The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-09-30

comrades. ! entered a cafe de Paris
TO sip a cup OF tea and smoke a cigar
ettc happened TO sit beside two
officers OF the secret police. and as
one OF them was somewhat tipsy,
could distinctly hear his conversa-
tion. i found il rather interesting.
He told his companion that he was
under orders To surround this old, de-
serted house at midnight-it was
near II now-and TO arrest all per-
sons found within. He mentioned.
moreover, all our names, and added,
with a maudlin laugh, that q certain
person 10 whom the administrat on
is eternally indebted would be found
in our midst playing the part OF a
conspirator. Now, comrades, have
done. What shall We do?"
The men looked at each other in
dismay. A dead silence filed the
room, for the mere suspicion OF
treachery among the men who had
solemnly dedicated their lives TO the
sacred cause Of liberty seemed 10 hold
them dumb Such villainy in their
very midst among men handed to.
gether in sacred rotherhood-was a
greater crime than the merciless acts
OF despot and his minions
III this is true" said the professor,
in voice OF suppressed rage, "then
l will no longer believe in human
tldelity, or the future OF our cause.
But--death! IL the story is true.
Which OF us is the informer?" added
the speaker. staring Aercely at the
pale faces OF his companions
bah. it is useless TO ask that my
dear professor" exclaimed Ivan
such was the name OF the youth who
had brought the strange intelligence
AS he advanced to the door of the
room, locked IL, and placed the key
in his pocket. Every one will as
sert his innocence-of course. But,
comrades, suppose we endeavor to
find him out? Let us arch each
other. The traitor, whoever he may
be, must doubtless have in his pos
session some proof Of his guilt. At
least, the experiment is worth trying.
What say you?"
agreed! agreed" exclaimed the
sprang cOnvulsively TO their feet
One OF the students-a tall, lank
youth, with somewhat foppish APP
pearance-obiected, however, TO the
proposal
"But why?" hotlv demanded the
professor, who seemed all eagerness
to begin the Investigation.
saIy - l.
joinder. honor ought To be enoug h.
Bes des there Is something degrading
in the idea OF searching one another,
as IL, indeed, we were lot OF pick
pockets So let us break up the
meeting This excitement is absurd,
and renders the discussion OF our plot
impossible. AS tor the story told 10y
the drunken soldier in the cafe, l
don't believe word OF it,"
These words produced an angry
murmur among the excited conspira-
tors The, protest seemed SO ridicu-
lOus; and as the clamor increased
Ivan turned to the speaker and
warmly exclaimed: "Verv we'll; we
shall abstain from searching you.
this, that Ii we fail TO find a clew to
the informant among those who will
ingly submit To the examination we
shall then know upon whom TO fix
our suspicious Now, comrades,
search me first; l am ready"
In moment the speakers pockets
were emptied OF the contents and
even the lining Of his clothes was
carefully searched, but beyond a few
old love-letterS. some political pam
phlets, and an English newspaper with
a paragraph obliterated with lamp
black nothing of an incriminating
character was found. A second stu
dent readily submitted TO the test
if test IL was-with similar results
Then third stepped forward and
placed himself in the hands OF his
companions But at that moment q
curious inc dent occurred. An in
visible hand suddenly extinguished
the light OF the candle. and In a
second the room was plunged in utter
darkness
What did it mean? Who had
QueuCucu Jlc llRuI! fOT Il IlOtneHb
the nihilists remained motionless, as
IL rooted TO the spot As they list.
ened in alarm they heard strange,
creaking sound in the direction OF
the curtained window.
Suddenly the voice OF Ivan ex-
claimed in the darkness: Comrades,
this is trick! Listen! Some one Is
endeavoring TO escape by the window!
1t is the traitor at last His attempt
To escape betrays his guilt Stand
back! i know how 10 deal with
him.
in an instant the reports OF three
revolver shots rang through the room
and were followed by an agonizing
yell as some one fell heavily upon the
floor.
A profound silence then ensucd.
1t was an awful situation.
At length Ivan spoke To his ter
riiied companions
Strike a light now" he said in
trembling voice, ''and let US look upo1-