The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-03-07

door of the cell,
This keeper was a slender man of me.
dium height, with swarthy face, small
twinkling black eyes, a long black head,
and lurking expression,
Upon seeing the Chevalier Buscoli
stretched out on his couch evidently
a prey to intense anguish, a malignant
smile overspread the repulsive features
of Andrea (that was the keepers name.)
"Signor Buscoli," he said at last, u
have brought you food"
The Cheyalier sprang to his feet.
With gesture Of despair he exclaim-
ed;
"Keeper, for the sake of the Holy Vir-
gin, tell me, what does this mean :"
So saying he pointed to the wall that
had moved.
The keeper shrugged his shoulders.
'Have you heard no noise outside?"
he asked then.
mo, no." replied Buscoli, impatiently,
spray"
"That is very strange" rejoined An
drea, che certainly cried loud enough to
be heard for miles"
"Who cried so loud ?" asked poor Bus
coli.
"Why, your neighbor in the cell right
across from you"
What about him W
"Half an hour ago he received the ben
eft of the cord" said Andrea, with the
utmost GOODNESS.
"The cord ?" asked Buscoli. "What is
that?"
80 you don't know what that is, Sig
nor BusColi2 Well, let me tell you. In
that cell was the abb Ferrati mark me
well, in cell just like yours. He was
there two weeks. Then he had enough
oft. Yesterday epetitioned the Grand
Council for the
"BENEFIT OF THE CORD.
"His prayer was granted this morning, |
and half an hour ago took Signor Val |
doni to him. Signor Valdoni, you know |
is the executioner. We entered Ferrati's |
cell, and Valdoni requested him to sit
down in an arm chair which he had
brough with him. Ferrati wanted to
know what for. 4 am here to give you
the cord answered Valdoni. Then the
able shrunk away from him, as if he
himself had not prayed for the cord. He
wept and cried for mercy. He shouted
and screamed when Signor Valdoni push.
ed him down on the chair. In the
twinkling of an eye the cord was around
the abbesneck and the exeCutioner began
to twist it behind the chair. The able
behaved badly, and did not die game,
Had he held still, all would have been
over in five minutes. AS it was, it took
Signor Valdoni about ten minutes. l
myself held the abbe's legs. His corpse
still lies in the CELL"
Andrea told these horrors as if it was
pleasant aneCdote. The Chevalier Bus
coli had at first listened to this recital
dumbfounded with terror, Then his
courage had returned, and while Andrea
was rattling off his story, the prisoner
had arrived ata
DESPERATE RESOLUTION.
He asked the keeper Coldly for the tin
dish containing his soup. Andrea hand
ed it to him through the window. AS he
did 30, Buscoli suddenly seized his long
beard and drew his head through the
aperture, Andrea tried to draw it back,
but the Chevalier held his head in his
powerful grasp as in vice.
"Let me co." gasped out the keeper.
"Not at ALL" replied Buscoi. "There
is but one way for you to save your
life"
"What is it ?" asked the painting, Chok-
ing keeper.
HTurn the key in the door," said Bus
coli, "and take my place in here. Ifyou
do not I will tear your eyes out before l
choke you to death. l mean what ! say.
Don't wait. In two minutes l will put
you to DEATH" &C., i
Andrea tried hard to draw his head
back. Then Buscoli thrust his left fore
finger into the keepers right eye. An
drea uttered yell OF paid.
"Now for your other eye," Missed out
Buscoli.
stop, gasped Andrea, 81 will do your
bidding"
He turned the key in the lock. The
next moment the Chevalier pushed the
door back and flung the breathless keep
er into the cell. There he beat him
senseless with his powerful fists, and
flung him on the couch. Then he took
the keepers bunch of keys, but on his
hat and lett him in the cell, which he
carefully locked. The corridor was dark
and the Chevalier carefully grouped his
way to the staircase. With noiseless
step he reached the second floor. There
a sleepy sentinel said to him.
andrea, my good fellow, do not
forget the flask of wine you promised
me-"
The Chevalier grunted out his assent,
and descended to the ground floor.
There he was met by the corporal Of
the guard, who was likewise deceived by
the huge bundle of keys which Buscoli
had in his hand.
Keeper" said he to the Chevalier,
"vA1DoN1, THE HANGMAN,
"Is waiting for you at the door,"
BusColi nodded his head. Valdoni did
not know him but he had seen that ter
ribIe man often enough.
Taking quick resolution the Cheva-
lier stepped to the huge front door. He
saw Valdoni talking to several officials.
1t was then eleven o'clock in the forenoon
and raining hard. Buscoli stepped upto
Valdonl.
Andrea" he said boldly to the execu-
toner, wants yon to come up stairs.
just brought him from the head Provost
an order for another little job for you,
Signor Valdoni. Shall l accompany you
upstairs ?"
Valdoni was completely deceived by
Buscoli's assurance.
"No, no." he said zone man is enough
at these litlle private strangulations, my
friend. Where is AndreaP
"On the third corridor"
"Aha he told me he would soon have
more work up there"
So saying he went back into the front
door, while the Chevalier quickly walked
rnnnd thn nnrnar There he thrnu his