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KAUPPIAS TASKUSSA

Yksin?yt?ksinen ilveily

Kirj.

AATAMI KAHRA

H?meenlinnassa, Boman & Karlsson, 1905.

H?meenlinnan Uusi Kirjapaino.

HENKIL?T:

Iisakki Markkanen, kauppias, | Risto, puotipoika, | sama henkil?. Kalle Sepp?l?, renki. Aapeli Rutanen, h?nen is?nt?ns?. Mikon Liisa. Korventaustan Taava. Aholan Sohvi. Heikin Kaija. Kompelin Jeremiias, y.m. ostajia.

N?ytt?m?:

Kauppapuoti. Ovi oikealle ja toinen vasemmalle. Hyllyt tiskin takana ja sivuilla tyhj?t tavaroista. Lattialla l?hell? vasemmanpuolista ovea muutamia puulaatikolta, joissa on hevosenkenki?, nauloja y.m. Sein?ss? niiden yl?puolella riippuu muutamia huiveja, v?it? y.m. vaatetavaraa. Tiskill? saha ja nauloja, sek? kaikellaista pient? rihkamaa, lankarullia, paperossipuntteja, tulitikkulaatikolta y.m. kasattuna sikin sokin.

Mit?s luulet, Iisakki, voivasi kiskoa t?st? kapineesta joltakin puolisokealta torpan muorilta? Antaisikohan tuo kuusikymment? penni?? Siit? tulisi jotensakin kohtuullinen voitto; tavara on minulle maksanut justiinsa 30 penni?, taikka v?h?n sit?kin vaille. Min? siis merkitsen t?h?n ostohinnaksi 56 penni?. Rehellinen kauppias antaa aina ostajain tiet??, paljoko tavara on h?nelle itselleen maksanut, jottei h?nt? voitaisi syytt?? kiskomisesta. Vai kirjoittaisinko kerralla 58 penni?, niin voisin pyyt?? 65 mutta alentaa sitte 60 penniin. Saattaapa niin ollakin parasta. Kas niin. T?h?n samalla tavalla. Ahneus pett?? viisaudenkin, sanotaan, mutta eip?s se pet? kauppias Markkasta. Jos nyt sattuu puotiin ostaja, joka tiet?? suunnilleen tavarain oikeat hinnat -- ja semmoisia sattuu aina v?list? -- myyd??n h?nelle t?m? tuoppi, johon kirjoitan ostohinnaksi 28 1/2 penni?, kas niin, -- ja otetaan siit? 35 penni?. Ei tuon vertainen paljoakaan k?yhdyt?. Ja onhan sit?paitsi hyv? lohduttaa itse??n sill? tiedolla, ett? on joskus ollut rehellinenkin. Ent?s nyt? Luulenpa ett? kaikkein ensiksi laitan uudet kahvit k?ytt?kuntoon. Niit? kuitenkin kysyt??n ensiksi. T?m? laji on minulle maksanut 15 mk:aa 35 p:ni? leivisk?, se tekee 1 mk 53 ja 1/2 penni? kilo, mutta luulempa voivani ottaa siit? py?re?n 2 markkasen, kun se kerran on niin sopiva raha. On niin ty?l?st? aina etsi? pient? rahaa ja antaa takaisin, eik? sit? aina satu olemaankaan varastossa. No niin, se laatikko ei kaipaa en?? mit??n. T?ss? on sitte sekundasorttia, jonka hinnaksi arvelisin riitt?v?n 2 mk. 30 penni?, vaikkei minulle tosin j?? siit? voittoa kuin 50 penni?. Mutta enk?s sittekin saa monasti alentaa siit? pois milloin kaksi, milloin kolme penni?, milloin minkin m?kitupalaisen muijan hyv?ksi? Min? sanon, mit? vasten heid?n t?ytyy aina ostaa kalliinta lajia kun ohrakahvikin olisi heille kyll? hyv??. Se on minun mielest?ni aivan tarpeetonpa, niin, suorastaan paheksuttavaa ylellisyytt?. Ik??nkuin heid?n suunsa osaisi erottaa kahvin laadun! Minun on velvollisuuteni est?? heit? tottumasta liialliseen ylellisyyteen siin? miss? voin, ja se tapahtuu t?ss? kohden parhaiten sill? tavalla, ett? lis??n 2 mk 30 pennin kahviin, 2 mk kahvia. Se ei kuitenkaan muuten mene kaupaksi. Paniskohan tuota puoleksi? Pannaan nyt koetteeksi. Saahan sitte lis?t? parempata, jos tarvitsee. Hyv?? tulee; p??lt? n?hden ei kahveilla ole mit??n erotusta. Enk?h?n viel? lis?? hiukkasen? Kas niin. Nyt saa v?ltt??. Taikka -- eik?h?n suora ja selv? peli sittekin olisi paras? Saatanhan min? yht? hyv?sti panna markan kahville semmoisenaan hinnan lis?yst? ja siirt?? t?m?n toisen sortin priima kahviksi, jonka hintaa voin samalla alentaa 10 pennill?. Hyv? juttu! Muista nyt Iisakki, ett? varastossa on en?? kahdenlaista kahvia, joista toisella on hintana 2:15 ja toisella 3:75. Kolmas laji on sattumalta lopussa, taikka -- no niin -- pannaan h?nt? kanssa v?h?n laatikon pohjalle tiukan tarpeen varalta. Pit?? aina olla valmis esiintym??n rehellisen? miehen?, se on minun periaatteeni. Rehellisyys maan perii, heh heh. . Sepp?l?n Kalle. Hm. Luulenpa, ett? olin h?nen kanssaan liian varomaton, viime pyh?n? lasin ??ress?. H?n n?ytti alkavan aavistaa jotain. Mutta olempahan nyt sit? varovaisempi.

