Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-07-09
CHAPTER Xl.-(Continued.)

SaAt10R AI.-tVOutiuue0sy
After dinner Easton at last condo
scended to explanation. Chairs had been
drawn around tho fire. While he spoke
the American kept his eyes fixed upon the
hre, and at times moved his limbs nerv-
Ously. after the manner OF one who 10
more highly strung than muscular.
"Gentlemen," he said In his peculiar,
slow drawl, and an immediate silence
Neutrality-suspicious.. l asked you to
come here tonight for special purpose,
and not from the warmth Of my own
heart. What l am going to tell you can
not be quite new to some. while to others
! surmise that it will he very new. There
ia a country on the map called the Dark
Continent. but during the last few years
It has come under my notice that Africa
IL as light as the heavenly paths com
pared to another land nearer 10 this OLD
country. mean Siberia. Now. l am
not going to talk about Siberia. because
there are four men in this room who
know mora than do. In fact. they know
too much. Before I 60 l will explain
for a spell who we all are. Four OF us
ars Russians. OF these four, one has n
wife living In the Siberian mines. con-
dcmned by mistake: a second has father
living in convict prison, almost on the
edge Of an Arctic sea: third has been
there himself These three undertake
what may be called the desperate part Of
our scheme. The fourth Russian is
gentleman who has the doubtful privilege
Of being allowed to live in Petersburg.
His task Il difficult and dangerous. hut
not desperate. Two Of us are English
men one has given up the ease and lux
airy Of the life Of moneyed British
sportman--has. in fact, become a sailor
for the deliberate purpose of placing his
skill at our disposal. In addition to that
he has opened his purse In thoughtless
and generous way. Why he has done
these things cannot say. In Mr.. Tyars'
position certainly should not have done
20 myself. His is the only name l men
tion, because l have seen the portraits
OF him in tho illustrated papers, and
there Is no Disgusting who he is. The
rest OF us have names entirely unknown,
or known only to the wrong people. Some
Of the Russian names, besides possessing
this unfortunate notoriety. are quite be-
yond my powers to pronounce. The sec
ond Englishman Is a naval officer. who.
having shared considerable danger with
Mr.. Tyars on one occasion, may or may
not think fit to throw in his lot with
him again. His decision. while being
matter of great interest to us. lies en-
tirely in his own hands lie is as free
when he leaves this room as when we en-
tered it. Lastly comes myself"
The little face was very wistful. while
the thin lips moved and changed inccs-
sanity from gayety to great gravity.
The mans hollow cheeks were singularly
flushed in a patchy. unnatural way.
H." he continued. with little laugh.
well. I'm afraid stay at home.
have here q doctors certificate showing
that would be utterly useless in any
hut temperate climate. am-con
sumptive."
lie produced a paper from his pocket
and held it in his hand upon his knee,
not daring to offer it to any one in par
ticular. There was a painful silence.
No one reached out his hand for the GER
tiicate, and no one seemed to he able to
think Of something to say. At last the
stout gentleman rose from his chair with
= grunt.
II. too, stay at home. gentlemen" he
said, breathessly, land I have no certiG-
cate"
lie crossed the hearth rug. and, taking
the paper from Eastons hand, he DELHI
vrately threw it into the fire.
''There," he gruuted, 1.-The mischief take
your certificate"
Then he sat down again. adjusting his
large waistcoat, which had become some
what rucked up. and attempted to smooth
his crumpled shirt. while the paper burn
ed slowly on the glowing Goals.
IL only wished" said Easton, after a
pause. ito explain why | stay at home.
1t is no good sending second-rate men
out to work like this"
He paused and looked around. There
was something critical in the atmosphere
of the room, and all the seven men as
sembled looked at one another in turn.
Long and searchingly each looked into
the others face. II Easton had set down
the rule that second-rate men were Of no
avail. he had certainly held close to it.
These were. at all events. first-rate men.
Not takers. but actors . no blusterers,
but full OF courage; determined, ready
and fearless. The slight barrier raised
by the speaking of a different tongue, thu
thinking Of different thoughts. seemed to
have crumbled away, and they were as
brothers.
"Our plans" said Easton. "are simple.
We fit out a ship to sail in the spring,
ostensibly to attempt the northeast pas
sage to China. Her real object will be
tho rescue Of large number of Russian
political exiles and prisoners. The three
Russians 20 to Siberia overland Theirs
IL the most dangerous task of of all, the
largest. the most important. The fourth
remains in Petersburg. to keep up com.
munication. to forward money, food, dis.
guises and--arms. Mr.. Tyars takes com.
mand Of the steamer, which is now almost
ready for sea, and forces his way through
the ice. God willing, to the Yana river.
Easton stopped speaking. As he re-.
turned to his seat. he glanced inquiringly
toward Oswin Grace, whose eyes had fol-
lowed him.
'Of course, gentlemen" said Grace,
glancing comprehensively around the
group, II 20 with Mr.. Tyars."
Thanks muttered Clsud Tyars,
shortly.
CHAPTER XII.
1t was almost a month later that Mat
thew Mark Easton stepped fairly into
the circle of which Miss Winter was to
-; Axko FL.