Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-07
"Well, | had heard the story, thro'

HILL COluiuS W ILLS OiU mouse anu
shutting himself up in complete seclu-
sion-ofhis subsequent arrest, impris-
onment, and prediction concerning the
magistrate. and since that of some 9th
er death predictions that have come
to pass-and felt a strong desire to
consult him, thinking it not improba-
BILE that where it might be to his in
terest to predict a death, a death
would be certain to follow"
"In other words" said the bandit,
"you believed me to be professional
murderer r?'
Something of that kind, I confess"
"And now?"
II trust | have no reason to change
my opinion"
"You are plain and straight for
ward~at all events. | don't object to
that. however: Well, now that we
understand each other, what do you
require of me p
"You have already named what |
most desire"
"The death of the Count and the
Duchess ?'
Eyes; and if you will undertake to
rid me of these, you have only to name
your price"
"And what of the Duke Ducarar ?''
ooh, he must not be harmed y
q understand" said the brigand,
with peculiar look; the Countess
Civanti would wed the Duke Du-
carrar."
"Oh man, seek not to know every
thing! exclaimed the lady, in a slight
ly irritated tone. "Oome; will you
undertake what | want done %
II will give you the means to ac-
complish the work yourself" said the
outlaw. 81 have a colorless poison,
that is slow but sure. 1t needs but a
few drops in cup of water or wine.
1t produces no pain, no suffering of
any kind, and its effects are not appa-
rent for two or three days. Then the
patient begins to complain of weak
ness and lassitude, goes into a rapid
decline, and dies in less than a month.
This poison cannot be detected in the
system, and there is not a physician
who knows its antidote."
"The very thingr p cried the Coun-
tess. Give me that poison, and l will
accomplish the rest"
The Countess and brigand finally
agreed upon terms. He sold her the
poison at a fabulous price, but would
not dispose of the antidote for any
consideration whatever. He told her,
however, that should she discover any
friend of hers suffering from the effects
of this poison, to come to him at once,
and he would arrange with her to save
the party.
For GOV al vreeis-, lo,,s5er Pondinolli
remained in that old house, never 60
ing out, and now and then receiving a
visitor. There was some talk Of ar
resting him again; but there was an
opposing influence in high quarters
and it was not done. 1t would not
have been done, had the police ever
attempted it-for the fortune teller
as he was supposed to be, was not iso
lated and alone, as even his nearest
neighbors believed. He had know
the house before he went to it, and
why it was supposed to be haunted
1t was connected with q distant point
by a subterranean passage, and he
had been in communication with his
band from the very first. There was
no time but what he could have brough
a thousand desperate men to his as
Sistance; but he had chosen rather tt
be arrested at first, thinking it nigh
favor his design, which it did.
And this design Of Rondinelli, tn,
bandit, whose name was terror ihro'
out Italy, was singular one, to sa,
the least. He had come to Naples
to be ennobled-to gain title to Civ
him right to an honored seat among
the proudest of the land. And hoy
was this to be accomplished? Strang
as it may seem, by means of the Won
, derful poison he possessed. He ur
derstood Neapolitan intrigue. Ell
knew there were many among the nc
, bility who wished wives, husbands an
rivals dead, that they might chang
their own condition; and he relic
upon eventually disposing OF his sui
tile poison to these parties, who i
using it would see its efects-se
, death certainly result; in spite of tn
, medical skill Of Naples; but in n
: case, for no consideration, would b
} dispose of the antidote-and by T,
: tanning this, he would have himself th
only master of life.
t Suppose" he reasoned, "that som
i one, after having used my poiso
should see its effects On himself, {
some dear friend-suppose, again, thu
l. self or friend should be among tf
II highest nobility, touching even royalt
/ would not a title, aye, even a duk
dom, be given, in exchange for life
), The result indeed proved that Rol
h dinelli did not miscalculate in man
particulars. His general scheme pro
h pered. The ambitious and unprine
l. pied Countess Civanti, in carryiI
e out her own wicked design, assiste
him materially. She poisoned h
l. husband and the Duchess, and sa
them both die, and thus became
e miliar with all the workings of Il
deadly drug.
!" The bandit knew she intended
marry the Duke Ducarrar. Now w
II his time. By means of one of his s
cret agents, who had obtained the p
sition of butler in the Dukes hous
u hold, he had several drops of the pt
son put into his grace's wine. A fe
le days served to display the symptor