The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-25

"You haze noticed the resemblance that
EXISTS bettCeen Tdrns and GordonF"
sThat's what we must find out. What r.
that other scheme!"
az don't care to tell it."
"And yet you would risk your life and all
thatl That's nonsense. You seem to be
thinking more of yourself than OF Taras.
Why should you be ashamed ofNnything
that might save himi should b proud OF
It. Go on"
"It is true. am thinking moro Of my
own feelings than Of his welfare"
He was silent for minute. Then after
Rlancing to the right and left to see that
we were alone he continued In tentative
tone:
"You have noticed the curious resem-
blance that exists between Taras and--and
Gordons"
Taras was such god to me, SO far above
all other men, that this intimation took me
by surprise.
II mean in physical appearance" he pur-
sued. "Gordon would answer In almost ev-
cry particular to q written description Of
Taras--tall, robust, deep chested, blue eyes,
fair complexion, light hair. about 80, care
less in dress"--
''But their features are not alike In form
or expression"
Pardon me, there Is an expression Of
amiability common to both. For the rest,
then, no merely verbal description could
depict one mans face SO exactly as to defy
error"
81 dare say you are right. Never mind
that. Go on"
"As / told you, Rudersdorf has never
seen Taras. He has only the written de-
scription issued by the police to lead him.
Besides that, he will be guided by me-"
"What then'"
"Supposing should misguide himi"
"Misguide him! How could you do
thats'
Nothing easier. have simply to point
out Gordon and say, That is Taras.' He
would believe it without question"
My courage and resolution quailed before
the possibilities this hint revealed.
"Then he would kill poor Gordon"
faltered.
"God forbid! Even to save Taras would
not be instrumental to the death of Gordon.
Both are my friends. No. The letter
read to you shows that while Rudersdorf is
under my direction he will be held respon-
sible for the life of his prisoner. He values
his own interest too keenly to disregard the
order of his chief"
"What would happen thenw
Gordon would be seized and taken to
Russia in the place Of Taras."
"But the moment he seizes Gordon he
will discover his mistake"
"Howi"
'Gordon does not speak Russian. He
knows only little French. He would say
at once in English that he was not Taras."
"Rudersdorf would laugh in his face.
Nearly every prisoner tries to get off by
pretending he IL not the real man, but
somebody else They would ask him for
his papers to prove his identity. An Eng
lishman never carries papers, and Gordon's
inability to produce them would convict
him at once in the eyes of a Russian official
unacquainted with our customs"
For moment ceased to think OF Taras,
and l saw only Gordon, my genial, kind
hearted friend, torn away from his friends
and the occupation which had given him q
new zest for life.
Poor Gordonr' murmured.
Seeing that opposition served better than
persuasion to stimulate my resolution,
kavanagh shifted his ground.
"Poor Gortonr' he echoed. "a man who
never injured any living creature"
What of thatp fired up. "He has
done nothing for mankind that others have
not done There are thousands of men as
good as he. There is not another In the
world like Taras."
"That is true. But 1t seems cruel, an
awful shame to make him suffer for no
fault of his. It's villainous thing to do.
No, hang i'll can't bring myself to play
this treacherous part. must think of 1t.
u tS
"But you are certain that his life will not
be taken"
"As certain as am that the sun will rise
tomorrow. But to him freedom"---
They will not keep him prisoner for
ever" interrupted again.
NO" he said, with a smile. But" he
added gravely, ''he may be kept prisoner
for months"
"Monthsl" Iexslaimed, astonished by the
ightness of the penalty.
Possibly" He seemed to misinterpret
my surprise. ION the other hand, he may
be set at liberty in a few weeks. IL all de-
pends upon the length of time he has to
wait for official examination. The minister
of police of course knows Taras, and the
moment he sees Gordon the mistake will
be discovered"
"A few weeks-s few months-that IL
uOOniubs
"To you"
"Or to him. A man with half his kind
ness would undergo that cheerfully to save
his friend. Gordon will agree to IL him
self, / know"
II believe he would II we could make
him party to the scheme. Unfortunate
ly we cannot. He In the worst actor In the
world. The slightest evidence OF compile
stx ON hia ~ xxoul,s aro,fse Rudersdorfis a
suspicious, and the thing would fall
through"
nodded assent TO this, knowing how swk-
ward poor Gordon was. But Kavanagh's
hesitation 10 act still mystihcd me.
"a short period Of captivity seems to you
a triHe In comparison with the life Of q
friend" he observed.
"Yes, IL Is, and cannot understand why
you hold back"
"There are good many things thst wom-
On do not understand. and honor between