The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-05-11
4 NIGHT WITH THE NiHIaIsTs.

Robinson, Mr.. Dickson wants
you !"
"The dickens he does thought /;
for Mr.. Dickson, Odessa agent OF
Bailey q Co, corn-merchants, was a
bit of Tartar, as | had learned to
my cost. What's the row now ?"
| demanded of my fellow clerk, has
he got some OF the Nicolaieif esca-
pade, or what is 1t p
NO idea" said Gregory the old
boy seems in a good enough humor I;
some business matter, probably.
But don't keep him waiting So,
summoning up an air of injured in
nocence, to be ready for all contin-
gencies, marched into the lions
den.
Mr.. Dickson was standing before
the fire in Briton's time-honored
attitude. and motioned me into a
chair in front of him. Mr.. Robin
son." he said, Il have great conf
dence in your discretion and COM
mon sense. The follies OF youth will
break out, but | think that yon
have a sterling foundation to your
character underlying any superficial
levity."
bowed.
81 believe" he continued, that
you can speak Russian pretty flu
entity"
/ bowed again.
81 have then" he proceeded, "a
mission which | wish you TO under
take. and on the success Of which
your promotion may depend. !
would not trust it to a subordinate,
were it not that duty ties me 10 my
post at present.
"You may depend upon my doing
my best, sir" ! replied.
Fright sir, quite right What |
wish you 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 in
securing the produce OF that dis
trict. which / have reason to believe
NAV be had at verv low prices. You
will proceed by rail to Solteh, and
interview a Mr.. Dimidoff, who Is the
largest landed proprietor III the
town. Make as favorable terms as
YOU can with him. Both Mr. Dimi-
doff 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 appears in Odessa.
| desire it for the interest OF the firm,
and Mr.. Dimidoff on account Of the
prejudice his peasantry entertain
against expectation. You viii find
yourself expected at the end of your
| Journey, and viii start tonight.
Money shall be ready for your ex-
penses. Good-morning, Mr.. Robin
son l hope you won't fail to real
ize the good opinion have OF your
abilities"
@Gregory,n said, as ! strutted in
to the office, I'm off on mission,
a 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 Russian millionair expects me al
the end of my journey. Done
breathe a word of it to any of Simp.
kin's people, or the whole game will
be up. Keep it dark )"
| was so charmed at being, as il
were. behind the scenes, that | crepi
about the Office all day in sort OF q
acknowledgements style, with
responsibility and brooding care
marked upon every feature and
when at night L stepped out and
stole down to the station, the un'
prediudiced observer would certain
liy have guessed from my general be
havior. that j had emptied the con
tents of the strong-boX, before start
ing. into that-little valise OF Grego
RVS. 1t was imprudent of him, by
the way, toleave English labels past
ed all over it. However, l coulc
only hope that the 'Londons' anc
~Birminghams" would attract nt
attention, or, at least, that no riva
corn-merchant might deduce iron
them who | was and what my er
rand might be.
Having paid the necessary rou
bles and got my ticket, l ensconces
myself in the corner of snug Rus
sain car, and pondered over my ex
tranrdinary GOOD fortune. Dickson