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

1, for Mr.. Dickson, Odessa agent of
Bailey & Co., corn merchants, was bit
of a Tartar, as had learned to my cost.
whats the row now 7" demanded of
my fellow clerk "has he got scent of
our Nicolaief escapade, or what is 1t ="
mo idea," said Gregory; "the old
boy seems in good enough humor
some business matter, probably. But
don't keep him Waiting" So, summing
up an air of injured innocence, to be
ready for all contingencies, marched
into the lions den.
Mr.. Dickson was standing before the
fire in a Briton's tme-honored attitude
and motloned me into chair in front
of him. Mr.. Robinson" he said, ~
have great confidence in your discretion
and common sense. The folies of youth
will break out, but l think that you
have sterling foundation to your char
adter underlying any superficial levity.
l bowed.
believe" he continued, "that you
can speak Russian pretty fluently.' -
bowed again.
nave, then, L" he proceeded, "a
mission which wish you to undertake,
and on hesuccess of which your promo
ton may depend. l would not trust it
to subordinate, were it not that duty
ties me to my post at present"
p" You may depend upon my doing
my best, sir" replied.
Right, sir, quite right What l
wish you to do is briefly this: The line
of railway has just been opened to
SOlteff, some hundred miles up the
country. Now / wish to get the start of
the other Odessa firms in securing the
, produce of that district, which L have
reason to believe may be had at very
low prices. You will proceed by rail to
SolteT and interview Mr.. Dimdofl,
who is the largest landed proprietor in
the town. Make as favorable terms as
you can with him. Both Mr.. Dimidofi'
and l wish the whole thing to be done
as quietly as possible; in fact, that
nothing should be known about the
matter until the grain appears in Odessa.
desire it for the interests of the firm,
and Mr.. Dmidoff on account of the
prejudices his peasantry entertain
against expectation. You will find
yourself expected at the end of your
journey, and will start tonight. Money
shall'be ready for your expenses. Good
morning, Mr.. Robinson / hope you
won't fail to realize the good opinion L
have of your abilities'
1 was so charmed at being, as it were,
behind the scenes, that 1 crept about
the office all day in a sort of cloak-and-
bloody-dagger style with responsibility
and brooding care marked upon every
feature, and when at night L stepped
out and stole down to the station the
unprejudiced observer would certainly
have guessed, from my general behavior,
that had emptied the contents of the
strong box before starting, into that
little valise OF Gregory's. 1t was i'm
prudent of him, by the way, to leave
English labels pasted all over it. How
ever 1 could only hope that the Lon
dons' and the Birminghams" 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 roubes and
got my ticket | ensconced myself in
the corner of the snug Russian car and
pondered over my extraordinary good
fortune. Dickson was growing old now
and if L could make my mark in this
matter 1t might be great thing for me.
Dreams arose of u partnership in the
firm. The noisy wheels seemed to
clank out $ Bailey, Robinson & Co." in
monotonous refrain, which gradually
sank into hum, and finally ceased as L
dropped into deep sleep. Had known
the experience which awaited me at the
end of my journey it would hardly have
been so peaceable.
Iawoke with an uneasy feeling that
some one was watching me closely, nor
was mistaken. A tall dark man had
taken up a position on the seat opposite,
and his black sinister eyes seemed to
look through me, and beyond me, as if
he wished to read my very soul. Then
saw him glance down at my little
trunk.
"Good heavensl" thought 1, "here's
Simpkins agent, L suppose. 1t was
careless of Gregory to leave those con-
founded labels on the valise."
closed my eyes for a time, but on
reopening them / again caught the
strangers earnest gaze.