The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-03-02
XIV
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE POLICE

made as to the length of time I ha
been in his room, but l said nothing {
the undignified defeat l had suffered.
Then | went with Borofsky to tn
pristaf of the second oochastok Of tn
VASTLY Ostrof divisional police, leav
ing Percy on duty at home to han
about the passage and see that m,
friend the student was up to no mis-
chief.
We found the pristaf at home an,
Borofsky did all the talking for GU:
side. excepting when l was addresse,
and was obliged to answer.
The official looked coldly at us as W,
entered. Russian officials have a mos
dislgreeable way. have never seer
any Muscovite in authority without
this particular manner-a kind Of dis
dainful and supercilious hauteur which
neither affability nor humor nor gross
fattery will penetrate. but only, occa.
sionally-rather often-the almighty
and all penetrating ruble.
"Yes7' said the pristaf.
"We have called. said Borofsky.
"to consult you about a certain arrest
effected by you q your men on or
about the''-
'Stop!' said the pristaf. "Why have
! to listen to this? Is the case still sub
judice?"
eyes and no." said Borofsky boldly.
ut has been judged, or went without
* Sr1dnrnonf . hrf - ,,,,,sf hn ra,pa~aI -
"Who says so?"
"Those who have suffered injustice
by it,"
"Injustice3 That is a foolish word to
use in this place. Proceed. Who has
suffered injustice-the delinquent?
"The convicted, yes; he and Others
''Indeed! How so? He was convicted,
you say, and, of course, punished. Has
his innocence only now come to light?'
ut is not a matter Of innocence and
guilt. pristaf. A great blunder has been
committed''.-
"A blunder! Deuce take it, what
blunder? Wherein this oochastok? 1t
is impossible!"
II admit that the department in this
quarter is not to be suspected of blum.
dering, as a rule, said Bcrofsky. Jus.
tice reigns supreme in this oochastok
and in the bosom Of its enlightened
pristaf, but this time you have been the
victim Of an organized conspiracy"
"Well, proceed" said the pristaf,
not in the least Hurried or softened by
Borofsky's aattery, The fellow took it
for what it was worth, and he knew
the value Of the compliments of those
who came to make appeals at the police
court.
Proceed, be said. 1--WE have blum.
dered. but through no fault of our own.
Some n has been too clever for US.
Yes; proceed, sir.
"You must allow me to tell you the
details Of the affair, pristaf.' said poor
Borofsky, feeling that his remarks beat
like waves upon the hard rock Of this
mans official impenetrability.
"Why should II" said the pristaf.
1T is surely your duty to investigate
matters which are declared to you to
need investigation and to set right that
which is wrong. Here is a case in
which. as I say. a terrible mistake has
been made
II am not the judge. said the pristaf
coldly my duty is to carry out the
instructions of my superiors and to
keep order in my district"
Nevertheless a word from you sig.
nifying that a mistake may have been
made would cause those superiors to
reconsider the matter which is con.
cerned. On the other hand, should You
refuse to say that word the court could
scarcely reopen any question unless
influence and pressure were applied
from without.
"Come. This is mere waste of time
and idle talking" said the pristaf,
looking closely at Borofsky and at Inc.
! think he wished to discern whether he
had cause to fear any such influence
and pressure from without as Borofsky's
words made hint of.
II have no time to waste on such
matters as you speak of. My experience
Is that blunders are invariably imagi-
nary. The court knows its business, and
know ours. Why should we blunder?
AcN soy taCAS LAS OcGM al luUTlSue, |
Who are your"
"Borofsky, private detective, engaged
this matter, which is mere important
you appear to suppose, Mr.. Pris-
tat, and which will 60 further than
this court"
"So2 A private d%etective--a young
one indeed. The detective art IL not to
be learned in the nursery, young sir
And who Ia this other?"
"Count Boris Landrinof." I said,
The pristaf distinctly WINGED,
"Ohl' he said. "The son Of Count
Vladimir, no doubt' What can the son
4 10 eminent a person require In a pc.
Ice courts
"That 10 what ! wish 10 explain to
'ou, pristaf, II you will allow mel"
aid Borofsky. "If you will turn back
0 the month Of July last, you will find