Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16

garnet 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 ''sWeating' process, but they
revealed nothing. The -aristocratic-look-
ing young man laid his portfolio aside for
moment. One of the policemen picked
X up and opened ii. Astonishment made
him speechless. He silently handed the
portfolio to his chief. 1t was filled with
manuscripts and proofs of a prohibited
nihilist paper called Land and Liberty.
The MISUNDERSTANDING person with the
portfolio merely smiled al the consterna-
ton of the officials. He realized the
penalty. But he never quailed for an in
slant.
Come" shouted the chief you're con-
victed already. You might as well con-
fess. Where is the press
The quartet remained silent. They were
not offensive. 1t was the silence of sub
misson-but not of fear. Suddenly the
| chief gave a shout of surprise and point
! ed to the cupboard. the other policemen
followed the course indicated by his &C
| cusing finger. They saw nothing and
! their blank countenances said as much.
J Don't you see?' almost shrieked 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,
parrot like and with no indication of in
telligence
Yes! Yes" he retorted, "a daub of
printers ink.
Slowly consciousness Of the meaning
of his words penetrated their dull heads.
At the same moment they made
dash for the cupboard. To their
amazement they met with resistance.
Nine Kriloff her servant the arIsto-
cratic man of the portfolio and the con-
sumptive compositor 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 deliberation:
Advance a single step and I'll blow
tout your brains. We're desperate. L..e
means little to now. Save yours
Here was dilemma. The chief knew If
| this frenzied woman would carry out her
threat Only two other policemen were
| In the room with him and they were COW
cred by the aristocrat and the con-
sumptive compositor. The remainder of
his men were in other parts Of the house
He backed out by degrees. 1t was hi-
initiating, but he felt that 1t was polite
He must have time to think and PLAN
His two companions retreated with him.
AS they reached the outer sill the
consumptive compositor slammed The
door violently and one of his associates
bolted 1t. The racket brought the other
policemen to the aid of their chief There
on the landing they held council OF
war. The besieged nihilists. on their part,
! were sparring for time-they had some
| thing 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 fierce resistance the four
! nihilists surrendered. The aristocrat
| fought like demon and at the last asked
quarter only for the women. While the
police were completing their work the
| consumptive compositor had a violent
paroxysm of coughing and asked permits
| sion TO lie on a cot in an adjoining room.
The cupboard proved TO be>a 'veritable