Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-13

glance fell on the ebony chest. Its lid was
closed. The Countess intercepted this
glance. She twitched in her chair.
Presently she said deprecatingly, "Surely it
will be very dull at Caserta."
THE country is looking lovely" the
Count replied, smiling. Then he added:
Gas the train goes in an hour, my heart,
will you not go and prepare yourself for the
Journey?"
al am rather tired. 1 should like Anita
to bring my things down here"
"By all means" He rose aud rang the
bell. In q moment or two, which the Count
passed in rolling a cigarette, Anita ap-
peared; received her order to bring her
mistress things down, and to prepare her.
self for travelling; and departed, astounded.
As she left the boudoir Sorra entered it.
The fat stewards eyes were dazed. He
seemed to see nobody, and he stumbled in
his walk. His agitation was too manifest
to pass unnoticed.
"Dear me-" the Count says, at is certain
that there is something diabolicallv un-
wholesome in Naples indeedl 1 have never
Seen such pale faces! We had better hurry
away as quickly as possible" He looked
from the steward to his wife. Her eve was
troubled; but broad, idiotic smile was
fixed on her lips. Then he turned to the
steward again.
Have you locked up all the treasures in
the dining room and study, Sorra?"
"Si, Eccellenza.
every we'll, then you had better lock up
everything here in the boudoir.
Begin, man, and be quickP
The stewards complexion turned livid.
He seemed for a moment unable to move.
He shufled with his feet, and looked pit
eously at the Countess. But the Countess
Medina seemed to see nothing. Stretched
back in an armchair, and white as death,
she smiled idiotically. The Count lighted a
cigarette.
well, Sorra," he said simply, "what is
all this delay about?" Then the steward
shambled forward, his shoes creaking tre-
mendouslv in the silence, to the open cab
met on one side of the fire place. He
fumbled awhile and locked that. Then he
locked the cabinet on the other side of the
fireplace; then he locked heavy medieval
cupboard standing against the wall op-
posite the windows. Then be made hur-
ried sort Of obeisance and shuffied toward
the door. The woman lying in the arm
chair let an involuntary sigh escape her.
"You had better lock the ebony chest,
Sorra," said the Count. Quite apart from
the skin of the lion which disfgured me,
there are curios in it.
The Countess raised herself out of her
chair, stiff and stark. She looked like a
woman who had died suddenly with a grin
upon her lips. She said nothing. She
simply looked at the closed ebony chest.
"Stay, Sorra," said the Count-the trem-
bling steward was already on his knees, try
ing to fit the kew into the lock. Stay"
the Count said; "the Countess, I think,
wants to take something out of the chest
But she shook her head, and sank back in
her old attitude-a woman turned suddenly
to stone, in an armchair.
''No," says the Count; "I am mistaken
Her Excellency does not wish to take any
thing out of the chest. Then lock
it, good Sierra, lock it."
The key screamed as it turned. There was
silence. Then, as Sorra scrambled to his
knees again, looking ashen, the Count held
out his hand.
"Now give me the keys" he said; "and
bring some wine and sandwiches. that we
may have a little something before We
start"
He put the keys into his pocket.
Hall an hour afterward Sorra came to say
that the carriage was ready to take them to
the station.
Good" says the Count, cheerfully. He
gave his arm to his vile. who was dressed
for travelling and closely veiled. As she
upon her feet, at the Counts request Sorra
supported his mistress on the other side. In
this way they moved to the door. Arrived
here, the Count said:
"Are all the servants gone before Sorra?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. Everyone save
ourselves has lie t the house."
"Well, them" said the Count, "since we
have only bare time to catch the train we
had better leave it too"
He locked the boudoir door on the outside
and put the key into his pocket. Below, he |
locked the front door, always with the same |
mechanical action of Indifference; then |
stepped into the carriage, and sat bv his |
wife's side. "To the station" he
said.
The next morning urgent kilograms
brought two of the first consulting physi-
clans out to Caserta by the earliest train.
They found the Countess in imminent
danger of curdling of the blood; and went to
inquire OF the Count as to wnat catastrophe
could have dealt their patient such a shock.
The Count professed ignorance.
Cannot the patient enlighten you?" he
asked.
''The Countess cannot be persuaded to
speak word.
''Ahr' said the Count, 'I think that my
wife will recover"
quite; but, being Neapolitans, they sus-
pected something; prescribed; shrugged
their shoulders; and departed.
At o'clock in the afternoon, the Chief of
the Neapolitan police, little, shriveled,
yellow-complexioned man, wearing gold
spectacles, behind which pair of hawks
eyes cleaned, drove up to the Counts villa.
These two men had been friends since they
were schooIboys, had campaigned, and made
love together.
GOOD morning, nv friend" said the
Chief of the Police, not alighting; 81 am
afraid must ask you to climb into my car
riage and return to the station with me.
Your presence in Naples is imperative, and
we shall catch the next train
Since my presence in Naples is impera-
tive" said the Count, 81 am with you," and
mounted into the carriage without word.
They talked bagatelles till they were alone
in frst-class compartment. Then the Chief
of the Police said suddenly:
"a young priest has been missing in
Naples since yesterday morning."
$50 much the BETTER" said the Count.
TITS but another cat lost"
The Chief OF the Police smiled. He, too,
was anti-clerical. But presently he fixed his
piercing eyes OH his old companion in arms,
and went on. "The fact is, my friend, that
your next door peighbor, the Baroness Bra
vura, alleges that she has heard groans and
cries proceeding from your unoccupied
palace. She is, in point Of fact, certain that
somebody is shut up there"
"That cannot be" said the Count, "for 1
locked up the Palazzo myself, and before 1
did so, to my certain knowledge, all tn e
ts had left -