The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-05-24

asked an anamic looking youth at the foot
of the table, who seemed more fit for \
public school than this den Of murder.
About three hundred" said l.
A floating coffin - said the young
Nihiiist, in sepulchral voice.
Are the storerooms on q level with or
underneath the state cabins 90 asked Pet
rokine
Underneath" said /, decisiyely.
though l need hardly say had not the
smallest conception.
sand now, most honored Sir" said
Alexis, tell us what was the reply of
Bauer, the German socialist, to Ravinsky's
proclamation"
Here was deadlock with vengeance
Whether my cunning would have ever
extrlcated me from it or not was never
decided, for Providence hurried me from
one dilemma to another and worse one.
A door slammed down stairs and rapid
footsteps were approaching. Then came
a loud tap outside, followed by two fainter
ones.
The sign Of the society - said Petro
kline; and yet we are all present who
can it be ?"
The door was thrown open and man
entered, dusty and travel-stained, but
with an air of authority and power stamp
ed on every feature Of his harsh but ex-
pressive face. He glanced around the
table, scanning each countenance careful
ly. There was start of surprise in the
room. He was evidently stranger to
them all.
What means this intrusion, Sir ~ said
my friend with the beard.
Intrusion ~ said the stranger; 81 was
given to understand that | was expected,
and had looked forward to a warmer well
come from my fellow-assoeiates. / am
personally unknown to you, gentlemen,
but | am proud to think that my name
should command some respect among you.
| am Gustave Berger, the agent from
England, bearing letters from the chief
commissioner to has well-beloved brothers
of SOlteff"
One of their own bombs could hardly
have created greater surprise had it been
fired in the midst of them. Every eve
was fixed alternately on me and upon the
newly-arrived agent.
If you are indeed Gustave Berger"
said Petrokine, " who is this %
That | am Gustave Berger these Gre
dentials will show" said the stranger. as
he threw packet upon the table Who
that man may be know not; but if he
he has intruded himself upon the lodge
under false pretenses it is clear that he
must never carry out of the room what
he has learned. Speak, Sir be added,
addressing me, who and what are you ~
| felt that my time had come My re-
volver was in my hip pocket, but what
was that against so many desperate men
| grasped the but of it, however, as a
drowning man clings to straw, and I
tried to preserve my GOODNESS as | glanced
around at the cold, vindictive faces turned
toward me-
Gentlemen I said, " the role l have
played tonight has been purely invol-
untary one on my part. | am no police
spy, as you seem to suspect, nor, on the
other hand, have the honor to be mem
Der of your association. am an inof-
fensive corn dealer, who, by an extraor-
dinary mistake, has been forced into this
unpleasant and awkward position.
| paused for a moment. Was it my
fancy that there was peculiar noise in
the street-a noise as of many feet tread
ing softly? No, it had died away it was
but the throbbing of my own heart.
Il need hardly say" continued, " that
anything l have heard tonight will be
safe in my keeping. Ipledge l my solemn
honor as gentleman that not one word
of it shall transpire through me-
The senses of men in great physical
danger become strangely acute, or their
imagination plays them curious tricks
MY back was toward the door as sat,
but could have sworn that heard heavy
breathing behind it. Was it the three
minions had seen before me in the per-
formance of the hateful functions, and
who, like vultures, had shifted another
victim?
I looked around the table. Still the
same hard, cruel faces. Not one glance
of sympathy cooked the revolver in
my pocket There was a silence which
was broken by the harsh voice of Petro-
kline.
PROMISES are easily made and broken"
he said "There is but one way of secu-
ring eternal silence. 1t is our lives or
yours. Let the highest among US speak"
" You are right, SIR" said the English
agent There is but one course OPEN
He must be dismissed"
knew what that meant in their con-
funded jargon and sprang to my feet.
"By heaven." shouted, putting my
back against the door, you shan't butch
er free Englishman like sheep. The
first among you who stirs, drops"
A man sprang at me. saw along the
sights of my Derringer the CLEAN of
knife and the demonical face of Gustave
Berger. Then pulled the trigger, and
with his hoarse scream sounding in my
ears, / was felled to the ground by
crushing blow from behind. Half uncon-
sscions and pressed down by some heavy
weight, heard the noise of shouts and
and blows above me, and then tainted
away.
When came to myself I was lying
among the debris of the door, which had
been beaten in on the top of me. Oppo-
site were dozen of the men who had
lately sat in judgment upon me, tied two
and two, and guarded by score of Rus
star soldiers Beside me was the corpse
of the ill-fated agent, the whole face blown
in by the force of the explosion. Alexis
and Petrokine were both lying on the
floor ike myself, bleeding profuseIy.
"Well, young fellow, you've had . mar
row escape" said hearty voice in my
ear.
looked up and recognized my black
eyed acquaintance of the railway carriage.