Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-06-01
THE SEVERED HEAD.
An Involuntary Crime

Cdfrleu on 4 prOllCaDle business IN Silks
and perfumes. He gave me a good edu-
cation, and as l showed ability 1 was
sent to Paris to study medicine, where |
remained three years and learned all
that a good physician must know. 1
made few friends, and was finally we
powered by homes'ckness. As | heard
nothing from my father, l seized the OPP
%portunity to return as surgeon in the
train of a French embassy.
l found my father dead, and the priest
said: "Your father died a holy man,
for he bequeathed us his money for
aims This was inoomprehensible, yet
what could I do? I had no witness
against him, and must be glad he did
not look upon the house and my fathers
merchandise as legacies also. 1 gained
no reputation Re a physician, because /
was ashamed to make a mountebank of
myself. l sorely missed my father, who
would have led me among the rich and
great, who now had no thought for the
poor Zalenkos. My fathers goods found
no sale either, for his patronage had de-
parted elsewhere after his death, and
new trade comes slowly. Discouraged,
l was once meditating over my situa-
ton, when it occurred to me that l had
seen my countrymen travelling in France
with goods which sold at a great profit
because they were foreign. So 1 sold
my family mansion, left half the pro-
ceeds in charge Of faithful friend, and
with the remainder bought things which
are rare in France, such as shawls, silks.
%salves, and oils. l then embarked again
for France.
My luck changed at once. The voy-
age was quick and prosperous. 1 tray
eled through the large and small
French cities and found ready customers
for my wares. Ny friend sent me a
fresh stock of goods, and I made mon
ey. So success encouraged me to 60 to
Italy. My medical knowledge aided
me greatly. On reaching a town I
would the arrival ofa Greek
doctor who had cured many people, and
my halsams and medicines brought
money. So l came at last to Florence.
I decided to remain there a long time
partly because 1 liked the city, and
partly to recover from the fatigue of
travel. l hired a shop in the st. Ceroc
quarter, and two rooms opening on a
balcony in a hotel near by. L then dis
tributed circulars, advertising myself as
physician and merchant, and had
scarcely opened my shop before it was
thronged.
l had been in Florence four DAYS.
when one night, after closing my shop
and waiting only to take my usual ac-
count of stock, l found in a little box a
note which l did not remember having
put there. Iopened it and found an in
vitation to be on the bridge called Ponte
Vecchio that night punctually at twelve.
1 resolved-to go, and, as %precaution, to
take roy sabre.
When it wa nearly midnight 1 start
ed, and soon reached the Ponte Vecchio.
/ looked down on the shimmering waves
of the Arno. The church-bells rang
twelve. / looked around, and before
me stood a large man wholly enveloped
in a red cloak, a corner of which he
held before his face. At first I was
startled at his sudden appearance be-
hind me, but I collected myself, and
said:
"Ifyou called me here, state what
you DESIRE"
The red cloak turned, and exclaimed
in a low voice: "Follow!!"
Uneasy at going alone with the I'M
known, l stood still and said: Not SO,
dear sir, until you first show me with
er. Can you not show me your face?"
But the red cloak replied, with cold
ness: eff you will not go, Zelankos,
stay here" and turned to depart.
This angered me. do you think,"I
cried, "a nan like me allows himself to
be humbugged by any fool, and do you
think that | have waited this cold night
for nothing?"
In three bounds I had reached him. l
grasped his cloak and laid my other
hand on my sabre; but the cloak re-
NAMED in my hand and the unknown
My rage gradually cooled. l still had
the cloak, and it should give me the key
to this astonishing adventure. l putt
on and went home. When | wa scarce
ly a hundred steps distant from my
house some one brushed against me and
whispered in French: "Be careful,
Count, there can be nothing done to-
night" Before / could look around the
person wa already gone, and I saw
only a shadow shifting along the houses.
] examined the cloak more closely. It
was OF heavy Genoese silk, purplish red,
bordered with %astrachen, and richly
embroidered with geld. It's magnif-
cent appearance gave me an idea which
l resolved to carry out. l took 1t to my
shop and exposed it for sale, but set 50
high a price upon it that I wa sure to
find no purchaser. Ny desire was to
scrutin;ze sharply every one who asked
its price. for the distinct though fleeting
glimpse l had of the strangers figure
after he lost the cloak would enable me
to recognize him among q thousand.
1t remained in my window all day,
admired by all. At last. toward eve
ming, a young man came in who had
often been there. and who had that day
talked much about the cloak. He threw
q purse of zechins on the counter, and
cried:
~ must have that cloak if it beggars
mel"
He began at once counting out his
gold pieces. I was greatly embarrassed.
had exhibited the cloak merely to
catch the eye Of the unknown, and
here came a young fool to pay the ex-
orbitant price. What could / do? I
yielded, for, at all events, / was glad to
get such payment for my nights adven-
ture.
The young man put on the cloak and
departed; but, on the threshold he
turned, while he loosened a paper fasten-
ed to the cloak and threw it to me say
ing: