of mr M hopkins of OH city missouri but just now occupying a palatial apartment in the grand hotel flor ence placing bis right band upon his heart he lifted with bis left a large parcel securely wrapped in many lay ers of paper ecco bagnor he said ze raph ael open it said deals M hopkins with great care the italian removed the wrappings exposing to view a picture of a landscape whereon sev eral angels were frisking the paint ing was evidently of great antiquity being cracked all over the surface hum said mr hopkins thought his wife and mr hopkins stood on the threshold fully you say teats a raphael by ze great master himself pro tested the italian observe signer ze style ees his valry own that s all to the good mr hopkins observed but you fellows are so darn smart you can do them pictures better than the original you ve got to show me before I 1 pay fifty thousand plunks for thit you no buy exclaimed the little man aghast sure buy it you can prove it a 1 said mr hopkins but you ve got to prove it get me a bertl ficare to siy it s from the dl rector of the art gallery tor instance nut signer how can I 1 bring ze certificate when ze liw of atily for bids people to airry ze work of art out of ze country it ze police knew ze would take ze picture av ay and throw me into jail it Is an heirloom in my family for years I 1 am carlo ze donatl cannot lie that don t cut no ce with me said mr hopkins you got to prove that picture s genaw ine or I 1 don t take it I 1 don t care how you do it but it a got to and still protesting the little man presently found himself out side the door he returned home frantic the yankee pig doubts my word the word of a donatl he cried to his wife how can I 1 prove its genuine if I 1 called on the dh ector ot the art gallery he would notify the authorities and it ie genuine nab pig of a mil toc alre he is ignorant asked his wife he la a pig ot a donkey head my carlo said his wife 1 I will write a letter that shall bring him here tomorrow to morrow morning you will be in your studio dressed in your cloak your beard shaved my beard he shouted you are mad minna and you will agree to everything I 1 say the next morning seated despondently in his studio passing bis hand in agony ot soul across his newly shaven chin the italian heard footsteps out side the door opened his wife and mr hopkins stood on the threshold donatl regarded them resentfully he is here she exclaimed dramatically mati cally ah signer what danger you have run in coming here if any one but dreamed that you were here to purchase a picture by the great raphael all italy would rise against you your life would not be worth one moments purchase and this gentleman murmured mr hopkins eyeing donatl with awe with his beard gone wrapped in his flowing cloak and seated he in no wise resembled the voluble little man of yesterday sl signer it Is trust you it Is the great raphael himself are are you michael angelo raphaela 9 asked mr hopkins st muttered donatl take it said mr copyright 1909 by W 0 |