The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-01

imagine my horror Nneii 1 heard that this
order was to be executed without delay
Happily the minister found it difficult to
lay his hand on man for his purpose. It
was a very delicate business. As Taras
was In London ii was necessary that the
agent should speak English, not only for
the practical working out of the design, but
TO avoid political complications 1t would
never do for the Russian government to be
discovered in this plot to violate the free
dom OF man so we'll known and much
honored as Taras. There was one man In
theservice Of the police who eagerly desired
TO have the job, and that was Rudersdorf
anavowed enemy of Taras. The chief OBJ
lection to employing him was that he did
not understand a word of English.
"One morning the minister, after explain
ing this difficulty and the objection to Ru
dersdorf, asked me bluntly il l would un-
dertake to silence Taras. I don't ask you
to kill him. he said, seeing some sign of
repngnance in my face probably. One rea-
son for not employing Rudersdorf Is that
he certainly would do SO. l simply want
you to bring Taras back to Russia. That
will please the czar far more than the death
OF q man for whom he still entertains a
strong feeling of admiration. ! can give
you but "a hours to consider the proposal,
but IL you will not do this business Ru-
dersdorf must. And now, !" said Kavanagh
pointedly, what answer would you have
given in my placer"
Il would have accepted" said without
hesitation.
Il am sure you would. But it was not
an undertaking to accept lightly, for you
must see as clearly as that was bound
to fulfill my promise"
mo, / don't see that. If you could de-
ceive the minister one way, you could an
other. You must have told lies from the
very first, and one more couldn't make any
great difference to YOU"
Lying in this case would have been
worse than useless. The lie would be found
out as soon as it was seen that made no
effort to silence Taras. Jealousy would
prompt Rudersdorf to watch me, and he
would be the first to denounce me to the
ministry. The result is certain. Ruders-
dorf would have been charged with the mis-
sionihe coveted. The lie would only have
delayed the execution of the sentence, and
scarcely SO long as | delayed it by those
acts which / have already confessed to. Do
youlfollow meir -
ayes"
"You see that If had refused the offer
should certainly have consented to the
murder of Taras by his enemy. Ruders-
dorfi"
"Yes."
"And you see that for the same reason
| am compelled now to keep the promise
made"
Logical as the proposition was, could
not agree to it.
"As the only means of saving this friend
from assassination by Rudersdorf," he in
sisted, laying his hand lightly upon Taras.
] II understand what you mean," said
| In reluctant tone.
"Then you must agree with me upon the
course to be taken"
INC" said |, with reviving energy. II will
| never agree to that. l have saved him twice
single handed against four or five Of you"
"The third time you will have to beat
| Rudersdorf-not me. II he stood where
stand now, how would you ward off the
shot leveled at Taras' hearth"
l sprang up and stood as il petrifled be-
tween Taras and him, for as he spoke he
dropped his hand in his pocket, and for the
J instant thought hewas about to flash out
| revolver.