The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-30

TRAITORS
. Fate


a \ police OF st. petersburg.
eR0Np The general had just
cen questioning one Of his spies, Peter
fadovitch, a young student Of twenty
bur, who had given him information
egarding q coterie of Nihilists, he him
Elf being one OF the coterie.
And what do you say your numbers
fe?" asked, the general.
TWENTY-FIVE, your excellency, my
elf included"
4 The general took the paper handed
him and silently compared it with
ne on his desk.
"Bardin, Loubanoh. Sobotin-I was
lot aware of these last. You have
one well, Radovitch, and you will find
hat the Cars government is not IN
mindful of those who serve it well.
-FOUR recent action will atone for your
last errors, and merit reward besides"
"My life will not be worth 4 days
Purchase if it is known that it is 1 who
lave furnished this information"
you Should have thought of that be-
sore joining their society. l see you
lave something to suggest. What is
2"
THAT when the arrest by the police
axes place no distinction be made be-
tween me and the others"
"Of course you will be apprchended
With them"
And tried:"
"Yes, if you wish it, and condemned,
100, for that matter. Anything fur
herr"
"And pardoned along with the less
guilty Of the others, so as TO avoid all
Suspicion?'
Il quite understand you. Rest as,
Bured, you will have no reason to fear
n that respect"
The chief of the secret police smiled
TO himself as the spy took his depart
hre.
! That very evening the police raid
look place. Taken as they were by sur-
prise. and unconscious Of any treach-
Fry on the part Of n Of their number,
the little coterie Of students, artists
knd young doctors found themselves
bagged with a single exception. They
Indignantly denied the charge Of con-
Spring against the government. But
General Garashinin's agents merely
shrugged their shoulders deprecatingly,
perhaps incredulously.
In a month the trial took place. Ra-
}lovitch was not called to give evidence,
put took his place among the accused.
At length the whole twenty-five were
Judged guilty. Twelve were sentenced
10 Siberia, but not to the mines, owing
10 the clemency Of the Car. 1t was
with a thrill akin to horror that RADIO
Hitch heard himself sentenced to death,
hlong with the other nine men, though
CONSCIOUS that it only formed part of
Ithe arrangement that he himself had
Suggested to General Garashinin.
Sentence to Siberia would have
Fserved the purpose equally WELL" he
|muttered to himself. and turning to
look at his companions. he found him.
self wondering if his own face was as
deadly pale as each Of theirs.
To be shot at the Slacis Of the for
|fress at sunrise tomorrow morning,
Ihe kept repeating to himself. though
assuring himself that the words could
have no reference to him. for the Car
must keep faith even with traitors, OIL
none would be found to serve him in
future.
Bardin and the others calmly accept.
ed their fate. and after 4 hurried fare,
,well to their more fortunate fellows
Were conducted to their cells for the
last time.
The long night passed all too quickly
for Radovitch, who every rslnute e1'
pected a messenger from the chief OF
the secret police. He had seen Genera,
Garashinin in court from day to day
and once q CLEAN of intelligence, he
persuaded himself, had passed between
them.
At last a faint grayness began tc
manifest itself through the closed bars
|of his cell. It was light, the herald OF
ia new day. the last for the condemned
men. And how Radovitch began tt
explain. in husky tones, that his con
yictson was all a blunder. The two