Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-02-26

vengeance, when he allowed his sub
tie humor to play like lambent flame
about his imagination, when tragedy
turned comedy and success was not
purchased by tears. The case of the
Essayan statue we'll illustrates the
lighter 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 little rev.
olutionary 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 Essayan. "Con-
tribute fifty thousand dollars to the
revolutionary party? You must be
crazy"
six months ago." said Nikolai
thoughtfully, 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.
ling.
Maybe l did" he admitted. "But
now | am a millionaire. My views
have changed"
Nikolai looked round We were
seated in Essayan's private museum,
in which he stored his statues. Els.
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,
Hermes by Phidias; bas-reliefs and
friezes had been stripped for the bank,
er from many an ancient temple. Nj
kolai frowned angrily.
You must have spent five millions
on that collection of yours he said.
Twelve millions" said Essayan
suavely. And all old, broken things
at 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. | don't
understand 1t myself-but they cost
twelve millions"
Nikolai led him on to talk of his
new hobby. 1t was evident that the
Armenian took only a shadowy inter.
est in the art side of his collection.
He did not, in fact, remember wheth'
er it was his Appollo that had the
missing arm or his Jupiter whose leg
was gone. But Berg knows" said
the banker. "Bergs my art expert in
London, and what he says goes. He's
sending me a sample of old Egyptian
mummies that's going to cost me half
a million"
Now, Mr.. Essayan," said Nikolai,
If you can spare twelve millions for
your confounded art hobby you can
give me fifty thousand for the Arme.
nian cause"
blandly.
"Yet I'll wager you that before the
year is out III sell you one of your
own statues out of this gallery for
three times the amount I've asked
you"
mo, you won't" answered the bank.
er placidly, because / know you, and
from this moment my museums 60
ing to be bolted and barred and guard
ed, and nobody's going to enter, See?"
Nikolai could with difficulty restrain
his 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-
mers, We'll win three times that
amount and teach the scoundrel les
SON"
"Nikolai," I said, 81 confess that
breaking into 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"
"Tll do the breaking in" said Nj
kolai. "Or, rather, l shall be carried
into the gallery in state and requested
to 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 l throw it out"
knew that some audacious scheme
had already been devised by my COM
panion, but Nikolai refused to deliver
himself of 1t. 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
ed Essayan as he was leaving his
front door.
Hal" he snorted. when are you
going to sell me my own statue,
what?' He led us back into the
house. Look" he said. You shall
be warmly welcomed, gentlemen"
The door that led to the museum
had been secured with iron bars, each
of which terminated in paddock. Es-
sayan showed US a series Of electric
wires
"They communicate with the police
department, the private watchman's 8
office, my own room, and the fire de-
partment. shall expect you-soon?
Some time this year" Nikolai an.
swered. Have you got your cargo OF