The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-02-24

master Wltn laugn.
"No fear; WE shall not run into IT, u
said the guard, with a marked empha.
sis on the "we" and sit" thai l recall.
ed afterwards.
The whistle sounded and, we we're
of. 1t was drzzliug dark night,
and lay down full length on tho seat
to sleep.
As lay down a CLEAN of light shot
across the carriage from small chink
in the woodwork of the partition be-
tween the. compartment l was in and
the guards box.
was terribly anxions from the man.
ner of the guardi and this seemed to be
a means of hearing something more. |
lay down and listened attentively.
GLOW much will you give for your
life, my little fox?" said the guard.
"To day, very little; when / am six
ty, all have, Conrad"
"But you might give something for
it, tonight, sweet Alexis, If you knew
it was in danger ?"
"I have no fear; Conrad Ferrati has
too often conducted a train for me to
to fear tonight"
"True, my good Alexis; but this is
the last train he will ride with as
guard, for tomorrow he will be the
Count Spezzato.
"How? Tomorrow d? You Joke,
Conrad. The brandy was strong; but
you who have drank so much could
hardly feel that"
81 neither joke nor am drunk; vet
1 shall b. Count Spezzato tomorrow.
good Alexis. Look you, my gentle fox,
my sweet fox; If you do not buy your
life of me you shall die tonight. That
is simple, sweet fox" --...... ...-.
SAY; but Conrad, am not in dang
er."
"Nay, Alexis; see, here is the door
q heard him turn the handle). "If
you lean against the door, you will fall
out and be killed. Is it not simple?''
"But, good Conrad, l shall not lean
against the door,
"Oh, my sweet fox, my cunning fox,
my timid fox, but not my strong fox;
you will lean against the door. know
you.will, unless prevent you; and |
will not prevent you, unless you give
lu6 all 1Ou nave Ill luhJ DdV. -
The mocking tone of the guard SEEM
ed well understood, for | heard the
click of gold.
"Good, my Alexis; it is good but it
is very little for life. Come, what is
your life worth, that you buy it with
only your masters money IL has cost
you nothing, see you will lean against
that door, which is so foolish"
"What, in the name of all the devils
in hell will you have?" said the trem.
bling voice OF the curier.
" Only little more just that belt
that Is under your shirt, under every
thing, next to your skin, and dedter to
you ; only little soft leather belt will
in. Is not life worth leather
belt 2"
" Wretch ! All the earnings of my
life are in that belt, and you know it,"
Is it possible, sweet fox, that l
have found your nest 1 shall give
Marie a necklace of diamonds, then.
Why do you wait Why should YOU
fall from train and make a piece OF
news for the papers ? Why 2"
" Take it and be accursed in your
ife and death IL and | heard the belt
dung on the floor OF the carriage.
" Now, good Alexis, am in funds
here are three pieces of gold you will
need them at Leghorn. Will you drink?
No 4? Then will tell you why, without
rink. Do you know where we are?"
g Yes between ST. Dominica and
sigma"
"And do you know where we are
going 2"
Yes to Leghorn."
No, sweet Alexis, we are not we
ire going to Empoli the train will go
lo further. Look you, little fox we
hall arrive at the junction one minute
before the Sienna goods train, ard there
he engine will break down Just where
he rails cross for two blows of an
hammer will convert an engine into a
Og shall get out 20 examine it that
will take little time; 1 shall explain
o the Count the nature of the injury;
hat will take a little time; and then the
goods train will have arrived; and as it
iOGs not stop there, this train will 90
10 further than Enpoli, and | shall be
Count Spezzat0 to- morrow. How do
you like my scheme, little fox (? Is 1t
Iot worthy Of your pupil? Oh, it will
Dc a beautiful accident; It will ill the
papers. That beast of an English who
begged his place in the train will be
'orthnate; he will cease, for goods trains
IRE heavy, Eh but its grand scheme
- the sou, the mother, the servant, the
stranger, the engine driver, all shall tell
no tales.
"And the stoker ?" said the courier.
Oh, you aud he and | shall escape.
We shall be pointed at in the street as
he fortunate. 1t Is good, Is it not,
Alexis, my fox have told him that
he Count is the man who betrayed his
sister. He believes 1t, and is my crea-
.ure. But, little fox, 1t was not my
cousin, 1t was myself, that took his
Beatrlx from her home. Is it not good,
Alexis ? Is it not genius And Atkin-
the driver-is now stupid; he
has drank from his can the poppy juice
hat will make him sleep for ever.
will be a politician. / AM worthy of
office. l -wIll become the Minister of
Bourbon when / am Count, my dear
fox, aud you shall be my comrade
again, as of old"
| was for time, lost to every sensa-
5a lion save that Of hearing. The heu-
tish garrulity OF the man had all the