Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-13


"May 1, at least count upon your loyalty
and blind obedience? You would be lost
were you to betray mer'
"Why will you give yourself the trouble
to threaten me? I have told you I have
nothing to fear. Rich people and men in
high position may tremble when they think
of the dark power you WELD, but I, do not
care. I was born an honest man. As was
honest in good things shall not cease to be
honest in bad things also. As soon as I ac-
cept your conditions I am yours entirely"
Schelm looked at him sharply, opened his
portemonnaie, and began slowly to count
the bank notes. At the sight of the money
Miller's eyes glowed with covetousness.
Schelm counted them once more, pinned
them together and said. finally:
! "Here are the 10, 900 rubles you demand" "
Miller eagerly stretched out his hand.
zone moment" said Schelm. "Who Sc
cures me that. when you have my money,
| you keep your promise?"
Miller drew himself up with dignity.
''My word ought to satisfy your
Schelm laughed scornfully.
This harsh, defying laugh wounded
Miller's heart. He hung his head and soid
in low voice: "Schelm. Schelm, it is not
| right in you to treat me sop
"Ha! ha! haP' laughed Schelm again,
quite as contemptuously as before. "You
do not wish me to make merry over your
word of honor? Confess that is rather COM
ical in such moment"
The man from Courland sprang up and
walked up to the great man. H is face was
deadly pale and an expression Q. dumb pain
distorted his mouth.
''Look here, nv friend" he said in sup
pressed tone of voice and in abrupt sem
tences; I'VE have sat upon the same benches
at school and entered life together. You
can to-day do me favor for which shall
be your lifelong debtor. You have big
sum of money in your hand. With that
pose. Do more! Lend me the hundredth
part of the amount. The humiliation
which your laughter has inflicted upon me
will give me the necessary strength to per-
severe in the path of virtue. I shall repay
the 100 rubles, preserve my honor and begin
to work. Do this, schoolmate, and you
will earn the merit of having done good
deed"
Tears stifed his voice; his eyes and his
whole carriage were eloquent. Schelm took
off his spectacles and regarded him as he
would have regarded curiosity; at last he
turned aside and said, very drily:
''I do not understand you."
Miller passed his sleeve quickly over his
mOlSL eyelluS, suppressed Ills SODs, turned
round and fell into chair.
81 was fool" he cried. How could I
expect to find in Schelm trace of a noble
sentiment? In vain! 1 cannot escape my
fate; cannot remain an honest man when
everything is against me. I am ready to sell
myself. Pardon me for thinking, for a
moment even, so we'll of both of us! Let us
make our bargainp'
Silent and solemn as usual, Schelm made
no reply. Miller trembled at the thought
that he might break off the negotiations.
The notes were still lying on the table.
Miller looked at them f1edly; they would
suffice him for life. All OF sudden cramp
seized him in the stomach and reminded him
that he was suffering hunger. With a
trembling voice he repeated, therefore:
"Hand it herel I am ready for every
thing"
Schelm answered, cooily:
"Y6u will write ME an acknowledgment
of Indebtedness for that sum and solemn
promise to do my bidding. These last i've
minutes have increased my distrust consid-
erably."
The man breathed again.
at that is all-willingIyl Dictate if you
choose; I'll sign anythingP'
Schelm dictated:
81 have received from M. Schelm, head
of division in the Ministry OF the Interior,
the sum of 10000 rubles as com pensation for
the trouble and the steps which I pledge
myself TO take in behalf the speedy dis
covery of all the motives and the branches
of the conspiracy-"
At these words Schelm paused Miller
looked up at him and their glances met for
a moment.
"How shall we call rhem?"
rir 1aax for
letters. If the thing succeeds, everybody
will know what that means"
Miller's hand did not tremble; he wrote
the prescribed letters. Schelm rose and
looked over the writer's shoulders In the
folds of the portiere the head OF Nicholas
Popof appeared. for a moment. Schelm
went on debating:
81 bind myself to serve M. schelm as
agent provocateur-"
Miller cast one more imploring look at
Schelm, and a deadly pallor covered his
face.
"How did you say" he asked, and his
voice ratified in his throat.
"As agent provocateur," repeated Schelm
"And now sign your iull name, with all
your titles. Have YOU done?"
eyes" replied Miller, so low that Schelm
could hardly hear it.
ward the small man whom he had pur-
chased, and then carefully locked up the
contract signed by Miller and his certificate
of indebtedness in one of the drawers of his
table.
'I cannot understand what value you
attach to these papers," said Miller.
'You will understand it., was the reply,
"when you are again in better circumstances.
But you will see this much even now. By
virtue of this sheet of paper you are in nv
power. Whenever you repay me the money
I have paid you this paper also will be re-
turned to you"
Miller bowed and went into the adjoining
room. There he found an official who |
seemed to watch the last remnant of a coal
fire in the CRATE. At the noise of the clos
ing OF the door he turned round quickly.
"NIcholas Popoff!' cried Miller. aston
ished. "What are you doing here?''
Hush! hush! neighbor," whispered |
Nicholas. "ScheIm's goodness has present.
ed me with nv dismissal. An obliging COL |
league has allowed me to do my duty to-day |
and 1 hope L may procure my pardon. But |
what are you yourself doing here, neigh
Dor? 1 saw you enter, but 1 did not trust my
owp eyes,"
"I have in the meantime thought f you,"
replied Miller, "and L have found a place
Tor you Wnlcn Will pay you Detter tnan what |
you get here, even il, contrary TO my expecta-
tions, Schelm should be merciful and pardon |
you."
"But, neighbor, who are you-really?"
''That does not matter to you. am able |
to do you great service. Go at once, TO-
morrow in the forenoon, to II English street,
and ask Tor Count Vladimir Lanin. 1 have
you to him and he will make |
you his Private Secretary with salary of
100 roubles a month and Tree board and |
lodging. l, myself. shall not return to my
former quarters. You can take whatever
Won NAV find there; it does not amount to |