Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-03-01
CHAPTER xxxvII.
THE TIDE BEGINs TO TURN.


rs that fellow type of his classs" asked
Gordon when Peter Schemyl was gone.
Eyes, and the class istypical of the whole
genus of government officials. Every one
of them is to be bought With men of his
rank the process is, as you see, simple
enough With men of higher, grade the
bride must be higher, and one has to EN-
ploy little tact That is the only differ
ence. You might have bought yourself of
at St. Petersburg had you known how to
handle the minister"
"In that case why should we not get
back to Englandp"
II have thought of that. But you haven't
enough. Every official ON the road to the
frontier would have to be bribed."
''But have enough money i'll England"
"How are you to get ity"
'Write for it, The letter could be adj.
dressed to Schemyl."
Ivan Dontremember laughed.
mot letter comes into Schemyls hands
that has not passed through dozen ON the
road Every official is on the lookout for
a means to bleed another. Your letter
would be opened to certainty, and Peter
Schemyl would be forced to hand you over
to some one else You would never get
your remittance, though in time, by pay
ing one and then another, you might at
last get away; but it would take years, and
we haven't day to lose Twelve hundred
rubles and e25 Englishn---
He made mental calculation, then,
shaking his head, said:
Il am afraid there's no chance for you,
but can ask Peter Schemyl. Yes, | will
go back and have dram with him on the
strength of having sold loaf to advan-
tage Give me a few kopecks. | have
spent my last"
Gordon took the loose silver from his
pocket, and putting it in Ivan Dontremem-
ber's hand said:
Whatever arrangement you make with
the fellow, you will bear one thing in mind
we take you with us, or we stay with you
and share what we have III equal parts till
all is gone.n
Tan Hoontremember looked gravely in
Gordon's face for a minute. then, with
smile, turned and left us in silence.
A long time elapsed = more than two
hours, think-before we saw him again.
When at length he returned we saw by his
quick, firm step and the animation in his
deep sunk eyes as he drew near the fire that
our case was not hopeless.
II had to make the rascal drunk on his
own liquor" he said, in explanation of his
long absence, as he threw himself down on
the ground beside u.s. That's long job
with a Russian peasant, even when he helps
himself at your expense. There was no get
ting 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 it 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 nay.'
"How much?n Gordon asked in tone of
anxiety, still tinged with hope.
"The cost of getting one from here to
Berlin is, roughly, 500 rubles."
THAT means 800 for the 8, and we
have but 12l But there are the English
notes. Won't that make enoughs"
mot enough for two. / did not overlook
the English notes"
''But, my dear fellow, you said'--
THAT it cost Peter Schemyl 500. 1 be
lieve it. He spoke in the honesty of drink.
You cannot expect him to do an act of
charity for nothing"
II suppose not"
HE runs 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 1o0 per cent on
their investments"
IAN Internal set of thieves!" growled
Gordon, thinking of government officials
rather than the representatives of virtue.
..There's no screwlng him down any ways"
None What pressure can we bring to
bearf You are at his mercy. and be will
make the most of it, naturally. He knows
that he shall get every penny you have for
food, and two-thirds of it will be clear