Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-11-26
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
THE TRAITORS
FATE.
Observation-Disclosures.

4 L police of st. Petersburg.
HoN The general had just
been questioning one Of his spies, Peter
RadOvitch, Young student of twenty
four, who had given him information
regarding coterie of Nihilists, he him
self being one of the cOterie.
"And what do you say your numbers
are?" asked the general.
"Twenty-twO. your excellency, my
self included"
The general took the paper handed
to him and silently compared it with
one on his desk.
"Bardin, LOubanoff. Sobotln--I was
not aware of these last. You have
done well, Radovitch. and you will Ind
that the Cars government Is not un-
mindful of those who serve it we'll.
Your recent action will atone for your
past errors, and merit reward besides"
my life will not be worth a days
purchase If 1t is known that it Is 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 arrest by the police
takes place no distinction be made be-
tween me and the Others"
"Of course you will be unprecedented
with them"
"And tried?"
"Yes, If you wish it, and condemned,
too, for that matter Anything fur
ther:"
"And pardoned along with the less
guilty Of the others, so as to avoid all
suspiclOn?"
Il quite understand you. Rest as.
sured, you will have no reason to fear
in that respect"
The chief of the secret police smiled
to himself as the spy took his depart
ure.
That very evening the police raid
took place. Taken as they We're by sur
prise, and unconscious Of any treach-
cry on the part of one of their number
the little coterie of students, artists
SouuS uOCtOtS IDuuu thCulstlNeS
bagged with a single exception. They
Indignantly denied the charge of COLI
spring against the government. But
General Garashnin's agents merely
shrugged their shoulders deprecatingly.
perhaps incredulOusly.
In month the trial took place. RG
-dovitch was not called to give evidence,
but took his place among the accused.
At length the whole twenty-five were
Judged guilty. Twelve were sentenced
to Siberia, but not to the mines, owing
to the clemency Of the Gear. 1t was
with a thrill akin to horror that RaGo-
witch heard himself sentenced to death,
along with the other nine men. though
conscious that 1t only formed part of
the arrangement that he himself had
suggested to General Garashinin.
Sentence to Siberia would have
served the purpose equally WELL" he
muttered to himself AID turning to
look at his companions, he found him
self wondering if his own face was as
G,adly pale as each of t.ieirs.
TO he shot at the glacis OF the for.
tress a: sunrise tomorrow morning,
he 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. or
none would be found to serve him In
future.
Bardin and the others calmly accept.
ed their fate, and after q hurried fare.
well to their more fortunate fellows
We're conducted to their cells for the
last time.
The long night passed all too quickly
for Radovitch, who every minute ex
pecte1 messenger from the chief OF
the secret police. He had seen Genera
Garashnin in court from day to day
and once CLEAN of intelligence, he
persuaded himself, had passed between
them.
At last faint grayness began t.
manifest itself through the closed bars
| of his cell. 1T was light, the herald Of
new day, the last for the condemned
men. Aud now RadOvitch began t.
explain. in husky tones. that his con
victiOn was all blunder. The TIVE
goalers looked intelligent!y' at eacl
other. and pityingly upon the wretchet
prisoner, brt said not word.
In few minutes all the ten We're as
sembled in the courtyard of the prison
| nine of them calm and collected. one
prey 10 fear and sickening terror, ant
evidencing 1t all too plainly in his trem
| bling limbs and livid countenance. II
the hurried adieux they exchanged
with each other Radovitch came in TO
more than his share OF attention.
Its all q mistake" mumlhed tn
wretched man. Where Is General Gar
| ashinin?'
He Is never present at executions.