The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-01
Trapping a Spy.



Ioriginal.I
In dimly lighted room on the top
most story Of house in the outskirts
Of Moscow a number Of revolutionists
were plotting the assassination of the
minister Of the interior when qulcB
footstep was heard on the staircase
below, and a moment later the door
was thrown open and man excitedly
entered
1--WE have been betrayed he said.
.'The police will be here directlyw
eWho is the traitor?' asked a num-
Der Of voices at once.
Il don't know, but / do know that
be is one Of us here present"
Every man blanched and looked at
every other man tlereely, suspiciously,
despairlngly. Only the president main
tanned his equanimity.
"Korloff.n he said to the man who
brought the information, "how do yon
know thisT'
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 10 session at that hour
1T is now a quarter to o." the presl-
dent suggested, looking at his watch
ave have time to get away
fs NJ
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
ldent said:
sour only hope IL 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 fair show
OF being able TO prove him guilty. AS
your leader, with full power to execute
any plan may determine upon, I di-
rect that we remain in our seats, with
the door unlocked. When the force ar
rives we viii pretend surprise, decIar
ing that we are a society for the study
OF geography. Indeed. as you know,
have kept geographical maps here for
an emergency Ike this. Let the II
brarian get them out
There Is another precaution to be
taken Of great Importance. Arms VIII
not only avail rs nothing. but will be-
tray US. Give your weapons to Korloff. |
who will take them away and throw
them down e 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
sibie.
Shortly before 0 o'clock the sound Of /
footsteps came up from below, and in
another minute the door was pushed i
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 intrusiong" asked
the president
eft means that the minister Of the In
terror, knowing Of your intentions, has
sent his own secret force here instead
OF the police to anniAlate this assem-
bly,. You will all disappear without the
slightest commotion. Tomorrow Mos
COW win 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 viii be carried in
barrels as merchandise to spot where
they will be buried"
This IS indeed tyranny exclaimed
the president
The man, paying no attention 20 him,
called to those without. They entered,
every man. like his commander, in clti
zen's dress and masked. They were
exactly the same number as the con-
spirators. Their leader drew a revolv-
er, cooked it and covered the presi
dent while each Of the others covered
a conspirator.
Captain" cried one OF the doomed
men. have you not been informedY
Uniformed Of whatF
"Ahout me"
"Youa What about your
Il am exempt"
@For what reason?r
ct is / who gave the minister the
Every pistol was instantly lowered.
"That win do said the president
''You may unmask."
The captain took or his mask and
was followed by the others. Every
one Of them was member OF the
circle.
comrades" said the president. 7
was informed that We had a traitor
among us. but. despite the employment
Of eur best meu as spies. J could not