By NICHOLAS CARTER, The Celebrated New York Detective.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 382, 6 July 1889, Page 3

By NICHOLAS CARTER, T he Celebrated New York Detective.

CHAPTER XXX. (Continued.) 1 The mps were lighted, and in a few moments an appointed gang of men was .carrying out tiie parcels of deadly dynamite. * ' . When ib was all brought from its hidingplace, the. door of .the outer room was> opened, and a portion earned into that' apartment. Without asking permission, Wat appointed himself director of this ne-r arrangement, and nobody seemed disposed to deny 4tis right to do so. It- was- a -singular sight this, of so many men atid women willingly "devoting themselves to death for what, they believed the good of their cause.-. . - Wat, now that there was light enough to see by, could not help noting that many of them were trembling- as with ague, and yet even they had no thought of saving, themselves at fche expense of their'cause" ' They trembled violently at the thought of the fiightful death menacing them, but remained still steadfast to their cause. Vera watched the proceedings with a terror made no effoit to conceal. She .knew that Wat did not propose to share the fate of fches-e people, even if events should so shape themselves that they should at last have to decide to do so, I 'for he % had whispered t o her : ' Have no fear. I have a plan for saving ourselves should these poor people decide to die. 7 All the while- that he worked 'she kept as near to_hiin as she could, so thac when the crifcical'mom.ent came she would be ready to dol-bis Jwdding. ■ *" Afc'last all- was ready, and Wat';, with several others, went into the outer room, Vera, of course, being one of the number. The lights were once more extinguished, and, -as it seemed, not any too toon. Tie soldiers could be heard prying at the wall between fche cellar and * fcbe room' Wafc was in. < Wat at once asked someone who -knew the sjeeret of the door to open it. It was. done, and the flood of light that at once streamed in told that the soldiers were 'not by any means working in the darkness. They evidently did not see the door at first;, but presently a cry from one of them announced that they nad caught sight of it. In another moment they had rushed in pell-mell. Wat and his men hugged the wall close, and as the light was not at once brought in the}' were not discovered. When it was pretty certain that the soldiers hiad entered, Wat sprang towards the door with a package of dynamite in his handa, and cried out : ' Stop where you are !' f Here they are !' cried one of the soldiers. - ' Cover them !' commanded the head officer, promptly. in an instant the guns were levelled at the nihilists. , • One movement on your part and you all go to eternity !' cried Wat, holding his package of dynamite aloft. ' ' This is dynamite !' A cry of horror broke from the ranks of the soldiers. 'It is- only a ruse !' said the officer. 'Fi ~-\ . . ' Stop ll cried Wat. ' I pledge my word that we each have a package of dynamite, any one ot which would be lar^e enough to blow this whole block into eternity !' The soldrers dropped their guns as if they would nob, even on orders, fire into such an awful possibility. By this time .the nihilists in the other room had appeared in the door-wav, and the one who seemed to be the natural leaderspoke to -the officer. ' Here we stand, too, ready to die with you or live with you. It is for you to choose ' ' The officer, who was a handsome young man, and evidently as brave as a" lion, turned to hisrmen, and exclaimed : • Traitors are naturally liars. These men are traitors, and I do not believe them when they ed,y they will die by their own hands. Will you' obey my orders and fire, or will you -refuse, • like cowards, and see me, single-handed, charere them V 1 Sir cap'tajin,' said Wat, • you delude yourself. This is dynamite, and these men are ready to die. Your soldiers are not afraid, bub they know their fellows better than you do. They know better than you the reason why these men do not fear death, and would even court it for their country's sake.' The officer, seeming to disd.iin an answer, gave the command to his men : ' Make ready — take aim — tire |] [i. Not a musket was raised, not a soldier ( moved. ' Cowards !' cried the young captain, < with angry contempt. 'Then 'see me die 1 alone !' Brandishing his di*awn sword, he rushed afcWat. "3 ■ - ' t Wat was iiteumbered by his package of 1 dynamite, which took both hands to hold. ( If be stooped to put it down, the officer's 1 sword would pierce him ere he could rise t again ! ' Ll ' ' To throw ifc'tTow'n would be to consign 1 them all to a speedy death ! To hold it was to die ! ■ 1