The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-11-06
PRICE OF BETRAYAL.

are?'
Twenty-Five, excellency, myself in
cluded, but p
mo need to say anything further at
present. 1t is for you to prove yourself
worthy of our confidence and of the
czar's clemency."
az assure you we had no political aim
in view"
81 cannot listen to that. Have you
made ont the list you promised?"
1T is here, e~xcellency."
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, ''is he one of your"
lone of the society, but it was only
to read Fourier and Proudhon we
metz
II cannot hear you, / have told you
already. Be silent and answer my ques-
tons"
Then he again scrutinized the list and
muttered to himself, "Bardin, Louban-
off, Sobotin-I was not aware of these
last. You have done well, Radovitch,
and you will find that the czar's govern
ment is not unmindful of those who
serve it well. Your recent action will
atone for your past errors and merit re-
ward besides"
Might / venture to suggest one
thing to your e~xcellency?''
Speak out, man. What frightens
you now? I have told you that you have
nothing to fear, and I can make my
word observed"
THAT I know well, and yet, and
yet
"Well?''
MY life will not be worth a days
purchase il it is known that it is / who
have furnished this information. ~
"You should have thought of that be-
fore joining their society. Isee you have
something to suggest. What is it?"
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?''
Eyes, if You wish it, and condemned,
too, for that matter. Anything further"
"And pardoned along with the less
guilty of the others, so as to avoid all
Suspicion" ~
ST quite understand you. Rest as
sured you will have no reason for fear
in that respect"
II thank your excellency. Any fur
ther orders?'
None; You may CO."
The chief of police smiled to himself
as the spy took his departure.
And SO You want to be treated like
your fellow conspirators, that you may
not be found out by such as escape us.
So be it. You will have all you nave
bargained for, my man."
That very evening the police raid
took place. Taken as they were by sur
prise and unconscious of any treachery
on the part of M of their number, the
little coterie of students, artists and
young doctors found themselves bagged,
without a single exception. They indig-
nantly denied the charge of conspiring
against the government. Their discus
sions were social, not political, they as
seyerated. But General Garashinin's
myrmidons merely shrugged their shout
ders d~eprecatingly, perhaps incredulous-
~. They had heard that sort of thing
before, and it had meant Siberia for
many, il not a more summary fate.
Among the % vas Radovitch, who was
also among the loudest in protesting in
nocence.
In a month the trial took place. Rad
ovitch wasHnot called to 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 subyert the government.
For weeks the trial dragged it's 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, TO be read, which, in
q way that only one of the prisoners
understood, had come into the hands OF
the prosecution as well as brief minutes
Of their proceedings obtained in the
same. way.
AT length the whole % were adjudged
guilty. Twelve We're sentenced to ST.
IBERIA, but not 10 the mines, as the Glenn
ency Of the IA provided. It was with
Q thrill akin 10 horror that Radovitch
heard himself sentenced to death, along
with the other nine, though conscious
that it only formed part Of the arrange
ment that he himself had suggested to
General Garashinin.
Sentence to Siberia would have
served the purpose equally well.n he
muttered to himself, and turning to
look nc his companions he found him
self wondering If his " face was as
deathly pale d each of theirs. ITO be
shot on the glacis Of the fortress at sun
rise tomorrow morning no kept re-
peating 10 himself, though assuring
himself that she words could have no
reference to him. for the car must keep
tFoth eyen with trait0rss< or none would
DO fonnd 70 serye him In future
nostoiefsky and the others calmly NJ