Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-05-07

THAT is information" / replied,
(which do not feel justified in divulg-
ing even here. In Withholding it I am
acting under the direction of the Chief
Commissioner.
'You are right-perfectly right" said
my original friend Petrokine. 'lon
will no doubt make your report to the
central Office at Moscow before entering
into such details.
Exactly so," I replied, only too glad
to get lift out of my difficulty.
'We have heard" said Alexis, ''that
you were sent to inspect the Livadia.
Can you give us any particulars about
it? ?"
Anything you ask I will endeavor to
answer" I replied, in desperation.
"Have any orders been made in Bir-
mlngham concerning ii ?"
'None when left England"
"Well, well, there's plenty of time
yet" said the man with the beard,
many months. Will the bottom be of
wood or iron?"
"Of wood" I answered at random.
"Tis well T. said another voice.
"And what is the breadth of the Clyde
below Greenock?"
sit varies much" 1 replied; con an
average about eighty yards"
"How many men does she carry ?"
asked an an@mic looking youth at the
foot of the table, who seemed more fit
for a public school than this den of
murder.
"About three hundred" said I.
ga floating coffin p said the young
Nihilist, in sepulchral voice.
''Are the store rooms on level with
or underneath the state cabins ?" asked
Petrokine.
Underneath, said /. decisively,
though 1 need hardly say had not the
smallest conception.
''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 deadlock with vengeance.
Whether my cunning would have extri-
Gated me from it or not was never de-
cided, for Providence hurried me from
one dilemma to another and worse
one.
A door slammed down stairs and
rapid footsteps were approaching. Then
came a loud tap outside, followed by
two smaller ones.
"The sign of the society I" said Petro-
kline; "and yet We are all present; who
can it be?"
! The door was thrown open, and 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 a start of sur
prise in the room. He was evidently
stranger to them ALL
''What means this intrusion, sir ?"
said my friend with the beard.
Intrusion - said the stranger. AI
was given to understand that l was ex-
pected, and had looked forward to a
warmer welcome from my fellow asso-
ciates. am personally unknown to
you, gentlemen, but | am proud to
think that my name should command
some respect among you. l am Gus
tave Berger, the agent from England,
bearing letters from the Chief Commits
sioner to his we'll beloved brothers of
Solteff.'
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 OH me and upon
the newly arrived agent
" IL you are indeed Gustave Berger"
said Petrokine, "who is this %
"That 1 am Gustave Berger these
credentials will show, " said the stranger,
as he threw packet upon the table.
but If he has intruded himself upon the
lodge under false pretences it is clear
that he must never carry out of the
room what he has learned. Speak, sir, !"
he added, addressing me, "who and
what are you !"
/ felt that my time had come. My
revolver was in my hip pocket; but
what was that against so many desperate
men? l grasped the butt of it, how.
ever, as n drowning man clings to
straw, and ! tried to preserve my cool
ness as l glanced round at the cold,
vindictive faces turned toward me.
Gentlemen" I said, I" the role
have played tonight has been purely
involuntary one on my part. am no
police spy, as You seem to suspect, nor,
on the other hand, have I the honor to
be O member of your association. I am
an inoffensive corn dealer, who, by an
extraordinary mistake, has been forced
into this unpleasant and awkward posi-
ton"
/ paused for moment Was it my
fancy that there was peculiar noise in
the street-a noise as of many feet tread
ing softly? No, it had died away; it
was but the throbbing of my own heart
81 need hardly say" I continued,
"that anything may have heard to-
night will be safe in my keeping Ipledge
my solemn honor as gentleman 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.
My back was toward the door as I sat,
but could have sworn that / heard
heavy breathing behind 1t. Was it the
three minions whom I had seen before
in the performance of their hateful
functions, and who, like vultures, had
shifted another victim?
/ looked round the table, Still the
same hard cruel faces. Not one glance
of sympathy. I cooked the revolver in
my pocket.
There was a painful silence, which
was broken by the harsh, grating voice
of Petrokine.
Promises are easily made and aasilv