Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-05-06

I
tyrant? You did, Paul Ivanovitch and you
must die"
leaned back in my chair and fairly gasp
ed.
'Remove him /" said Petrokine and the
man Of the droschky with two others forced
him out.
1 heard the footsteps pass down the pas
sage, and then door open and shut. Then
came a sound as of struggle, ended by a
heavy crunching blow and a dull thud.
80 perish all who are false to their oath, "
said Alexis solemnly and a hoarse "Amen"
went up from his companions.
Death alone can dismiss us from our Or
der" said another man further down ''but
Mr.. )Berg-Mr. Robinson is pale. The scene
has been too much for him after his long
journey from England"
10 Tom, Tom" thought l. ''if ever you
get out Of this scrape you'll turn over new
leaf. You're not iit to die, and that's fact"
It was only too evident 10 me now that by
some strange misconception l had got in
among a gang Of cold -blooded Nihilists, who
mistook me for one of their order felt, af-
ter what had Witnessed that my only chance
of life was to try to play the role thus forced
upon me until an opportunity for escape
should present itself so 1 tried hard to re-
gain my air Of elf-possession, which had
been so radely shaken.
II am indeed faigued, replied 'but 1
feel stronger now. Excuse my momentary
weakness"
"It was but natural" said a man with
thick beard at my right hand. "And now,
most honored sir, how goes the cause in Eng
land 2"
Remarkably well, " answered.
HAS the great commissioner condescended
TO send n missive to the Solicit branch ?" ask
ed Petrokine.
Nothing in writing" replied.
"But he has spoken of III"
Eyes; he said he had watched it with feel
ings Of the livelest satisfaction" returned.
''Tis well It's well !" ran round the ia
Bile.
II felt giddy and sick from the critical ma
ture of my position. Any moment q question
might be asked which would show me in my
true colors. 1 rose and helped myself from
decanter Of brandy which stood on a side ta-
BILE. The potent liquor few to my excited
brain, and as sat down / felt reckless enough
to be half amused at my position, and inclin-
ed to play with my tormentors still, how
ever, had all my wits about me.
"You have been to Birmingham 2" asked
the man with the beard.
MANY times" said /.
''Then you have of course seen the private
workshop and arsenal?"
II have been over them both more than
once"
''It is still, suppose, entirely unsupported |
by the police 2" continued my interrogator.
Entirely, replied.
"Can you tell us how it is that 30 large a |
concern is kept SO completely secret ?"
Here was poser, but my native impudence |
and the brandy seemed 70 come to my aid.
THAT is information" replied, (which 1 |
do not feel justified in divulging even here
In withholding "A I inn aatipO 4 h.,
ton 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 Mos
COW before entering into such details"
Exactly So" replied, only too happy to
get lift out of my difficulty.
ave have heard" said Alexis ''that you
were sent to inspect the Livadia. Can you
give us any particulars about ?"
Anything you ask will endeavor TO an
swer," replied in desperation.
"Have any orders been made in BirminR-
ham concerning it p
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?"
'0f wood" / answered at random.
''Tis well!" said another voice. "And
what is the breadth of the Clyde below
Greenock"
1T varies much" replied; ION an aver
age about eighty yards"
"How many men does she carry ?" asked
an anemic-looking youth at the foot of the
table, who seemed more fit for public school
than this den of murder.
about three hundred, said l.
"a floating coffin !" said the young Nihilist
in q sepulchral voice.
"Are the store-rooms on a level with or
underneath the state cabins? asked Petro-
kline.
Underneath" said decisively, though 1
need hardly say had not the smallest con-
ception.
land now, most honored sir, said Alexis,
''tell us what was the reply of Bauer the Ger
man Socialist to Ravinsky's proclamation"
Here was a deadlock with a vengeance
Whether my cunning would have extricated
me from ii or not was never decided, for
Providence hurried me from one dilemma in
10 another and a 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 Petrokine
''and yet We are all present. who can 1t
be ?"
The door was thrown open, and man en-
Iered, dusty and travel-stained, but with an
lir of authority and power stamped on every
feature of his harsh but expressive face. He
glanced round the table, scanning each coun-
.enance carefully. There was start of sur
prise in the room. He was evidently q stran-
ger to them all.
''What means this intrusion, sir ?" said my
iriend with the beard.
Intrusion !" said the stranger. 81 was
given to understand that was expected, and
aah lONEad fOruard IN n 1
rom my fellow associates. 1 am personally
Unknown TO you, gentlemen, but 1 am proud
o think that my name should command some
espect among you. / am Gustave Berger,
he agent from England, bearing letters from
he chief commissioner TO his well-beloved
of Solteff."
One of their own bombs could hardly have
reated greater surprise had it been fired in
he midst of them. Every eye was fixed al
ernately on me and upon the newly arrived
gent.
'If you are indeed Gustave Berger" said
"who is this ?"
"That 1 am Gustave Berger these creden-
ials will show" said the stranger, as he
brew packet upon the table. "Who that
nan may be / know not but if he has in.
ruded himself upon the lodge under false
it is clear that he must never car
y out of the room what he has learned.
peak sir, " he added, addressing me ''who
nd what are you p
l felt that my time had come. My revolver
Tas in my hip-pocket; but what was that
gainst 80 many desperate men9 grasped
he butt of II, however as a drowning man
lings TO a straw, and tried 10 preserve my
oolness as glanced round at the cold, vim
ictive faces turned toward me.
"Gentlemen, l said, ''the role have play
d tonight has been purely involuntary one /
n my part. am no police spy, as you seem
o suspect, nor, on the other hand, have / the l
onor to be q member of your association. / {
m An inoffensive corn dealer, who, by an eI- ]
mistake, has been forced into this
unpleasant and awkward position"
l paused for q moment. Was il my fancy |
hat there was peculiar noise in the street I
noise as of many feet treading softly No, {
had died away It was but the throbbing
. .