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

professor, exclaimed Ivan-sucn was
the name of the youth who had brought
tie strange intellia acnce--as he advanced
e. the door OF the room. locked it. and
p aced the key in his pocket Every
one will assert his innocence--of course.
But comrades. suppose We endeavor to
find him outg Let us search each other.
The traitor. whoever lie may be, must
doubtless have in his posse, sion some
proof of his guilt AT least. the expert
ment is worth trying. What say your"
Agreed agreedls exclaimed tile Nj
hilists, as with one accord they sprang
cenvulsively to their feet One of tile
students-a tall, lank youth. with
somewhat foppish appearance = OBJ
jected, however, to the proposal
But whys' hotly demanded the pro-
fessor. who seemed all eagerness 10 be.
gin the investigation.
Because, was the hesitating re-
joinder, because it is unnecessary. Our
word of honor ought to be enough. Be
sides, there is something degrading in
the idea Of searching one another, as il,
indeed, we were lot Of pickpockets
So let us break up the meeting. This
excitement is absurd, and renders the
discussion Of the plot impossible. As
for the story told by the drunken soldier
in the cafe, don't believe a word of it
These words produced an angry muir
muir among the excited conspirators.
The protest seemed so ridiculous; and
as the clamor increased Ivan turned to
the speaker and warmly exclaimed,
Very well; we shall abstain from
searching you, since you wish il; but
remember this. that if we fail TO find a
clue to the informant among those who
willingly submit to the examination we
shall then know upon whom TO fix our
suspicious Now, comrades, search me
first; am ready.
in a moment the speakers pockets
were emptied of their contents, and
even the lining of his clothes was care
fully searched; but beyond a few old
love letters, some political pamphlets,
and an English newspaper with para
graph obliterated with lamp black,
nothing of an discriminating character
was found. second student readily
submitted to the test-if test it was
with similar results Then a third
stepped forward and placed himself in
the hands of his companions But at
that moment a curious incident oc-
Cured. An invisible hand suddenly
extinguished the light of the candle,
and in a second the room was plunged
in utter darkness.
What did it mean? Who had
quenched the light? For moment the
Nhilists remained motionless, as if
rooted to the spot. AS they listened in
alarm, they heard strange creaking
sound in the direction OF the curtained
window.
Suddenly the wee of Ivan exclaimed
in tie darkness: Comrades, this is
hickl Listenl Some one is endeavoring
to escape by the Mindowl 1t is the
traitor at last His attempt to escape
betrays his guilt Stand backl / know
how to deal with himl'
In an instant tie report of three re-
volver shots rang through the room, and
was followed by an agonizing yell as
some one fell heavily upon the floor
A profound silence then ensued
1t was an awful situation.
AT length Ivan spoke to his terrified
companions.
"Strike light now, he said in a
trembling voice. and let us look upon
the face of traitor. Will no one move?
Are you all afraid to gaze upon the dead
body Of a miscreaI who has BETRAYED
as TO our enemies? Come, professor,
where are the matches? You had them
last. But hushi What sound is thati
Listenl BY heavens, comrades, the
police are upon us already. The house
is surrounded! Qdickl here is a trap
door, known only to myself. 1t leads tc
the main sewer, and is our only hope Of
escape. Follow me.
Cropping hand in hand in the dark,
the affrighted men followed the speak
er's directions, and after some moment
airy confusion, disappeared into a
noisome abyss None too soon. In an
other instant the door of the room was
battered to pieces. and company of
gendarmes entered. Lights were now
flashed in every direction. but it was
obvious to all that the conspirators had
escaped. The officer in charge swore
long and deep, and ordered the men to
search the house from top to bottom.
Then, advancing toward the window, he
stumbled over a human body.
Whats tlIis?" he exclaimed, exam.
ining the dead mans features with a
lantern. "Hal so they have caughtyou
at last my friend. have they? Well,
you played the spy long and well, but it
always comes to this end
And, tearing down the window cur
tain, the'officer threw it over the rigid
body of--the professor In SIcDQugal,
in Pail Mall Budget.
+. Gru,e. IN IN. Goa, Mines.