Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-11-30

suddenly the iduSnter ndQ Oleu on
their lips. They were standing quite
motionless. cigarettes poised between
their finger tips the smoke filckering.
and their faces were turned as one
man toward Bratinau. who stood at
the door. and had held up his hand for
silence.
Never again shall see on the faces
OF men a look of such fierce. tense ex-
citement. Some OF them we're trem-
bling: more than one was catching his
breath in sobs: one snapped the stem
OF his wine glass.
Three raps and silence-two and q
panse-one, and again three. Bratinau
drew the bolts.
IL was the messenger whom they
had waited for. He was breathless In
his haste: the sweat stood on his fore
head: and be held high above his head
telegram in triumph. He staggered
into Bratinau's arms.
Bratinau tore open the dispatch. AS
he read. his gross face became purple
with passion. His eyes glowed like
two living Goals. He tried TO speak.
but his emotion suffocated him.
The paper was snatched from his
grasp by Starva. Again he lesped to
the chair by Ferdinand His bun
voice Numbered:
Liberty. comrades. freedom: and
death to tyrantsi Alexander Of Servia
and his paramour Draga were dragged
from their beds not an hour ago They
lie dead OF a hundred wounds. Drink.
drink to Servia. who has led the way
TO libertyl"
Ferdinand's head had fallen; he had
tainted in his chair, his body huddled
up grotesquely.
Gortschskoff OF Servia. maddeued
with excitement. raised his dagger to
strike the senseless king. Starva
felled him with a blow. then ran from
one TO the other OF the conspirators
! imploring demanding silence.
Patience. comrades!" he shouted.
Are we children that we cannot make
history this night as men2 Let us do
ali things calmly and IN due order
| Patience a little longer Who is there
that has a better right TO strike The
| blow than !. Starva OF Bulgaria"
J." clamored Bratinau. II also am
a Bulgar."
NO; It is I. Gornji OF Montenegro!
I have suffered most from the tyranny
OF kings; It IS my right"
no. it is mine!" shouted one
, Mine" clamored another.
You see. comrades. each OF Us
| strives for the honor. But though
| Bratinau and I OF Bulgaria have the
| prior right. we do not wish TO be
| selfish. We will cast lots-and in the
darkness. Ferdinand shall stand von-
| der by the spiral staircase in front OF
the tapestry. Two candles behind his
! head VIII make him a fair mark for a
revolver But the man who has been
/ singled by fate. concealed bv darkness.
shall do his work in darkness No one
/ will know to whom the lot has fallen:
/ then he looked steadily at Kuhn and
/ Gingaia. III there are any here whose
/ courage falters and who would turn
/ traitors az this late hour. their trcach.
! cry viii be powerless For each man
+ by his presence here shares the guilt
+ OF the rest No one can betray an
! other himself Is IL agreed"
1T is agreedi% they shouted. But
/ Kuhn OF Macedonia was silent.
rs It agreed. comrade Kuhn of
Macedonia
Yes" he replied hoarsely. moisten.
/ ing his parched lips with the glass he
held in his hand If Ferdinand must
I die. he must"
What, You are not convinced OF
the necessity OF that?"
Il refuse to be a puppct. storva. 20
Z dance because you choose TO pail the
stringi" cried Kuhn. his rage bursting
the bounds OF prudence. Il will neither
be cajoled by lies nor frightened into
obedience"
MOP" questioned Starva softly. but
his smile was frightful us Il not a
little late, comrade. to be making ex-
cuses at this hour?"
Il for one wish to know why YOU
lied to me this morning? l have been
tricked into this desperate move"
And who has tricked you?" de-
manded Starva, with gentleness that
was more terrifying than his anger
You told me yesterday that Sir
Mortimer Brett was dead He was
seen In the village OF Alterhoden this
morning. You told me that England
had refused absolutely to countenance
Ferdinand's invasion OF Macedonia
Not an hour since I received secret
information from my agents in Lon
don that Instructions had been sent to
Sir Mortimer that he need hesitate no
longer-that England would see he had