The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-25

4 ~ 6uhll ODc1s' %lI Vat UNa 9r@0 -4N .r 4Nl
she loves yon, does she not?''
A silly, conceited smile which would have
ridiculous IL IL had not been sinister,
appeared upon the doctors lips.
why, Of course he said.
CHAPTER VIII.
III CHNTRE.
I'VE and the Knaves,'' such was the sub
ject chosen by the Mediator Arsenieff for
the opening discourse at the nihilists' great
monthly meeting. More than 200 auditors
listened to him open-mouthed. All the
outcasts OF ST. Petersburg were there. They
beard once again that officials, property
holders, priests and Woodworking peasants
were knaves, and that only the ~loafers,
dreamers and enviers could rightfully be
called honest men.
But this was only the prelude to some
thing else about to take place in the great
hall of the Asiatic's ~phalanstery. From
the time fixed for the opening Of the con-
venticle Darine had taken his place in the
ante-room, behind a desk intended for the
purpose. in order to examine the tickets
presented by all corners. Now, there we're
yellow tickets and red tickets. Darine adj
mitted all carrying yellow tickets, but
stopped, with a few whispered words, the
few who carried red tickets. When the
m~seting was over and the audience had
dispersed. about forty individuals we're
grouped behind Darine's chair. The public
procurator arose, entered the hall, visited
allsthe corners. returned to the door. opened
IL, examined the staircase with q searching
glance, and after convincing himself that
every one had gone, he asked:
..Are you all hereT'
s"aCome."
Followed by the men with red tickets
Darine entered the hall and approached the
pulpit used by the lecturers. A broad
drapery formed u sort of canopy over this
pulpit, and the folds of the cloth hiding the
one OF the high altar Of a cathedral on the
day of a great mans funeral.
With resolute hand Darine put aside the
drApery, stopped down, and after q minute
infpection of the wall, inserted a little key
into \ hole skillfully concealed beneath q
beam serving to sustain the joists of the
ceiling.
The forty nihilists surrounded him. The
hilktring taper in his hand cast fantastic
shadows in the great empty room. A door
tutn6d on its hinges. A Hood of light inun.
dased the dark hall; Darine and his nihil-
istt recoiled panic-stricken.
4Ifeachery!" cried the procurator. The
pcUG .IltO u j QuhAThlIXukd
ro6M,bo constructed that from the street
its :6xistence could not be suspected. In
fact this room facing the courtyard had
bee& built in the main wall with such pre-
caution that it detracted neither from
cc1homy Of space within NJ from regu-
Thirty three feet long by twenty feet wide.
or table covered with red cloth and
pl4ped upon a raised platform were six
cad dlesticks. Illuminating the window
lea&& .room with a dazzling light. Six
mashed men, wrapped IN the black cowls of
medieval penitents, were seated at the
table. The secretaries probably die not ex-
pect such a sight, for all of them, as by one
impulse. recoiled, as far as the wall. Each
gazed into the depths of the great hall
in search of an outlet and in drend of SEE
ing a squad of police. Vhen one Of the
men seated at the red table, the one who
seemed3to preside over the mysterious con-
clave, extending his hand, said ia an i'm
perious voice:
Wherefore this terror? What do you
dread, my brethren? You see US here be-
cause We are your chiefs and because the
time has come for US to reveal ourselves to
you"
ut is a trap" whispered Bello in Pole
los ear; '.Iet us escape"
Darine, at first astonished by the sudden
appearance of these men. had reRained his
you say you are our chiefs?'' replied he.
"We have no chiefs. Friends" said he to
his forty companions, there are but six of
them. Fight to the last gasp
The nihilists were not treasured. They
could not believe that six men would have
dared to discover a deadly secret without
good backing. They imagined that some
unseen troop of policemen might burst up
on them at any omen and again drew
back. Darine gave a scornful smile.
Gao nv. =: -A.1l 49, -
said he; lit has no occasion fer subterfuge:
if such had been its will you would have
been already arrested. These are obscure
and rash enemies who have not the law on
their side. Our supreme head has warne d
US of their intrigues, for it is they who have
stolen our secrets ahd prevented US from
saving our brethren in RiaZan."
The six penitents had risen; erect i'm
passable, they seemed like statues of stone.
Darine crossed the threshold of the secret
chamber.
81" said he, "and Ivan Kolok and the
supreme head are the only ones who know
the secret and possess the key of this door.
for if they had the. power we should al.
ready have been arrested or killed. Can it
be that You are afraid?"
Suddenly rallying, the nihilists rushed
forward, with Darine at their head. All at
once they paused IN terror. Each of the
peu1LeuGS na0 drawn u revolver from De-
meath his cloak.
"Whoever takes another step is q dead
man." said the same calm voice.
Darine, Poleno and such of the sectaries
as had crossed the threshold reiterated to
the door, to which the other socialists
seemed thronging. The man who appeared
to be the chief of the penitents then said:
1--WE must have Il talk and it is dangerous
to discuss matters with open doors. The
police might thrust their noses into our
affairs. Come forward"
And as the terrified sectaries did not obey
quick enough:
Under pain of DEATH he ordered. "let
all come and take their places before this
table,"
Seeing the muzzles of the revolvers level
ed at them, the nihilists came forward one
by one When all were in the room a man,
concealed behind the door opened by OAR
inc, suddenly appeared and shut his secret
door. 1t sprang to with Il sharp click.
"Silencee' commanded the chief of the
p%enitents. Take your places and listen to
me.'
The nihilists, subdued, backed against the
wall, trembling with terror.
ID not tremble,". said the penitent.
You want to struggle against society and
yet you are timorous as hares. Nothing
will happen to you. We are OF your party,
but l repeat We are your chiefs. Pray do