Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-07-01

not be too careful. Preserve your
English sobriqata by all means. I re-
greet that any painful duties should be
performed upon this suspicious even
ing; but the rules of our association
must be preserved at any cost to our
feelings, and dismissal is inevitable to-
night.
"What the deuce is that fellow driv-
ing at ?" thought T. .sWhat is it to me
if he does give his servant the sack !?
This Dimidof, wherever he is, seems
to keep private lunatic asylum"
''Take out the gagr' The words
fairly shot through me, and / started
in my chair. 1t was Petrokine that
spoke. For the first time ] noticed
that a burly, stout man, sitting at the
other end of the table, had his arms
tied behind his chair, and handker-
chief round his mouth. A horrible
suspicion began to creep into my
heart. Where was L? Was / in Mr..
Dimidofss? 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, sir" he pleaded,
mot dismissal anything but that
| will 60 into some distant land, and
my mouth shall be closed forever.
will do anything that the Society asks,
but pray, pray do not dismiss me-"
stYou know our laws, and you know
your crime" said Alexis, in a cold,
harsh voice. "Who drove us from
Odessa by his false tongue and his
double face? Who wrote the anonv-
nous letter to the Governor? Who
cut the wire that would have DESTROYED
the arch -tyrant? You did, Paul Ivan
avitch; 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.
| heard the footsteps pass down the
passage, and then door opened and
shut. Then came sound as of a
struggle, ended by heavy, chrushing
blow and dull thud.
80 perish all that are false to their
OATH" said Alexis, solemnly, and a
hoarse "Amen" went up from his COM
panions.
death alone can dismiss us from
our order" said another man further
down; "but Mr.. Berg Robinson is
pale. The scene has been to much for
him after his long journey from Eng
land"
20 Torn, Tom," thought I, '.if ever
you get out of this scrape you will
turn over new leaf. You're not fit to
die, and that's fact" 1t was only too
evident to me now that by some mis-
conception | had got in among gang
of cold blooded Nihilists, who mistook
me for one of their order. [ felt, after
what had witnessed, that my only
chance of life was to try to play the
role thus forced upon Zoe until an OPP
portunity for escape should present
self-posession which had been SO rude
ly shaken.
Il am, indeed, fatigued," | replied,
"but | feel stronger now. Excuse my
momentary weakness"
1T was but natural, said man with
Il thick beard at my right hand, "And
now, most honored sir, how goes the
cause in England"
Remarkably well" / answered
Has the great Commissioner conde-
sended to send q mission to the Solicit
branch?" asked Petrokine.
Nothing in writing" | replied.
But he has spoken of it?"
Eyes; he said he had watched it with
feelings of the liyelist satisfaction" / re-
turned.
"'Tis well! It's WE'LL" ran around the
table.
/ felt giddy and sick from the criti-
cal nature of my position. Any NOM
ent question might be asked which
would show me in my true colors. I
rose and helped myself from decanter
Of brandy which stood on side-table.
The potent liquor flew to my excited
brain, and as sat down | felt reckless
enough to be half amused at my posi-
ton, and inclined to play with my tor
mentors. | still, however, had my wits
about me.
"You have been to Birmingham" ask
ed the man with the beard.
Many times" said l.
Then you have, of course, seen the
private workshop and arsenal?"
Il have been over them both more
than once"
1t is still, suppose, entirely unsus-
pected by the police?' continued my
interrogation.
Entirely" I replied.
Can you tell us how it is that SO
large concern is kept so completely
a secretw
Here was a poser, but my native inn
pudence and the brandy seemed to
come to my aid.
Chat is information, / replied,
(which | do not feel justified in reveal
ing even here. In Withholding i'll am
acting under the direction of the Chief
Commissioner"
You are right, perfectly right" said
my original friend, Petrokine. "You
will no doubt make your report to the
Central Office at Moscow before enter
ing into such details"
Exactly So" / replied, only too
happy to get a lift out of my difficulty.
1--WE have heard" said Alexis, that
you were sent to inspect the Livadias
Can you give US any particulars about
it?'
Anything you ask | will endeavor
to answer" | replied in desperation.
Have any orders been made in Biz
mingham concerning it?"
None when left England
well, there's plenty of time yet,"
said the man with the beard-"man
months. Will the bottom be of wood
or iron?"
ssOf wood" / answered at random.
cts WE'LL said another voice.