Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-06-09

mad fallen in and drowned; or a f1ne
needle might be driven into the base
of his brain, after which he could be
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
wealthy aristocrat, would corroborate
the impression. These are merely
suggestions, of course. Would 1t not
be well to decide officially on his fate,
and then appoint committee to set
tie the manner of his removal?"
Mr.. Kourbski sat down and glanced
about with self-satisfied air.
ut is time" said Bielinski, rising
and resting both palms on the table,
ito bring this incidental discussion to
a 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 a combination
of the strong and the favored of the
earth to oppress 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 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
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. VIII it be safe
to turn him loose, after exacting 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 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 I
have here. and Brother Kourbski win
collect your ballots in a hat A black
ballot will signify removal, 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 a
drawer and poured them into a hat
Kourbski followed him about with an
other hat into which the members
dropped their votes. In the ghastly
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 10 the
table and poured the marbles on II.
the American arose and mechanically
twitchlng at his pince-nez. gazed with
open mouth. \ black stream poured
from the hat
The ballots are all black" an
nounced the chairman Il 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 / have said. 10
only an Incidental matter. and We
have much OF importance before us.'
The three momhers retired. closing
tho 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 lie might
dash al that ard leap ~ the panes.
The crash aud the cutlery which he
would make misht attract the atten.
tion &c some passcr BY But. alas. tho
majority of the company were sitting
between him aud che window. and
the shutters shlch be could discern
throush tho thick curtains. we're no
doubt. heavy ana well secured tlls
oy,rcoat dIHpped to the houg and
scarcely audible bump" attracted bis
attention l. picked gp tks aarmuut.
and Slipped hH band luta ths pocket.
Ehare q t.achet ttp cold handle of
e revolver llr remembered that a
merchant had Flsen hI4 th. weapon