Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1904 — The Secret Dispatch [ARTICLE]

The Secret Dispatch

By JAMES GRANT

CHAPTER IX. “So —lie Is safe,” said Niehoins Pau’.ovitcli. looking upwnnl with n grin of savage satisfaction-at- the chisel trap, as : ie replaced the toreli on the table, and then closely scrutinized the corporal, whose eyes had already become red-attd inflamed. “Hush!” said Podatcltkine, “take rare!" "Why ?” r.skc l Nicholas, in a hoarse whisper. “Recau*e nil may not he yet as you .wish, it, and in Russia sometimes the tongue flays the shoulders and cuts off - the head.” "True.” said the hitherto taciturn Step■ink. wlm was cnrcfuHy feeling tlie keen edge of hu hatchet, “as the Tartars have it, when you have spoken the word, it rules over you; while it is yet unspoken, you rule over it. ,But it seems to nte, Michail Fodatelikinc, that you have taken a gfest deal of trouble, and wasted much time in the matter of this dispatch. As you passed through the forest together, why did you not give him a good prod to the M'ilh your lance Y’ “Because, if a wound is found oh lung folks might say he had been murdered; and he must not bear a soar.” "And neither shall you, friend Fotlatehkiar," said Patiloviteh with a cruel grin. "Come--don’t make unpleasant jests,” growled the corporal, with a yawn and a shuddoj. “I have no desire to- travel with tije next caravan to Siberia, with one side of my head, and face shaved, and Jta iron rosary, some five pounds in weight, on my wrists.” “Fear not —you will never see Sibe- •_ ts •> FIJI. “Then you have made all sure about Ivanovitgh Balgonie?” said Podatchkine, whose utterance was becoming somewhat inarticulate. "Ay, lure enough; the cups—the cup, I stean —was drugged with those black berries which grow in the forest hereabout; the same stuff used by fine ladies to whiten their hands.” “But why the cup and not the cordiaJTM ■ “For this reason; I might have been constrained to drink with—him; and I had no desire to fall, like some one else, into a trap of my own baitisg.”’ Podatchkine, on whom the powerful soporific with which his cup had been drugged—the sleepy nightshade—had been rapidly taking effect, and whd&e small cunning eyes had been opening and shutting alternately, while a numbness

*tole with a weariness over all his facnlties 4 seemed suddenly to gras,p at the terrible meaning of the speaker. He gave a start —jbe essayed to rouse himself t;.nd shout, but iu doing so, toppled eff and sank on the clay floor in a profound slumber. "At last! v said the half-breed, administering a kick to the prostrate figure; “at last he has gone to sleep; now to make sure that he shall never waken moie. Ah! the Asiatic! he was just getting suspicious qt the end.” “There are two coins in his pockets," said the Stepnlak, after investigating the garments of the snoring Podatchkine, who was now breathing heavily through his red snub nose, which, between his scrubby beard and his shock hair, was almost the only feature of his face that wns visible. “Leave the coins where you found them!" said Nicholas. “Wherefore?" asked the Stekniak, with surprise. “It will seem all the more honest in thee, my good Stepniak, when you take the body—bodies, I should say—to the nearest military post. You have but to say you found them dead iu the forest.” “And the wet clothing?" “Dew or rain—what a head you .have!" “True— true; ah' s hat a man you are, Nicholas Panlovitch, so full of bright thoughts! That idea would never have occurred to me.” “Nor the other either. Quick now; we have not a moment to lose!” They extinguished the pine torch, and tying the corporal’s hands securely with u cord, carried him forth to the drawwell before the cottage. Then they substituted that worthy warrior's heels for the bucket which was usually appended to the rope, and permitting the winch to j revolve softly and gently, lowered him down, snorting and gasping in his unnatural slumber, head foremost, into the deep, dark water below! The Stepniak turned the iron handlo es the windlass, while the gypsy guided the rope with its heavy burden. He was •deliberately lowered down until his heels remained above water, as the two wretches could see by the starlight when stooping and peering into the darkness "below. The snorting had ceased now. The dying corporal was heard to struggle with his hands, ns if he sought to- free them from the cords; a few bubbles filled with air rose to the surface and burst. This continued for n minute, during which all was silent everywhere, snve the Ynlf-suppressed breathing of the two assassins, and the dreary sound of the .sight wind as it shook the dark branches •f the giant pinea that towered iu solemn gloom uround them. Nicholas Panlovitch listened intently, and kept his eyes fixed on the cottage where their other victim lay, as lie doubti«d not, sunk in what was n>tended to be lis last sfeep. Anon, alt became still—-deathly still — •ta the depths of the dark well; the rope ceased to vibrate, and the bubbles came mo more.

