Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-11-01


weeks board was due; and | had no
friends to apply to.
NV thoughts turned naturally tC the
Central park reservoir. but | had not
the car-farc. and lacked the energy to
take me there.
l had had hopes of advancement at
Eondervitch Bros; that was over now.
: But / was young. and after dinner be-
gan to ponder'on some way of earning
fame and fortune and presenting my
self to Theodora's 5 father as an aspirant
for the situation of son-in-law whom
he could scarcely refuse. AT all events
it seemed certain that could soon find
q situation of some sort.
Three months from that day this OBJ
ject Was not attained. | was desperate
| had sold my watch my dress-coat,
my tall hat, and my searf-pin. and was
deeply in debt besides. The day be-
fore had happened to meet a fellow
clerk-one of the bald ones-and he
told me that Theodore was engaged to
asilver king or an oil king or pc
cuniary king of some sort by the name
of Boggs, and had resolved to ship
for sailor. had wandered about
the docks all day. and at last engaged
rs a green hand on the schooner Polly
Whittles: and. prior to going on board.
passed the night in dismal little no
tel near the waters edge, an advance
having been made me for the purpose
on an umbrella. which | could not pos
sibly need at sea.
The room was whitewashed place
like cell and dismally dirty and cold,
but soon discovered that there was a
register in the corner and opened it.
The heat rushed in; so did considera-
BILE gas But sat down before it with
my elbows on my knees and my chin
in my palms, and fell into my old habit
Of building air-castles. had Just dis
covered a treasure island in mid-ocean,
when my visions were dispelled by
loud click at my ear, and voice growl-
ed:
Ivan Eondervitch.
started and looked about me.
There WAS no one in the room. Was
it nv fancy that played me this trick?
No; for again the name was repeated
by some one speaking Russian, which
/ understood very well. one of my
duties having been to answer business
letters in that language.
Ivan Eondervitch." repeated the
voice. shall thus be sent to hades."
He did not say hades, but while we
are trsnslating why not be As elegant
as We can.
confess that. supposing it to be
Satan in person who was speaking. l
did nss feel anxious 10 combat his
resolution rs to the final disposal of
my Theodoras cruel parent. But "a
moments reflection convinced me that
the voice came through the register.
The t,ow of heat hal ceased. and the
person who hsd turned il into his room
had established a sort Of >peaking-tube
communication with mine. l WAS
tempted to cry out:
Hello, | am with you."
But, happily, refraincd. and the
Russian spoke again shortly.
Ivan Eonderyitch little thought
Peter GorokoH would be able to re-
venge himself"
Then followed recital of injuries re-
ccived at the hands of Ivan Wonder
Witch some forty Years before. when the
men were youths Of ~ and in love with
the same woman; and l also learned
that Vonderyitch still took an interest
IN the peliaiss Of his country, and had
acted 2s = spy OF Solne small secret so
siety.
In consequence uf this be ws tO be
put Sat of the way. and Gorokof, ~ u
favor. had been appointed to do the
decd His passage had been paid to
America for the purpose; but the fast
that Noudersiteh, being aware of his
danger kai himself constantly guard
cd by y policeman in plain clothes.
had stood in tLs way VI kis taking of.
''Bu, at last" said Gorokoff. my
opportunity has come; the house next
d.or is to let; the society has hired it.
vonderyitch's bedroom has iron bars
1T the window. and wonderful locks ON
the door; but there is only u party wall
between it and n eert2in room in the
next house. have made "A hole in the
wall large enough to enter by. Be-
tween me aud his bedside remains only
some gorgeous paper. He has been
away for some days; he returns to-
morrow; tomorrow night | cut the
heavy paper so i lifts like curtain,
enter the room. plunge my dagger in
to Vondervitch's bastard heart. I
leave is there; pass through the hole;
gum down the paper; replace brick
and mortar. Notrace remains that can
tell that the poor little " watehman of the
empty house next door has freed the
world Of Ivan Vondervitch. Is my
plan good?"
'Glorious. replied the other Rus
sian. Embrace me, Peter Gorokotf. "
i Il
clinking of glasses.
Nothing could be done that night SO
returned to bed. and when | awoke
the whole thing seemed like dream
At all events. what wns it to me that
An old tyrant. who had made beyyar
Of me. and was about to marry his
daughter to silver king. was about to
be assassinated by u secret society Of
Russians?"
No doubt he richly deserves it,"
said, rs still lay upon my dingy bed.
thinking it all over. However, while
dressing. l began to feel more like my
self. aud knew that it WAS my duty TO
give Ivan Vondervi,ch warning of his
danger, and the consequence was that
presented myself At she old office in
the Swamp, about, the hour Of noon
Shortly carriage drove up; Ivan
stepped out Of it. As be entered the
building stood before him.
Sir" said l. Il want y word with
yoa."
"Y0u cant have it." said he.
II must" said l.
''Eh," said he, putting up his eye
glass. Upon my word, must TO me-
but this h free America
IF you value your life you will listen
to me" said l, in lower tone
You threaten ME. DO you9" he
asked.
No" said l. But Peter Gorokotf
does"
Mr.. Vonderviteh turned pale.
Come into my Office" said he. He
led the way. | followed him. Sit
down." said he.
No" said l, 1t is not necessary,
only desire to warn you that the so
eiety"-and gave him the Russian
name, which it is rs well to omit here,
as nome Of my raadnrS cnnld ,,r>,nrno,