The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-10-12
PRICE OF BETRAYAL.

iWouty-bNo, cAceiicuCy, mysou Al
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."
81 assure you we had no political aim
in view"
81 cannot listen to that. Have you
made out the list you promised?"
"It 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 your"
Zone Of the society, but it was only
to read Fourier and Proudhon we
met
81 cannot hear you, have told you
already. Be silent and answer my quos-
tions.
Then he again scrutinized the list and
muttered to himself, "Bardin, Louban-
off, Sobotin-I was not aware of these
last. You have done we'll, Radovitch,
and you will find that the car S govern
ment is not unmindful of those who
serve it we'll. Your recent action will
atone for your past errors and merit re.
ward besides. "
might l venture to suggest one
thing to your excellency?"
''Speak out, man. What frightens
you now? / have told you that you have
nothing to fear, and I can make my
word observed.
"That 1 know well, and yet, and
yeti
"Well?"
"My life will not be worth days
purchase if it is known that it is 1 who
have furnished this information.
"You should have thought of that be-
fore joining their society. see 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
suspioion?"
81 quite understand you. Rest as
sured you will have no reason for fear
in that respect. -
81 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 have
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 one of their number, the
little coterie Of students, artists and
young doctors found themselves bagged,
without single exception. They indig-
nantly denied the charge of conspiring
against the government. Their discus
sions were social, not political, they as
severated. But General Garashinin' g
myrmidons merely shrugged their shout
ders deprecatingly, perhaps incredulous-
ly. They had heard that sort of thing
before, and it had meant Siberia for
many, if not more summary fate.
Among the 90 was Radovitch, who was
also among the loudest in protesting in
nocence.
In month the trial took place. Rad
ovitch was not 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 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, to be read, which, in
q way that only one of the prisoners
understood, had come into the hands Of
the prosecution as we'll as brief minutes
of their proceedings obtained in the
same way.
At length the whole 90 were adjudged
guilty. Twelve were sentenced to 81
IBERIA, but not to the mines, as the Glenn
ency of the car provided 1t was with
thrill akin to 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 WE'LL" he
muttered to himself, and turning to
look at his companions he found him
self wondering If his own face was as
deathly pale as each of theirs. ITO be
shot ON the glacis Of the fortress at sun
rise tomorrow morning." he kept re-
peating to himself, though assuring
himself that the words could have no
reference to him, for the car must keep
| troth even with traitors, or none would
be found to serve him in future.
! Dostoieffslxy and the others calmly 90