Connecticut western news., 1908-07-30
Trapping a Spy.
[Original.1

mOSL story or q house III tue OuISklTIS of Moscow number of revolutionists were plotting the assassination of the minister of the interior when a quick footstep was heard on the staircase below, and a moment later the door was thrown open and a man excitedly entered
 We have been betrayedr' he said. '"The police will be here directly!'
 Who is the traitor?" asked num- Der of voices at once.
 T don't know, but I do know that he is one of us here present"
 Every man blanched and looked at every other man tiercely, suspiciously, despairingly. Only the president main tained his equanimity.
 "Korloff," he said to the man who brought the information, "how do you know this?"
 Through one of our spies in the service of the minister we intend to put out of the way. We are to be ar rested tonight at o'clock. The trai- tor has informed the minister that we would be in session at that hour"
 ''It is now a quarter to O." the presi- dent suggested, looking at his watch. We have time to get away"
 Not at all," said Korloff. There has been secret watch kept all the evening""
 "Then we are surely lost"
 There seemed nothing to do but await their doom. Presently the pres ident said:
 "Our only hope is In submitting peacefully to arrest and afterward en- deavoring to throw suspicion on the in- former Since he Is one of our number we can accuse him with a fair show of being able to prove him guilty. As your leader, with full power to execute any plan I may determine upon, I di- rect that we remain In our seats, with the door unlocked When the force ar rives we will pretend surprise, declar- ing that we are a society for the study of geography. Indeed, as you know, have kept geographical maps here for an emergency like this. Let the H. brarian get them out
 '"There is another precaution to be taken of great importance. Arms will not only avail us nothing, but will be- tray us. Give your weapons to korloff. who will take them away and throw them down secret shaft provided for the purpose of getting rid of incriminat ing documents"
 The members, who were sworn to obey their president. all gave up their arms, and the librarian brought out the books The table around which they sat was strewed with rough sketches of partially explored countries-every- thing made to look as scholarly as pos sible.
 Shortly before 0 o'clock the sound of footsteps came up from below. and in another minute the door was pushed open and a single man entered. while others remained in the hall. The man who came in was in ordinary apparel and masked. All looked at him aston ished The police were not used to making their descents in this way.
 What means this intrusionT" asked the president.
 "It means that the minister of the in- terior, knowing of your intentions, has sent his own secret force here instead of the police to annihilate this assem- ply. You will all disappear without the slightest commotion. Tomorrow Mos COW will not know that you are dead. I have men in the hall to execute you and lower your bodies into the court, from whence they will be carried in barrels as merchandise to spot where they will be buried"
 This is indeed tyrannyw exclaimed the president.
 The man, paying no attention to him, called to those without. They entered, every man, like his commander. in citi- Zen's dress and masked. They were exactly the same number as the con- spiratorS. Their leader drew a revoIv- CT, cooked 1t and covered the presI- dent while each of the others covered a conspirator.
 Captain" cried one of the doomed men, have you not been informedT'
 Informed of what?'
 About me-"
 You? What about your?
 'I am exempt"
 For what reasonw
 Tt is 1 who gave the minister the Information"
 Every pistol was instantly lowered.
 That will do," said the president You may unmask."
 The captain took off his mask and was followed by the others. Every one of them was a member of the circle.
 Comrades" said the president, "1 was informed that we had a traitor among us; but, despite the employment of our best men as spies. I could not discover his identity Finally I hit upon this plan of forcing him to. de clare himself. Our associate, Ivan SviaZhsky, by his own confession has betrayed us. What is your pleasure concerning him?'
 ,'Mr. President" interposed SAazh- sky, "I have been a spy, I admit. but not a traitor. I am a member of the