The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-10-06
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WHICH ue pepuu ucAOcIHtcly hAu WltuOut
haste to count.
"What stroke Of fortune fer one so
young!"
Baldelli nodded his head impaticntly.
The clerk tied up the bundle Of notes,
and began to whistle "Addio! ma bella
Napoli.
"Well, we'll, said the gardener sharp
". Am to wait much longer"
But, signorc, you seem to be in
greater hurry than the signora."
"What do you mean?'
"Why, we wait the arrival of Tere-
sina Baldelli, of course (sfnpid old i'm
becile," muttercd the clerk to himself).
Baldelli looked aghast, and then blus-
tered out:
"Don't tell you that she has told
me to get the money? Have Won not
got the ticket? What more do you
want? Am not her guardian? Do
you doubt that?"
mot for moment? But this mon-
ey will he paid liz her presence alone"
But how can she come here? She
is i'll. The excitement was too much for
her."
"Ah, then we must wait until she has
recovered.
but this is too much. Am I not
respectable citizen? Am not"
. Basta. That will do, signore;"
and the clerk replaced the notes in his
desk.
Old Baldelli tuned and swore, whined
and entreated, but with no effect.
"Give me back the ticket, then.
will report you to your snperiors.
1.-The ticket Certainly. Here it
is T.
And then the gardener left the Office.
The clerk had seen good number Of
strange things in his time, h was
| given to the observation of the coun-
tenances and emotions of his fellow
nItn SO he wrote q note to the chief
Office, where in due time Baldelli pre-
scented himself. And the official at this
place was altogether polite and amiable,
and much regretted that it was against
the rules to comply with Baldelli's re-
| quest but if the signorina was unable
to attend. but still anxious for the set.
Element Of her claim, why, he would
accompany the gardener himself to the
| house for the purpose. To which the
gardener objected strongly, and retired
| with a face SO worn and anxious and
frightened that this amiable official
thought it as well to send detective
officer to look after the old man, and, If
possible, to get at the bottom Of tho
| mystery, for queer things often happen
| with these lotteries.
The result was that nobody had seen
or heard anything of Teresina, and old
Baldelli was unable to account for her
disappearance, and maintained logged
| silence on the subject, for the disap-
pointment TO his hopes and the con-
scionsness of guilt had completely IN
nerved him. All the circumstances
were SO suspicious that the police felt
justified in connecting him with her dis
appearance, and, accordingly, he was
brought before the head Of the police to
answer for himself.
In the meantime Teresina, having re-
| covered consciousness, was gradually
brought to by the assistance Of the stew
ardess. On being questioned by Lord
Ardley, she gave q truthful account Of
the events Of the previous night, but
said that, from the time she retired to
her room, her mind was a complete
blank. She related with some blushing
| and hesitation her conversation with her
uncle about the lottery-ticket, not for
getting his unaccustomcd iberality in
| giving her wine to drink to her good
luck.
pretty clear, my Lord, think
drugged," said Lloyd.
"Very likely. Horrid old villain
But what's to be done now?"
with your permission, sir, will 60
into Naples and see what is going on"
"By MI means, Lloyd. And look
| here, l am going to be married III a few
days, and il Teresina doesn't wish to re-
| turn to that pleasant home Of hers, I've
no doubt she will make IN excellent Mt
tendant on Lady Ardley in our coming
cruise about the Greek islands,"
Many thanks, my Lord"
On going ashore, Lloyd learned that
old Baldelli had been Intercepted, with
the result that he now suggested the
| possibility Of her having drowned her
self that she occasionally walked in her
sleep; that he had found her door and
the window open on the morrow of her
disappearance This was contrary to
his statement at the Office, nor could her
body be found in the tideless water. He
refused to saw anything further, and
was sent to jail to await his trial on sus-
picion.
Lloyd readily obtained permission to
see him.
The old man, filled with rage and re-
morse, cried to him to "Begone but
dare not look in his face.
| "Assassin, know all |"
/ Baldelll covered III Il corner, and said
nothing.
II know all, and / almost hesitate to
relieve your villainous mind from the
| terror that agitat,s it. Under Gods
hand, but through no fault Of yours, she
lives"
"Liyes,' and his whole aspect
changed ''Then Why am | here?
Curse their medlling! Who says l
murdered her? And You, fair-faced
fool, what do You buster here for 2"
| Getty, gently, old man. There is
such thing as attempt to murder. far
which considerable term at the galleys
is not infrequently given. Teresina lives,
| and, SO far as the crime of murder is
concerned, you are not guilty, by IN ac-
cident. Now l mean TO make terms
with you. Listen: / witnessed your
dastardIy attempt, and saved her life.
She will not return to you she will be-
come my wife she will bid you farewell,
and will not be told Of your wickedness;
and she will carry out her intention for
your benefit, and give you the five thou
sand francs she promised You, though
you more richly deserve five years at
the galleys. If you consent to this,
good. II you refuse, at once proclaim
you to be the attempted murderer OF
your niece
| |" Ma,adetto !, May every evil"
| Enough. You are no fool, though q
great rascal"
The programme was carried out in its
entirety. Baldelli was released on the
appearance Of Teresina, who, alive to
some rasca.ity on the part Of her uncle.
was satisfied to receive from him a
scowling assent to her marriage with
Frank Lloyd.
After some months in the Madifarran.