Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-02

Yondervitch Bros; that was over now.
But L was young, and after dinner be-
gan to ponder on some way of earning
fame and fortune and presenting my
self to Theodora's father as an aspirant
for the situation of son-in-law, whom
he could scarcely refuse. At all events
it seemed certain that l could soon find
a situation of some sort.
Three months from that day this OBJ
ject vas not attained. I was desperate.
| had sold my watch, my dreSs-coat,
my tall hat, and my scarf-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
a silver king or an oil king or a Pc
c%uniary king of some sort BY the name
of Boggs, and I had resolved to ship
for a sailor. | had wandered about
the docks all day, and at last engaged
as a green hand on the schooner Polly
Whites; and, prior to going on board,
passed the night in a 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 a whitewashed place
like a 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. I had just dis
covered a treasure island in mid-ocean,
when my visions were dispelled by a
loud click at my ear, and a voice growl-
ed:
"Ivan Vondervitch!"
[ started and looked about me.
There was no one in the Was
It my fancy that played me this trickP
by some one speaking Russian, which
l understood very well, one of my
duties having been to answer business
letters in that language.
"Ivan V~ondervitch," repeated the
voice, 'tshall thus be sent to hades."
He did not say hades, but while we
are translating why not be as elegant
as we canP
[ confess that, %supposing it to be
Satan in person who was speaking, /
did not feel anxious to combat his
resolution as to the final disposal of
my Theodora's cruel parent. But q
moments reflection convinced me that
the voice came through the register.
The flow of heat had ceased, and the
person who had turned it into his room
had established a sort of speaking-tube
communication with mine. / was
tempted to cry out:
"Helloi | am with YOU"
But, happily, [ r~efrained, and the
Russian spoke again shortly.
'1van Vondervitch little thought
Peter Gorokoff would be able to re-
venge HIMSELF
Then followed a recital of injuries re-
ceived at the hands of Ivan Wonder
witch some forty years before, when the
men were youths of 20 and in love with
the same woman; and [ also learned
that Vondervitch still took an interest
in the politics of his country, and had
acted as a spy on some small secret So
ciety.
In consequence of this he was to be
put out of the way, and Gorokoff, as a
favor, had been appointed to do the
deed. His passage had been paid to
America for the purpose; but the fact
that Vondervitch, being aware of his
danger, had himself constantly guard
ed by a policeman in plain clothes,
had stood in the way of his taking off.
"But at last,'' said Gorokof, 'my
opportunity has come; the house next
door is to let; the society has hired it.
Vondervitch's bedroom has iron bars
at the window, and wonderful locks on
the door; but there is only a party wall
between it and a certain room in the
next house. / have made a hole in the
wall large enough to enter by. Be-
tween me and 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 it lifts like a curtain,
enter the room, plunge my dagger in
to Vondervitch's bastard heart. 1
leave it there; | pass through the hole;
/ gum down the paper; | replace brick
and mortar. Notrace remains that a
tell that the poor little Waterman 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 Gorokoff."
After this I heard no more, except a
clinking of glasses.
Nothing could be done that night, so
| returned to bed, and when | awoke
the whole thing seemed like a dream.
At all events, what was it to me that
an old tyrant, who had made a beggar
of me, and was about to marry his
daughter to a silver king, was about to
be as~sassinated by a secret society of
Russians?"
mo doubt he richly deserves it," l
said, as | still lay upon my dingy bed,
thinking it all over. However, while
dressing, | began to feel more like my
self, and knew that it was my duty to
give Ivan Vondervitch warning of his
danger, and the consequence was that
l presented myself at the old Office in
the Swamp, about the hour of noon.
Shortly a carriage drove up; Ivan
stepped out of it. As he entered the
building ] stood before him.
Sir" said |, Il want a word with
you"
''You can't have it," said he.
II must" said /.
'Eh," said he, putting up his eye
glass. Upon my word, must to me
but this is free America"
eff you value your life you viii listen
to me-" said |, in a lower tone.
"You threaten me, do you?" he
asked.
No." said [. s.But Peter Gorokof
does
Mr.. Vondervitch turned pale.
Come into my Office" said he. He
lad tho ua1- foIIourod him GsSit