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

and courteous spirit. but virtually he offers
me my demission-tells me that have
failed to do the work undertook and inti-
mates that he shall have to employ some
one else. Who that Is you can guess"
"Rudersdorf," / said.
He nodded and turning again to the let
ter continued;
"Here are his reasons: We have certain
information that Borgensky'-Taras, you
know-'has made arrangements for exhibit
ing at an early date In Paris and London
casts Of a statue in terra Gotta, modelled in
Lambeth, which must give extreme dis
pleasure to the czar. His anger will fall
upon me, and the production OF this statue
must involve my downfall. The order Civ
en- me, now nearly 12 months ago, was to ST.
lence Borgensky, and he must be silenced
at any cost, even though the cost be Bor-
Rensky's life and the loss of your services.
With much reluctance-as you, i feel sure,
will underestimate have this day instructed
Rudersdorf to start for London"
He paused, and held my breath, too ter
rified to speak.
"'If anything can be done to save thelife
of Borgensky. know you will do 1t, and
should you succeed you may depend on
substantial recognition of your services.
With this view have given Rudersdorf
imperative and stringent instructions to
consult you before taking any action what
ever. He will call upon you as soon as he
reaches London and carry out implicitly
any directions you may give for conveying
Borgensky safely on board the Volga. In
the event, however. Of your having no direc-
tions to give him'-that means il / can find
no means of getting Taras on board the
steamer that is waiting for him-'then Ru-
dersdorf will have the sole management OF
the affair-to silence Borgensky as may
seem best to him-and you will be freed
from all further responsibility in the mat
ter'"
He sighed, and without other comment
gloomily replaced the letter in his case.
"When will Rudersdorf be herei" ask
ed after an interval of dreadful silence.
IF he left on the same day that this let
ter was posted, he may be here now."
'Nowp gasped.
"He may be waiting for me at my cham
bers this moment"
The tv,obbing of my heart seemed to
check the words as they rose.
"What-what shall you dor" faltered.
"Keep out OF his way as long as dare"
"You will go away from London"
He shook his head.
"Unfortunately there is danger even in
delay. Tomorrow or the next day he will
telegraph to the minister for instructions.
He will discover that left my chambers
after the time when 1 should have received
the letter advising me of his coming"
"And thenp
"Then probably the minister will allow
few days grace after which he will wire
the fatal instructions that Rudersdorf is
craving for--the order to act as may seem
best to him."
'You must see him--put him off on some
pretense."
"Yes, that will do for time, until the
minister loses patience, and all the while
we are whetting the appetite Of that blood
hound Rudersdorf. Yes, that's what he is
"a bloodhound, neither more nor less,
ready to run down any unhappy wretch
whose scent Is given him. Fancy, he has
never seen Taras; Taras has never injured
him, and yet from the day Taras first came
under the notice or the police this man Ias
vowed to destroy him."
"What forY"
"Simply to crafty his lust for blood, the
cultivated instinct of the bloodhound. He
wears locket on his chain; he opened IL to
show me one day. 1t contains two wisps of
hair-one woman's-taken from the heads
of victims, well known nihilists, whom he
hunted down and killed. They are ar
ranged symmetrically, with space left be-
tween them. In that vacant space he has
written the Aame of Taras."
The brougham stopped, he opened the
door and stepped out. but was too horri-
fed by what had heard to move.
whats the good of going in there"I
asked fercely when he held forth his hand.
"What are flowers to me nowf"
Better come" he said in low tone, ap-
preaching closer. I'VE have to avoid sus-
picion- Every man I have employed Is
spy" And holding out his hand again he
added pointedly, I'VE are watched when
we least suspect it."
The chrysanthemums were exhibited, but
saw no beauty In them-nothing but patch
es Of red here and there in varying shades
the color of blood in all.
We went out into the garden. It was the
last day in October The clouds that had
overspread the sky for some days had
broken that morning, and it seemed as il
summer had returned. The sun was sink
ing in glory behind the deep red mist, but
that hateful color was reflected in the rip
Piles of the river-blood everywhere.
could see but that.
I'VE can talk safely here" said Kava-
nagh, stopping before vacant seat-'if
there is anything to say" he added des-
pondently.
"Can we do nothing'" asked in despera-
tion.
He hesitated as IL he were weighing al
ternatives.
"The simplest thing perhaps is to warn
him of his danger. IL may not save his life
for n single hour longer. IL Is scarcely
probable that it will enable him to ward Off
the blow, but II we can do nothing else'----
II thought you had some idea when you
went away"
"Oh, hundred schemes have run
through my mind since then-all mad, Inn
possible or impracticablep
"Can't you tell me what they arei"
asked quickly, eager to grasp at the merest
shadow of n straw floating on the over
whelming waters.
lie shrugged his shoulders.
zone must seem more hopeful than tho