Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-08-29

scended to send missive to the Sol
teff branch o. asked Petrokine.
Nothing in writing" replied.
"But he has spoken of it?"
Eyes, he said he had watched 1t with
feelings of the liveliest satisfaction" l
returned.
"'T1s well, It's we'll p ran round the
table.
felt giddy and sick from the criti-
cal nature of my position. Any mo-
ment question might be asked which
would show me in my true colors. [
rose and helped myself from decanter
of brandy which stood on side table.
The potent liquor flew to my excited
brain, and as [ sat down [ felt reckless
enough to be half amused at my posi-
ton, and inclined to play with my tor
mentors. l still, however, had all my
wits about me-"
"You have been to Birmingham ?"
asked the man with the beard.
"Many times" said l.
''Then you have, of course. seen the
private work shop and arsenal ?"
81 have been over them both more
than once"
at is still, suppose, entirely un-
suspected by the police ?" continued my
interrogation.
Entirely" replied.
"Can you tell us how it is that so
large concern is kept so completely
secret 2"
Here was a poser, but my native i'm
pudence and the brandy seemed to come
to my aid.
"That is information" l replied
(which do not feel justified in dlvulg-
ing even here. In Withholding it am
acting under the direction of the chief
commissioner.
"You are right-perfectly right,"
said my original friend Petrokine. "You
will, no doubt, make your report to the
central Office at Moscow before entering
into such details
Exactly so, l replied, only too hap
py to get lift out of my difficulty.
"And now, most honored sir" said
Alexis, ''tell US what was the reply of
Bauer, the German socialist, to Ravin-
sky's proclamation ?"
Here was a deadlock with a ven
geance. Whether my cunning would
have extricated me from it or not was
never decided for Providence hurried
me from one dilemma into another and
worse one.
A door slammed down stairs, and
rapid footsteps were heard approaching.
Then came loud tap outside, followed
by two smaller ones.
"The sign of the society,"" said Petro-
kline; land yet we are all present; who
can it be ?"
The door was thrown open, and a
man entered, dusty and travel-stained,
but with an air of authority and power
stamped on every feature of his harsh
but expressive face. He glanced round
the table, scanning each countenance
carefully. There was start of surprise
in the room. He was evidently stran-
ger to them all.
"What means this intrusion, sir ?'
asked my friend with the beard.
Intrusion !'' said the stranger. 81
was given to understand that 1 was ex-
pected, and had looked forward to a
warmer welcome from my fellow-associ-
ates. l am personally unknown to you
gentlemen, but am proud to think my
name should command some respect
among you. am Gustave Berger, the
agent from England, bearing letteIs
from the chief commissioner to his we'll
beloved brothers of Solteff."
One of their own bombs could hardly
have created greater surprise had it been
fired in the midst of them. Every eye
: was fixed alternately on me and upon
the newly-arrived agent.
"If you are indeed Gustave Berger, y
said Petrokine, ''who is this %
"That I am Gustave Berger, these
credentials will show, said the stranger
as he threw a packet upon the table
: "Who that man may 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.
r he added. addressing me; "who and
l what are you?"
/ "Gentlemen," said, 'the role l have
/ played tonight has been purely invol
untary one on my part. | am no police
r spy, as you seem to suspect, nor on tn,
a other hand. have 1 the honor to be
/, member of your association. am al
: inoffensive corn dealer. who, by an ex
e traordinary mistake, has been forced
a into this unpleasant and awkward posi-
: tion.'
), paused for moment. Was it m.
y fancy that there was peculiar noise il
e the street, noise as of many feet tread
= ing softly? No. it had died away; i