When Miss Cavell was called upon to plead, she mastered her physical weakness, and serenely faced her accusers. In gentle accents she asserted that to the best of her belief she had but served her country, and, so far as that was wrong, she was ready to take the blame. Calmly she contemplated her end; cheerfully she was willing to be the scapegoat, in the hope that some at least of her friends might escape the dread punishment that she perceived would be her fate.

She was interrogated in German, which an interpreter translated into French, with which tongue she was perfectly familiar. She spoke without trembling, and exhibited a clear and acute mind. Often she added some greater precision to her previous depositions. Her answers were always direct and unhesitating. When the Military Prosecutor inquired why she had helped soldiers to go to England, the reply came promptly: 'If I had not done so they would have been shot. I thought I was only doing my duty in saving their lives.'

'That may be true so far as British soldiers were concerned,' agreed the interlocutor, 'but it did not apply to young Belgians. Why did you help them to cross the frontier, when they would have been perfectly free and safe in staying here?'

Miss Cavell treated this question with the silent contempt it deserved. She knew only too well what freedom and safety had been accorded to many Belgians of military age who had been found in their own desecrated fatherland.

She not only admitted that she had assisted refugees to escape, but she acknowledged that she had received letters of thanks from those who had reached England in safety. This was a vital admission. German evidence alone could have charged her with an 'attempt' to commit the crime, but the letters of thanks conclusively proved that she had 'committed' the offence.

Among the other prisoners, M. Philippe Bancq was equally fearless. Without a quaver he admitted that he had assisted young Belgians to escape and rejoin their army. 'As a good Belgian patriot,' said he, 'I am ready to lay down my life for my country.'

The Military Prosecutor demanded that the death penalty be passed upon Nurse Cavell and eight other prisoners. Whether the Englishwoman's compassionate conduct that was her offence and her heroic bearing under trial made an impression on her judges, one cannot tell. Their apparent disagreement may only have been a theatrical adjunct to the tragedy which Baron von Bissing had staged with consummate care. It may have been that they lacked the moral courage to pronounce sentence in her presence. In any case, judgement was postponed. In an ordinary trial this respite would have given play to hope, the miserable man's god, which keeps the soul from sinking in despair.

