The Elbert County tribune., 1908-12-31

oHce ana Color was given TO MS state
ment by the portfolio which he had
in his hand The other man. named
Lubkin. was consumptive, about 23
years of age.
Where is your printing press?" de-
manded the officer
Madame shrugged her delicate
shoulders and outstretched her hands
in manner which said plainly enough
that the police were welcome to any
printing presses they might find in
that place.
printing press is bulky thing.
II should not be hard to find. But the
officers searched the house from cellar
to garret without result All the while
the quartet sat in the large dining
room, prisoners. On the return of the
police, the two men and the two
women were put through the sweat
ing process, but they revealed moth
ing. The MISUNDERSTANDING young
man laid his portfolio aside for a mo-
ment. One of the policemen picked it
up and opened 1t. Astonishment made
him speechless. He silently handed the
portfolio to his chief. II was filled with
manuscripts and proofs of pro-
hibited nihilist paper called Land and
Liberty" The MISUNDERSTANDING per
son with the portfolio merely smiled
at the CONSERVATION of the officials.
lie realized the gravity of his offense.
He knew the penalty. But he never
quailed for an instant.
Come" shouted the chief. you're
pAN tod nj do .I..l..
confess. Where is the press9"
The quartet remained silent. They
were not offensive. 1t was the silence
of submission-but not of fear. Sud
denly the chief gave shout of sur
prise and pointed to the cupboard. The
other policemen followed the course in
dicated by his accusing finger They
saw nothing and their blank coun-
tenances said as much.
Don't you see?" almost shrielsed
the official
No replied his chief lieutenant.
What is it?'
"A daub of ink on the door of that
closet
"A daub of ink?" repeated the other.
parrotlike and with no indica-
ton cf intelligence.
Yes, Yesi" he retorted, "a daub of
printers ink"
Slowly consciousness OF the mean
ing of his words penetrated their dull
heads. At the same moment they
made simultaneous dash for the
cupboard. To their amazement they
met with resistance. Nine. Kriloff. her
servant, the aristocratic man OF the
portfolio. and the consumptive com
positor were lined up in front of the
cupboard. All were armed and Nine
Kriloff, pointing her pistol at the head
Of the chief officer, said with great de
liberation:
Advance single step and I'll blow
out your brains. We're desperate
Life means little to us now. Save
yours"
Here was a dilemma. The chief
knew If he made move to reach for
his pistol this frenzied woman would
carry out her threat Only two other
policemen were in the room with him
and they were covered by the aristo-
crat and the consumptive compositor
The remainder of his men were In 9TH
er parts of the house. He backed out
by degrees. 1t was humiliating, but he
felt that ii was polite. He must have
time to think and plan. His two com
panions retreated with him. As they
reached the outer sill of the floor the
consumptive compositor slammed the
door violently and one of his asso-
ciates bolted it, The racket brought
the other policemen to the aid OF their
chief. There on the landing they held
council of war. The besleged nihil.
lists. on their part, were sparring for
time--they had something to conceal
or destroy.
The house was already strongly
guarded on the outside and the siege
held out for less than a minute. The
door was broken in and after a fierce
resistance the four nihilists sur.
rendered. The aristocrat fought like a
demon and at the last asked quarter
only for the women. While the police
were completing their work the con-
sunptive compositor had violent
paroxysm of coughing and asked per-
mission to lie on cot in an adjon-
ing room.
The cupboard proved to be a veri-
table magic closet. 1t contained com
Dlete printing outfit. Needless to say
the paraphernalia was extraordinarily
simple and adapted peculiarly to the
purposes Of the conspirators. There
was a large cylinder covered with
cloth which answered the require
of gummy substance; several fonts OF
type, display and otherwise; few
jars of printing ink. benzine brufhes,
and sponges. This was all packed to
be taken to police headquarters. ,ust
as the prisoners were being rounded
up sharp pistol shot was heard from
the adjoining room. The chief hurried