The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-11-05
A THRILLING
M ENCOUNTER


OF Mlckler as lney Ntit hbhtlhb Nibhi
after dinner.
IL don't think about the anarchist
question at ALL" Mickler replied. 1T
gives me cold chill every time | hear
the word anarchist"
Perkins looked up, somewhat sur
prised at the involuntary shudder that
accompanied his friends words.
Il don't expect you TO feel as | do
about the natter" Mickler continued.
because you haven't had the same oX-
perlencc. You haven't lived under the
Impression that at any moment you
might be dropped by a stab In the
back"
Perkins scrutinized the speaker for n
time, then said: "Well, tell me about II.
Singular that you've never mentioned
It before"
Il believe l WILL" replied the other.
1--WE kept the secret all these years.
and I'm dying 10 tell some one. BE
sides, fancy the danger Is pretty well
over. 1t happened when was in Lon
don. twelve years ago this winter.
was taking n postgraduate course In
much attention to lectures was lead
ing gay life with n lively set OF stu.
dents. One night l attended a supper,
during which We had all put away a
good deal OF wine, and about o'clock
in the morning 1 started for my rooms.
They were In n building occupied, as
l understood, as bachelor apartments
In all stories except the lrst or ground
floor. Bidding good night to compan-
ion at the street door, / stumbled up
the stairs. The cold air. following
upon that Of the warm room had been
supping in, intensified the effect OF the
liquor I had drunk. and instead OF stop
ping on the third floor. where lodged.
went on up to the fifth. Feeling my
way in the dark hall TO my room,
found a knob In the correct position
and. turning It. threw open the door"
Mickier paused and knocked the ash
es from his cigar nervously.
well. old man. go on"
'sThe room was brilliantly lighted.
though the shutters TO every window
were closed. and n dozen men were
sitting around a table. As the door
opened every man started up. and
twelve reyolvers were pointed at my
head.
THE party around the table were as
much surprised as I was. As soon as
could find my tongue I stammered
my excuse for interfupting them, as
surfing them that had rooms on low.
er floor, had climbed too high and had
supposed 1 was entering my own door.
One OF the number said to me. Stand
perfectly STILL Then, turning to one
OF his companions. he asked, How
came that door to be left unlockedr
"'when Ehrheart went for a pitcher
Of beer a few minutes ago. replied the
man, trembling. 4 was In the inner
chamber. did not know that any one
had gone out
"'You shall pay for this returned
the other, who was evidently the chief.
Then. turning to me, he said:
"'Remain where you are
"Beckoning TO two other members OF
the circle. he led them out OF the room.
knew they had gone to decide upon
my case. Would they conclude 20 muir
der mel When they returned, l ex-
pected to hear that | must die. The
leader stood. looked at me In silence
for time, then said:
Young man. you have committed
a blunder that may cost you your life.
You are free TO leave this room. but
members Of our circle will be appoint
ed to keep an ever open eye upon you.
II you ever tell any human being OF
what you have seen here, you will be
put TO death at once. The only way
for you to live is with the secret locked
In your breast II you reveal II, you
cannot be sure that the person in
whom you confide is not a member OF
our society, and II your confederate Is
not a member and tells another he viii
run the same risk for you both. Cor
"There was no need TO promise secre'
cy. No promise was asked. | was
simply informed that IL let the secret
out l must die. | turned, fearful that
I might get knife in my back, went
down the stairs. never stopping at my
room, going out into the lighted street
There stood for a few minutes. not
knowing what TO do. A man came out
Of the building and without noticing
me passed on. knew be had come TO
shadow me, and he did. | dared not
go back to my room. 80 l went to a no.
tel, where put up for the night. or,
rather, the morning. for 1t was nearly
day.
During the rest Of my stay in Lon
don was Swallowed constantly. Only
occasionally would I notice any one
keeping me under surveillance. but !
knew the terrible eye OF the anarchist
circle I had stumbled on was con-
stantly on me. II was not more than a
week after my return to America be-
fore | received an anonymous commu-
nication notifying me that l would be
under the watch OF the American an.
arcbists. For ten years continued TO