Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-24
The Argus Daily Story
A Double Part-By Peter Valovitch
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

chin and with his hat drawn down
over his eyes entered
You are my prisoners he said.
why so?" asked our president.
You have been accused of plotting
the assassination of a minister"
We are men Of science met for it's
advancement"
You cannot deceive the government
by any such trick"
Surely we will be given an opportu-
nifty 10 prove what we are"
You viii he given an opportunity TO
prove nothing. You will be marched
from this room TO Siberia"
The man who arrested Us. backed by
a force whom we could hear moving
about in the hall. ordered us to stand
up in line preparatory TO being
marched away. 1t seemed 20 me that
the only thing for me 10 do was to de-
clare myself a spy for the govern
meut. l beckoned TO our captor and
whispered in his ear that l had given
the information upon which he acted
and asked to be taken to the minister
Immediately a great change came
over every one present.
Enough exclaimed the president.
"Our ruse has been successful Look
ing at his watch he added, I'VE still
have an hour TO get away, and before
we go it behooves us to make way
with the traitor" Then addressing
me: "Nronsky. who has been pretend
ing TO be a government spy. learned
this morning that some one OF our
number had betrayed us. and we were
to be arrested tonight Mt half past IL
O'clock Since he did not learn the
name of the informer we adopted a
ruse to discover him. This man who
has made the arrest is Schierlief. one
of our number. and those in the hall
are other members Of our circle"
Schierlieff pulled Off false beard,
and 1 recognized him ut once.
Comrades" continued the president.
lit is necessary to put the traitor out
of the way at once. for we must leave
this place within n very short time.
We will draw lots as to which one OF
us shall stab him 10 the heart. n
method Of execution that will be with
out noise and attract no attention"
But one person could interpose be
tween me and death-that was Orloff.
Why he WAS not at the meeting | knew
not / had charged him to be there.
but had not told him why 1t was es-
sential l hurriedIy told the circle ev-
cry circumstance that had led me into
my present position. tut not one OF
them believed a word / said.
IF this is true" cried one OF them,
you are at least fool not 10 have
made some arrangement by which you
could prove your case. And fool
among us is as much to be feared as
a traitor"
"Orloff's my confederate" I said,
land he IS not here. Send for him.
1--WE have not time. Before he could
reach us the hounds you have set upon
us would be here"
Come" said the president prepare
the lots"
The SECRETARY hurriedly scratched
the name Of every man present on
separate piece Of paper, and they We're
placed in a hat. Then ! was required
10 draw the name Of my evccutioner
/ put my hand in automatically, for
it seemed that the currents OF my feel
ings neutraliZed one another, and drew
out one Of the slips. The president
seized it and read ont n name, but |
was too overcome TO hear what It was
l saw my executiouer take Off his coat
and roll up his shirt sleeves. Then
one Of the circle handed him n long
dagger. / was seized by two others,
led to one end of the room and turned
about l saw as If I'm a haze my ex-
ecutioner standing at the other end,
looking pale and sick Mt heart at the
work he was about 10 DO. Then. at "A
word from the president, ne advanced
toward me.
There was n sound Of footsteps with
out. the door was opened and Michpel
Orloff strolled in !eisurely. Seeing me
standing where / was and one Of the
circle advancing toward zoe holding
knife I'm his hand while the others
looked on. some vengcful, others
shrinkingly. Orlof's face took on an
expression Of surprise.
"OrIoG." cried. save me"
"HoIdw said the president to the ex-
ecutioner. Then 10 Orlon. Are you a
depository for a secret concerning this
malY'
Yes"
"What is itT'
"ShaH / teIIY' OrloG asked Of me.
"For heavens sake, yes, tell an
"He has been pretending to play the
part Of informer for the government
His heart is really with Us"
"Can you prove that he has really
been acting for usr
Yes"
How"
"Ry documents he has left in my pos
session"
VERY well Let us 90 at once. with
in twenty minutes our retreat will
have been cut off"
We left the apartment at once, but L
was kept in the center OF the others
and carefully qua @drd until II became
possible 10 examine the documents
that I had left with OrIoG. after which
/ was exOnerated from the charge or
TgtrF @ rgltfrt az