The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-01

M& .S&TN you by his protecting
'NNMFTW 80 care and has expended
on you a royal fortune
solely in order to set a trap for you.
Approach and answer. You, Darine,
the most determined of all, the head man
ager of these meetings. you will have to
clear yourself of a charge made against the
president of the mystery and YOU, his
proxy. Power has been given you that
you have abused. You have made the re-
sources at the disposal of our organization
subservient to your personal ambition or
revenge"
Not a muscle moved in the procurator's
face.
II have nothing to say on that head"
responded he. "Question the president, il
you cam" .". "
In a violent fit of rage the penitent
seized the pistol he had laid on the table
and exclaimed: 'I."
Enough! Your obstinate rebellion
wsaries me. Brethren" said he to the
other penitents, 'if in two minutes this
man does not say he ia ready to obey my
orders fire upon this crowd OF rascals.
Your colleagues will nave to suffer for you.
Reflect, Darine, you have but W minutes
to Decide"
The penitents seized their pistols again,
cooked them with a ''olick, cluck," and lev
eled them at the nihilists squeezed against
the wall. Ivan Kolok, owner of the house
and one of the leading nihiiists, had drawn
his cowl over his face and initiated his five
companions. The automatic and accurate
movements of the penitents indicated de-
termined and passive obedience.
The nihilists were scared.
'Darine. answer Submit"
''Mercy!' said the others; I'VE do not take
Darine's part" Then, suddenly selling
him by the arms, they said:
''Obey, you will be the death of u.s." Da-
inc realized that longer resistance would
be useless, he gave the nihilists a scornful
Every WE'LL" said he to the chief of the
penitents, II obey, not for fear of death,
but to save these men. If you are a traitor
our blood will be upon your head"
He folded his arms, took q few steps for
ward stopped before the red table and said
Question me, | am ready"
In spite of his wrath the p~enitent could
not forbear admirinR the procurator's
bearing. There was a moments silence.
The penitents laid their pistols again upon
the table. The nihilist ranks heaved a
sigh of relief. The penitent asked:
Who ordered you to go to Count La
Minis to bid him refuse the mission con-
corning the society at Riazan?"
1.-The president of the mystery"
"Who is her"
yours. If you are his superior, 1 repeat,
you ought to know it. AS for me l have
never ventured to ask him"
Very good, why did he give you the or
der?"
Our branch society at Riazon was
&hrnn%a,ol Tha M,Ioho~,, ,,bo,o a..
trine is akin to ours, are helpful as propa-
gandists in southern Russia. 1t was the
interest of the mystery to protect them."
d you believe Count Lanin to be dan
cerous?"
eyes"
ION your soul and conscience?"
Eyes, although l have no soul or con-
science"
II regret,'' said the penitent, ironically,
that l am obliged to acknowledge your
lack. it ia less excusable than the coward
ice your companions have evinced.'
The nihilists were subdued. They did not
breathe a word as, turning pale, they
glanced at ono another. Darine's eye gave
an angry flash that was at once perceived
by the penitent.
oh! no rebeIlion"' said he. Count La
min dangerous! Then you cannot be &C.
He is the nlildest, the g%entlest, the most
peaceful of men. If he could have charge
of the prosecution of all the societies in the
empire, we should be sure of immunity. It
is through our efforts that this mission
has been confided to him. You have
would have succeeded in ~dishonoring
L~anin-perhaps in killing him-but the
emperor would have appointed in his place
some young, impetuous n audacious man
upon whom you could have brought no
pressure to bear. If you were not influenced
nv n feeling Of narcnnal hotraI <orr.l.
Count Lanln--a crime prohibited by our
statutes-you have evinced incredible in
competency. Fortunately, we have coun-
teraoted your folly"
1T was you, then?'
"Yes.'
"But-the seals-the signatures?',
1.-The seals are deposited here. Ivan ia
their custodian. We ordered Noreff to sipn
and we could do without your president.
All belongs to us-you, your secrets and
your lives: Think you that we are not on
the watch? We are present at all the meet
ings Of the Centre of Mystery. l conde-
scend to explanations to save you further
question:"
.Darine stammered out:
Neither kolok nor the president ever
told me-" IVA
Had they the right to do sol? Could Won
mention the mystery to your people? You
forget your subordinate position.s
Darine bowed his head. The penitent ex-
tended his hand.
II know you every one. "You," said he.
pointing at Poleno.
81 know you, Poleno. Turn and look at
this young man. He has remained among
us. he has become your superior, but YOU, !
with your brutality, had almost estranged
him from our cause. You neither know
how to teach nor how to appreciate intelli- I
gent minds. You became a teacher, and
like your fellows. brandished the ferule. /
which you detested when it fell upon your
W ack-in order to lash Herewith the
shoulders of your pupils. Proud and mar I
row mann'
''The nabob!' exclaimed Poleno, ssyou /
are the nabob."
"Silence! / gave you no right to inter !
rupt me. | am not acquainted with you,'s
no continued pointing TO Dakouss, ''and I
am astonished to see you among us. You /
are too handsome, doctor; your place ia |
not with those who love equality. An in |
famous secret must bind you to a certain /
one Of our jealous subalterns."
Dakouss. In CONSERVATION, squeezed up
to the wall.
And you, too, Bello, consummate bully!
You are brave, but cowardice, like bravery,
70 catching. You marched under fire In
I~ranscnucasia with your company, a COM
pany OF heroes, and you were afraid beside |
Shese non, who are towards. You are
AHlthBr hrRyA n0p Cnwnr1lv aud 7 l...... |