Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-05-06
a NIGHT WITH THE NIHILIsTS.

Il HIuHI WITH THE HIHILISJS
Robinson, Mr.. Dickson wants you :"
"The dickens he does !" thought I ; foI
Mr. Dickson, Odessa agent of Bailey a Co.,
corn.merchants, was bit Of q Tartar, as
had learned TO my cost. whats the row
nowS" demanded of my fellow clerk, ''has
he got scent of our Nicolaieff escapade, OF
what is itH"
mo idea." said Gregory ''the old boy
seems in a good enough humor some bust
ness matter, probably. But don't keep him
waiting" So summoning up an air OF in
jufed innocence, TO be ready for all contin-
gencies, marched into the lions dem
Mr.. Dickson was standing before the fire
in Briton's time-honored attitude and mo
toned me into chair in front Of him. "Mr.
Robinson" he said, 81 have great confidence
in your discretion and common sense. The
follies of youth will break out, but think
that you have q sterling foundation 10
Ity SSa' 'n''''''' underlying any 'Hp''n'''' lev
bowed.
81 believe" he continued THAT you can
speak Russian pretty Huently."
bowed again.
II have, then" he proceeded, "a mission
which l wish you tO undertake, and on the
success of which your promotion may de-
pend. l would not trust II TO q subordinate,
were it not that duty ties me to my post at
present"
you may depend upon my doing my best,
sir, replied.
Fright, sir, quite right! What l wish
you to do is briefly this The line of railway
has just been opened to Solteff, some hun
dred miles up the country. Now l wish to
get the start Of the other Odessa firms in Sc
curing the produce Of that district, which l
hav fR kaltaya H. hal -.
low prices. You will proceed by rail 10 Solt-
eff, and interview a Mr.. Dmidoff who is the
largest landed proprietor in the town. Make
as favorable terms as you can with him
Both Mr.. Dimidof and ! wish the whole
thing To be done as quietly and secretly as
possible in fact, that nothing should be
known about the matter until the grain ap-
pears in Odessa. desire it for the interests
of the firm, and Mr.. Dimidof on account of
the prejudice his peasantry entertain against
expectation. You will find yourself expected
at the end of your journey, aud will start to-
night. Money shall be ready for your ex-
penses. Good-morning, Mr.. Robinson; 1
hope you wont fail 10 realize the good opin-
ion have of your abilities"
Gregory" 1 said, as strutted into the
office, I'm OF on q mission, secret mission,
my boy, an affair of thousands of pounds
Lend me your little portmanteau, mines too
imposing, and tell Ivan TO pack it. A Rus
sian millionaire expects me at the end of
my journey. Don't breathe a word OF it TO
any of Smpkins's people, or the whole game
will be up. Keep Il dark"
was so charmed at being, as it were, behind
the scenes, that crept about the Office all
day in q sort of cloak and bloody dagger
style, with responsibility and brooding care
marked upon every feature and when at
tnfu Il IuNa. IL IL .N,In L.. Al.
station, the unprejudiced observer would
certainly have guessed, from my general be-
havior, that had emptied the contents of
the strong box, before starting, into that lit
tie valse of Gregory's 1t was imprudent Of
him, by the way, to leave English labels
pasted all over it. However, 1 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 / was and what my errand
might be.
Having paid the necessary roubles and got
my ticket, ensconced myself in the corner
of a snug Russian car and pondered over my
extraordinary good fortune. Dickson was
growing old now, and if could make my
mark in this matter it might be great thing
for me. Dreams arose Of partnership in
the firm. The noisy wheels seemed to clank
out, Bailey, Robinson a Co., in a monot-
onous refrain, which gradually sank into a
hum, and finally ceased as dropped into
deep sleep. Had / known the experience
which awaited me at the end of my journey
it would hardly have been so peaceable.
awoke with an uneasy feeling that some
one was watching me closely, nor was mis-
taken. A tall dark man had taken up his
position on the seat opposite, and his black
sinister eyes seemed TO look through me and
n,,1 : L.. IL. A.
soul. Then l saw him glance down at my
little trunk.
"Good Heavensl" thought I, ''here's simp.
kins's agent, I suppose. 1t was careless of
Gregory to leave those confounded labels on
the valise."
closed my eyes for time, but on reopen
ing them l again caught the strangers earn
ost gaze.
From England, see, he said in Russian,
showing row of white teeth in what was
meant to be an amiable smile.
YES" l replied, trying to look unoon-
cerned, but painfully aware of my failure.
Travelling for pleasure, perhaps?" said
he.
YES" answered eagerly. Certainly,
for pleasure nothing else"
"0f course not" said he with shade of
irony in his voice. "Englshmen always
travel for pleasure, don't theyS o no, moth
ing else"
His conduct was mysterious to say the
least Of it. 1t was only explainable upon two
hypotheses-he was either mailman, or he
was the agent of some firm bound upon the
same errand as myself, and determined To
show me that he guessed my little game.
They were about equally unpleasant, and, on
the whole, was relieved when the train
pulled up in the tumble-doWn shed which
does duty for q station in the rising town of
whose resources was about
TO open out, and whose commerce / was to
direct into the great world channels. / al |
most expected TO see triumphal arch as /
stepped out to the platform.
l was to be expected at the end Of my
Journey, so Mr.. Dickson had informed me.
looked about among the motley crowd, but |
saw no Mr.. Dimidof. Suddenly slovenly
nnshaved man passed me rapidly, and glanced |
hrst at me and then at my trunk-that |
wretehed trunk, the cause of all my woes.
He disappeared in the crowd; but in little |
time came strolling past me again, and con-
rived 10 whisper as he did so Follow me,
but at some distance, ,"-immediately setting |
Oh out of the station and down the street |
It rapid pace. Here was mystery with a |
vengeance l trotted along in his rear with |
my valise, and on turning the corner found |
4 rough drosohky waiting for me- My un-
Ihaven friend opened the door, and l stepped |
n.
SIS Mr.. Dim" was beginning.
"Hush |" he cried. mo names, no names;
he very walls have ears. You will hear all |
,o-night;" and with that assurance he closed |