Evening star., 1915-02-14

divide Nichelstein equally. He became picture
puzzle schen1ng for him diversion, talking of the
plots relaxation. Strange how d1vertlng is the
psychology of another's misery!
We went often to Nichestein's, causing some COM
ment and strangely enough added persecution for the
old If this bit into his soul, he complained
His gratitude was too profound. Once, when Benny
Cohen, the of rival tailor threw stone and laid
open the old mans forehead, promised summary
punishment; but this Nichestein would not permit.
@He is not to blame he said passively. Look at
what 1 ami" spreading his with sudden passion
which suddenly died out "Perhaps should do the
thing in his place. Besides 1t might defeat the
purpose. Let be-"
Always the Purpose the obsession of his cosmos;
that is, so far enlightened. Though
often when the taunts extra scoring, he would
send us off and retire behind the curtain that screened
the rear of the shop Once we stole in quietly and
heard him wrestling with the Lord in prayer. Thus
we learned that the ngrained devotion to the God of
his Fathers only less than his fidelity to his selfish
purpose He pleading for mercy for setting it first
A~A of make-believe for the people in Russia 1t
absorbing fun, and many the laugh we had-except
when it drew pockets too strongly.
First we had furnish evidence of Nichesteins fine
mandatory This accomplished at a stroke. At
the office of his paper Green unearthed an old electro
type of an imposing structure and from this had
neat letterheads struck off, They defed suspicion.
There in large type, the words, "The Keystone
Clothing Co.," and underneath M. Nicholsky, Presl-
dent The faring address at the intersection OF two
streets fitted in with the scheme the dngy shop
near the corner and the postmen knew Nicholsky' s
Besides his sign bore the inscription, keystone
Cleaning Co." Thereafter letters Russia went forth
on this paper.
To remove all doubt that Nicholsky prominent
man of affairs required little headwork. Then one
dav the solution came 1t should be less convincing
than the public print Together concocted glowing
stories in Russian and English of reception rendered
3our prominent citizen, M. Nicholsky.' The list of
guests would have caused the heart of parvenu to
burst with envy. Scarcely world-famous American
from the President to Buffalo Bill but that graced the
festive board at the Waldorf and rendered homage.
Woven the stories illusions to the many cfar
ties to which he had contributed large Certainly
it amusing. Green set this up in type himself and
then struck off copies some half printed newspaper
stock that had been discarded The clippings OBJ
tanned of the sort that makes business for the
clipping bureaus. These too went to Russia
The matter of photograph particularly difficult,
especially as Nchelstein would not go to penny S
expense. Green free notices of photograph shop
and costumer and thus able to borrow a
and high hat. customer had brought in frock coat
for pressing and when this pinned in at the back
the effect was undeniably distinctive. After the old
mans beard and hair had been trimmed 1t required
schemng to get the mutated out of vlew but the
final picture of Nichestein transformed into prosper
business startling as the latter taking
photo in patent medicine advertisement.
All this had taken tme and the answering letters from
Russia gave the feeling that Belasco not much
after all Nichestein himself almost happy, and he
began show disposition to depend upon that was
almost childke in its fnality. We his saviors-
we were welcome to credit for cleaning and pressing!
THEN one night found the old man upset over a
letter that had just come. Ruth's grandfather had
died leaving her considerable Over and over
Nichelstein appealed to U.S. What would happen now?