But hope could neither flatter nor deceive Edith Cavell as she was led back under escort to her cell to wait--to wait for the assured condemnation that her eyes of courage must have perceived at the end of the cul-de-sac of German infamy.

THE FIGHT FOR A LIFE

The trial had occupied two days, and had ended on Friday, October 8. M. Kirschen had promised to keep M. de Leval informed how the matter was proceeding. He duly notified the date of the trial; but in thorough keeping with what had gone before, during the two days' progress of the inquiry he made no sign. He did not disclose that the Military Prosecutor had asked for the death penalty; he maintained silence even when the sentence was promulgated. Thus he was a party to cutting off the unhappy prisoner from the only friends who could bring powerful influence to bear upon the authorities for a revision of the sentence. Kirschen not only did not communicate with M. de Leval, but he disappeared entirely after the trial.

It is placed on record by one present in court that Kirschen pleaded well for his client, but it is doubtful if it were more than a formal plea for mercy for one who was prejudged and her fate already sealed. That Kirschen is believed to be an Austrian by birth, although a naturalized Belgian, doubtless explains much that for a time had mystified the officials of the American Legation. It makes one's gorge rise to think that while the German conspirators pretended to allow the prisoner a friendly advocate, he was in reality a hideous travesty, a hypocritical cat's-paw of the Department of the Governor-General.

After the perpetration of the crime M. Kirschen informed a sceptical world that he was not of Austrian origin, but was born at Jassy, in Roumania. He also denied that he promised to inform the American Legation about the sentence, and, in fact, did not know until it was announced publicly. It need only be commented that M. de Leval's letters to his chief are in emphatic contradiction, and there is no doubt whose word is worthy of credence.

Failing to find M. Kirschen or learn any news of him, on Sunday night M. de Leval went to see Baron von der Lancken. The Baron was out, and Mr. Conrad, a subordinate, was unable to give any information.

On Monday morning M. de Leval was informed by Conrad that the American Legation would be made acquainted with the judgement immediately it was pronounced, at the same time volunteering the assurance that it need not be expected for 'a day or two.'

M. de Leval did not propose to rely upon any German assurances, and, further, was bent upon learning some of the details of the trial. In view of M. Kirschen's continued silence, he called at the house of the advocate at 12.30, but was informed that he would not be at home until late in the afternoon. He therefore proceeded to the house of another lawyer, who had been interested in one of Miss Cavell's fellow prisoners, but failed also to find that gentleman. However, he called upon M. de Leval a few hours later, and reported that he had heard that judgement would be passed on Tuesday morning. He also said that he had good grounds for believing that the sentence of the court would be severe for all the prisoners.

Meanwhile repeated telephonic inquiries were made by the American Legation at the Politische Abteilung , and upon each occasion it was stated that sentence had not been pronounced; and this was the reply as late as 6.20, together with the renewed promise to afford the required information as soon as it came to hand. And so the day dragged on.

At this critical juncture Mr. Brand Whitlock was ill in bed; but, nevertheless, with Mr. Hugh Wilson, he threw himself into the task of attempting to save Miss Cavell's life, although the brief time at their disposal afforded but a slender chance of success. In a letter already prepared for dispatch to Baron von der Lancken, it was pointed out that the condemned Englishwoman had been treated with more severity than had been the result in other similar cases, although it was only her own commendable straightforwardness that enabled the charges against her to be proved. It was urged that she had spent her life in alleviating the sufferings of others, and at the beginning of the War she had bestowed her care as freely on German soldiers as on others. Her career as a servant of humanity should inspire the greatest sympathy and call for pardon. A letter in identical terms was addressed to Baron von Bissing.

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