Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-07-29
LOCATING THE TRAITOR.

One bitterly cold winters evening
Eve men were seated together in a
small room in house situated in the
Jewish quarter Of a busy and largely
populated Russian city. The appear
the external aspects of the house itself.
The solitary window was totally con
cealed by heavy faded curtain, de-
pending from the roof. and as the wind
moaned dismally through the broken
panes Of glass, its somber folds swayed
TO and fro. The inmates of this mourn.
ful den were seated round the table,
smoking their pipes and talking, as il
furtiyely, in whispers. As the feeble
rays of the candle fell fitfully upon the
company they revealed the youthful
faces OF four students The chief spokes-
man. however, was a much older man,
apparently about 90, with a short
pointed beard, shaggy brows, and keen,
penetrating eyes of the darkest hue.
The others deferentially addressed the
speaker as professor, and such, in-
Iced, le was, at that time. at well
known school OF medicine i'm Russia.
On the present occasion, however, he
was speaking, not of science, but of the
terrible doctrine of assassination.
Professor " was Nihiist, re.
puted Colossus of craft in the dssem.
ination Of revolutionary doctrines, and
ON the particular evening in question
he was engaged in advocating, with
fiery eloquence. the assassination of a
certain colonel who had lately been pro.
NOTED TO the rank OF chief commits
sioner OF the secret police. As the night
wore ON. their whispered conversation
was suddenly interrupted by a low
knocking at the outer door, In mo-
ment the conspirators sprang noiselessly
to their feet, and listened with bated
breath. The sound was repeated-a PEE
culiar whistle was heard from without.
and the listeners exchanged signiii.
can't glances and quietly resumed their
seats. Presently cautious footsteps
were heard in an outer room, the door
was opened, and young man hastily
entered His face was pale, his manner
agitated, and as he returned his com
panions' salutations he regarded them
with fixed and angry stare
@You have kept us waiting. com.
rade, exclaimed the professor, putting
calmly at his pipe. "Ughl we are
almost frozen, for the air Of this
wretched apartment is quite Siberian.
But now to business We viii warm
ourselves with talk, aud fire our minds
with the prospect of revenge.
There was murmur Of approval. II
was noticed, however, that the Young
man who had just appeared upon tie
scene took his seat in silence. and, rest.
ing his elbows upon the table, slowly
scrutinized the faces of his comrades
"My dear professor, he said at length,
1we can not possibly proceed at present
with this business.
"Why not? was unanimously asked.
Because" replied the latest conner,
As he quietly snuffed the candle, "be-
cause one of ms is traitor"
"A traitori' exclaimed the men, start.
ing TO their feet
yes, comrades, we are betrayed; and
as no one knows of this plot Of ours ex-
sept ourselves. it is plain, think, that
one of us has turned informant"
"You are mad TO say soi' hoarsely ex-
claimed the professor; -but in heavens
name. what has happened? Come, tell
as quickly. This Is no iesting matter. =
Listen, then. On my way tlither,
comrades, entered Cafe de Paris to
sip cup of tea and smoke a cigarette.
happened to sit down beside two Of.
ficers Of the Secret Police, and, as one OF
them was somewhat tipsy, | could
hear his conversation. / found it rather
interesting. He told his companion that
he was under orders TO surround this
old deserted house at midnight--it Is
near IL now--and to arrest all persons
found within. He mentioned, more
over, all our names, and added, with a
maudlin laugh, that certain person,
TO whom the administration Is eternally
indebted, would be found in our nilst
play ing the part Of conspirator Now,
comrades. / have done. What shall we
log"
The men looked at each other in dis
may. A dead silence filed the room.
for the mere suspicion Of treachery
among the men who had solemnly dedi.
Gated their lives 10 the sacred cause of
liberty seemed to hold them dumb. Such
v.llalny ia their very midst--among
men banded together in sacred brother
hood--was a greater crime than the
merciless acts Of . despot and his min.
ions
IL this is true. said tie professor IN
voice OF suppressed rage. then l will
no longer believe in human fidelity, or
the future Of our cause. But-Deathl
II the story j true. Which OF rs ID the
informer added the speaker, staring
1ercely at the pale faces Of his compan.
iona
nxr~s.4 Il = ..a-l.,..s ~, ak That .saxr Haas