The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-02-28

nc uuuuOI W play ike u lhInDSnt uaIue
about his imagination, when tragedy
turned comedy and success was not
purchased by tears. The case Of the
Essayan statue well illustrates the
tighter side of Nikolai's nature.
Everybody in Boston came to
know Essayan after he formed the
famous combination in corn. He must
have made millions; and from the
humble post of editor of a little rev
o~lutionary Armenian sheet. he became
one of the city's leading bankers.
simultaneously his views underwent
a change, as Nikolai discovered when
he called on him.
"What?" shouted Essayar. Con
tribute fifty thousand dollars to the
revolutionary party? You must be
crazy"
six months ago." said Nikolai
dhoughtfully, you were bawling for
vengeance upon Russia through the
columns of your newspaper, and beg
ging subscriptions from your Armeni-
an compatriots against the tyrant of
your country"
Essayan stroked his paunch, chuck
ding.
Maybe l did" he admitted But
now / am a millionaire. My views
nave changed"
Nikolai looked round. We were
seated in Essayan's private museum,
Tn which he stored his statues. Es-
sayan had gone in for culture. His
collection must have been worth mil
lions. Treasures of Greece and Rome
adorned his galleries; there was an
original Venus of Praxiteles, a
Eermes by Phidias; bas-reliefs and
tTtezes had been stripped for the bank
er from many an ancient temple. Nj
koiai frowned angrily.
You must have spent five millions
on hat collection of yours" he said.
Twelve Millions" said Essayan
sUavely. And all old, broken things
al that. They tell me that my Hermes
hadn't a head. They tell me that
they're just as valuable when every
statue has some part missing. I don't
understand it myself-but thHy cost
t,selve millions"
Ntkolai led him on to talk of his
new hobby. It was evident that the
Armenian took only q shadowy inter
est in the art side of his collection.
Ee did not, in fact, remember wheth-
sT it. was his Apollo that had the
missing arm or his Jupiter whose leg
was gone. But Berg knows said
ctts banker. "Berg's my art expert in
london, and what he says goes. He's
Seeding me a sample of old Egyptian
mummies that's going to cost me half
q million"
Now, Mr.. Essayan,'' said Nikolai,
E you can spare twelve millions for
your confounded art hobby you can
Elve me fifty thousand for the Arme-
alan cause"
dandy.
Yet I'll wager you that before the
year is out III sell you one of your
own statues out of this gallery for
lhree times the amount I've asked
you"
No, you won't" answered the bank
.er p~Iacidly, because l know you, and
from this moment my museums 60
ing to be bolted and barred and guard
ed. and n%obody's going to enter. Seer
Nikolai could with difficulty restrain
ais indignation when we were outside.
The selfish hog!" he muttered. HE
spends twelve millions on that stuff
when fifty thousand would rebuild
those villages that the Russians burn
ed last year, leaving hundreds of his
countrymen homeless. Well, Sum-
suers, we'll win three times that
amount and teach the scoundrel a les
son"
"Nikolai," l said, 81 confess that
breaking into a bankers house in Bos
ton does not appeal to me 1t isn't
feasible. This is America, and what
can be done in Europe won't go here
I'll do the breaking in" said Nj
kCoisi. "Or, rather. l shall be carried
tnto the gallery in state and requested
10 spend the night there alone by Mr.,
Essayan. All you will be required to
do will be to catch the statue in a
blanket when / throw 1t out"
I knew that some audacious scheme
mad already been devised by my com,
panion, but Nikolai refused to deliver
himself of it. The year had several
months to run and for two months we
did nothing, except occasionally to
wander in the neighborhood of the
bankers house. Once we encounter
Cd Essayan as he was leaving his
eront door.
Hal" he snorted. when are you
going to sell me my own statue
swhat?" He led us back into the
house. Look" he said. You shall
r be warmly welcomed, gentlemen"
The door that led to the museum
had been secured with iron bars, eact
OF which terminated in a paddock. Els
sayan showed us a series Of electric
wires.
They communicate with the police
department, the private watchman'i
Office, my own room, and the fire de
partment. l shall expect you-soon?'
Some time this year." Nikolai an
'swered. Have you got your cargo o
mummfes yet, Mr.. E~ssayan?"
Next month | expect them an