The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

when Ivan Berger appears here
ard prefers his charges in person, We
must notice them; till then we can pay
no attention to them"
Ivan Berger Will unmask the traitors
when the tirle is ripe. You asked mt
for information, and [ have given it
Now, if there be no objections, Z snal
retire." said Twenty, moving toward
the door.
II would say to our BROTHER" said
the leader, chat We have yet business
of importance to attend to; it is neces'
sary for him to remain.
eff there is dangerous work to do,
place my number in the bag and let ii
he drawn with the others"
But how am I to know how to find
you if YOU should be drawn?"
Il shall find you; I know you. But
that you may see I am responsible, I
shall leave my card with you, on one
condition." said Twenty.
"What is the condition ?"
"That you do not look at it for three
minutes after my leaving this room?"
II agree" said the leader.
Twenty advanced, laid card on
the table, and then strobe out of the
room.
So eager were the people to hear the
name that before the three minutes
were half up they began calling out:
"Give us the name! Give us the
uamei"
The leader held the bit of white
pasteboard to the light, and his hand
trembled, as did his voice, when he
called out:
"The card bears the name of Ivan
Berger, student at the Royal Institute!'
"Ivan Berger" gasped the people.
And DR.. Mulek and Peter put their
heads together, and asked:
"What does this mean?" but neither
attempted to answer the question.
After time, the leader succeeded IN
obtaining order, and he then proceeded
to startle his hearers out of all memory
OF Ivan Berger, by saying:
"The time has come, nv friends,
when we must strike at higher game.
So far we have destroyed the servants
of the tyrant, now let US destroy the
tyrant himself"
An audible gasp, as if the people
were taken with sudden shortness of
breath, followed this proposition. Then
came murmur of applause.
At some length the audacious leader
went on to explain the methods by
which the Gear of all the Russias
could be slain. and the number Of peo-
pie necessary to do the work effect
lively.
Like man discussing the most Or
dinary scientific topic, he spoke of the
uncertainty and ine;ficiency of the dag
ger and pistol, and of the utter i'm
possibility OF using poison in the food
of his Majesty, though some Of his
cooks were Nihilists.
The destructive power of dynamite,
when confined in glass bombs, YVES
learnedly commented on; and the
leader said in conclusion-or rather
prior to the drawing for the six people,
who, it was decided, would be neces-
sary for the work:
"These bombs can De thrown from
as many points as there are throwers,
and in the confusion that must neces-
sarily follow the death Of the tyrant
and the annihilation of those 10y whom
he is surrounded our avengers can easily
escape detection"
As on former occasion, the numbers
of all present, and the number of Ivan
Berger, twenty" were placed in a bag,
and woman was selected to do the
drawing.
70 the surprise-not to say the de-
ight-of nearly every one present, the
first number drawn was "twenty."
TO the equal surprise, if not the de-
light of all, the next number drawn
was fve.-that of the leader.
Then two women were added to the
list, and lastly DR.. Muleh and Peter
the student, who up to this time
had kept clear of all such duties, drew
prizes.
When the drawing was over. the
leader, who seemed to be thoroughly
self-possessed, said:
"The selected numbers, and those
only, will meet in our private room at
the Cafe d. Amerique, so soon as this
council is over"
Soon after this the meeting ad-
iourned, and Doctor Mulek and Peter
went out arm in arm.
well, Peter" said the Doctor,
speaking IN low tones as they walked
slowly along, "what do you think OF
matters now?"
II think" said Peter, with an oath,
"they are as bad as they we'll can be. !"
THAT fellow was Ivan Berger.
"No doubt of it, Doctor
"Where can he be hiding?'
sDon't know"
"He meant US when lie spoke about
traitors" -
ayes, and if we give him a chance, 1"
said Peter, ""2ie can prove this charge.
It remains. for US to say whether we
shall braTe the terror of the Nihilists
or-tifre minions of the Gar
rs there no escape?"
"None but in fight, and though we
may fly from the Car, we can go to
no part of the world where the Mill
lists have not an organization.
Il heartily wish the Car and every
other king in the world was in his
grave" said the Doctor, moodily,
"and T would put them out of the way
if sure could do so without detection; !;
but shudder when think of openly
attacking the Emperor.
You are coward, Doctor. "
II must confess 7 am, and in that l
much resemble you"
"you ora rioht Doctor. but IOWA rd q