Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-11-12
lUFIRIIllT. Io52. bI lA0JLII, Y9 q 3 -.

liberia becatse he knew that ere long he
die or be taken prisoner TO Russia.
At this perception cold sweat burst out
upon my brow, as II had become aware
for the first time Of this impending fate
Going to my room, / took myself TO task
for my want OF vigilance. What had
done to guard his life since the night when
learned that Il was IN dangerf Nothing
beyond carrying weapons In my pocket for
few weeks and listening when found
the chance to scraps Of conversation that
could not understand. and even these feo.
Bile attempts had been abandoned lately,
and had suffered myself to be lulled into
state Of carclessnoss by the absence OF
any open sign of hostility toward Taras
aud by his own disregard OF precaution.
But this apathy on the part OF the secret
tneiny had been led to expect from the
conversation OF Taras and his friend Kaya-
nagh. They had said that probably no
further attempt would he made for some
months Those months wero now passed.
The critical time whs at hand, for had
gathered from one or two remarks thatany
fresh ohense to the car would be the rig
nal for renewed and final effort to silence
Taras That fresh ollense was about 10 be
committed. The group Of statuary was I'm
lnhed The work u casting and burning
done, the striking nlleg0ry would be public
~ exhibited for all the world to talk Of
recalled now, almost With stupefactinn
Mt my Incredible indifference, an incident
which proved that the secret enemy WIS on
the alert and fully acquainted with Taras'
dcnign. Tho proprietor Of tbs pottery ut
which n WINS intended 10 burn the clay
group had called to inquire il the subject
was Of a political character. THros OF course
admitted frankly that It was, and when Mr..
H., for commercial reasons mad begged
10 decline 70 give any assistance Ia the pro-
duction he asked Mr.. H what reason
hohad for suspocting that the work was
political one,
My information, sir, E" said Mr. H.,
"cnmo In The form Of an anonymous letter,
and for TINT reason field that in justice to
you / ought TO have a personal yerihoation
Of the fact before declining tho commits
sion"
When Gordon heard Of this he laughed
and declared that there WIS not o word OF
truth In the statement.
mo anonymous letter WIS needed Old
IL has found out that you are Bergen.
sky, the nihlist. and with the hope OF
knighthood before him and tho dread IT
losing a sale or two Ia Russia he thinkA II
best TO decline the job"
AZ the time that explanation was ac.
copied by me as readily as II was by
Tarns, but II was different with me now. I
felt sure that the secret enemy had made
this communication
Who could he bel Clearly some one who
had seen the group and, not less obviously,
one OF the RussiHu visitors who called on
TurRs. But which Of theml TO my eye,
they seemed all pretty much alike-meel.,
gloomy, unhappy looking men. drendfully
out Mt elbow, and the shrug OF pity or frowu
Of discomfort with which Mere Lucas ex.
pressed her feeling regarding Thorn wns
uaually accompanied with significant
movement Of the thumb and finger, which
led me 10 understand that their object WA,
oget money out Of TRrm There was non,
who looked like traitor. aud I could not
believe that any would DO base enough e
bctray him 10 tho police, for, however
unhappy they looked on arriving, not one
went away with disappointment in nj,
face, and though 1'araB was careful TO con
ceRl his generosity | had reason 10 know
that he gave away TO his distressed coun
trymen infinitely more than be spent upon
himself
All through the night / taxed my brain
with oonjootures and surmises without mr.
irving at any definite conclusion with re
gard 70 the Identity of this dreaded enemy
and all I could do to silence my self re-
proaoh for past neglect was TO vow that
would be more watchful and vigilnnt in
the future.
And this vow was not made ia vain.