The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-05-11

latioo. be went home r. h;s supper
and bed.
For three or -four days sfterward
he Continued visiting lie principal
monuments and churches, but without
receiving any further information
about his lace haadkercbief. I have
aid that Sir John was young and
brave; n . consequence he was
impetu"us and ferry; whilst heiag
born and bred in q free thinking,
free si,-aking country. he Ms apt TO
express hi- thoughts o. they came 70
his mind without reflection and with
out fear. Il IL net surprising, there
tore. that one night. under the arcasles
of Procuratie. while relating his lose
to few friends. he should have said
what he thought If the Wanted -
cret police Of Venice. They were. he
said, lot at stupid fools. very pump
on. and very stately. trying 70 hide
their ignorance and incApacity under
very high sounding phrases; but the
meane-t London detective is worth the
whole lit Of them. A. n the secret
council. b. did not believe IL was
better than the rest.
All. Sir John! il you needs must
speak A. irreverently Of the Serenissi-
una. why did you not use your own
language: Why did you exPrese
your rash thoughts in Italian! Did
you not know that walls have ears,
and that every stone Of Venice 10 .
spy: :,
His friends, astonished by this sud-
den outbur.t, attributed it 6rst to
th"se last glasses Of vinto santo they
had been drinking together; but
knowing full we'll the jealous care the
Sereuissima had tor its reputation,
they instinctively shrank iron, him
o. . dangerous man. Awaiting them
selves If favorable opportunities. they
disappeared around dark c"rners.
down side alleys; and very so"n Sit
John found himself alooe.
Alone! At least % he thought
hut silent figure had been follow
ing him for some time. and was nov
eagerly and s'ralthily digging him.
So carefully it walked, SO noiseleesly
it stepped, that for q long time Sit
John did not notice this uuwe|come
shadox, and even when he did. be
attached no importance to it. But u
last he began to feel some doubt!
about tins follower. Nothing could
he guessed from his appearance.
Completely wrapped up 10 . dart
cloak. and with . vide hat shading
and concealing the upper part Of hil
face. the mao would not have been
recognized BY his own brother. Il
vas only the peculiar way in which
be followed and the ability with
which he availed himself Of every
nook and Garner that implied q
danger.
Fearless still, but snmewhxt annoy
ed, Sir John pursued his way through
the maze of alleys that led from the
piazza to his temporary home. De-
termined to try to throw OF bis
masked companions he quickeoed hi
step: but At the next turning . glancs
beck showed that it WAS no use.
Having BY this time reached the
Poute San Moise-one Of the 10
numeral bridges that cross the mino'
canals Of Venice-he stopped on it,
steps to see what his shadow would do
Astonished at first BY this new ruse
the man hesitated . second. but q
second only, and then disappeared ia
the shadow Of the church. Our hero
vainly strained his eyes in trying r.
end out whether he had really gone
or whether be was only hiding behind
the columns and watching. He Ger
tainly began to fell IN interest in this
new chase. 10 which be seemed to be
the game hunted down. Then. con-
viucsd that he had seen the last oil
his silent friend. he decided to con-
tinue on his way home; and was just
going ~ move. when Q cloak wal
thrown over hrs head and chest. com.
pletely gagging him. whilst several
strong arms eutwined themselyes
round his body and e6ectually pinios'
ed him. Before be could recover biz
senses, . voice whispered in his ear
"You are . prisoner Of the Seren.
issima; resistance II Of 20 use"
Even after these words, the import
Of which be dimly guessed. Sir John
would have tried to strike one blow y,
least for his life or for his liberty bu,
the cloak 10 which he had been
wrapped up was 70 artistically AID 90
securely fastened that he could moi
move Q muscle nor utter . cry. There
vas uo help for it; and he doggedly
awaited his fate. The voices round
him seemed tn bold Q short confer
ence. and then they lifted him from
the ground. and carrying him . shor,
distance. deposited him in what hs
felt to be . gondola. The journey wal
not long. though to him it seemed q
age. and very soon the rocking mo
ton ceased. They evidently had
reached their destination. A fes
seconds moro and he was indeed land
! ed 10 the same unceremDnious man
! ner.