The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1917-07-07
A Russian Effort
to Lose Himself
By EUNlCE BLAKE

lSI1 was nISI hCdAu Il AhCg " thCt
name from their underlying principle
that nothing in government which ex-
listed should continue. The Latin word
for nothing is nihil.
There was great secrecy I'm those cir
cles, the members of N circle being
completely ignorant of those in anoth-
er. Peter understood that different
circles worked in harmony through
their chiefs. but beyond this he had no
information whatever. And yet st.
Petersburg NOW Petrograd). where he
lived, was full of nihilists.
Peter was young, and there was
something captivating in all this mys-
terry. But one night there came to him
a terrible awakening. Lots were
drawn to decide which one of the cir
Gle should a~ssaSSinate the chief of po-
lice, and Peter drew the fatal paper.
on which had been Sketched n dagger.
all the rest being blanks.
ALI the romance attending the secret
meetings. the DISCUSSES, the many in
genious plans Of the propaganda of nj
hilism, Shriyeled before this terrible
deed which Peter was required to com
nit and from which there was no es-
cape. He might flee to the ends of the
earth. but would never know when
some one. possibly his best friend.
would strike him.
To add to his horror. he loved IA
young girl. to whom he vas expecting
to be married. Nina Dimitrieff was at
the time preparing her trouSSeau. Pc
ter feared that his misfortune, which,
in any event, would break their be-
trothal. would kill her.
He spent a long while in making up
his mind what to 10 and finally decid-
ed upon fight. He would cave Rus
sia disguised and go to a land where
he would be lost to the world. But
what action should he take in refer
ence to his betrothed? After weigh
ing the matter. dreading the shock he
would cause her by telling her what
had happened. he decided to disappear
from her as mysteriously as from 9th
ers. He would confide only in his
mother.
A few days after he had drawn the
dagger he began Il journey to the Dor
der. Disguised as Il beggar. he Travelled
by night and begged by day in the
towns through which he passed. What
money he took with him, added to what
he received from charity. enabled him
to reach Genoa and take passage for
America.
For five years the fugitive kept
changing his residence, avoiding the
large cities so far as possible, think
ing to lose himself more effectively in
the country. But whenever he came
near q Russian he moved on He dared
not write to his mother for fear his
letters would be intercepted. but be-
fore leaving Russia he had laid a plan
for communicating with her at long in
tervals. Finally he received word from
her that Il friend of his in the circle to
Mt the risk of his life. that in emissary
had been sent to asSaSsinate him.
One day Peter appeared in a small
town in Missouri to receive Il commu-
nication expected from his mother
What was his astonishment TO see
walking on the main street Nina Dimi-
trieff. The sight staggered him. Could
it be possible that the girl he loved had
been sem out to kill him? lie Danish
ed the thought and RAJ toward her.
Seeing him, she cave him II meaning
glance and passed on.
Peter followed her and presently saw
her drop Il bit of paper. Picking it up.
he read, Meet me at IL on the bridge
The town was on the bank of n small
stream spanncd by Il single bridge.
This fixed the place. At the hour APP
pointed he went there. Nina soon ap-
peared, and the two were clasped in an
embrace.
Then Min told her story. After his
disappearance she had wormed the Sc
ret from his mother But il was not
till Nine. Trolenco told her that an
emissary had been dispatched to kill
him hat Nina decided to join him in
his exile, The immediate reason for
her coming was to warn him against
this person who had been described to
his mother. Nina knew the man who
was to avenge the circle. but he did
not know her. Indeed. she had seen
him in the town that day.
What was to be done: Nina declared
that she would remain with her lover.
protect him so far AS she might be
able and die with him if she could not
save him. The danger was imminent.
Besides. if they left the town they
would be followed They talked 10
gether "a long while. discussing various
plans. and finally adopted one that bid
fair to accomplish the desired result.
The stream flowing beneath them
was Il tributary to the Missouri river.
Beyond the Missouri We're the plains.
then unciviliZed. Arranging to meet ut
a point in Kansas. they separated. Pc
ter descended the stream and reached
the Missouri in the morning. There he
found a BOAT tied to the shore, In the