Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-01-26
DAILY SHORT STORY
The lnformer.


"Well," said the president. "tell me
about this conspiracy"
"First, your excellency, I desire to
come to some agreement with regard
to my own treatment. 1 wish to be
surprised with the rest, tried with the
rest and executed with the rest"
Executed
Eyes. / must go through all the
forms or they will suspect have be-
trayed them
81 understand. Go on"
1.-THE plan is to ask an interview
with you in order to submit certain
proposed reforms reforms that are i'm
practicable. From amicable discussion
they will come to angry words, and
then they will rush upon you and muir
der YOU
The president WINGED. The plan was
not unlike that by which he had re-
moved his predecessor.
Them
''Then Jose Burtado will be proclaim
ed president"
"Burtado?
"Yes; Burtado."
"And what are you expecting to re-
81 leave that to your eXcellency."
every well. 1 will take care of you"
A week later a deputation of citizens
waited on the president to propose GER
tain reforms. Among them was the
spy. They were admitted to the pres
ence of his excellency. who sat behind
the very desk at which he had received
the information of the intention of the
conspiratOrs. They began in a very
respectful tone TO urge their plans, and
the president quietly showed them why
they were impracticable, whereupon
they pretended to be uncOnvinced and
cIamored for their acceptance. The
din growing apace, the president touch
ed bell on his desk. and several doors
communicating with the room opened.
and in a second it was full of armed
men.
The president had not stipulated
with the informer for evidence. Might
was right in the republic, and, being
himself convinced of the guilt of the
deputatiOn, he ordered them out to be
shot without even pretense to trial.
But before the execution he directed
that the informer be conducted to his
presence.
"Your reward he said. twill have
to be paid to your heirs. VIII you
name them?"
But, your eXcellency, why not pay
it to me?'
You especially stipulated that you
were to be shot with the rest"
But paling, "this was to be merely
a pretense."
''Then why did you not say sop
Il supposed your excellency under
stood"
Nothing is understood with an in
former, a spy. Had l been obliged to
grant your terms 1 doubt if 1 should
have awaited myself of your informa-
tion.'
Have 1 not saved you from muir
der?'
Eyes, and for gain. The others acted
partly for what they considered the
welfare of the republic. Come; name
the person or persons to whom the re-
ward of your perfdy shall be paid"
Il have no heirs. 1 impIore you
Guard called the president, and
the man was taken away.
At sunrise the next morning the con-
spirators were led out into the jail
yard and placed with their backs
against a wall. They stood ten feet
apart, and opposite each man was a
soldier with rife. The signals were
given to aim and to fire. 4 report
came from every gun. Some of the
conspiratoFs stood as erect as before
the fire; some swayed, but recovered
themselves without falling, and one,
the spy, fell on his face. He was car
ried away. Then the officer in COM
mand read a communication from the
president, stating that they had been
punished-punished with blank car
tridges-and what they had endured
without flinching showed them to be
brave men. If they would hereafter
support the republic under his admins
tration, he would be glad; if not, they
were welcome to seek homes in other
lands.
Every one of those who had man.
fully stood the terrible test gave in his
adherence TO the existing government.
When the spy recovered from the
shock of fright, he was conducted to
the president.
'"There," said the executive, pointing to
a bag standing on his desk, sis $4,000
in gold. Since you have not died you
may appropriate it yourself. 1t is the
reward of your treachery. If you are
found within the limits of the republic
tomorrow, a ball cartridge will finish
your career"
The conspirators knew well that one
of their number had given up their plot
and rightly judged that he was the
coward of their ring. When. therefore.
they saw the spy fall after the mock
execution, they decided that he was
the Judas. From the moment they
were at liberty they kept watch on
his movements, and when he started to
leave the republic one of their number
followed him.
The next day the chief of the con-