The Van Buren press., 1873-04-22
said to them, and generally good deal

and brothers, this traitor has to be tried
on the following charges hrst,fo having
knowing us all to belong to this socis-
ty taking every opportunity of malign
ing and risiicuiing it; secondly, for hav-
ing, by some means unknown to us as
yet-but which we will presently get from
him-worn our secret order publicly and
ostentatiously, and probably explained
to everybody he knows its mysterious
meaning.
You have heard the evidence, gentle
men. How say you, guilty or not
guilty y
Without a word being spoken. every
man held up his hand.
=" Guilty on both charges, added the
President. "And now your sentence. "
Again silently they all raised their
hands
Death !" said the President. "Gen-
tlcmen and brothers, iu your verdict and
sentence fully concur. =
had nearly tainted as he uttered these
last words, and think should have
done so, but that the porter undid the
gag; and tho President rising, address
ed be thus. Prisoner and traitor, you
have heard the charges, evidence and
sentence; have you anything to say why
it should not be carried out 7"
neryed myself, and as boldly as
could, spoke the following words: !:
" Russians, most Of GEOGRAPHICALLY
one" land looked hard at Scholvolski.
who dropped his eyes)-" have profess
ed friendship for me and yet now you
want to kill me. Why is this' What
have done' You say talked about
your secret societies well, so does ev.
cry other man you meet; and in Europe
everybody says what he thinks. You as.
sort that have worn your order, know
ing it to be the order Of your society.
This smphatically deny, as | only pick
Cd it up in the streets few minutes be
fore l met that man" (pointing to the
Presideut), for oddly enough, l had ncv.
er heard his name.
AsI uttered the words picked it up"
there was smile Of derision they evi
IDENTIFY did not believe me How was
to prove my wsrds7 No one had been
near me when | found il.
Is that all you have to say, asked
the President; because that goes for
nothing
Let mo warn vou,' hotly answered
" "You are not in Russia, where you can
quietly get rid Of an obnoxious person,
but in Europe; and you'll find yourselves
with ropes around your necksi II you dare
to lay violent hands on me-
"Ho! ho |" laughed the brutal Presi.
dent "How clumsy you must think US,
Why, you don't suppose that we shall
leave your earoase in the strests2 But
enough Of this. To business"
Zone minute, Frushinkof," said
Scholveski.
"Hush! hush! How could you be
so imprudcnt ?--bcfore that man, too"
Pardon me; it slipped out, rejoin
ed Scholvolski; =" but | don't think he
will ever repeat it, "
:, One minute, resumed Scholvolski,
having, apparently, appsased the Prssi
dent /" suppose, rs usual, we keep
memento p
Certainly" replied the President,
and nodded to the porter, who went to
the cupboard, and produced long fiat
box, which he placed on the table
"How many will his makef' asked
Schevolski.
Lets see, " said the President, and
with small gold koy attached to his
watch chain, he unlocked the box. How
no glared at the contents. His will be
the ninth y said the President.
Pass il round, asked Scholvolski,
who was close to me; and when 1t was
put down in front OF him, my curiosity
tempted me to look within too. lleav
ems what did | see1 A row Of mortal
thumbs
shut my eyes at the horrid sight, aud
felt my blood lun cold on hearing Sehol-
volski say, with laugh, karl, you will
have to enlarge this space; our friends
thumb here " (and he touched my thumb,
which lay outstretchcd, my arm being
bound to the arm Of the chair), is very
large"
"The night is half over" said the
President, and we've lots to do before
dawn; SO come, Karl, the hatchot; and,
Scholvolski, you write the card TO attach
to it, as memoir Of to nights good
work.
Great God my thumb too large for
the space the hatchet What does it
all mean2 knew had to die, but not
| to be tortured to death not 10 have my
| limbs hacked of before my eyes. The
thought was tao fearful
Although ! was noarly unconscious,
half dead with fright, have misty rec
olle,t.on OF sc, ing the huge porter come
up to me with u short hatchet in his hand,
and unbind my forearm, laying it in q
sort Of iron groove which he fitted on the
arm Of the CHAIR then binding it down
again on this, AMI separating my thumb
from the other fingers. by covering them
with a sheet Of lead, which fitted down
tightly to the chair. For the life Of me,
! couldn't resist the temptation to look
at tie diabolieal machine. found what
| have described above, and also-oh,
horror my thumb lay on massive
piece OF lead, much cut about and stain
ed bright red
now nervcd myself for one final dash
for liberty and life. "If | could only
get free from the chair, and get hold Of
that hatchst, I'd back myself to get cut
if" A desperate shake, plunge, and
wriggle. NJ use; the giant was down
upon me like an avalanche. made one
more futile attempt at shouting but was
| instantly papycd