Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-11-16
THE SPY.


the men who had sworn to kill the
Gear. A strange appearance they had
in the Pickering candle-light; some
with fierce faces, marked by the bitter
lines of hunger aud hate; some with
the enthusiastic and rapt expression
of dreamers; others with the cold
impassivity of great generals. One
OF the last-mentioned, colder, more
impassive than the rest, sat at sthe
foot of the table, facing the president.
His manner showed not the slightest
nervousness. Yet in an hour he meant
to betray the men who sat about HIM
to the horrors of living death, on
the bleak plains of Siberia, gaining
thereby the lasting favor of his i'm
perial master. The blow that would
ruin his comrades would make him.
The clock struck eight as the presi-
dent rose to speak.
Brothers," he began, 1--WE have
all sworn the same sacred vows, we
have all stood the severe tests of our
order-we can all be trusted. 1t be-
comes ny duty, therefore, to speak
out. Our days Of plotting are passed,
the time for action has come. At last
we shall strike decisive blow for
liberty"
He paused, but no one spoke. There
was not sound in the room. Point
ing to powder-keg in corner, the
president continued:
"Our materials are at hand; our op-
portunity also. The Gear visits Kras-
noe-Selo Thursday
The noise of scuffie in the hall
outside the door interrupted him.
Several of the men who sat about the
table sprang to their feet; the door
burst open, and an officer, followed by
squad of soldiers, rushed into the
room. In an instant every one OF
the conspirators was covered by
rifle.
''You are my prisonersw said the
officer curtly.
"By what right?" exclaimed the
president. He alone seemed cool; the
rest stood as though paralyzed. Ignor-
ing the president, the officer glanced
at the others.
"Line up against the wall" he
ordered.
Silently they obeyed him-power-
less to resist. The soldiers raised
their guns, and aimed them at the de-
fenseless breasts of the prisoners.
Again the president spoke:
"What do you mean to do?" he
cried:
'To execute you at once" returned
the officer coldly. Then, to the soldi-
stNa * a oim HI -
''Stop!"
The cry rang out loud and clear in
the deadly stiffness of the room, and
the spy sprang forward from where
he stood against the wall.
''Get backl' said the officer, ste.nly;
but the spy con tinued to advance. His
GOODNESS, his impassiveness, had dis
appeared; his face was yellow with
fear; his teeth chartered.
"You must not shoot me!' he
shrieked"I am of yourselves! 1t was
I who informed gainst these men! If
| you kill me it will be murder!" He
groveled on the floor at the officers
| feet.
The doomed men looked at the
miserable wretch with bitter contempt
while in the president eyes there was
something that looked like triumph.
Gan agent of the policep' said the
officer doubtfully. you have your
credentials?"
"Yes--yes" screamed the wretch,
tearing piece of paper from his
pocket and handing it to the officer.
'It is there-it is there!''
The soldiers, dropping their rifles,
sprang upon him, and bound him hand
and foot.
Brothers," said the president to
the amazed men, who still stood
against the wall, "brothers in great
cause like ours we can not be too care
ful. This little scene was devised to
discover what traitors We had among
us. 1t has succeeded. You who have
proved faithful are quite safe
"The men looked at him as though
they could scarcely credit their senses;
then one or two began to sob, and one
man laughed.
"And this spy?" he questioned.
A fierce murmur ran round the
room.
"Kill him-kill him!" they shouted.
The president raised his hand.
".Stop!" he cried. ''The man is
mine-mine to punish as I see fit.
Leave him to me. You will accompany
our brother Vassoloff" f"-indicatinp
the pseudo-o fficer- Ito place of re.
fuge From our friends admission,
we are no longer safe here"
The conspirators turned, and silent.
ly went out.
Then the president was alone with
the spy. He stood looking at him fol
moment, cruel smile on his white
bearded face. Presently he took from