Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-05-07
AMONG THE NIHILISTS.
A Story of Russia.

had been directed by our house Il
go secretly to Russia at ohce to see i
we could not get a little the start o
other houses in our line in securing the
produce of the Odessa district.
"Gregory, said, as / strutted into
the Office, "I'm off on mission, 6
secret mission, my boy, an affair oi
thousands of pounds. Lend me youl
little portmanteau, mines too imposing,
and tell Ivan TO pack it. A Russian
millionaire expects me at the end oi
my journey. Don't breathe q word oi
it to any of Simpkins's people, or the
whole game will be up"
1t was imprudent of Gregory to leave
English labels posted all over the
portmanteau. However, I could only
hope that the "Londons" and "Birming-
hams would attract no attention. or,
at least, that no rival corn merchant
might deduce from them who I was and
what my errand might be.
was to be expected at the end of my
journey, so MIR. Dickson the head of
our house had informed me. / looked
about among the motley crowd, but
saw no Mr.. Dimidoff. Suddenly q
slovenly unshaved man passed me
rapidly, and glanced first at me and
then at my trunk-that wretched trunk,
the cause of all my woes. He disap-
peared in the crowd; but in little time
came strolliDg past me again, and con-
trived to whisper as he did so, Follow
me, but at some distance" Immediately
setting off ont of the station and down
the street at a rapid pace. Here was
mystery with a vengeance / trotted
along in his rear with my valise, and on
turning the corner found q rough
droschke waiting for me. Ny unshaven
friend opened the door and l stepped
in.
TIE droschke stopped, and my drivers
shaggy head appeared through the
aperture.
"It is here, most honored master, ,
he said. as he helped me to alight.
'Is Mr.. Dimi-" / commenced but
he interrupted me again.
Anything but names. he whispered
anything but that You are too used
to a lard that is free. Caution,
sacred one !" and he ushered me down
stone tagged passage and up stail
at the end of it. "Sit for few minute:
in this room," he said, opening a door
"and repast vii! be served for you :
and with that he left me to my own re
hections.
"Well," thought /, "whatever Mr.
Dimidoff's house may be like, his ser
wants are undoubtedly well trained &C
sacred one = and reverend master =
wonder what he'd call old Dickson him
self, if he is so polite to his clerk b,
the way, how confoundedly like cell i
looks %
1t certainly did look like cell. TIL,
door was an iron one and enormously
strong, while the single window wa.
closely barred. The floor was of wood
and sounded hollow and insecure as
strobe across it. Both floor and wall
were thickly splashed with coffee ol
some other dark liquid. On the Who'll,
it was far from being place where one
would be likely to become unreasonable
festive.
I had hardly concluded my survey
when heard steps approaching dow
the corridor, and the door was opened
by my old friend of the droschke. FL,
announced that my dinner was ready
and, with many bows and apologies fol
leaving me in what he called the "dis
missal room," and led me down the pas
sage and into a large and beautifully
furnished apartment. A table wa,
spread for two in the centre of it, anC
by the fire was standing a man very lit
tie older than myself He turned as
came In and stepped forward to meet mt
with every symptom of profound re
spect.
$50 young and yet so honored - ht
exclaimed and then seeming to recol
lect himself, he continued "Pray si
at the head of the table. You must bt
fatigued by your long and arduous jour
ney. We dine tete- G-tete, but th,
others assemble afterward"
"Mr. Dimidoff, I presume ?" said
"No, sir, said he, turning his keel
gray eyes upon me. my name is Pc
trokine; You mistake me perhaps fo
one of the others. But now, not q wor,
of business until the council meets. Tr,
your chefs soup; you will find it ex
cellent, think"
Who Mr.. Petrokine or the other
might be could not conceive.
"By the way" lie remarked, as W
smoked a cigar over our wine, "w
should never have known you but fo
the English labels on your luggage
it was the luckiest thing in the worl
that Alexander noticed them. We ha
had no personal description of you in
deed, we were prepared to expect a
older person. You are young, il
deed, sir. to be intrusted with such
mission"
"My employer trusts me-" I replied