The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-08-14
miscellaneous.
LOCATING THE TRAITOR.

VII 'iNS4 liNi Sll,
One bitterly cold winters evening fiy
men were seated together in small room i
a house situated in the Jewish quarter of
busy and largely populated Russian city,
| The appearance OF the room was as Wretche
MS the external aspects of the house ITSELF
The solitary window WAS totally concealed b
a heavy faded curtain. depending from TIA
roof, and DIS the wind mOaned dismal
through the broken panes OF glass, its somhr
folds sWaycd To and tro. The inmates O
this mUurniul den were seated round tn
table, smoking their pipes and talking, as
furtiyely, i'll whispers. As the feeble rays @
| the candle fell ftfully upon the company the
revealed the youthful faces of four students
The chief spokesman, however. was mucl
older man, apparently about so, with a shOr
pointed beard, shaggy bIows, and keen, pene
trating eyes of the darkest hue. The other
deferentially addressed the speaker as PRO
lessor" and such, indeed, lie was, at that tim
at u well known school of medicine in Rus
! STA.
| On the present occasion, however, he wal
| speaking not of science, but of the terrible
doctrine of assassination.
| Professor v was Nihilst, Ieputed
Colossus of craft in the dissemination of re
| lutionary doctrines, and on the particular
evening in question he wa sengaged in advo
eating, with fiery eloquence, the assassination
of a certain colonel who had lately been pro
noted to the rank of chief commissioner O
the secret police As the night wore or
their whispered conversation was suddenly
interrupted by low knocking at the outer
door. In moment the conspirators sprang
noiselessly to their feet, and listened witt
bated breath. The sound was repeated, pecu
liar whistle was heard from without, and the
listeners exchanged significant glances anC
quietly resumed their seats. Presently eau
tIous footsteps were heard in an outer room
the door WAS opened, and young man has
tily entered, His face was pale, bis manner
sgitated, and as he returned his companions
salutation he regarded them with fixed anc
angry stare.
You have kept US waiting, comrade," ex
claimed the professor, putting calmly at BIZ
pipe. "Ughl we are almost frozen, for the
air of this wretched apartment is quite 81
berian. But now to business. We will warn
ourselves with talk, and fire our minds witt
the prospect of revenge"
There was murmur of approval. 1t was
noticed, however, that the young man who
had just appeared upon the scene took hi
seat in silence, and, resting his elbows upoI
the table, slowly scrutinized the face OF hi
comrades.
My dear professor" he said at length
1--WE can not possibly proceed at present will
this business"
why not?" was unanimously asked.
Because" replied the latest conner, as b,
quietly snutfed the candle, "bt cause one of u
Is a traitor"
"A traitor ~ exclaimed the men, starting Il
their feet.
Eyes, comrades, we are betrayed; and as
no one knows of this plot of ours excep
| ourselves, it is plain, think, that one of vi
has turned informant" .--
You are mad to say soW hoarsely ex
claimed the professor; "butin heavens nam
what has happened? Come, tell US quickly
This is no jesting matter"
Listen, then. On my way thither, com
rades, | entered a Cafe de Paris to sip a cur
OF tea and smoke cigarette. | happened t.
| sit down beside two officers of the Secre
| Police, and, as one of them was somewha
| tipsy, could hear his conversation. tount
it rather interesting. He told his companion
that he was under orders to surround thi
old deserted house at midnight-it is near 1
now-and 10 ARE st all persons found within
! He mentioned, moreover, all our names, ant
! added, with maudlin laugh, that u Ger
tain person, to whom Ike administration i
eterualy indebted, would be found in Oh
midst playing the part of conspirator. Now
comrades. | have done. What shall We do !?
The men looked at each other in dismay
A dead silence filled the room. for the mer
suspicion Of tleacLery among the men whit
had solemnly dedicated their lives 10 tn
sacred cause OF liberty seemed to hold then
dumb. Such villainy in their very midst
! among menbanded together in sacred brother
! hood-w as greater crime Than the merci
! less acts OF Il despot and his minions
1t this is lrue," said the professor in
voice OF suppressed rage, "then l will nj
! longer believe in human fidelity, or the futur
OF our cause. But-Death if the story i
| true Which of us is the informer ?" addet
the speaker, staring tiercely ut the pale face
| of his companions.
Bah it Is useless to ask that, my dear pro
| fcssor," exclaimed lvan-such WAS the mann
of the youth who had brought the strang
inteligeuce-as he advanced to the door Of
the room. locked it, and placed the key il
his pocket. Every one will assert his in
nocence-of course. But, comrades. sup
| pose we endeavor to find him out? Let Vi
search each other. The traitor, whoever b,
may be, must doubtless have in his posses
sion some proof of his guilt. At least. tn,
experiment is worth trying. What say
! you?"
agreed agreed!' exclaimed the Nihiists
as with one accord they sprang convulsively
| to their feet. One of the students-a tall
iank youth, with a somewhat foppsh ap
pearauce-objected, however, to the proposal
But why ?" hotly demanded the profes
sor who seemed all eagerness to begin thu
investigation.
Because" was the hesitating rejoinder
because it is unnecessary. Our word o
honor ought 10 be enough. Besides, ther'
is something degrading in The idea of search
ing one another, as if, indeed, we were 10
of pickpockets. So let US break up the
meeting. This excitement is absurd, an(
renders the discussion of the plot impossible
AS for the story told by the drunken soldier
! in tue cafe, l don't believe a word of it,"
These words produced an angry murmul
among the excited conspirators. The pro
test seemed so ridiculous and as the clamol
increased Ivan turned TO the speaker anC
warmly exclaimed, Every well we shall alb
ltain from searching you, since you wish it
| but remember this, that if we fail to find {
| clue to the informant among those who will
| slngly submit 10 the examination we sha
then know upon whom to fix our suspicious
| Now, comrades, search me first; | am ready
! In moment the speakers pockets wer,
! emptied of their contents, and even the lininl
of his clothes was carefully searched bu
beyond few old love letters, some politica
pamphlets, and an English newspaper with {
paragraph obliterated with lamp black, moth
! ing of au discriminating character was found
A second student readily submitted to thu
! lest-if Test il was-with similar results
Then third stepped forward and placed him
! self in the hands of his companions. But a
that moment u curious incident occurred
An invisible hand suddenly extinguished thu
candle, and in second the room was plupg
ed in utter darkness.
! What did it mean? Who had quencheC
the light? For moment the Nilihists re
manned motionless, as if rooted to the spot
| AS they listened in alarm, they heard |