Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-03-30
THE RED HAND.

Wudl uppGurOu W w VIC llIlpICSSlOll VI a
hand that had been dipped in some red
fluid
What is it?'' asked anxiously.
sit means that you are a marked man."
said Alexis Petrovitch. "Havon't you
heard Of the League of tho Red Hand-a
particularly desperate inner circle of nihil
ists9 You must have done something to
earn their vengeance. They give their vic
Tins three signs before the death sentence
is put into execution, and that is plainly
one of thom. Twice again you will see
the mysterious Red Hand, and then--well,
not one in 100 escapes
was attached to the British embassy at
st. Petersburg, and some important infor-
nation had come into my possession quite
accidentally respecting u nihilist plot.
This intelligence had communicated per-
sonally by word of mouth to one of the
highest and most trusted officials Of the
czar. I had told nobody else, not even my
very faithful friend Alexis, and the cir
cumstances were such that 1t was impos-
sible to conceive how the matter could
have come to the knowledge of the society.
Every attempt was made to discover by
whom and by what means the "sign" had
been impressed on the ceiling, but without
success. The room was lofty one, and
1t was difficult to understand how the cell
ing was reached. The affair was very mys-
FERROUS, but the nihilist loves mystery
was made somewhat uncomfortable by
this grim warning, but / was assured by
those who professed to know tho peculiar
methods of the league that was in no dan
ger until had received the third sign. So
was not greatly alarmed for the present
had been offered through my chief an
appointment in England that was in many
respects superior to tho one held, but l
had become greatly attached to my life In
ST. Petersburg where I had made many
excellent friends, and I declined 1t was
now proposed that should reconsider my
decision.
did not care for it to be thought that
had shown tho white feather, and, to be
candid, as the days went ON and did not
receive any fresh sign, began to treat
the matter lightly. Perhaps it was all
hoax, and the fact that had made the i'm
portant disclosures which had frustrated
the nihilist plot was not, after all, known
to that body.
One night, some ten days later was
invited by lady of my acquaintance to
share her box at the opera. AS am pas
sionately fond Of music, and the society OF
this lady's family was very agreeable to
me, was glad to accept.
The opera was Carmen" and the house
was very crowded and hot Before the last
act l loft the private box to smoke ciga-
rette in the foyer, where l expected to
meet Petrovitch and other friends. There
was great crush at the buffet, and as
was raising glass of cooling drink to
my lips my elbow was accidentally jorkod
by man standing beside me, and some
Of the liquid was spilled over my clothes.
The gentleman was profuse in his apollo
gies, and I retired to less crowded part
of the saloon to wipe my garments dry.
AS drew out my white pocket hand
kerchief noticed that it bore some red
stains that was positive were not there
when left home. / shook out Its folds
and held 1t spread out in front of me.
1t was the sign of the Red Hand
''How white you look!' said Alexis
whom l met On my way back to the box.
'What Is the matter?"
II have just received the second sign,"
I said in a low voice.
"Good heavens!' he exclaimed. "Then
be advised and leave St. Petersburg at
once. In your native country you may
possibly escape--they may not think it
worth whilo to follow you--but to remain
here means certain death. /"
became convinced that Alexis was
right. 1t was unsafe to remain longer in
Russia. When reached home that night,
wrote two letters before | went to bed
One was a resignation of my post in ST. |
Petersburg, and tho other an acceptance
Of the appointment in England.
lost no time in making all necessary
for prompt departure. One
thing gave me great pleasure--A lexis had
agreed to accompany me. He had long /
promised himself a visit to England, aud
this was an excellent opportunity. l was
to take rather lengthy holiday before en-
Jering on my new duties and should be
very glad of his companionship.
On tho day that we set off Petrovitch |
and drove down to the railway station to.
gether. AS we were stepping into the con-;
yeyance an elderly man in ragged gar
lAOAVS OnlllO IWnIu W1Uu u6W5DlIJbiS. j
thrust one into my pocket and handed him
, coin.
We secured railway carriage to our
selves for the journey and were soon steam
Ing out Of the station. We sat for some
time chatting, and Of course tho conversa-
lion was largely about the danger that was
hanging over myself.
"Then you have received no third sign?''
said Alexis.
"No," replied. "The secret Of my de.
parture was, thii k, we'll kept, and II
they want to carry out their murderOus de- |
signs am afraid it will DO necessary for
hem to follow me to England. may
consider myself safe now. .
Yes, hope so. BY the way, what do
tho critics say about the new play last
1ight?"
Here is q paper, " said, taking 1t from
ny pocket.
Petrovitch unfolded 1t. As he opened 1t
nut in front Of him ahe uttered cry of sur
Prise and alarm and dropped 1t on the floor
between us. He was pale and speechless,
ind his hands trembled.
"What Is itS' cried Have you read
'ome bad nsws?"
Look for yourself, he said huskily.
l snatched up the paper, and at tho first
,lance my blood seemed to freeze.
The sign Of tho Red Hand
There, right across one Of the two cen.
Ter pages, was the familiar red impress Of
! hand, just as 1t had appeared on the CELL
ng and on my pocket handkerchief. This,