The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-04
A NIHILIST's
LUCKY ESCAPE
..,-ru- E--3%. 49, ---a
Saved From Siberia by the
wit of a Girl. ~. Y

II am going to st. Petersburg on q
mission said a nlhilist In New York
to a fellow worker. "Do you know
any one there who will shield me il
eornered?'
The question was answered by a
story. .
Not long ago I was there myself.
One day I was directed to carry a bun.
die Of printed revolutionary documents
from our rooms to the house Of a mem.
Der In a different part of the city. I
studiously avoided any haste, saunter.
ing along as though / had no wish to
be at the end Of my route. At a street
crossing, glancing aside to avoid being
run down by some vehicle, I saw a
man standing on the opposite corner
with his eyes fixed intently upon me.
He had his hands in his pockets and
was apparently lettering, but the mo-
ment he saw that 7 noticed him he
started off briskly in the opposite d.
rection from what I was going.
Nevertheless he did not lose sight Of
me. I had not gone far when. in order
to be able to look back without my de-
sign being suspected. I stopped before
a shop window, glancing rearward out
Of the corner OF my eye. ] was just in
time to see the man I was looking for
disappear in ar alley.
1 was now thoroughly frightened.
Without doubt he was shadowing me.
Fol some time I watched him with one
eye and the policeman / happened to
see by the way with the other.
We nihilists, Of course. all knew the
location Of the police stations and the
residences of the officers. Suddenly
noticing that I was passing the house
OF the chief of the district, it occurred
to me to play q desperate game. I re-
solved to bluff my watcher into the be-
lief that he was after the wrong man
by boldly entering the house. What
under heaven ! was to do there I did
not know. Mounting a few steps, T.
tried the door. 1t was locked, but at
the moment vas opened by a young
lady IN hat and wraps, evidently about
to come out. I stepped inside without
an invitation and closed the door. 70
May I speak with you a moments
I asked. removing my hat. !
The parlor door was open, and as I,
looked wistfuIly into the room she mo-
toned me to enter, then followed. I
turned and faced her, studying by her
expression what kind Of a person I had
to deal with. Then I spoke In a low
voice, seriously, pleadingly. "
"You have the life of a fellow being
in your keeping" 2
"TT" ., d.
eyes; I am q nihiIist. In this pack
age are revolutionary documents. A"
man outside has been shadowing me.
He will come in to make sure that [
am not what he suspects. The result
will be Siberia. Rather than that,
DEATH"
/ took a revolver from my pocket. 2
eff / am discovered trying to save,
you 1t means ruin for me and my fa-4
Their. He would so to Siberia instead i.
Of you" d"
"You are right" / replied. II. viii
not ask or accept such a sacrifice" :,
I placed the muzzIe Of the revolver
in my mouth and drew back the ham
mer. Before I could pull the trigger I
felt a soft hand on my arm. >ce.
Undo your package" she said. "Bs
quickt" az
I united the strings and unfolded the
paper. The girl. snatching a dozen
books from the library. tossed them to
me. I put them In the place OF the
HnaTIr1nrfu ar1 tad rrn tho noni-~~~
had not quite finished when there was
a ring at the doorbell. Throwing the
documents under the sofa, the young
lady went to answer the summons. [
seated myself on the sofa, holding the
package In my lap. When the door
was opened / heard voices In the hail.
SIS the colonel at homer" ~"
mo; my father is out" :,
Il am one Of the. secret police. a.
man has come in here whose name lis
on the black list. 1t is quite probable
that he is playing a double game, pre-
tending to work for your father"
There is a man in the parlor, q mes
senger from a friend of mine who has
sent him to return some books / lent
her." ".
Can / see himT'
Certainly" q
My shadower entered. 81,
Stand up." he said. -
I did as he commanded, and ha
searched me. Not finding anything 90
compromise me. he united the packaa@
and found the books. He WAS not SD
istied. but there was nothing for him
to do but acquiesce. No one lis to .bs
trusted in Russia, and even this dauef-
ter Of a police official was suspected
by the man, as I could see by his
looks. r4
Il am sorry to have to disturb you.,'
he said to her, "but when L come ia.
recount the matter to your father I}
am sure he will bear me out in what
have done. Good morning.
The narrator ceased and the listener
asked:
"The name OF this young grip
Not for my life would give it.r
"Ah. well. / can't blame you. what
did you do next?'
Il was ordered by our chief to- leave
the country as soon as I could do So
without exciting attention. He feared
that, In addition to being lii Jeopardy
myself. ! would bring down the police
on all the rest OF our society. I made
an attempt to leave the same night.
succeeded. made for the coast ana ena.
t~- 81 n - 49, a. MMF - H&E II MNE