The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-12

b faED VHnHAW.
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~ IT'D NAnAAW
tccpysirht, I'm. By American PIess Asso
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The hall porter, an old servant, ran
o the big doors and finng them open.
bowling low and greeting ''Vladimir
Antonich" tiny fathers patronymic).
A tall man entered with Percy and
Borofsky. he teok no notice of old
Gregory's greeting, which seemed to
surprise the porter, who looked panied
Conyersing with Borofsky, while
Percy followed. silent and depressed,
the new arrival came toward ~. Moth
er's hand frightened over mine. She
gave me q conyuisivs grip and then
loosed mo again. ! SAW her eyes bright.
On m she caught sight Of his face and
quickly grow Dull again. He MAS like
enough 10 father TO Aatter her hopes far
hut ono second; then she saw. mshs
must inevitably see, how mike was
the likeness The little group,reacbea
us and paused q moment Borofaky was
about to speak, hut b. suddenly realized
how matters stood and RETAINED.
Mother bowed and passed down stairs
with me. Percy turned and came with
IA. Borofaky and the other continued
their journey up sfaira distinctly
heard the fellow ask Borofsky who
the lady was This man that was her
husband, forsooth, and my fatheri
Poor mother sank upon a couch In
the hall and cried quietly. Thank God
that she did fhatl Ieould say nothing
to comfort her, excepting to blurt ont
that We should yet End father and re.
store him to her one day.
"At all events, he IL not mad, az W.
feared, mother" I added. "Aimost
anything is better than that. Havs you
the heart to go on hoping, In the face
of this hlowf''
Mother played the heroine that night.
Not only did she assure me that she
was still full Of hope and confidence
but she oomforted poor old Percy. who
was disconseiate, declaring that this
last miss FIRE and al the disappointment
Of it was entirely his fault (which it
certainly was in way. by telling him
that IL she and could be taken In by
the portrait 1T was surely NO wonder
that he was taken in by the original
'"They are marvelously alike" said
mother, land yet. oh. how unlikel
This is his brother, Of courssi''
"Mother, do you really think soi" I
exclaimed. "How can he have escaped
from Siberias"
"That Ia another mystery" she said
"Perhaps the mystery Of dear fathers
disappearance is connected with this
one, and that with this wretched Andre
delivered thus as 1t were, into our
hands we may learn something from
him."
"Bahl shall kick him out of the
house In ten minutes II I have to get
couple Of policemen to help mel" I
raved.
"No, my son, we win allow him to
remain We will give him shelter and
show him kindness. Then perhaps if he
knows anything and II there is any
particle of good in him he may help rs
in some way to unravel our mystery"
''Mother, it's impossiblei" ! said.
1--WE can't have brute Of fellow like
this numbering, nihilistical rascal sleep.
ing in the house. shouldn't feel that
you were safe. He would murder the
whole lot Of as for the price of din.
ner."
1--WE will take precautions, of course.
Let him remain, Boris--tonight at
least"
''It would be wiser to give him
money and turn him out Of the house.
Offer him more on condition he keeps
away and still more for any news he
can give us of father"
'.Do nothing in a hurry. said moth
er. "He shall stay tonight at least.
Tomorrow we shall see how the land
lies. What do you think, Percy7'
Percy agreed with mother, and the
result was that the impostor remained.
Borofsky came presently. He was de.
pressed and very disconsolate. He had
realized that the whole enterprise-on
the brilliant success of which he had 80
prided himself-had actually proved an
utter failure and fasco. The impostor
had been too clever for him and had
already confessed, or rather triumph
antly declared. that he was an impostor,
but that, having secured footing in
these comfortable quarters, he did not
intend to relinquish it in hurry. He
was going to pass for the count, he de-
clared, SO far as the outside world was
concerned. If the countess and her
young whelp (meaning me) did not
choose to acknowledge him, why, they
needn't. but if they valued the honor Of
their family, and perhaps their lives,
they had better not give him away
either to the police or any one else, for
he had card or two up his sleeve that
he. could play If he liked, and he knew
a thing Or two. besides, that he might
let out one day If he were left in peace
and decently treated, something, in
deed, which would be greatly to our ad-
vantage did we but share his knowl.
edgel
"Oh, what does he mean, Borofsky,
what does he mean9" interrupted
mother. "Does he know where my dear
husband is to be found7 Go back and
tell him he shall live in peace and all
quietness and luxury, he shall have the
best Of everything that 1t is in my
power to provide, no one shall interfere
with him or know what he isis not
what he desires to be taken for-he
shall have money, as much as he will,
if only At this point poor mother
collapsed suddenly. She burst into tears
and retired from the room, leaving
Percy and Borofsky and me- sitting like
three dummies, silent and depressed,
not one Of us possessing spirit enough
to discuss the situation, or indeed. for
some little while, to opsn his lips to
make any kind of remark whatever
CHAPTER XIV