The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-02-13
LOCATING THE TRAITOR.

One bitterly cold winters evening
five men were seated together in II
small room in house situated in the
Jewish quarter of busy and LARGELY
populated Russian city. The appear
ance of the room was as wretcned M
the external aspects of the house itself
The solitary window was totally con
cealed by heavy faded curtain, de-
pending from the roof, and rs the wind
moaned dismaly through the broken
panes of glass, its somber folds swayed
to and fro. The inmates of this mourn.
FIJI den were seated round the table,
smoking their pipes and talking, as if
furtively, in whispers. As the feeble
rays of the candle fell fiifully upon the
company they revealed the youthful
faces of four students. The chief spolics.
| man, however, was II much older man,
apparently about so. with n short
pointed beard, shaggy brows, and keen,
penetrating eyes OF the darkest hue
The Others deferentially addressed the
speaker as professor, and such, in
decd. lac was, ut that time, at u we'll
known school Of medicine in Russia.
On the present occasion, however. he
was speaking, not of science, but of the
| terrible doctrine of assassination.
Profe ,sor V was NiliIist, a re.
| puted Colossus of craft in the dissem-
| nation of revolutionary doctrines and
on the particular evening in question
he was engaged in advocating, with
| n1A lao i'm, ti,,u
certain colonel who had lately been pro-
noted TO the rank Of chief commis-
sioner of the secret police. AS the night
| wore OH their whispered conversation
was suddenly interrupted by q low
| knocking at the outer door. In n mo.
| ment the conspirators sprang noiseles.ly
| to their feet, and listened with bated
breath. The sound was repeated-a pe-
culiar whistle was heard from without.
and the listeners exchanged signiti-
cant glances and quietly resumed tler
seats Presently cautious footsteps
We're hearl in an outer room, the door
was opened. and a young man hastily
entered. Iii, face was pale his manner
| ngitated, and as lie returned lis COM
ranions' salutations lie regarded them
with fixed and angry stare.
"You have kept us waiting COM
rade, ;" exclaimed the profes or. putting
calmly at his pipe. Ugh! we are
almost 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 i'll silence, and, rest
ing his elbows upon the table, slowly
scrutinzed the faces Of his comrades.
my dear professor, he said at length,
"we can not possibly proceed at present
with this business
"Why not?" was unanimously asked
Because" replied the latest conner,
as lie quietly snuffed the candle, "be-
| cause one of us il a 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 ex.
cept ourselves, it is plain, think. that
one of us has turned informant"
you are mad to say so!' hoarsely exc
claimed the professor; "but in heavens
name, what has happened? Come, tell
us quickly. This is no jesting matter"
Listen. then. On my way thither,
comrades, entered II Cafe de Paris to
sip cup of tea and smoke cigarette.
happened to sit down beside two Of
ficers Of the Secret Police, and as one of
them was somewhat tipsy, / could
hear his conversation. i found it rather
interesting. He told his companion that
he was under orders to surround this
| old deserted house at midWight-it is
near II now-and to arrest all persons
found within. He mentioned. more
over, all our names, and added, with a
| maudlin laugh, that u certain person.
to whom the administration is eternally
indebted. would be found in our mi ist
| playing the part OF conspirator. Now,
comrades, have done. What shall we
do?"
The men looked at each other in dis
may. A dead silence filled the room,
for the mere Suspicion of treachery
| among the men who had solemnly dedi.
Gated 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 brother
hooi-was a greater crime than the
merciess acts Of despot and his min
ions.
IF this is true, said the professor in
voice of suppressed rage, then will
no longer believe in human fidelity, or
the future of our cause. But-Death!
IL the story is true, Which of us is the
informer?" added the speaker, staring
fiercely at the pale faces of his compan'
ions.
bah! it is useless to ask that, my dear
professor, exclaimed Ivan-such was
! tha mama of the youth who had brought