The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-06-17
that some one OF the number does not die
shortly after. Does your Lordship compre'

shortly after. Does your Lordship compre
hend?''
81 think | do--secret posonW
Through the Death Ring, my Lord"
"Ay! well 2"
when this Red Mask takes your hand OF
that night, he will leave within it u paper o
instruction, which you must find an opportu
NIFTY to read in secret and follow to the letter.
"How do you know ths?"
81 know It, my Lord that must suffice fol
the present. Will your Lordship come anc
seize dukedom ?"
But how that"
You shall know if you come"
81 will come-thOugh how am | to knO"
you mean me well :"
''If meant you i'll, my Lord, what need tc
warn your"
"True-it Is enough will be here"
Punctual to the appointed time, the Count
of Palermo appeared at the banquet of the
Duke of Francavella The Venitian received
him with apparent pleasure, and as he had
promised, introduced him to many noble
guest. The feast began and wine circulated
freely. At the close came the handshaklng
round of the dreaded Red Death Mask Scarce.
ly one of all those present that did not turn
pale at the thought that perhaps hisown time
had come at last The Count, beng a stran-
ger, was the most Indifferent of any, as was
natural he should. He poured out more wine
and drank, and then seemed to reflect. In
this mood he held the small paper, which ne
had Just received, in such way that he could
peruse It without being suspected. This pa.
per contained these words
"Feign illness, and be shown TO a private
apartme t. | Will be there TO complete the
design"
In few minutes the Duke, who had been
furtively watching the Count, remarked with
seeming concern that he feared his Lordship
was i'll.
The Count certainly did appear rather faint,
but affected to believe it only temporary
ailment, which would speedily pass away.
The mobiles exchanged glances, and each
breathed ireer as he had discovered the victim
in other than himself.
But the Count, instead of getting better,
seemed to grow more faint, and his kind host
suggested that he be shown to private apart
ment and his chief physician be summoned.
81 will accept the kind offer OF your Grace
with many thanks" SAID the Count, In low,
faint tone
81 will 90 myself the honor to attend your
Lordshp," was the courteous reply, My
lords and gentlemen, pray excuse brief
absence l will shortly rejoin you"
He offered his arm to the Count, who leaned
heavily upon it, and thus they ley left the ball.
Passing through the ante-rOom they entered
one hung with damask and richly furnished.
The Red Mask, who had left the banqueting
hall before them, was standing there as ii
awaiting their coming. As the Duke assisted
his guest to n divan, the Red Mask quietly
closed and bolted the door Then producing
a small rope, with the slipknot of hangman,
he glded up to the Duke as he bent over the
Count, and throwing the moose around his
neck drew it tight and strangled him before
he could comprehend his murderous design
and raise his voice for help. When the Duke
was quite dead, the mask was removed, and
the face of Antonio appeared before the sur.
prsed Count.
Quick, my Lord" said Antonio, pale and
trembling at whathe had done; "dlsrObe your.
self put on the dress of the Duke, return to
the hall, and be lord OF the palace. If you
succeed III decelving the assembled guests
which trust your close resemblance will en-.
able you to dove are safe; if you fail, we
are lost! Leave the Dukes body to me.
can put 1t forever beyond human sight, where
Its bones will keep company with those of
more than one OF his victims"
Assisted by Antonio, the Count of Palermo
WAS soon dressed in the gorgeous robes of the
Duke of Francavclla, and the counterfeit was
so perfect that none but wife could have de.
tected the difference.
Remember, your Grace is now Duke Of
Francavella, and say your guest is much bet
ter and will be well by the morrow were the
instructions of Antonio.
The plan of the inIquitous schemer succeed
cd perfectly, and all the guests retired that
night IN the belief that the false Duke was the
real
The next day the Count of Palermo appear
ed in st. Marks place and other parts of Ven.
ice III his own proper person. This destroyed
the suspicion that he had been poisoned, ~ all
at the banquet believed; and those who had
the night before taken leave OF HIM as the
Duke Of Francavella, now congratulated him
on his speedy recovery as the Count of Pal
mera.
In tact, this proved to be one of the most
successful and remarkable impOstures ever
known; and 1t was only through the dying
confessions Of the Count himself that the
truth came out at all, which many would not
believe even then. Long before this event,
however, the Red Death Mask had ceased to
appear, because of the real death of Antonio,
whom his new master had murdered IN turn.
for tear of being himself murdered or betray'
ed by the only one who possessed his fatal
secret 80 crime always leads on to crime.
The greatest land purchase on record has
Just been consummateu at a meeting at ChlCa-
go between the Duke OF Manchester and u