The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1914-02-05
A NIHILISTS
LUCKY ESCAPE
Saved From Siberia.by the
Wit of a Girl.

Il am going to st. Petersburg on IA
MISSION" said uihilist in New York
10 a fellow worker. DO you know
any one there who will shield me if
:ornered?"
The question was answered by a
story.
Not long ago l was there myself.
One day | was directed to carry bun
die of printed revolutionary documents
from our rooms to the house of a men,
Der in different part of the city. l
studiously avoided any haste, saunter-
Ing along as though had no wish to
be at the end of my route. At street
crossing, CHANGING aside to avoid being
run down by some vehicle; 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 | noticed him he
started off briskly in the opposite di-
rection from what was going.
Nevertheless he did not lose sight of
me- ! bad not gone far when. in order
to be able to look back without my de-
sign being suspected. | stopped before
a shop window, glancing rearward out
of the corner of my eye. was just in
time to see the man | was looking for
disappear in an alley.
l was now thoroughly frightened.
Without doubt he was Shadowing me.
For some time 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 | was passing the house
of the chief of the district. it occurred
to me to play desperate game. 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 | did
not know. Mounting a few steps, |
tried the door. 1t was locked. but at
d y
lady in hat and wraps. evidently about
to come out. / stepped inside without
an invitation and closed the door.
May | speak with you a moment?"
| asked, removing my hat
The parlor door was open, and as |
looked wistfully into the room she mo-
toned me to enter. then followed. |
turned and faced her. studying by her
expression what kind of a person had
to deal with. Then | spoke in low
voice, seriously. pleadingly.
'You have the life of fellow being
In your keeping"
ww
"Yes; am nihilist. 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
deathl'
I took a revolver from my pocket.
IF | am discovered trying to save
you it means ruin for me and my ia
Their. He would go to Siberia instead
of you"
"You are right" l replied. Il will
not ask or accept such sacrifice"
placed the muzzle of the revolver
In my mouth and drew. back the ham,
mer. Before l could pull the trigger
felt q soft hand on my arm.
Undo your package" she said. BE
quick"
united the strings and unfolded the
paper. The girl, snatching a dozen
books from the library, tossed them to
me. | put them in the place of the
documents and tied up the package.
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.