Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-07

y - " ~ " lSk w "A COC Ill IL
sist and YOU are dead man on the
instant ?
shall be a spectator of your in
since You insist.I am rather late for
my engagement, now. and fear that
must defer it to another evening 7
Here he consulted his watch again.
"Would you kindly request your
friend with the pill not to walk so
close to. the wall? Should he rub
against 1t too hard, the result might
be unfair to me, who am neither a
tyrant nor a spy"
They all moved silently down 10
the extreme end of the hall, and pass
ed through a door into a large square
room, furnished with chairs and d.
vans and round table, upon which
were number of books and maya
zines. Crossing this, they entered the
council chamber, long narrow apart
ment, with benches running around It,
and long table in the center. with
chairs placed for abor. twenty PEG.
pie.
The Enemies of Russia seated them
selves on the benches and at the
table. Bielinski, who was evidently
the chairman, took his place at the
head of the table. Felix Hulin, after
taking the terrible sphere from his
pocket and laying it carefully on the
table on a tiny couch formed his
crumpled handkerchief, removed his
coat and hung it upon nail. He then
took his seat, by invitation, at Bielin-
skis right.
Brethren" said the latter, rising,
"of the Society Of the Enemies Of
Russiaw He spoke very distinctly,
but not loud. The most absolute sill
ence prevailed "And by Russia we
do not mean this land in which We
live, this part Of the earth, but the
vile government which Expresses us.
For what is a country, save certain
extent of the earth's surface which
tyranny, under one guise or another,
has selected as its own especial pro-
vince for oppression? The nihilist, my
friend, has no country that is to
say, no Russia, no France, no Ge--
many. The whole world is his cou,l-
try, all mankind are his brothers. 1t
is in this spirit that we have met TO-
night to welcome to our midst one Of
the greatest inventors of the age, the
celebrated chemist, Felix Hulin. one
Of our brothers He will explain to
you the nature of his wonderful in
vention, which Is to make thrones
totter and tyrants tremble. / assure
you that 1t is all he will represent TO
you, as have talked with one who
witnessed his experiments in a lone
ly region of the Caucasus. He will
make his speech in French, which
will undertake to translate for you in
to our own tongue. But first we must
decide what to do with this man who
has introduced himself into our midst,
and has learned the secrets OF the Or
der. Though do not personally be-
lieve him to be a spy. though am
confident he was brought here by ac-
cident, yet he Is not of us, and he is
a friend of the naughty and wealth.
pampered aristocrat whose name
forms the password OF the evening
He was on his way to her residence
when he was brought here.
During this time Hardy remained
standing. with his opera hat be-
meath his elbow and his ulster thrown
over his arm. His eyes were fixed
on the little ball in Hulin's handkar.
chief. which, shining in the gas-light,
held his gaze with strange fascina-
ton. like the baleful eye Of q snake.
What is his nationality? asked
one of the brethren
"He says that he is an American
replied Bielinski.
1.-THE Americans said the question.
Care q pnmorf,,1 no&;o,, Wa
should detain this man, who is him
self evidently an artistocrat, and has
friends, they would raise Heaven and
earth to find him, and there would
be much publicity and discussions, a
thing that we wish to avoid now. The
same thing would result If he should
permanently disappear"
Here he sat down, and silence reig.
ned for full minute.
There is much truth" at length
said Bielinski Sin what Brother
Smirnoff says. Has any other brother
any suggestion to maker"
A young Russian arose, florid-
faced, cleanshayen youth, with blue
eyes and a sweet expression. His
voice was solf and he smiled as he
talked.
He must not disappear" said the
speaker, "as Brother Smirnoff says,
neither can we keep him. He would
be an elephant on our hands. Neither
would it be safe to turn him loose
with our secret in his brain and on
his tongue. It seems to me, with all
due reverence to my elders, - and
here he smiled and waved his hand,
that there is but one way. He must
die and his body must be found under
such circumstances that the police
will be led to believe he has met his
fate through accident This will
come under the head, not Of an execu-
tion, but Of necessary removal for
the good of the Order"
This was suave, fluent speaker,
a man of easy and natural gestures.
His manner was confident and pleas
ing and he appeared to be one Of
those who talk as much for practice
and for the sake of hearing their own
voices as for any other reason. Har.
dy sat down in a convenient chair
and listened. his gaze shifting from
the face Of the speaker to the shining
ball in the handkerchief of Monsieur
Hulin. the meSmeric SPOT on the table.