Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1910-05-05

had fallen in and drowned; or. a fns
needle might be driven into the b4sel
of his brain, after which he could bo
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 it not
be well to decide officially on his fata.
and then appoint a committee to set
tie the manner of his removal?"
Mr. Kourbski sat down and glanced
about with a 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
Utopian. Murmurs of approval ran
through the audience
You know" he continued, how We
propose to accomplish this great end.
Government is merely combination
of the strong and the favored of the
earth to Cypress the weak Laws are
simply canons for the regulation OF
oppression. All these things are un.
natural and artificial and are built on
substructure of superstition. We
propose to render government impos.
sible by making the governing profess
sion so dangerous that no man wiIl
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
a 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 exactine a
promise from him that he will not be-
tray us, if such a promise can be OBJ
tanned, or is it your mind that he be
removed, as Brother Kourbski sux-
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, a supply of which Z
have here. and Brother Kourbsk viii
collect your ballots in hat. A black
ballot will signify removal, whits
ballot life and some other expedieut.
Brother Smirnoff!"
That member arose and stepped
briskly to the side of the chairman
who took number of marbles from .
drawer and poured them into a hat.
Kourbsk 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
height. AS Kourbski stepped to the
table and poured the marbles on II,
the American arose, and mechanically
twitching at his pince-nez, gazed with
open mouth. A black stream poured
! from the hat
THE ballots are all black" an
nounced the chairman. II shall 40.
point Brothers Kourbski. Stankietch
and Golovlev as a committee of thres
on ways and means. Gentlemen. you
will retire into the adjoining room.
Kindly reach your decision as soon a.
possible, for this, as l have said, u
only an incidental matter, and We
have much of Importance before US
The three members retired. closing
the door softly behind them. The
dream was becoming reality. Hardy.
who was still standing. glanced about
like 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. tho
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 well secured. His
overcoat dropped to the floor and Q
scarcely audible bump" attracted his
attention. He picked up the garment,
and slipped his hand into the pocket.
where 1t touched the cold handle q
revolver. He remembered that Q
merchant had given him the weapum