The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-04-11

to Tho door Of the room, locked it. and
p aoed the key in his pocket Every
one will assert his innocenoe--of course.
But comrades, suppose we endeavor TO
find him QUIZ Let us search each other
The traitor, whoever lie may be, must
doubtless have in his posses sion some
proof of his guilt At least. the expert
ment is worth trying What say your"
Agreed agreedl' exclaimed the Nj
hii4ts, as with one accord they sprang
convulsively to their feet One of the
students--a tall, lank youth. with
somewhat foppish appearance - OBJ
jected, however, to the proposal,
But why2" hotly demanded the pro-
fcssor, who seemed ell eagerness to 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 picl1pockets.
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
mur ameng the excited conspirators.
The protest seemed 30 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 1t; but
tl,f- ,..o fcs
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"
III 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 a para
graph oblterated with lamp black,
nothing of an discriminating character
was found. A 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 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 meanl Who had
quenched the light9 For a moment the
Nihiists 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 voice Of Ivan exclaimed
in tile darkness; "Comrades this is
tricki Lsteul Some one is endeavoring
to escape by the windowl 1t is the
traitor at last His attempt to escape
betraJs lis guilt Stand backl know
how to deal with himl"
In an instant the report Of three re-
volver shots rang through the room, and
was followed by an agonizing yell MS
some one fell heavily upon the floor.
A profound silence then ensued.
It was an awful situation.
AT length Ivan spoke to his terrified
companions
"Strike light now, he said in
trembling voice, "and let us look upon
the face of q traitor win no one mover
Are you all afraid to gaze upon the dead
body of q miscreant who has betrayed
us to our cnemies2 Come, professor,
where are the matches? You had them
last. But hushl What sound is that2
Listenl By heavens, comrades, the
police are upon us already. The house
is surrounded! Quick here is trap
door, known only to myself. 1t leads to
tile 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.
ary confusion, disappeared into q
noisome abyss. None too soon, In an
other instant the door of the room was
battered to pieces, and n company of
| gendarmes entered. Lights were now
flashed in every direction, hut 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 human body.
whats this1" he exclaimed, exam.
lining the dead mans features with a
lantern. "Hal SO they have caught you
at last my friend. have they2 WE'LL
you played the spy long and well, but ii
always comes to this end.
And, tearing down the window cur
tain, the officer threw it over the rigid
body of-the professor Ia. McDougal,
in Pail Mall Budget.