The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-05-11

! w iio SAe tiiC NllC tlidG .NOuiu nav
destroyed the arch-tyrant? You did
Paul Ivanovitch and you mus
die"
l leaned back in my chair anC
fairly gasped.
Remove him p said Petrokine
and the man of the droschky witt
two others forced him out.
| heard the footsteps pass dowr
the passage, and then door oper
and shut. Then came a sound as
of a struggle, ended by heay,
crunching blow and a dull thud.
"Se perish all who are false tC
their oath, said Alexis solemnly
and hoarse amen" went up from
his companions.
death alone can dismiss US from
our order" said another man furth-
er down "but Mr.. Berg-Mr. Rob,
inson is pale. The scene has been
too much for him after his long
journey from England"
20 Tom, Tom," thought /, I'll
ever you get out of this scrape you'll
turn over a new leaf. You're not fit
to die, and that's a fact 1t was
only too evident to me now that by
some strange misconception | had
got among gang of cold-blooded
Nihilists, who mistook me for one ol
their order. / felt, after what l had
witnessed, that my only chance of
life was to play the role thus forced
upon me until an opportunity for es-
cape presented itself; so | tried
hard to regain my air of self-posses-
sion, which had been so rudely
shaken.
Il am indeed Eatigued," l replied,
"but | feel stronger now. Excuse
my momentary weakness"
at was but natural,n said a man
with beard at my right hand. "And
now, most honored sir, how goes the
cause in England?"
Remarkably WE'LL" | answered.
"Has the great commissioner con-
descended to send missive to the
Solteff branch ?" asked Petrokine.
Nothing in writing" | replied.
''But he has spoken ofit?"
Yes; he said he had watched it
with feelings of the liyeliest satisfac-
tion," | returned.
"'Tis well It's wellm ran round
the table.
Il felt giddy and sick from the
critical nature of my position. Any
moment question might be asked
which would show me in my true
colors. / rose and helped myself
from a decanter Of brandy which
stood on a side table. The potent
liquor flew to my excited brain, and
as / sat down l felt reckless enough
to be half amused at my position,
and inclined to play with my tor
mentors. l still, however, had al
my wits about me.
you have been to Birmingham ?'
asked the man with the beard.
MANY times" said |.
Then you of course have seen
the private workshop and arsenal?"
81 have been over them both
more than once"
1T is still, l suppose, entirely
unsuspected by the police? ?' con-
tinued my interogator.
Entirely" | replied.
"Can you tell US how it is that so
large a concern is kept so com
pletely secret?"
'Here was poser, but my native
impudence and brandy seemed to
come to my aid.
"That is information | replied,
(which l do not feel justified in
divulging even here. In withhold
ing it | am acting under the direc.
tions of the chief commissioner"
"You are right-perfectly right, !"
said my original friend Petrokine.
"You will no doubt make your re-
port to the central office at Moscow
before entering into such details"
Exactly So" | replied, only too
happy to get lift out of my diff
Guilty.
ave have heard" said Alexis,
that you were sent to inspect the
Livadia. Can you give us any par
ticulars about it?"
anything you ask | viii endeav-
or to answer" l replied in despera-
ton.
"Hayc any orders been made in
Birmingham concerning it p
None when | LETT England"
"Well, well, there's plenty Of time
yet" said the man with the beard
-"may months. Will bottom be OF
wood or iron?"
"Of wood" l answered atrandom.
"'Tis well p said another voice.
"And what is the breadth of the
CLYDE below Greenock?"
at varies much" | replied 'on
an average about eighty yards.
.How many men does she carry ?'''
asked an manufacturing youth at
the foot of the table, who seemed
more fit for a public school than
this den of murder.
"About three hundred" said /.
"a floating coffin p said the
young Nihilist in a sepulchral voice.
Are the store-rooms on level
with or underneath the state cabins"
asked Petrokine.
"Underneath." said / decisively,
though l need hardly say ! had not
the smallest conception.
"And now, most honored sir, y
said Alexis, ''tell us what was
the reply of Bauer the German So
cialist to Ravinsky's proclamation. u
Here was deadlock with ven
geance. Whether my cunning
would have extricated me from it OF
not was never decided. for Provi.
dence hurried me from one dilem-
ma into another and a worse one.
A door slammed down stairs, and
rapid footsteps were heard ap-
preaching. Then came loud tap
outside, followed by two smaller
ones.
"The sign of the society," said
Petrokine; "and yet we are all pre-
sent; who can it be?"
The door was thrown open, and q
man entered dusty and trayel-stain.