The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-18
LOCATING THE TRAITOR.

One bitterly cold winters evening FIVE
men were seated together in small
room in house situated in the Jewish
quarter of busy and largely populated
Russian city. The appearance Of the
room was as wretched as the external
aspect of the house itself. The solitary
window was totally concealed by a
heavy faded curtain depending from the
roof, and as the wind moaned dismally
through the broken panes of glass It's
somber folds swayed to and fro. The
inmates of this mournful den were seat
ed round the table smoking their pipes
and talking, as if furtively, in whispers.
As the feeble rays of the candle fell fit
fully upon the company they revealed
the youthful faces OF four students. The
chief spokesman, however, was a much
older man, apparently about fifty, with
a short, pointed beard, shaggy brows
and keen, penetrating eyes of the dark
est hue. The Others deferentially adj
dressed the speaker as professor, and
such, indeed, he was at that time, at \
well known school of medicine in Russia.
On the present occasion, however, he
was speaking, not of science, but of the
! terrible doctrine of assassination.
! Professor v was a nihilist. re-
puted Colossus of craft in the dissemina-
/ ton of revolutionary doctrines, and on
| the particular evening in question ne
was engaged in advocating with fiery
! eloqUence the assassination of a certain
| colonel who had lately been promoted TO
the rank of chief commissioner of the
! secret police. AS the night wore on
their Whispered conversation was sud
/ denly interrupted by low knocking at
/ the outer door. In moment the con-
spirators sprang noiselessly to their feet
and listened with bated breath. The
! sound was repeated-a peculiar whistle
was heard from without, and the listen
ers exchanged significant glances and
quietly resumed their seats. Presently
cautious footsteps were heard in an outer
room, the door was opened and a young
man hastily entered. His face was pale.
his manner agitated, and as he returned
his companions salutations he regarded
You have kept US waiting, comrade,"
exclaimed the professor, 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 re-
venge."
There was murmur of approval. 1t
was noticed, however, that the young
man who had just appeared upon the
scene took his seat in silence, and rest
ing his elbows upon the table slowly
scrutinized the faces of his comrades.
My dear professor, he said at length,
'we cannot possibly proceed at present
with this business"
why not:' was unanimously asked.
Because" replied the latest conner as
he quietly snuffed the candle, because
one of us is 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 sou hoarsely ex-
claimed the professor; but in heavens
name what has happened? Come. tell
US quickly. This is no testing matter"
Listen, then. On my way hither,
comrades, | entered Cafe de Paris to
sip cup of tea and smoke cigarette.
| happened 20 sit down beside two Off
GERS of the secret police, and, as one Of
them was somewhat tipsy, l could dis
tinctly hear his conversation. found
it rather interesting. He told his com
panion that he was under orders to sur
round this old deserted house at mid
night-it is near Ii uow-and to arrest
all persons found within. He mentioned,
moreover, all our names, and added with
a maudlin laugh that a certain person,
to whom the administration is eternally
indebted, would be found in our midst
playing the part Of conspirator. Now,
comrades, l have done. What shall
we do:'
The men looked at each other in dis
may. a dead silence filed the room, for
tine mere suspicion of treachery among
the men who had solemnly dedicated
their lives to the sacred cause Of liberty
seemed to hold them dumb. Such vii
lainy IN their very midst-among men
banded together in sacred brotherhood
was a greater crime than the merciless
acts Of a despot and his minions.
IF this is true, said the professor, in
a voice Of suppressed rage. ''then l viii
no longer believe in human fidelity OF
the future Of our cause. But-death. if
the story Is true. Which OF rs l. the IN
former added the speaker, staring
feTCely at the pale faces OF his com
panions.
Bah! il is useless to ask that, my dear
professor" exclaimed Ivsn-such was
the name OF the youth VINO had brought
the strange intelligence-as he advanced /
to the door OF the room, locked II and
placed the key in his po 1t. Every
one viii assert his innocence, Of course. I
But, comrades, suppose We endeavor 10 /
find him out: Let rs search each other. /
The traitor. whoever he may be, must |
doubtless have in his possession some /
proof OF his guilt AT least, the expert !
ment Is worth trying. What say yoG:'
Agreed. agTeedg' exclaimed the IL 4
hiIis1s, IS with one accord they sprang /
co2ciCsively 10 their feet. One o. the !
srrla--t-. 2 al. lark youth NTH = sarvs- 4
what fopptsi appearance, objected now
ever. TO the proposal.
But Why hotiy demanded the pro
fesso-, who seemed al eagerness 70 begin 1
the investigation.
''Becanse, was the hesitating 7e1oin-