Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-02-26
Trapping a Spy.
tOriginal.l

tOriginall
In q dimly lighted room on the tc
most story Of q house in the outskir
j. " Moscow number of revolutions
% were plotting the assassination of q
minister of the interior when a oui,
~ footstep was heard on the stairca
Il. below, and a moment later the do
~ was thrown open and a man excited
- entered.
we have been betrayedP' he sal
y The police will be here directly~
ie WHO is the traitorT' asked O. nun
" Der Of voices at once.
D. 81 don't know, but l do know tha
y he is one of us here present"
r Every man blanched and looked q
n every other man fercely, suspiciously
y despairingly. Only the president main
tanned his equanimity.
"Korloff," he said to the man VIII
brought the information, chow do yor
= know this?'
Through one Of our spies in tn,
service of the minister we intend Il
put out of the way. We are to be ar
! rested tonight at 8 o'clock. The trai
tor has Informed the minister that we
) would be In session at that hour"
1T is now quarter to g." the pYesi
dent suggested, looking at his watch
I'VE have time to et.away"
mot at ALL" said Korloff. There
has been a 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 q fair show
Of being able to prove him guilty. AS
your leader, with full power to execute
any plan may determine upon, | d.
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 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 a secret shaft provided for
the purpose Of getting rid of incrimlnat-
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 DOS
sible.
Shortly before 8 o'clock the sound of
footsteps came up from below. and in
another minute the door was pushed
open and 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
shed. The police were not used to .
making their descents in this way.
What means this intrusiOn?" asked
he president.
1T means that the minister of the in
erior. knowing Of your intentions. has
ent his own secret force here instead
n fhn nplion 70 10 b
n.y. You will all disappear without the
lightest cOmmotion. Tomorrow Mos.
ow Will not know that you are dead
have men in the hall to execute You
nd lower your bodies into the court
rom whence they will be carried in
arrels as merchandise to a spot where
ley will be buried"
This is indeed tyranny exclaimed
le president
The man, paying no attention to him
illed to those without They entered
'ery man. like his commander. in clti
ms dress and masked They were
iactly the same number as the con.
orators. Their leader drew Il revOlv.
;, cooked 1t and covered the pres1-
mt, while each of the others covered
conspiratOr.
Captain" cried one of the doomed
EN-, "have you not been informed?"
Uniformed Of what"
about me-"
you? What about your?
Il am exempt"
For what reasonY
1T is who gave the minister the
formation"
every pistol was instantly lowered
That will do" said the president. Ii
OH may unmask" h
The captain took off his mask and I'll
S followed by the others. Every s.
: of them was member Of the e.
Gle. 81
Comrades" said the president. 81 E3
8 inform. ed that we had Il traitor Ea:
ong us; but, despite the employment
our best men as spies, | could not o.
cover his identity. Finally hit -
N this plan of forcing him to de- 1
e himself. Our associate. Ivan 8EA
azhsky, by his own confession has )
rayed us. What is your pleasure "
corning him?" III
1r. President" interposed Sviazh- 81
81 have been a spy, admit, but 4
traitor. ! am a member Of the 4 q
'ctive police. Give me my life. and u
Ill not only give you valuable in
nation, but | will hereafter work
your side. My sympathies have
been with you, but have not -
ID to desert my post to join YOU"
low can we be assured of this?"
N holt