The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-08-30
AMONG THE ANARCHISTS

Markham" said our chief, one morn
ing, here is a chance for you at last"
looked up inquiringly from my desk
81 the Bureau of Public Safety at the
government offices in Paris, where / had
for some days past been busy with pap
ers concerning the latest anarchist
ncare
I'VE want a man to go over to London
to see what is doing there" continued
the head of our department. The risk
will be great; So too, will the reward OF
success"
II thank you for the honor, Monsieur
Chaumont," | FASTENED to reply; for he
had stopped, as If to see the effect of his
words; II shall do my best"
THAT Is right. l was not sure
whether, with your want Of experience,
you would care to undertake such a
task-for the risk, as l have said, Is by
no means a slight one. STILL there are
points in your favor that have infiu-
enced our choice; you are young, are
fairly prepossessing In appearance, and.
thanks to your English parentage and
French bringing up, you can pass for
native of either country at discretion"
But l have had no detective expert
Cnce, L Nentureu TO suggest.
THAT does not matter You are to
make your way to London at once, join
one or more of the anarchist clubs, and
report to me fully by cable cipher, every
second day. That is all; your famili-
arity with the desk work of our bureau
will give you some idea Of what is ex-
pected of you"
1 now knew perfectly we'll what was
cd Of nd trIif 70 taI1 7
not like it, but it was too late to draw
back. Detective work / would not have
minded being employed upon, but to
have to become the associate of desper-
ate criminals, and all the while to be
engaged in betraying them, was some
thing more than l had bargained for.
1T is the first step of the ladder" said
Monsieur Chaumont, cheerily, probably
having noticed the mingled state of my
feelings; who knows but you may yet
rival the famous Vidocq."
and when must | set out, monsieur"
Tomorrow at latest. You had better
80 by way Of D!eppe and take these
letters to the Offices we have there. 1t
will give you a chance of becoming
known to each other. Report to us
through the embassy at London, but in
the event Of any coup being likely to
cCme off, you had better come straight
to us here. Get all photographs you can
and don't fall in love with any of the
lady consplrators, They might become
spies upon you in turn"
mo fear of that, sir" | said, and
Immediately set off to make the few
preparations necessary for my sojourn
IN the English capital and for my first
trip across the Channel
My mission to London was completely
successful. From November to March
of one dreadful winter / was an in
habitant of that cheerless town, an
awful infictlon to a native of sunny
Cfascogne, as / myself was. Stin, |
bore every disagreement, as Londoners
spell it, with resignation, and / hope
even manfully. Every soldier of Ia belle
France Is said to carry a marshaPs
baton I'm his haversack. | cheered my
self with the thought that in my carpet
bag there might lurk the Cross of the
Legion Of Honor, or even the warrant
of appointment as director of public
safety the sole marshalate Of our pro-
fession.
| had Joined a club in Soho, and also
another in Tottenham Court Road
neighborhood, and soon came to be
looked upon as one of the most daring
and energetic members of the brother
hood. True, none of our schemes came
or but our want Of success was set
down to ill-luck, and as one was render
ed abortive, my companions would set
about cOncocting another, undeterred
by the fact that several Of their num-
Der had, one after another, been arrest
ed as soon as they set foot in France on
their way to carry them out. I never
ventured near the embassy, OF course,
Tut my communications with my Of
the slightest hitch.
Amy news yet Of Desfargues?" / care
lessly asked Rudolf StahI, one of our
leading spirits, as he hurrledly entered
the Soho Club one evening late.
News" he replied, with a muttered
ejaculation which l forbear writing,
the very worst there must be some
traitor among us | can't imagine,
otherwise, how the police manage to get
every one Of our men as soon as they
set foot In France Desfargues and
Schmitz have both been seized at Bou-
logne. Mannoni has been fool enough to
lie trapped at Havre, and so our preci-
Gus scheme ds blown to the winds. 1t Is
now a question of a day or two, per-
haps only of hours, II we are to save
Con.ades from the guillotine They may
execute him any morning. We must
see about doing something tonight, o:
It WILL be too late"
AZ hour later. our executive com.