Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-08-25

/ asked myself what TO expect. Dis
covery would be ugly; it might--prob-
ably would-SpeI serious danger.
There was a movement among the
group which had been talking; one de-
tached himself from the rest, and
making his way to Il small ia BILE which
served as a desk, commenced to speak.
To detail all he said would be to
trouble you too much. 1t was the
usual TRADE; the unholy greed OF the
capitalists and the oppression of the
workers, and the oft-reiterated cry
for retribution TO wind up.
And yet there was nothing theatric.
al about it The tones were purposeIy
kept low, but charged with nervous
intensity, crisp play of accent, which
lent striking point to the well chosen
words. An orator-every inch; has
whole personality vibrated with his
message. The peroration was a fervid
appeal for volunteer who would not
be afraid to give his life, if n eed be, for
the cause which he protested.
who, l ask you, comrades. will be
that one, and achieve the glory of dy-
ing in the name of liberty? The means
stroke the blow?"
In an instant a score of dirty hands
were in the air, and a score of throats
shouted: ''T'-"T'-"P'- and one or
two, fiercer than the rest, snarled:
Downtown with the capitalists!
Death to the canaille!"
VOLTA, mon ami, picture the situa-
ton! had heard of such scenes-yes;
but never had l imagined their wild
talk to be accompanied by such terri
bic earnestness. The bloodshot eyes.
the fierce, grim attention. the readi-
ness of one and all al the call to ac-
tion-theSe gave me new insight into
the meaning of the terrible word ian
archist."
The president consulted with the
group in front of him and announced:
The council is gratified with your re-
Spouse, brothers. 1t selects Comrade
Labortin for the honor; the others
will dispense"
And now-how to escape? It was
my one thought. Escape-and then to
prevent these wretches from carrying
out their design, of which had gath
cred sufficient to know that it was no
light one.
He whom they called Labortin had
gone up to the president, and was
talking eagerly new light on his
face The others were filing slowly
out at the door; made to follow.
gained the friendly darkness of the
passage, when-footstepsi
cloth thrown over my head from be-
rr,A I
struggling impotently =. =. pris-
oneri
1t was all so sudden, so unexpected,
that resistance was out of the cues
ton. Ten seconds, and / was bound
hand and foot my pockets searched
for possible weapons, and face to face
with the stupefying consciousness
that those ruffians had me at their
mercy. A voice admonished silence,
in tones which gave me small disin-
clination to disobey; and then 1 felt
myself hoisted on stout shoulders and
conveyed swiftly back whence had
come.
THAT will do" said a voice which
recognized loose his bonds a
little" Then, ''Wen, NJ. lie Spy =.
now?" The mocking triumph in his
voice gave me the first taste of what
was to come. "Ahl it was a rare
thought-to count the members my
self as 1 spoke. And there were
twenty-three-though knew old va
cod InPntz to be abed with fever!
Twenty-three when there should have
been but twenty-two; and the extra
one was--youi"
tried to put brave face on it, but
my breath came in little Jerks. II
came here without the slightest no.
ton of what was afoot," 1 broke in,
"or desire to know. am no willing
spy, an ] demand to be set at liberty
instantly" And then / gave him the
story as it waste be greeted by de-
risive laughter and fresh gibes.
"a likely tale-very. And even sup
posing that it were true, my friend
a little knowledge as those peculiar
English say. You know?
Sometimes it becomes a very danger
Gus thing indeedi" He considered
moment
No, no. my friend, spy or not spy,
to set you free would ruin all Listen.
have a proposition to make. You
shall join our society, and that means
that You swear by all you hold sacred
never to utter a syllable or lift a
finger against its interests-and on
that one condition. Mop"
The emphatic head-shake with which
/ greeted the proposal led him to add
word OF warning. do not be hasty;
consider well. The alternative is not
pleasant. Our aims, our beliefs, ]
need not explain; you have heard
sufficient; it is rather the methods by
which we seek to further them that
you should learn. You see this?"
He was holding up what appeared
to be coin to my view-the coin
which you have just had in your
hands, my friend.
"A twenty-franc piece-yes; but
you will observe certain peculiari-
ties-this small red spot, for instance.
hn -szf