The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-11-13
Rosetta, the Wine Sellers Daughter,
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE CT New ORLEANS
WILLIAM H.. PECB.
ooNrINUED FROM LAST wiEK
BY WILLIAM H. PEG

81 purchased them of my brother" rpied st. John,
calmly, as he fitted a key in the lock.
'sAnd he?n asked Mario,
'Receiyed them from his wife, ClaraAntelli" replied
St. John, opening the casket
t'Ahn cried Mario as the light flashed and gttered
upon asuperb necklace0f diamonds den cross stud
ded with rubes and sapphres braceletof antique
ing set with pearls and emeralds, andgoden rings Of
rare value cleaning with precious stone
Mario stared fxedy upon this trasure that for a
moment he forgot that the piercing Bue eyes of his
reckless visitor watching him with an intensity
almost painful.
Neither did st. John know that pir of eyes, as
keen piercing his, we're flashing hate and ven
geance upon him from the gloom of the crtained recess
where crouehed the real Benditto of tbs story.
at seems you recognise them" remarked St. John,
as he drew his sabrehit to his hand and fingered
pistol in his sash.
''They are the family Jewels of the noble house of
Antelli, replied Mario-heaying deep sigh Il have
not them for many years. So you purchased them
of your brother? am far from denyine the truth of
the honorable captains assertion continued Mario with
profound inclination Of the he'll still beg leave to
aver with due respect, sgnor ad not as claim that
the jewels rightfully mine Henri LeGrand having
learned from his wifethe day )ebre he poisoned her
where count Mario kept the Altel jewels stole them
THAT brother of mine rae sapegrace, laughed
st. John "Bat the robbery ws hb-the purchase is
mine, friend Benditto Were We noy il Florence you,
as count Benditto di Antelli night force to give
them up to you at once. But We arCn America / am
Victor st. John, and you ny hidesIan, my prince OF
money lenders. will sell theu.n
This wretch" thought Mario as he noted the scorn-
full bearing Of the powerful captain, believes me alone
in this house. by my soul h(has lis brayos within
hearing OF lis war cry have ayiant 10 deal with
Still he does suspect that N count Mario. will
try him.
Captain he said aloud, ''as he heir of count Mario
have right to become possea5r Of these jewels with
I out purchase"
"A right, friend Beuditto, 5 q phantom-a mere
nothing to me, when the rghto maintain it is trile
replied St John, placing his had upon the casket.
That will know" said Mdo. But if-a mere if
If should say to you, capital these Jewels mine,
for your worthy brother soi5 hem from mine, who is
dead, and must take them, ind then with single
stroke of this little hammer lrouud YOU with drawn
swords and cooked pisos-reiy at myback to cut and
4 blow your head TO atoms-ehfWhat then?'
| pallor swept over St. JoEfs naughty face, but he
laughed scOrntully and replied
Alone | would not fear var swords and pistols
Would ! fear them, when by acng this whistle to my
lips l can summon force ab to tear your house to
ruins, and you from u thousand shreads-
! Listen!"
/ He blew shr rattling wlste upon the silver tube
be placed his lips and for instant the street with
out seemed alive with simiiarounds.
The peculiar signal head at the very doors Of the
| house.
you hear" said st. Jchn "If whistle again my
friends out there viii come in
'Great heayen" thought lIrio "what a terrible man
/ is this! How vigiant, how Gaming. We thought him
our helpless prey-and belai we may be his. Why
does lie not take the gold qce2 It is because he is
not ready to begin, and kngs, or hopes to get the
money now and to take the Awels back by force to-
morrow, when the plot sweps forth from Its hiding
places in open rapne.o
Come, am waiting on yu, old man?' demanded
Tnb II .1y-lr fppt tbp
IJewels2'
lie spread the gems upon le table, and swept them
into heap again with his st,ng, handsome hands.
How much do you desir" asked Mario hoarsey.
They worth great iftune, my dear BendttO
Take them for ten thousandlolars in gold, and your
check upon the United Stps Branch bank Of New
Orcaus-say for thirty thoand"
The jewels worth Ibrc, signor captain. See
this centre diamond Of thtcrOss is alone worth ten
thousand dolars-it was oIb gem in the Coronet Of
the duke Of Venice"
'You are no jew, Bendtt or you would not find
such fault with my price marked St. John 81 name
the sum | gave my her-IOthing more or less"
''Why have you not sold tenn ere now captan?"
''What is that to YOU old aan?" demanded St. John
ieucely. Perhaps becausdhere was danger i'll trying
to sell diamonds hen all Irope had heard of their
loss No matter for that"
How know you thatm liper is valuable in the bank
you mention" asked Mario
Perhaps | have iricndherc, replied st. John.
Come, will you agree to mIterms?"
Ten thousand dollars in bid is large sum-but
think have it,
sand know you have it Benditto," muttered st.
John a Mario left the apartmnt toying with the Jewels;
and before dawn will pay treasury another visit
count Mario"
Mario hastened to Bendittq bed room, where he met
Benditto, pale and fearlully &cited.
'Youare satisfied, Mario?"
lam This man is HenriLeGrand. His story Of
twin brother is a talsehood.h
And he is living lie" sid Benditto with angry
bitterness.
''He is terrible enemy, anil we have dangerous work
before US. We must advancGthe gold NJ draft up
on the bank will be worthless II have no funds there
and he knows it,"
Then why does he ask for our draft?'
Because his cunning oyereaches ITSELF" replied
Mario ''EIe is in great and Immediate need of gold
he must have it to use this yay night. He thinks
money lender with the bad reputation Of BendttO for
greed and ayarice, will jump chance to obtain such
diamonds for triie OF valuable consideration in return
and worthless check. He reasons thus: This old
Shylock viii give the gaid-or he to gain the
gems and having given ME worthless draft will run
away before morning. But az intend to regain the
jewels by force part with them for few hours
You see? He needs the gold now For That To tempt,
to brbe to hire hravos to cut throats Come, let us
count out the goldit is easily donefor we will not
count it-best weigh it-knoWing there are so many
dollars to the ounce
4 desire to see the effects Of our phnntoms upon him"
said Benditto
'And them"
If he repents Mario, Let Us be mercfu," whispered
Benditto. t-~z<r~
There, have said your heart would fail you" ex-
claimed Mario, quivering withrage NO, he will not
repent, he will mock, he will sneer! He shall de-we
have sworn it. Benditto.
1--WE have sworn it." echoed Benditto, in a hollow
voice of despair.
Let not your heart fail you continued Mario, he
weighed out the gold 1T is done! Now he will desire
to see it weighed Give me the scales-so. Now sweep
the gold into this sack-so is very heavy-bu could
carry the world upon my shoulders tonight Be ready
So saying the old man returned to St. John who was
poring over map Of the city.
He returned the map to his pocket as Mario entered
and said:
"a pleasant lifting friend Benditto, you have the
scales. Let me see the gold. Enough, you need not
weigh it. trust in your honesty. If there is a coin
more or less it will be my gain or my loss Now tie the
sack securely. You the prince of money lenders,
md the king of fortune tellers."
The honorable captain has seen nothing Of my pow
srs as wizard remarked Mario as be placed the jew
is in the casket and locked it.
'If Ihad tines St. John, gIancng at his watch
Let's see half past ten-well have few minutes to
pare-with what will YOU amlse me?"
Woud you desire to see the phantom of your brother
Is he appeared in Florence some sixteen years ago?n
sked Mario,