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

men, but am proud to think that my
name should command some respect
among you. / am Gustave Berger, the
agent from England, bearing letters
from the chief commissioner to his we'll
beloved brothers of Soltef"
One of their own bombs could hardly
have created greater surprise had it
been fred in the midst of them. Every
eye was fixed alternately upon me
and the newly arrived agent.
If you are indeed Gustave Berger"
said Petroklne, who is this?'
THAT | am Gustaye Berger these
credentials will show" said the stranger
as he threw a packet on the table.
Who that man my be know not;
but If he has intruded himself upon the
lodge under false pretenses, it is clear
that he must never carry out of the
room what he has learned. Speak, sir, .
he added, addressing me, "who are you
and what are your"
felt that my time had come. My
revolver was in my hip pocket but
what was that against so many desper-
ate men2 grasped the butt Of it,
however, as a drowning man clings to
a straw, and | tried to preserve my
GOODNESS as | glanced round at the cold,
vindictive faces turned toward me.
Gentleman" / said, "the role | have
played tonight has been a purely in
voluntarily one on my part. am no
4 n0tInp a.
nor, on the other hand, have | the
honor to be member of your associ-
ton. | am an inoffensi7e corn dealer,
who, by an extraordinary mistake, has
been forced into this unpleasant and
awkward position
paused for moment. Was it my
fancy that there was a peculiar noise
in the street-a noise of many feet
treading softly? No, it had died away !;
it was but the throbbing of my own
heart.
II need hardly say" | continued,
that anything I may have heard to-
night will be safe in my keeping. /
pledge my solemn honor as gentle
man that not one word of it shall
transpire through me-"
/ The senses of men in great physical
danger become strangely acute, or
their imagination plays them curious
tricks. Ny back was toward the door
as sat, but could have sworn that I
heard heavy breathing behind me.
Was it the three rfffnions whom / had
seen before in the performance of their
hateful functions, and who like vul-
teres had shifted another victim2
looked around the table. Still the
the same hard, cruel faces. Not one
glance of sympathy. | cooked the re-
volver IN my pocket.
There was a painful silence, which
was broken by the harsh, grating voice
of Petrokine.
Promises are easily made and easily
broken" he said "There is but one
way of securing eternal silence It is
our lives or yours. Let the highest
among us speak"
"You are right, sir" said the Eng
lish agent; "there is but one course
open. He must be dismissed"
| knew what that II. cant in their con-
founded jargon, and sprang to my feet.
'By Heavenp | shouted, putting
my back against the door, ''you shan't
butcher a free Englishman like a
sheep The first among you who stirs
drops !"
A man sprang at me. | saw along
| the sights Of my Derringer the CLEAN
of knife and the demoniacal face Of
Gustave Berger. Then | pulled the
| trigger, and with his hoarse sore m
sounding II my ears, I was felled to the
ground by a crashing blow from be-
hind. Half unconscious and pressed
down by some neavy weight, | heard
| the noise of shouts and blows upon me,
and then | tainted away.
When / came to myself | was lying
among the debris Of the door, which
had been beaten in on top of me.
Opposite we've dozen of the men who
had lately sat in judgment upon me,
score of Russian soldiers. Beside me
was the corpse of the ill-fated English
agent, the whole face blown in by the
force of the explosion Alexis and
Petrokine were both lying on the floor
like myself, bleeding profusely.
"Well, young fellow. you've had
narrow escape said a hearty voice in
my ear.
/ looked up and recognized my
black-eyed acquaintance of the rail
road carriage.
''Stand up" he continued, you're
only bit stunned: no bones broken.
It's no wonder mistook you for the
Nihilist agent, when the very Lodge it
self was taken in. Well, you're the
only stranger who ever came out of
this den alive. Come down stairs with
me. I know who you are and what
you are after now; I'll take you to Mr..
Dimidoff. Nay, don't go in there" he
cried, as / walked toward the door of
the cell into which had been origin
ally ushered. "You have seen evil
sights enough for one day. Come
down and have glass of liquor"
He explained as we walked back to
the hotel that the police Of Solicit, of
which he was the chief. had had warn
ing and been on the lookout during
some time for this Nihilistic emissary.
My arrival in SO unfrequented a place,
coupled with my air of secrecy and the
English labels on that COMPOUNDED
portmanteau of Gregory's, had COM
!pleted the business.
have little more to tell. Ny Social
istic acquaintance were all either
transported to Siberia or executed. My
mission WAS performed to the satisfac
ton of my employers. My conduct
during the whole business has won me
promotion, and my prospect for life
has been improved since that horrible
night, the remembrance of which still
makes me shiver.