The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-15
1Odegta1s
a.ka. .e

i death-and what a death. reluctant. pro- crastinating the hour of 1t unknown, the manner of 1t beyond any words terrible. Such had been the end of many who mad left Poland as he had done. He had read their story and shuddered even in his imagined security. And now this ao- cusation was spoken. not as whisper or a voice in the hours of the night, but as the truth of an inevitable day.
 And what should he answer? Would 1t profit him to speak of law; to retort with a threat; to utter the commonplace5 | concerning Scotland Yard and vigilant l police? He was far too wise even to con- | template such folly Let him have this man arrested, aHd what then? Would any country thereafter shelter the In former from the vengeance of the thou sands whom no law could arrest? Would any house harbor him against the dagger of the assassin, the swift blow, 1t might even be the lingering justice of such fan- atics as sought to rule Poland. He kneV that there was none. Abject assent could be the only reply. He must yield to any humiliation, suffer any extortion rather than speak the word which would be as irrevocable as the penalty 1t invited,
 T shall not dispute with you, Paul Boriskof," he said with a last attempt to save his dignity: "yes, 1t would be In your power to do me a great Injury even in this country which gives you liberty. It Is your own affair. You did not come here to threaten me. but to seek favor. Name 1t to me and I shall be prepared to answer you. I am not an ungenerous man as some of our countrymen know. Tell me what you wish and I shall know how to act"
 Boriskoffs answer astonished him by It's impetuoslty.
 For myself nothing" he exclaimed contemptuously-an these brief words echoed in Gessners ears almost as d message of salvation-'for myself noth- ing, but for my children much. Yes, your money can make even Paul Borisk- off despise himself-but 1t is for the chil- drens sake. I sell my honor that they may profit by 1t. I ask for them that which is due to me, but which I have sworn to forego. Maxim Gogol, 1t Is for the children that I ask it. You have done me a great wrong, but they shall pront by 1t. That is what I am come here to say today-that you shall repay, not to me, but to my children"
 The words appeared to cost him much, as though he had deliberately sacrificed q great vengeance that those he loved might profit. Leaping to the hope of 1t, and telling himself that this after all was but a question of pounds. shillings. and pence, Gessner answered with an eagerness beyond all bounds ridiculous.
 "There could be nothing I would do more willingly. Yes, I remember-you left a daughter in Warsaw and she was not to be discovered by those of us who would have befriended her. Believe me when I say that I will help her very gladly. Anything. my friend, anything that is humbly reasonable"
 Boriskoff did not permit him to finish.
 My daughter will be educated in Ger many at your cost he said curtly. T would speak first of one who is as a son to mo because of her affection for him. There is a young Engishman living in Union street, the son of a poor clergy man who died in the service of the poor. This lad you will take into your own house and treat as your own son. It is my desire and must be gratified. Re- member that he Is the son of gentle man and treat him as such There will be time enough afterwards to tell you how you must act in the interests of our people at warsaw This affair Is our own and not of politics at all. As God is in heaven, but for my daughter you, Maxim Gogol, would not be alive this night"
 Gessner's heart sank again at the hint of further requests subsequently to come. The suggestion that he should adopt Into his own house a youth of whom he knew
 
 cumstances of this dread encounter and the penalty that must be paid for it. After all, 1t was but a small price to pay for comparative security and the silence of a tongue which could work such ill Accustomed to deal with men of all na- tures honest and simple, clever and fool ish secretive and loquacious, there ran in his mind the desperate idea that he would temporize with Paul Boriskoff and fafx him .pt tho Russian government be informed of the activity of this Pole and of his intention to visit the continent of Europe again. and what were Boriskoff's chancesX Such were the treacherous thoughts which stood Tn Gessners mind while he framed an an- swer which should avert the final hour of reckoning and give him that opportuni- ty for the counter stroke which might yet save all
 Your youth will profit little in my house." he said with some pretense of earnestness. Had you asked an educa- ton abroad for him, that would have been wiser thing in these days. Frank ly, I do not understand your motive, buk I am none the less willing to humor iH Let me know something more of the la1 let mo have his history and then l shall be able to say what Is the best course. I live a very quiet life and my daughter is much away. There Is possibility also that the boy, if he be the son of clergy man, would do much better at Oxford or at Cambridge than at Hampstead, as you yourself must see. Let us speak of 1t afterwards. There will be time enough.
 'The time is today" rejoined Boriskoff. firmly, "Alban Kennedy will live under your roof as your own son. I have con- sidered the matter and am determined upon it. When the time comes for him to marry my daughter, I will inform you of it. Understand, he knows nothing of your story or of mine. He will not hear of me In my absence from England. leave the burden of this to you. He Is proud lad and will accept no charity It must be your task to convince him that he has a title to your benevolence. Be wise and act discreetly. Our future acquisitions will depend upon your con duct of this affair-and God help you, Maxim Gogol if you fail in it."
 Something of the fanatic, almost of the mailman, spoke in this vehement utter ance. If Gessner had been utterly at loss yet to account for a request so unusual, he now began to perceive in 1t the instrument of his own humiliation. Would not this stranger be a perpetual witness to the hazard of his life, a son who stood also a hostage the living voice of Paul Boriskoff's authority? And what of his own daughter Anna and of the story he must tell her? These facts he realized clearly. but had no answer to them. The reluctant assent, wrung from his unwilling lips, was the promise of a man who stood upon the brink of ruin and must answer as his accusers wished or pay the ultimate penalty All his common masterfulness, the habit or alltocracy, the anger of the bully and the tyrant, trembled before the clear cold -Ad Ia