The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-06-09

many? What have we lone IN -A.l.'
lea? What have we done IL hnsA"n'
and France
The sneaker. q neckless, broad shou.'
dered ruffian. looked round, with III
nmnhant head we'll thrown back.
Sand now continued he, let US eet
IN business. I think we understand
each other"
He looked round with an engaging
smile upon faces brutal enough 10 sun
his purpose. but quite devoid OF lnle'-
,ipence. There was not much under
standing there. .
"Thc poor man has only M way OF
making himself felt-force. we nave
worked for generations, we have toileu
IN silence. and we have gathered
strength. The time has now come lot
us to nut forth our strength; the time
has gone by for merely asking for
what we want. We asked, and they
heard us not. We will now go n
take!'
A few who had heard this speech or
something like it before shouted their
applause at this moment. Before the
noise had subsidized the door opened,
and two or three men pushed Their
way into the already ovcrcrowde1
room.
"Come in! Come in" cried the ora
tor. 1.-THE more the better. You are
all welcome. All we require, then, lit
tie fathers, is organization. There are
900 souls in Osterno. Are you going to
bow down before Il man? All men
are equal-moujik and prince. Why
do you not go up to the castle that
frowns down upon the village and tell
the man there that you are starving;
not going to work from dawn till eve
while he sits on lis velvet couch and
smokes his gold tipped cigarettes? Why
do you not go and tell him that you are
not going to starve and die While he
eats cav1are and peaches from gold
plates and dishes!'
Again the interrogative unwashed
fist. AS the orators wild and frenzied
eye Travelled round the room it lighted
on a form near the door, a man stand
ing a head and shoulders above any
one in the room, a man enveloped in
an old brown coat with a wollen shawl
round his throat hiding half his face.
"Who is that!' cried the orator, with
an unsteady, pointing finger. "He is
no moujik. Has he come here to our
meeting to spy upon usT
you may ask them who l am" re-
piled the giant. ''They know" they will
tell you. 1t is not the first time that
tell them they are fools. l tell them
again now. They are fools and worse
to listen to such windbags as you"
"Who is it?" cried the paid agitator.
"Who is this MANI"
1T Is the Moscow DOCTOR" said a
mar beside him, "the Moscow doctor"
"Then l say he is no doctor." shout
ed the orator. He is a spy, a govern.
ment spy, a t%chinovnik! He has heard
all we have said. He has seen you all.
Brothers, that man must not leave this
room alive. If he does, you are lost
men,
Some few Of the more violent spirits
rose and pressed unanimously toward
the door. The agitator shouted and
screamed, urging them on, taking good
care to remain in the safe background
himself. Every man in the room rose
to his feet They were full of vodka
and fury and ignorance. Spirit and
tai talk taken on an empty stomach
are dangerous stimulants.
Paul stood with his back to the door
and never moved.
"sit down, fools" he cried. "sit
down! Listen to me. You dare not
touch me; you know that"
1t seemed that he was right, for they
stopped, with staring, stupid eyes and
Idle hands.
will you listen to me, whom Won
have known for years, or to this talk.
er from the town? Choose now. nm
tired OF you. have been patient with
you for years. You are sheep. Are
you fools also to be dazzled BY the
words of an idle talker who promises
all and gives nothing?"
There was a sullen silence, Pan, had
lost his power over them, and he knew
IT.. He was quite cool and watchfnl
He knew that he was in danger, These
men were wild and ignorant, They
were mad with drink and the hrovo
words of the agitator.
Choose now" he shouted, feo,in,
Tor the handle of the door behind hiS
back. If go now. 1 never come
again."
He opened the door. The men vho,,
ne a nursed and clothed and fod
whose lives he had saved again and
again, stood sullen and silent.
Paul passed slowly out and closed
the door behind him. Without if was
dark and still. There would be n moon
presently, and in the meantime If wos
preparing to freeze harder than ever
Paul walked slowly up the yi,looo
street. While two men emerged scno.
rately from the darkness of br.,onos
and followed him. He did not hood
them. He was not aware that tho thor
mometer stood somewhere below zero
He did not even trouble to draw IN his
fur gloves. LID
he felt like a man whose own docs
AVE turned against him. The n]oca
tnat these peasants had occupied in his