The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1894-12-05
PRICE OF BETRAYAL.

"And what do you say your numbers
are?"
twenty-five, excellency, myself in
cluded. but p
No need to say anything further at
present 1t is for you to prove yourself
worthy of our confidence and of the
czar's clemency.
n assure you we had no political aim
In view.''
Il cannot listen to that. Have yon
made out the list you promised?"
ut is here, excellency."
The chief Of the secret police took the
paper handed to him and silently COM
pared it with one on his desk.
"Dostoieffsky," he read and looked
up inquiringly. sis he one Of you?''
Zone Of the society, but it was only
to read Fourier and Proudhon we
met
II cannot hear you, have told you
already. Be silent and answer my quss-
tions.
Then he again scrutinized the list and
muttered to himself, "Bardin, Louban-
of, Sobotin-I was not aware of these
last You have done well. Radoyitch,
and you will find that the czar's govern
ment IL not unmindful Of those who
serve 1t we'll Your recent action will
atone for your past errors and merit re-
ward besides. +"
Might / venture to suggest one
thing to your excellency?"
Speak out. man. What frightens
you nowf have told you that you have
nothing to fear, and can make my
word observed
"That l know we'll. and yet. and
yet
"Wellr'
my life will not be worth day's
purchase II 1t Ii known that IL Is who
have furnished this information.
lyon should have thought of that be-
fore joining their society. Isee you have
something to suggest What is iti"
"That when the seizure by the police
takes place no distinction be made be-
tween me and the Others"
"Of course you will be apprehended
with them. "
"And tried?"
'sYes, If you wish It, and condemned,
too, for that matter. Anything furtherf'
''And pardoned along with the lcss
guilty Of the others. 90 AZ to avoid all
suspicionr'
az quite understand you. Rest A.
aured you will have no reason for fear
In that respcot
II thank your excellency. Any fur
ther orders?' ..t f
None; You may 60
The chief Of police smiled to himself
~ the spy took his departure.
And 30 you want TO be treated like
your fellow conspirators, that you may
not be found out BY suoh ~ escape uA
So be It, You will have all you have
bargained for, my mar"
That very evening the police raid
took place. Taken ~ they were BY sur
prise and unconscious Of any troachery
ON the part Of ono Of their number, the
little ooterie Of students. artists and
young doctors found themselves bagged.
without single exception. They indie-
nantly denied the charge Of conspirisg
against the government Their discus
sions were social, mot political. thsy as-
severated But General Garashinih's .
myrmidons merely shrugged their shoul-
ders depreoatingly. perhaps incredulous-
ly. They had heard that sort of thing
before, and IL had meant Siberia for
many, IL not . more summary fate.
Among the ~ was Radovitch. who was
also among the loudest Ia protesting In
nocence.
In month the tsial took place. Rad.
ovitch was not called 10 give evidence.
but took his place among the accused,
and, like his companions. had to plead
guilty or not guilty to the charge of
conspiring to subvert the government
For weeks the trial dragged its slow
length along. for. though few witnesses
were or could BE- called beyond the po-
lice who effected the arrests. there were
hundreds Of documents, many Of them
immature essays, and most Of purely
academic interest. 10 be read. which, In
a way that only one Of the prisoners
understood, had come into the hands Of
the prosecution - well ~ brief minutes
OF their proceedings obtained In the
same way. f5A9 L8 :
At length the whole ~ were adjudged
guilty. Twelve were sentenced to 81
IBERIA, but not to the mines. ~ the Glenn
ency Of tho Gear provided. It was with
a thrill akin 70 horror that Radovitch
heard himself sentenced to death. along
with the other nine, though conscious
that 1t only formed part Of th+ arrange
,....,t that he himself had suggested to