The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-19
LLOYD OSBOURNE

i The sight of an old father, white hair ed and broken, holding out his arms ] in forgiveness, is one too human, toe affecting to be met with scorn. They also will forgive, every father among them, every mother, every son. TheI it was I began my search, sending forth agents to every corner of the globe. For years it went on without the least success, until my special bu reau, whose service it was to read every paper printed, learned of you .ir Manaswan and seized a clew we were not slow to follow. We were impelIed to extraordinary exertions. I sent my chief of the secret police to New York with unlimited powers and unlimited money. He surrounded you with an army of spies, who reported to him and then to me by cable. Everything not permissible, to gain from you that information for which I would have given all the life have left.
 There is the story, MT. Broughton. I make no offers of reward; make no threats. Both, appreciate now, were mistaken. I simply ask you, beg you, to tell me where my son is"
 For awhile Matt remained silent too dazed to answer.
 ''I must make a single stipulation g he said at length '"That we land to- gether, alone, you and I, and, if your majesty will permit, my wife, and if your son decides to stay you will prom ise to respect his wishes
 ''He will come," said the emperor. 'fMy son will not refuse.''
 Matt thought of Mirovna and was less positive. He wondered whether he should inform the old man of her existence, but refrained
 T can do nothing without your ma jestg's promise,'' he said. ''The deci- sion must be left to the prince. He must be free to choose-free to stay if he prefers.''
 ''Certatnly I promise that returned the emperor, with a touch of queru- 1ousness. 'ECompulsion would be worse than wrong. It would be ridiculous Why do you still hesitate? It is not kind to keep me in suspense"
 "I am not hesitating, your majesty I am only asking myself whether you may not be mistaken in thinking my friend to be your son"
 ''MistakenI How is it possible to be mistaken? That ring he gave you-it was one he always wore. Moreover, MT. Satterlee is positive you recog- nized the miniature he showed you. Isn't that so?Y
 ''Yes. The resemblance was remark able.''
 My son is now forty seven years of age. Does that not accord? ?''
 Tt does, though he appears some what older.''
 ''Is he not a violinist of exceptional talent? It was that reference in the newspaper accounts printed of you which first attracted our attention
 Again you are right, though would not call it talent, but genius''
 Look at this photograph - almost the last taken of him. Have you still any doubts?"
 EsNo. It is John Mort"
 "John Mort?'
 ''That is the name by which I have known him.
 Mort, you say? Mort! An, how like him to choose such name! Tell me of him; describe him to me. I want to know everything-ever
 But who was the gentleman who offered me $1O0,OOO in Manaswan?"
 "A celebrated criminal lawyer of New York, whom Frankasch, my chief of the secret police, retained among others to assist him. A very clever, able man, who proved himself inva1u- able"
 And the schooner, the Esmeralda- how was it contrived to have her timed to meet me?'
 ''She had been bought from the first and was manned by a special detail of picked naval officers. Frankasch sus- pected you would return to San Fran cisco, for that is the gateway to the Pacific, and it became a part of his plan to get you there as soon as he discovered he could not bribe you. The vessel lay there for over four months, while no efforts were spared to make it impossible for you to remain in east ern America. Admiral von Tripwitz- to you Brandeis-spoke too little Eng fish, and therefore for that as well as other reasons it seemed wiser to have as nominal commander Agent Schwartz of the secret service And how were those jewellers, Snood 6 Hargreaves, induced to treat me as they did?"
 "Oh, that was simple. They were shown long official cabIegrams from Europe, vouched for by our consul, warning them that the ring had been stolen. When these matters were set tied to their satisfaction and sub atantial bond given they made no diff