The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-07-26

together, and l will introduce YOU /
need hardly say that the greatest secrecy
is observed, and that your appearance is
anxiously awaited"
turned over in my mind as / follow
ed him how / might best fulfill my
mission and secure the most advantage
Gus terms. They seemed as anxious as
was in the matter, and there appeared
to be no opposition, so perhaps the best
thing would be to wait and see what
they would propose.
| had hardly come to this conclusion
when my guide swung open large door
at the end of passage, and 1 found
myself in room larger and even more
gorgeously fitted up than the one in
which had dined. A long table, cover
ed with green baize and strewn with
papers, ran down the middle, and round
it were sitting fourteen or fifteen men
conversing earnestly. The whole scene
reminded me forciby of gambling hell
had visited some time before.
Upon our entrance the company rose
and bowed / could not but remark
that my companion attracted no atten-
tion, while every eye was turned upon
me with a strange mixture of surprise
and almost servile respect. A man at
the head of the table, who was remark
able for the extreme pallor of his face
as contrasted with his blue. black hair
and moustache, waved his hand to a
seat beside him, and / sat down.
need hardly say" said Mr.. Petro-
kline, 'that Gustave Berger, the English
agent, is now honoring us with his
presence. He is young, indeed, Alexis" :"
he continued to my pale-faced neighbor,
"and yet he is of European reputa-
ton"
Come, draw it mild" thought L,
adding aloud, off you refer to me sir
though am, indeed, acting as an Eng
lish agent, my name is not Berger, but
Robinson-Mr. Tom Robinson, at your
service"
A laugh ran round the table.
$50 be it, so be it, said the man they
called Alexis. " 1 commend your dis
cretion, most honored sir One cannot
be too careful Preserve your English
sobriquet by all means. l regret that
any duty should be performed upon this
auspicious evening; but the rules of our
association must be preserved at any
cost to our feelings, and a dismissal is
inevitable tonight"
"What the deuce is the fellow driving
at ?" thought /. What is it to me if
he does give his servant the sack ? This
Dlmidoff, wherever he is, seems to keep
a private lunatic asylum"
"Take out the gag!' The words
fairly shot through me and l started in
my chair. 1t was Petrokine who spoke.
For the first time 1 noticed that burly
stout man, sitting at the other end of
the table, had his arms tied behind his
chair and a handkerchief round his
mouth. A horrid suspicion began to
creep into my heart. Where was L?
Was in Mr.. Dimidoff's? Who were
these men with their strange words ?
Take out the gag ~ repeated Petro-
kline; and the handkerchief was re-
moved.
"Now, Paul Ivanovitch," said he,
"what have you to say before you
go ?"
"Not dismissal, sirs," he pleaded,
"not dismissal anything but that. 1
will go into some distant land, and my
mouth shall be closed forever. l will
do anything that society asks, but pray,
pray do not dismiss me-"
"You know our laws, and you know
your crime" said Alexis, in cold,
harsh voice. "Who drove us from
Odessa by his false tongue and his
double faceY Who wrote the anonym-
Gus letter to the Governor Who cut
the wire that would have destroyed the
arch. .tyrantY You did, Paul Ivanovitch
and you must die"
leaned back in my chair and fairly
gasped.
"Remove him !" said Petrokine, and
the man of the droschky with two
others forced him out.
l heard the footsteps pass down the
passage, and then door open and shut
Then came q sound as of struggle
ended by heavy crunching blow and q
dull thud.
$50 perish all who are false to theil
OATH" said Alexis, solemnly, and 6
hoarse amen went up from his com
panions.
Death alone can dismiss US from oul
order" said another man further down
"but Mr.. Berg-Mr. Robinson is pale