Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-13
A Nigh. Among the Nihilists
/ STORY FOR THE TIMES.

A Night Among the Nihilists-
STORY FOR THE TINES
Robinson, the boss wants You
sThe dickens he does = thought l ; for
Mr. Dickson, Odessa agent of Bailey &
Co, corn merchants, was a bit of Tar
tar, as had learned to my cost.
Mr.. Dickson was standing before the
fire in a Briten's time-honored attitude,
ard motionel ne into chair III 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 l think that you have a
sterling foundation to your character un-
DERIVING any superficial levity."
I bowed.
Il believe" he continued, THAT YOU
can speak Russian pretty tluently."
bowed again.
Il have. then" he proceeded, "a mis-
sion which l wish you to undertake, and
on the success Of which your promotion
may depend
What l wish Won to do is briefly this !:
The line of railway has Just been opened
to Solicit, some hundred miles up the
country. Now | wish to get the start of
the other Odessa firms i'll securing the
reason TO believe may be had at very low
prices. You will proceed by rail to Sol
feff. and interview Mr.. Dimidoff, who is
the largest landed proprietor in the town.
Make as favorable terms as you can with
him. Both Mr.. Dimidoff and wish the
whole thing to be done as quietly and as
secretly as possible, in fact, that nothing
should be known about the matter until
81,
find yourself expected at the end of your
journey, and will start tonight. Money
shall be ready for your expenses"
Gregory said, as l strutted into
the office. I'm off on mission, a secret
mission, my boy, an affair of thousands of
pounds. Lend me your little portman-
feau, mines too imposing, and tell Ivan
to pack it. A Russian millionaire expects
me at the end of my journey. Don't
breathe n word of it to any of Simpkinss
people, or the whole game will be up.
Keep it dark -
was so charmed at being, as it were,
behind the scenes, that crept about the
office all day in a sort os cloak and bloody
dagger style, with responsibility and
brooding care marked on every feature
and when at night l stepped out and stole
'ies=a. u the station the, unpreiudiced OBJ
server would certainly have guessed. from
NV general behavior, that | had emptied
the contents of the strong box, before
starting, into that little valise of Greg
oIys. 1t was imprudent Of him, by the
way. to leave English labels posted all
over it.
Having paid the necessary rubles and
got my ticket. / ensconced myself in the
corner Of 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 n great thing for me. Dreams
arose Of partnership III the firm. The
noisy wheels seemed to clank out Bailey,
Robinson 4 Co.." Bailey, Robinson &
Co.." in monotonous refrain, which
gradually sank into a hum and finally
ceased as | dropped into n deep sleep.
Had | known the experience which await
ed 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. tall dark man had
taken up his position on theseat opposite,
and his black sinister eyes seemed to look
through me and beyond me, as if he
wished 10 read my very soul. Then |
saw him glance down at my little trunk.
Good heavens !" thought |, ''hcre's
Simpkins's agent, | suppose. 1t was
crreless of Gregory to leave those con-
founded labels on the valise"
/ closed my eyes for time, but on re-
opening them again caught the strangers
earnest gaze.
From England, l see, " he said in Rus
sian. showing row of white teeth in
what was meant to he all amiable smile
'Yes, replied, trying to look uncon-
cerned, but painfully aware Of my fail
ure.
Travelling for pleasure, perhaps 2"
srid he
'Yes, / answered, eagerly. Certain
ly, for pleasure nothing else.
''Of course not said he. with n shade
of irony in his voice. 'Englishmen al
ways travel for pleasure, don't they? o
no, nothing else ~
was relieved when the train pulled up
in the tumblc-down shed which does duty
for station i'll the rising town of SolteG
| WAS 10 be expected at the end Of my
Journey, so Mr. Dickson had informed
me. | looked about among the motley
crowd, but saw 10 Mr.. Dimidoff. Sud
denly a slovenly, unshaved man passed
me rapidly, and glanced first at me and
then at my trunk-that wretched trunk
the cause of all my wees. He disappear
ed in the crowd but in little time came
strDlliDg past NE AGAIN, and contrived to
whisper as he did SO, Follow me, but at
= me di-iahca immediately setting off
....... H." station and down the street at
Il rapid pace. Here WAS mystery with II
vengeance | trotted along in his rear
with my valisc, and on turning the corner
found rough droschky waiting for me-
Ny unshaven friend opened the door and
| stepped III.
as Mr.. Dim" was beginning.
"Hush !" he cried. ''No names, no
names the very walls have ears. You
will hear all tonight - and with that AS
surance he closed the door, and seizing
the reins we drove of at rapid pace SO
rapid that | saw my hlack-eyed acquaint-
ance Of the railway carriage gazing after
us in surprise until we were out of sight
The droschky stopped, and my drivers
shaggy head appeared through the aper-
ture.
at is here, most honored master" he
said. as he helped me to alight.
''Is Mr.. Dimi-"I commenced but he
interrupted me again.
Anything but names, he whispered /;
anything but that You are too used to
n land that is free Caution, o sacred one y
aud he ushered Inc down a stone tagged
passage and upa stair at the end of it.
''Sit for few minutes IN this room," he
said, opening door, "and a repast will
be served for you = and with that he left
me to my own reflections.
soon heard steps approaching down
the corridor, and the door was opened by
my old friend of the droschky. He an
nomced that my dinner was ready, and,
with many vows and apologies for leaving
me m what he called the ''dismnl room,
he led me down the passage and into II
large and beautifully furnished apart
ment. \ table was spread for two in the
centre of 1T, and by the fire was standing
man very little older than myself. He
turned as I came in and stepped forward
TO meet me with every symptom of pro-
found respect
so young and yet 80 honoredl'' he ex-
claimed and then, seeming to recollect
himself, he continued 'Pray sit Mt the
head Of the table You must be fatigued
by your long and arduous Journey. We
dine tete-d-totc but the others assem-
bic afterward
''Mr. Dimidoii, | presume p said l.