The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-04-02
THE TEST.
Locating the Traitor in a Russian
Conspiracy.

One bitterly cold winters evening
five men We're seated together in a
small room in house situated in the
Jewish quarter of a busy and largely
populated Russian city. The appear
ance of the room was as wretched as
the external aspect of the house itself.
The solitary window was totally con-
cealed by a heavy faded curtain, de-
pending from the roof, and as the wind
moaned dismally through the broken
panes of glass it's somber folds swayed
to and fro. The inmates of this mourn
full den We're seated around the table,
smoking their pipes and talking, as if
furtively, in whispers. AS the feeble
rays of the candle fell ftfully upon
the company they revealed the youth
full faces of four students. The chief
spokesman, however, was a much older
man. apparently about fifty, with a
short, pointed beard, shaggy brows
and keen, penetrating eyes of the dark
est hue. The others deferentially adj
dressed the speaker as professor, :"
and such, indeed, he was at that time
dl Il Nell-huONu SCHOOL Oh uueulcluo Ill
Russia.
On the present occasion, however. he
was speaking, not of science, but of the
terrible doctrine of assassination.
Prof. v was nihilist, reputed
Colossus of craft in the dissemination
of revolutionary doctrines, and on the
particular evening in question he was
engaged in advocating with fiery elo-
quence the assassination of certain
colonel who had lately been promoted
to the rank Of chief commissioner Of
the secret police. AS the night wore
on their whispered conversation was
suddenly interrupted by low knock
ing at the outer door. In moment
the conspirators sprang noiselessly to
their feet and listened with bated
breath. The sound was repeated-a
peculiar whistle was heard from with
out. and the listeners exchanged sig
niticant glances and quietly resumed
their seats. Presently cautious foot
steps 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 re-
turned his companions salutations he
regarded them with fixed and angry
stare.
You have kept US waiting. com
rade," exclaimed the professor, putting
calmly at his pipe. Ugh. we are al
most frozen, for the air Of this wretched
apartment is quite Siberian. But now
to business We will warm ourselves
with talk, and fire our minds with the
prospect of revenge"
There was a murmur of approval. 1t
was noticed, however, that the young
man who had just appeared upon the
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, 1--WE cannot 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 us is traitor
"A traitor" exclaimed the men, start
ing to their feet
Yes, comrades, we are betrayed;
and as no one knows of this plot of
ours except ourselves, it is plain,
think, that one of us has turned in
formant."
You are mad to say So" hoarsely
exclaimed the professor; "but in heav-
ems name, what has happened? Come,
tell us quickly. This is no testing mat
ter
Listen, then. On my way hither,
comrades. | entered cafe de Paris to
happened to sit beside two officers of
the secret police, and as one of them
was somewhat tipsy, l could distinctly
hear his conversation. l found it rath-
err interesting. He told his companion
that he was under orders to surround
this old, deserted house at midnight
it was near eleven now - and to
arrest all persons found within. He
mentioned, moreover, all our names,
and added, with a maudlin laugh, that a
certain person, to whom the administra-
ton is eternally indie bted, would be
found in our midst playing the part Of
conspirator. Now, comrades, l have
done. What shall we do?"
The men looked at each other in
dismay. A dead silence filled the ROOM
for the mere suspicion of treachery
among the men who had solemnly ded-
icated their lives to the sacred cause of
liberty seemed to hold them dumb
Such villainy in their very midst
among men banded together in sacred
brotherhood-was a greater crime than
the merciless acts of a despot and his
minions.
''If this is true" said the professor,
in a voice of suppressed rage, ''then I
will no longer believe in human fidelity,
or the future of our cause. But-death!
if the story is true. Which of us is the
informer?' added the speaker, staring
tiercely at the pale faces of his COM
panions.
bah! it is useless to ask that, my
dear professor, exclaimed Ivan-such
was the name of the youth who had
brought the strange intelligence-as he
advanced to the door of the room.
locked it, and placed the key in his
pocket. Every one will assert his
innocence-of course. But, comrades,
suppose we endeavor to find him out?
Let us search each other The traitor,
whoever he may be, must doubtless
have in his possession some proof Of his
guilt. At least, the experiment is
worth trying. What say you?
agreed! agreedr' exclaimed the
nihilists, as with one accord they
sprang convulsively to their feet. One
of the students-a tall, lank youth,
with somewhat foppish appearance
objected, however, to the proposal.
But why?" hotly demanded the pro-
fessor, who seemed all eagerness to
begin the investigation.
because" was the hesitating re-
joinder, "honor ought to be enough.
Besides there is something degrading
in the idea of searching one another as
if, indeed, we were lot of pickpockets.
So let us break up the meeting. This
excitement is absurd, and renders the
discussion of our plot impossible. As