Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-23
A Night Among the Nihilists,

NO oickenS ne does! tn0ughC /: Tor MI.
DICKSON, Odessa agent OF Bailey & Co., corn
merchants, was DIT of Tartar. az 1 had
learned to my cost. whats the row now?n 1
demanded of my fellow clerk; "has he got
scent Of our Nicolaieff escapade, or what Is it?"
"No idea, said Gregory; 1.-THE old boy seems
In good enough umor; some business mat
ter. probably. But don't keep him waiting"
SO. summoniDg up an air OF injured innocence.
10 De ready for all contingencies, l marched
Mr.. Dickson was standing before the Iire In
Briton's ume-honored attitude, and motioned
me into chair In front OF him. "Mr. Robin
son." he said. 81 have great confidence In your
discretion and common sense. the follies of
youth Will break out but think that you have
sterling foundation TO your character under
wig any superficial levity."
81 believe" he continued. shat you can
speak Russian pretty fuently."
bowed again.
II have, :.hnen,5 he proceeded, ga mission
which wish you to undertake, and On the sue
cess CT which your promotion may depend. l
would not trust 1t to a subordinate, were it not
that duty ties me to my post at present"
You may depend upon my doing my best,
fright, sir, quite right! What wish you to
do Is briefly this: The line OF railway has list
been opened to SolUeff, 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 / have reason to believe
may be had at very low prices. You Will pro-
DimiG0fr. who Is the largest landed pro prietor
In the town. Make as favorable terms you can
with him. Both MI. Dimidon and wish the
whole thing to be done as quietly and as Sc
cretly as possible, in fact, that nothing should
De known about the matter until the grain ap-
pears In Odessa. You Will find yourself ex-
p cted at the end OF your journey, and viii
expenses.
"Gregory," said, as strutted into the
once, I'm Oh on mission. secret mission,
me your little portmanteau, mines too impos-
ing. and tell Ivan to pack 1t. Russian mil.
nOnaire expects me at the end OF my journey.
e eaGkRISS VI ZIG "A''' S""' VIII 70 w. Ae'p II
Twas so charmed at being, as 1t were. bshInd
the scenes: that crept about the Office all day
responsibility and brooding care marked on
every feature; and when at night 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 impru.
posted all over 1t. However could only hope
that the 'Londons" and 'Birminghams" would
attract no attention, or, at least, that no rival
corn merchant might deduee from them VINO
was and what my GRAND might be.
Having paid the necessary ruble5 and got my
ticket, ensconced myself In the corner OF
snug Russian car. and pondered over my ex-
traOrdinary good fortune. Dickson was grow.
Ing old now. and If could make my mark In
this matter 1t might be great thing for me.
Dreams arose OF partnersnip1n the hrm. The
Robinson & Co." "Bailey, Robinson a. Co" In a
moDOtonouS refrain, which gradually sank into
hum, and finally ceased as dropped into
deep sleep. Had known the experience which
hardly have been so peaceable
aWoke with an uneasy feeling that some
one was watching me closely, nor was 1 mis-
taken. tall dark man had taken up his DO
sitton on the seat opposite, and his black SIN
lister eyes seemed TO look through me and
beyond me, as If he wished to read my very
trunk.
GOOD heavensw thought /, there's Simp
kins' agent, l suppose. It was careless or
Grt CORY to leave those eonfounded labels on
closed my eyes for time, but on reopening
them / again caught the strangers earnest
showing row OF white teeth In what was
meant to be an aimiable smile.
"Yes," replied. trying to look Unconcerned,
but painfully aware OF my failure.
Travelling for pleasure, perhaps?" said he.
pleasure: nothing else"
irony In his Voice Ensishmen always 1rav OF
for pleasure, don't they? o no, nothing else"
His conduct was mysterious, 10 say the least
OF It. 1t vas only explainaole upon two n.y.
the agent OF some firm bound upon the same
errand as myself, and determined to show me
that ne guessed my little game. They were
was renewed when the train pulled up in the
tumbled down shed which does duty for a sta
ton In the rising town OF Soitef-Solteff, VINO e
resources was about TO- to open out and whose
channels. almost expected to see a ri
umphal arch as l stepped on the platform.
was 20 De expected at the end Of my J1ur-
ney, SO MIR. Dickson had informed me-
looked about among the motley crowd, but saw
no Mr., DimidOn. Suddenly slovenly unsn lye1
man MAJ passed me rapidly, and glanced first at me
the cause of ali my woes. he disappeared
10 the crowd: but In little time came strollIn
past me again, and contr1ved TO whisper as he
diately setting of out of the station and down
the street at rapid pace. Here was mystery
with vengeance! l trotted along In his rear
found a roughly droschky waiting for me NV
unshaven friend opened the door and stepped
'Is MI. DIM" was beginning.
'Hush!" he cried. mo names, no names: the
very walls have ears. You viii hear ali to-
night" and with that assurance he closed the
door, and Selling the reins we drove OF at a
acquaintance OF the railway carriage gazing
nter us IN surprise until We were out of sight.
tnougnt over the whole matter as we
conveyance.
They say the mobiles are tyrants In Russia -
mused; "put It seems to me to be the other
way about, for here's this poor Mr. Dlmdoff.
who evidently thinks his ex-serfs will rise and
murder him II he raises the price OF grain In
tne district py exporting some out of It. Fancy
being obliged to have recourse to all this mys
terry and deception In order to sell ones own
property. Why, it's worse than an Irish land-
lord. 1t Is monstrous! Well, he Doesn't seem
10 i've La very arfStocratic quarter either I
solloQuized, as gaZed out at the narrow.
crooked streets and the unkempt, dirty Musco.
V1tes whom we passed. 81 wish Gregory or
some one was with me, for it's q cutothroar
Looking ,si shop! J., By Jove. he's pulling up; we
We we're there, to all appearance: for the
orosenky stopped, and my drivers shaggy head
apR re ~ 6e through i, the the aperture:
he helped me TO alight. -"
us Mr. Dimi-" commenced; but he inter.
rupted me again.
nything but names, he whispered: "any-
thing but that. You are too used 10 q land that
Is free. Caution, sacred one I" and he ushered
me down q stone tagged passage and up affair
at the end Of 1t. "SlL for few minutes in this
room, J" he said, opening door, land q repast
Will De served for yOu," and with that he left
me to my own reflections.
"Wen," thought I, whatever Mr.. DimidofY,s
mouse may be like. his servants are undouoG
edly well trained. 20, sacred one and reyer
emo master! l wonder what he'd call Old Dick.
son nlmselr, II ne Is so polite to the CLERK I
suppose IL Wouldn't be the thing to smoke in
this little Glib; but could do pipe nicely. nv
the way. how confoundedly like cell ir i0oksi',
~ 1n0ty Ito