Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-11-01
smile. turned and left ms hi silence-

own liquor" he said, in exclamation OF his
long absence, as he threw himself down on
the ground beside us. That's a long Job
with Russian peasant, even when he helps
himself at your expense. There was no get
| ting n word of truth out of him while he
| was sober; would not on any consideration
| no, not for all the gold in the world-be-
| tray the trust placed in him by the govern
ment; PREFERRED death to dishonor and all
the rest Of it. However, little by little, as
he grew more and more drunk he confessed
to having at different times got FIVE exiles
out Of Siberia and two Of them across the
frontier. Finally he let me know exactly
what IL cost him to get these two to Berlin
that is what wanted to find out As
/ expected, the cost is greater than your
means will allow you to pay"
How much:" Gordon asked in n tone of
anxiety, still tinged with hope.
The cost of getting one from here to
Berlin is, roughly, 500 rubles."
That means l,5Oo for the 5, and we
have but l., But there are the English
notes Won't that make enoughF"
Not enough for two did not overlook
( the English notes
But, my dear fellow, you said"--
That it cost Peter Schemyl 500. be
lieve it. He spoke in the honesty of drink.
/ You cannot expect him to do an act OF
charity for nothing"
Il suppose rot"
He runs 4 certain amount of risk and
must be paid for it, like any other honest
man of enterprise. If the cost is 500, he
would require at least 500 for his benevo
lence. Virtue must be rewarded, and the
! virtuous always look for 100 per cent on
! their investments"
An internal set Of thieves growled
Gordon, thinking Of government officials
| rather than the representatives Of virtue.
| There's no screwlng him down any wayf"
| None. What pressure can we bring to
| bear? You are at his mercy, and he will
make the most of it, naturally. He knows
| that lie shall get every penny you have for
food, and two-thirds of It will be clear
profit. He takes the minimum amount of
risk, and it costs him nothing except an
occasional bottle of villainous spirits to
blind those who might find that he is TAX
| ing in more bread than his family has been
in the habit of consuming"
There was an interval of silence, and then
! Gordon. turning to me with sigh, said:
Well my dear girl, I'm afraid you will
have to go alnue."
| looked at him and then at Ivan Don't
! remember in mute establishment. Ivan
was regarding Gordon with curious look
| en- his face, but was not surprised.
Il go alone said at length, with bated
breath.
Il don't see any help for it, for it's clear
! neither of us can so with you"
1T isn't going alone I'm thinking about.
Its leaving you behind" said l.
"Oh, don't you bother about us. II this
old rascal will take You to Berlin for 900
rubles, We shall still have 200 left. And
| that will carry us on capitally-eh, old
chappie:' he asked, turning to Ivan Don't
! remember and clapping him Familiarity on
| the shoulder, as though he had made up
his mind to break down all barriers and be
gin as they were going on in perfect broth.
erhood and good fellowship
! There's one alternative" said Ivan
gravely when he had overcome the shock of
this accolade. We may find out where we
are, get some sort of a map, make our way
to the frontier ON foot, and so escape"
Why, certainly. 1t sounds as if there
were something in that" said Gordon.
Not much, l am afraid. The difficulties
are enormous, especially with the winter
upon us. The chance of running he block
AIDE is very small indeed
Any chance is better than none Mt all
/ Come, my dear girl. this will reconcile you
| to leaving us"
Not ut all Why shouldn't go with
/ you: Do you think l am selfish, after all
we've gone through tOgetherf" l asked, my
eyes filling with tears.
Heaven forbid | should do you that in
| justice. But these difficulties you hear
our friend speaking of-remember you are
! only a girl, though quite as brave as the
! best of us"
Il won't hinder you You shall never
hear me complain" urged.
Il have not the slightest doubt that
| mademoiselle could face all that we may
| encounter and be n help, as she certainly
would be n comfort to us" said Ivan, with
| more courtesy and kindness than he had
yet shown me But there is one serious
objection This journey must occupy
months and during that time we are doing
! nothing 10 save Taras"
Ny heart sank within me in shame
had forgotten Taras-Heaven forgive mel
| for the moment.
AT any moment kavanaGh may receive
orders to silence Taras, The production
! of that statue would inevitably lead to the
| order being given. When it is given, KAY
anagh will obey it ruthlessly."
Il will go to him" said ], as eagerly rs
had prayed to stay with Gordon the minute
. before.
1t is advisable to look well at that be
fore You decide" said Ivan. 1T is by no
means certain that you will reach London.
! Schemyl, with the greatest incentive to get
you through, may fail Some trusted con
| tidant may think it advisable to betray
him; some jealous official may be dssat-
istied with his bride. In that case you lose
! all hope of seeing Taras again. II you
are arrested on the road, you will never see
this friend again. You will be banished
or kept in prison where no tidings of you
will ever reach us, or word from us reach
YOU"
No matter" said l. Il will venture
anything, everything, TO save Taras"
1T is advisable that You should go-if
we can arrange the affair with Schemyl-
for the sake of Taras and for yours as well. )"
He added, turning to Gordon, You have
money!
AT my bankers in London"
They would pay certain sum to your
ORDER"
"Ihaven't checkbook, but suppose that
is not necessary. An order with my sigma
ture would be met all right"
'Schemyl deals in furs. He has an agent
in London-Houndsditch l think he called
the part. Your order could be made payable
TO him. On receipt of the money he could
telegraph word or two-such as Send
sables' or any other phrase agreed upon
to Schemyl, who would then find means to
get across the frontier"
BY Jupiter, that's it! Why on earth
didn't You suggest this at first old fellow,
instead of proposing a scheme that would
| take years to work outs"
We are Venturing upon treacherou.
ground, and every step must be sounded
1t waste of time to be in a hurry"
You have wasted no time, at any rate
1ou seem to have thought of everything
and got your plan all cut and dried"
'Schemyl gave me plenty of time to
think" observed Ivan dryly
You see how it is to be dones" said Cor
don, addressing me in great excitement.
Yes. When shall goi"
Nothing is certain" observed Ivan 1t
may take several days to bring Schemyl to
terms, but think the prospect OF gain will
tempt him."
He shall have as much US he asks to take
us to Berlin, and twice as much the day we