The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-07-01

dropped into the river; or, he could
be taken out to some lonely spot,
gagged, Of course, to prevent an out
cry, stabbed or beaten to death, and
robbed. The gags could then be re-
moved and this would cause the I'M
preston that he had been killed by
footpads for his money and valuables.
Fortunately, his attire, that Of q
wealthy aristocrat, would corroborate
the impression These are merely
suggestions, Of course. Would 1t not
be we'll to decide officially on his fate.
and then appoint a committee to set
tie the manner of his removal?'
Mr.. Kourbski sat down and glanced
about with self-satisfied air
1T is time" said Bielinski, rising
and resting both palms on the table.
ito bring this incidental discussion to
close, and proceed with the more
| important business of the evening.
Nothing must be allowed to interfere
with the great work which we have
in hand The destruction of so-called
government and the establishment of
universal freedom; the elimination of
war. oppression and tyranny, and the
Inauguration of general and ever
lasting peace, equality and brother
hood"
AS Bielinski spoke, his face flushed
with enthusiasm, and his eyes glowed
with the light of the dreamer and the
Utopan. Murmurs of approval ran
through the audience.
"You know" he continued, "how we
propose to accomplish this great end.
| Government is merely a combination
of the strong and the favored of the
earth to Cypress the weak. Laws are
! simply canoIis for the regulation of
oppression. All these things are I'M
natural and artificial and are built on
| q substructure of superstition. We
! propose to render government impos-
sible by making the governing profess
| sion so dangerous that no man will
dare undertake it. But the question
now before us is this: Here is a man
in our midst who is not of us. He is
sympathizer with and a friend Of
our oppressors. He came to us, sup
posing that he was going to the house
of the Princess Romanovna, and over
heard our plans. He has discovered
our place of meeting Will it be safe
to turn him loose, after exacting a
promise from him that he will not be-
tray us, If such promise can be OBJ
tanned, or Is 1t your mind that he be
removed, as Brother Kourbski sug-
gests, for the good of the Order? In
voting on this question you will bear
in mind that the life of any one in
dividual is of small moment when
weighed in the balance against the
general good of humanity. Brother
Smirnoff will pass among you, hand
ing each one of you a white and a
black marble, supply of which
have here, and Brother Kourbski will
collect your ballots in hat. A black
ballot will signify removal, a. white
ballot life and some other expedient.
Brother Smirnoff!"
That member arose and stepped
briskly to the side of the chairman
who took a number of marbles from
drawer and poured them into hat.
Kourbski followed him about with an
other hat, into which the members
| dropped their votes. In the CHASTITY
silence that reigned, Hardy could hear
his heart beat plainly, and the mar
bles dropping, dropping, into the hat,
ratified like paving stones falling from
a height AS Kourbski stepped to the
table and poured the marbles on 1t.
the American arose, and mechanically
twitching at his pince-nez, gazed with
open mouth. A black stream poured
J from the hat
1.-The ballots are all black" an
nounced the chairman. 81 shall APP
point Brothers Kourbski, Stankietch
and Golovlev as committee of three
on ways and means. Gentlemen, you
will retire into the adjoining room.
Kindly reach your decision as soon as
possible, for this, as 1 have said, is
only an Incidental matter, and we
have much of importance before u.s."
The three members retired closing
the door softly behind them. The
dream was becoming reality. Hardy.
who was still standing, glanced about
like a trapped animal, his eyes hunt
ing some desperate means of escape.
There was the window. He might
dash at that and leap at the panes.
The crash and the cutlery which he
would make might attract the atten-
ton of some passer-by. But, alas, the
majority of the company were sitting
between him and the window. and
the shutters, which he could discern
through the thick curtains, were, no
doubt heavy and we'll secured. His
overcoat dropped to the floor and
scarcely audible bump" attracted his
attention. He picked up the garment.
and slipped his hand into the pocket.
where II touched the cold handle Of
a revolver. He remembered that q
merchant had given him the weapon
in the morning as sample Of lsrge
stock Of German limitations that could
be sold at a much lower price than
the American original The merchant
had said that It was q good weapon.
| despite the cheapness, and had ~