The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-08-16
A NIHILIST'S
DESPERATE Deed
Story of a Queer Bet and
Why 1t Was Made.

tain was standing before him.
"Your treachery is an objectionable
sin," said Nicholas. 81 have advanced
your interests by attaching you to the
czar's staff, thus opening to you a ca
reer. You have repaid me by joining
this conspiracy against the car"
81 have notw exclaimed the captain
Indignantly.
81 have the proof"
SLet me see it,"
The grand duke held before the
young man a letter written in the cap
tains handwriting and signed by him.
The accused man started back, a sud-
den pallor overspreading his face.
"Ah!' said Nicholas icily. when
confronted with evidence your assur-
ance deserts you"
Il never wrote that letterW
"It is in your handwriting"
$50 nearly like it that l could not
tell it from mine. Nevertheless it is
forgery"
Nicholas eyes flashed. "Who would
be interested in perpetrating such a
villainy"
81 cannot imagine Stop Let me
think. Can it be that they are trying
to get me out Of their way?" He
paused in deep thought.
"What do you mean"
81 suspect certain men, a certain
man especially, owing to an accidental
discovery 1 recently made of an at
tempt not on the life of the cZar, but
on yours"
"Whom do you suspect?" asked Mich
olas, changing color.
zone of them is my friend. If l ac-
cused him it might be wrongfully.
would rather go to Siberia than harm
him If he is innocent"
"You will go to Siberia if you do not
give me his name"
"Then 1 will go to Siberia"
The door opened and a young man
named Pertof entered.
GLOW fortunate" exclaimed the COM
er, ''to find you two together. l have
heard that WarascOff is in trouble, and
l came to say to your imperial high
ness that any accusations against him
are absurd"
II am sorry to say, Pertof. that l
have indisputable proof. Read that"
And he tossed him the letter he had
shown the captain. Pertof read it and
flung it aside contemptuously.
"The capital is full Of plotting" he
said. 81 believe no accusations. for l
am as likely to be accused as any one.
Dismiss this matter from your mind,
Nicholas. We three are intimate
friends. None of US knows how soon
he may fall victim to intrigue. There
fore let us not worry, but enjoy what
of life remains to US. Bring out some
of that wine l tasted when we were
last together and let us make merry"
The grand duke, though not con-
vinced, concluded to fall in with his
friends humOr and, tapping bell, he
ordered the wine.
Pertof emptied his glass; the grand
duke slipped his; Captain Warascoff
left his untouched.
whats the matter, Dmitri?" cried
Pertof. isn't his highness' wine good
enough for you?"
81 cannot drink under accusation"
You're squeamish, man. Whoever
troubles himself at being suspected or
even accused in these days is in dan
ger Of nervous collapse. I'll make you
bet of 100 rubles even that within
thirty days I will be accused of some
conspiracy. I'll make another bet of
! 100 to 1000 rubles that within sixty
days I go to Siberia and third bet of
10000 rubles that am executed"
"You are trifing with serious mat
ters," said Nicholas uneasily.
"Not at all. We are all in danger,
and if 1 could make the last named
bet it would be an insurance on my
life for my family"
81 will take that bet,' said Wara-
scoff, with singular look in his eyes.
"Done," said Pertof, taking his hand
! The grand duke looked at both men as
If he thought they had taken leave OF
their senses.
PertOf took a cigar case from his
pocket and was about to strike match
when, recollecting himself he handed
the case to the grand duke.
Nicholas took a cigar from the case
struck a match and lighted it. He had
taken but few whiffs when Dmitrl
Warascoff made a leap for him
snatched the cigar from his lips and
raising a window sash, threw it out
Nicholas looked at him angrily fol-
the apparent insult In few seconds
an explosion was heard in the court
below. All stood mute for awhile
Then Warascoff, pointing at Pertof
said:
''There is the man, your highness
who forged that letter. overheard
him speaking with some suspicious
persons upon the subject of an explo
sive cigar"
Pertof was tried and executed fol
the attempted murder of the Grand
Duke Nicholas. The day after the ex
ecutton the widow received an anony
nous letter consuming 10000 rubles
1t was In payment Of the wager made
between Warascof and Pertof The
bet was made by Pertof because he
haa1 1AA- IL L.