The Grit-advocate., 1905-09-22

That was no rat. The sound came
from within the apparently solid
walls. Noiselessly as he could he
went on tirtoe and placed his ear to
the wall, and then waited with bated
breath
What was that?
Good God!" he exclaimed, in
whisper to himself, as a murmur of
voices reached his ear there are
people within this wall!'
Even as he made the discovery
sound came from the opposite side.
He was there in an instant, his ear
again pressed to the wall.
The same murmur reached him.
by heaven. the place is alive with
people, he exclaimed. What does
it mean?"
A grating sound, different from any
he had yet heard, reached him
He felt that something, he knew
not what, was about to take place
at hand. The place, its appearance.
the mysterious noses-all boded
deadly peril of some kind.
He was in den of criminals.
Trapped" he thought, caught by
heaven, like rat in trap"
Alexis NaZimoff was brave man
none braver. But the bravest man
may be unnerved by the presence of
an unseen danger-of danger that is
felt, not confronted. He was accus-
toned to think quickly and to act
impulsively. Hastily thrusting the
cigar case into the open front Of his
coat, he quickly but softly moved to
where Ivan's coat was lying on the
table.
To take the coat and move to the
long bench that stood alongside the
wall was the work of couple of sec
onds. and in as many more he had
lain down, pulled Ivan's coat over
him. and was apparently asleep!
But he had so arranged the coat
that while it covered his head he
could see anything that transpired on
the opposite side Of the room-the
side on which he had heard the sound
for the second time.
Softly and silently as shadow
the solid wall seemed to move!
Every panel was a revolving door
which turned noiselessly on its axis,
and from every door entered as
silently as specter an occupant of
the mysterious recesses beyond. A
rush of air and the movement of soft
ly treading feet convinced Alexis that
exactly the same movement was be-
ing executed simultaneously behind
his back.
Such was the fact.
Then to the amazement of Alexis
he realized that the apartment of
which he had been the sole occupant
a moment before was now tenanted
by score of people.
He lay perfectly still-astonished
spellbound.
Suddenly the silence was broken.
"All is weI," said Oraminsky.
Whoever it was, there could have
been no danger, since we did not hear
the signal"
Nor the signal to come out some
one \said, in a growing voice; "it is
the first time we broke the rules"
II have suspended the rules" said
Oraminsky. with grim irony, with
out breaking them" Just what he
meant nobody seemed to understand.
Oraminsky, resuming his authorita-
tive tone, put an end to the silence
by directing the people to resume
their work. Now that Ivan has gone
we can run off the remaining copies
Of p1o,, of ircb l.
the press!"
The man thus addressed went to
the wall, and touched concealed
spring. section of the solid struc-
ture revolved and a clumsy hand
press of an old type was run on noise,
less rollers into the room.
GO ahead with that bomb" direct
ed Oraminsky, addressing two of the
men. You, Orloff," to another-"go
ahead with the wires. You, Pallet,
see to the tunnel-quick, to work, all
of you. There is no time to lose. Let
| us work tonight! Our task will be
complete, and then, one touch to the
wire and Russia will be free from
the tyrant."
Alexis never moved. He under.
| stood it all now.
The press began running. and as
the first impression of the work was
taken off Oraminsky held up Gis hand
the signal for silence.
Here, brothers, listen to this" he
| said. as he took up the paper, and,
| speaking in low tones, read as fol.
| lows:
| Alexander the Tyrant Is Dead.
Rise Russia
Death to the Oppressors
ITO Arms. Free Russians. to Arms!
Long Live the People!'
I'VE will have a thousand copies
of that posted throughout St. Peters
burg said Oraminsky. land then
the Revolution! That would stir the