Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-05-22

Y GU are then, no OGn6f imam hOQI-
nelli, chief of the brigands, whom I met
among the wild hills overshadowing
Lake Celano."
"WeI, is the remembrance pleasant to
your ladyship?" inquired the brigand
coolly.
''My ladyship?"
"Bahl why seem to be astonished? Do
you suppose know less of the Countess
Civanti than of Rondiceli"
$50 then" reioined the countess, biting
her lips, at seems that both have secrets
herep
"And should work for each others in
terest !" said the chief of brigands. "What
can L do to serve the fair Countess
Civanti?"
81 suppose we can trust each other"
~ suppose we shall, if we separate
alive % replied the bandit.
"Do you guess at what 1 want?" asked
the Countess.
"I think I do--the death of your hus-
| band, for one thing"
"And what else ?"
"The death of the Duchess Ducarrar !"
"You do, indeed, know more of me
than I thought" said the Countess, gaz-
ing upon him with an expression of Won
der. "For what purpose are you here ?"
Your pardon, fair Countess, but that
( ID LILY SSCI0Gs MAY L oSh W1dO UAOuShC
! you to me-"
"Wen, heard the story through the
gossip of the servants, Of strange man
coming to this old house and shutting
himself up in complete seclusion-of his
subsequent arrest, imprisonment, and
prediction concerning the Magistrate,
and, since that, of some other death pre-
dictions that have come to pass-and l
felt strong desire to consult him, think
ing it not improbable thatWhere 1T might
be to his interest to predict a death, a
death would be certain to follow"
"In other words, said the bandit, you
believe me to be professional murder
err"
Something of that kind, I confess"
"And nOWW
81 trust have no reason to change
my opinion"
''You are plain and straightforward, at
all events. I don't object to that, how
ever. Well, now that we understand
each other, what do you require of me ?'
lyon have already named WhatI most
desire"
"The death of the count and duchess"
eyes! and if you will undertake to rid
me Of these, you have only to name your
price"
"And what of Duke Ducarrar ?'
ooh, he must not be harmed !"
"I understand, "said the brigand, with
a peculiar look; "the Countess Civanti
would wed the Duke Ducarrar?"
ooh, man, seek not to know every
thingp' exclaimed the lady, in a slightly
irritated tone. "Come, will you under
take what want doneP"
81 will give you the means to accom-
plish the work yourself" said the out
law. 81 have colOrless poison that is
slow but sure. It needs but few drops
in a cup of water or wine. It produces
no pain, no suffering of any kind, and its
effects are not apparent for two or three
days. Then the patient begins to COM
! plain of weakness and lassitude, goes
into rapid decline, and dies in less than
amonth. This poison cannot be detected
! in the system, and there is not physi-
clan that knows it's antidOte"
, The very thingW cried the countess
give me that poison, and l will accom-
plish the rest"
The countess and the brigand finally
agreed upon terms. He sold her the poi
son at a fabulous price, but would not
dispose of the antidote for any consider
alton whatever. He told, her, however,
that should she discover any friend of
hers suffering from the effects of this
poison, to come to him at once, and he
would arrange with her to save the party.
For several weeks longer RondinelIi
remained in that old house, never going
out himself, and now and then receiving
a visitor. There was some talk of arrest
ing him again; but there was an Oppos-
ing influence in high quarters, and it was
not done. 1t would not have been done,
had the police even attempted it-fOr
the fortune-tell as he was supposed to
4 be, was not isolated and alone, as even
hi acf h. 4
/ known the house before he went to it.
and why it was supposed to be haunted
1t was connected with distant point by
a subterranean passage, and he had been
in communication with his band from
the very first. There was no time that
he could not have brought a thousand
desperate men to his assistance; but he
had chosen rather to be arrested at first,
thinking it might favor his design, which
; it did.
And this design of Rondinelli, the ban
dit, whose name was a terror through
out Italy, was a singular one, to say the
least. He had come to Naples to be en-
nobled-to gain title that should give
him right to an honored seat among
the proudest of the land. And how was
this to be accomplished? Strange as it
may seem, by means of the wonderful
poison he possessed. He understood
Neapolitan intrigue. He knew there
were many among the nobility who
wished wives, husbands and rivals dead
that they might change their own con-
dition; and he relied upon eventually
selling his subtle poison to these parties,
who, in using it, would see the effects
see death certainly result, in spite of all
the medical skill of Naples; but in no
case, for no consideration, would he dis
pose of the antidote; and by retaining
this, he would leave himself the only
master of life.
Suppose" he reasoned, chat some
one, after having used my poison, should
see its effects upon himself or some dear
friend-suppose again, that self or friend
should be among the highest nobility,
touching even royalty-Would not q title