“Let us leave liim liere for n few minetee, and uow for the captain mid his 'dispatch! By the time that we return |tke corporal will be as stiff as if lie stood for sale In the frozen market on the fete es St Nicholas!" said the gypsy, with fSM of his diabolical grins, while the Atspaiah, with a smile of satisfactiea that showed his huge yellow teetlii, smoothed down to hla eyebrows the thick, coarse black hair that grew from the ■pex of hla conical caput. They now re-entered the cottage, and lighted the torch. All remained just

as they had left it; the pitcher, the wooden bowls, the two cups, and the empty bottle were on the table,, and the i phrtt els, with the debris of their rustic ! supper; hut the superstitious gypsy felt a speeles ~f shudder ..come over him, for j when the torch flared up in the night wind autl cast strange shadows on the ! dingy and discolored walls of the log hut. it secured to his diseased imagination; for a moment, as if the outline -of the drowned corporal still'occupied the •stool on which he had been seated. "Come." said he huskily, “the d:s- ---| patch! —and then for the other!” They listened intently, and placed the ladder against the trap door. All was still —not even the breathing of Balgonie was heard. Ascending first, mill a knife in his teeth, in case of unexpected rc--1 sistanee, the gypsy knocked thrice on the trap without receiving any response. He then withdrew the wooden bolt, pushed it up, and introducing his head and shoulders, held aloft the pine torch, and turned toward the bed of skin. It was unoccupied; and in a moment Jie saw that the bare and desolate chamber was without a tenant! "Malediction-!” he shouted; "be has escaped us—but how? Search—-search! He cannot lie far off, after the dose I have given him: search —and we must use our hatchets now!”

CHATTER X. T.algonie had scarcely thrown himself at length on the soft but not very' odorous pile of skins which formed his conch, when a face appeared at a little window, which was pulled open, and a voice called to him in a low and earnest whisper: "Ilospodeen—Carl IvanbviuTi! Tlospodeen, attend to me: hut oh, be silent, as you value your life!” He started tip. softly approached the window, and saw, by the dim starlight, a fair finale face witii very dark eyes, white atJ regular teeth, and long, glittering et .--rings "1 hav; seen litis face before,” thought lie; "btii when, and where?” Balgctjie. in truth, was too much of a lover tc have more than one female face ever before his eyes —that of Natalie Mierowja. "I am Olga, the gypsy,” said the girl liumblj. , "Olgi! Olga! whom I saw at the house of Mievowitz this evening?” . "The same, Ilospodeen!” Balgonie an exclamation of astonishment i> find her, as he thought,. so. far from that place. "You gave me a coin once upon a time, at Iv-rejko. when passing—through that tow* with JJiehail Podatchkine; and this evening you saved me from the whip of the steward, when for tlu third time I had ventured near the mansion in a vain search for you or the H-.spoza Mierowna.”

“In search of us—and for what purpose, yirl?” “To warn you that for nearly a month past i. plot has been forms 1 to deprive you c{ a valuable paper, and even of your life." “Mi life? By whom, and where, girt?” “Here in this solitary hut —even now your assassins are in consultation —listen.” i

He placed his ear to the trap door, and heard the murmurs of coarse whispers below. “Hush.” said Podatchkine, “take care!” Then followed the question of the subtle And ferocious Stepniak as to why he had got given Balgonie a "prod” with his la lire in .the forest; and the whole conversation in all its horrible details, up to the moment when the wretched corpoij.l with death and terror mingling 'jp his soul, fell from his seat in a st upon “Grant lieavdh!” exclaimed Balgonie, full o - * despair and horror, as he mechanically Celt for his fatal dispatch, to ascertain that it was yet safe, "I have drunl of this drugged stuff, and am also lost!’! “Nyv,” said the gypsy, hurriedly; “not from the cup which was intended for you.’ “H,vw ?—speak!—speak!” “Tge cordial and the cups too were' all k olen by Podatchkine, with many otlity tilings, at different times, from the household of Mierowitz. This night you wory duly expected here, and thus a plan war. laid to destroy botii you and your treacherous guide. T tvo cups were fully and deeply drugged by my brother Nidi* olaSi one was richly mounted with silver; ind knowing well that it was to he set l»fore you, I abstracted it barely an hour ago, substituting another of the same kind, and now 1 have it here. Oh, Hospcdeen, a narrow escape you have had!”

Ba'.jonie began to breathe more freely; lint assured that never had he run so narrow a risk of death, lie felt, though enraged and furious, his blood run cold when contemplating the fate intended for him Peeping through a chink of the liati li or trap door, he saw Hint the ladder of access had been removed, mid that ilie door of the squalid cottage was open now, for the torch flared nijfro than ever in the night wind. It wn\ then extinguished; but still he could sVe and hear them dragging forth the passive form of Corporal Podntchkine, whom he sup posed to be dead. rt lf you would save your life nml the dispatch of the empress, follow me this instant, mid get your horse bofore they return; yotr hart? not a moment to lose." It was the gypsy girl wli» spoke again, in her low earnest whisper, mid with perfect decision. '■Then I owe my escape—my safety “To my gratitude. Pass through the window and descend by the wall." Bnlgonie found that the courageous girl to whose guidance he now trusted himself had been enabled to reach the window by standing on the roof of the shed, la which Podatchkine had stabled their horses. The whole oditice being built of square logs, was not very highland it afforded easy means of .ascent and descent, by the interstices consequent to its rude construction by the hatchet, lie

sooi.neaped to the ground, and »/ftly as-sisted-her to descend. . - ■ , t "Here is your horse; you see, Hospodeon, that your kindness to the poor gypsy girl was not thrown away.” • Balgonie looked rapidly to his bit and girth, adjusted himself in his saddle, < hooked up the hilt" of his saber and short- ! cited his rein, almost unaware of the , black tragedy l eing so coolly and dclthj eratoiy acted on -the other sale of the cottage, "Ten niilcs further from litis will bring ! you to the monastery of the Troitzc, which you will know by its domes. You have but to ride straight westward by tild forest petit; heaven keep volt, and may you and the beautiful' Ilospoza be happy in, your loses!” - lie slipped into her hand the largest coins he had, and in a moment more was galloping over the soft grass of the forest path she had indicated. After traversing a green valley some five or six miles in length, bordered on each side by foiests of fir trees, lie drew bis bridle at the gates of the Troitza Monastery, where its white walls, its three great cupolas, shaped each like a gigantic onion inverted,- covered with plates of -burnished copper, and all paintcd ai'ii! best irred, were shining gayly in tlio ‘morning sun. There hu was made welcome by the -monks —<pi.-iint-lookiit g -men.- in high black .caps without brims; and having black: veils floating behind over tlieir long, straight hair. “large party or' pilgrims on horse and foot were returning to St. Petersburg that afternoon. With them Balgonie traveled for the remainder of his journey; and, after traversing a wild and desert tract of country.- on- -the evening ofcttofc next day he bad the pleasure of beholding. Tit th ■ distance before him, the vast and spies* led capital. Balgonic’s satisfaction on finding himself so near- the end of his journey was somewhat clouded by a trivial eirenm-

After entering the city by a palisaded barrier, vie tv stood a guard of the RegiTTient of YTTTEnlntzTie checked bis liorse's part, while the Caravan of pilgrims, w-iom he now wished to quit traversed a lopg street of small wooden •houses dial lay beyond. Here close by the margin of the Neva lay a man wet and dr ppipg,' and a piece of sack or old canvas spread over his face. On his breast lay liis fur cap. as if to receive alms for ai.s Burial, for none doubted that be-was a poor drowned fellow just fished tip front the Neva, and that money was required for his obsequies. So all the- pilgrims front the Troitza threw someTting into the fur cap, while the passers muttered prayers mid made signs of the cross; A.l tltt caravan bad passed; so (lie elnt-.er of Balgonie'* charger, steel scabbard and accouterments seem®d to create a different effect on the attentive ear of the "seemingly drowned man. for the knave, who had only been acting, started up and, with his spoil, fled like a liar® down one of the little alleys that opened off the wooden street. He vanished in the twilight, yet not so quickly but that Balgonie was aide to recognize in his -face gjTid forth the bulky and imtscnlar -half-breed, the gypsy, Xichokrs Prrrrlovitch.

What had brought'him to St. Petersburg? Was he still dogging the luckless dispatch bearer, or had lie only fled thither that, among its thousands, die might elude the punishment with which Miorowitz would be sure to visit him, if the murder of the corporal was discovered? This episode made Balgonie feel uncomfortable and suspicious that other and hidden dangers yet menaced him as he rode steadily but watchfully through the densely crowded streets. Along the northern margin of the Neva. deep, blue and transparent as crystal. lined with solid granite quays and bordered by many stately palatial edifices, Balgonie pursued his way; but the stars were shining at midnight oil the vast sheet of water called the Lake of Ladoga before he, weary and worn with fatigue, dismounted beneath the formidable gates of the castellated prison of Schlusselburg.* (To be continued.)