The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-23

PrOleSSeu ignorance.
Cannot the patient enlighten yoE
he asked.
"The countess cannot be persuadef
speak IL word"
"Ah!" said the count, 81 think d
my wife will recover"
The doctors could not quite folE
this Inference; but, being Neapolit;E
they suspected something, prescriS
shrugged their shoulders, and deparH
At o'clock in the afternoon,
chief of the Ncapolitan police, lift
shrlveled, yellow-complexioned MI
wearing gold spcctacles, behind wi /
IL pair of hawks eyes cleaned. drk
up to tho counts villa. These two nj
had been friends since they were sch
boys. had campnigncd, and made n
together.
Good morning, my friend" said
chief OF the police, not alighting;E
am afraid must ask you to climb /!
my carriage and return to the statI
with me. Your presence in Naple.i
imperative, and we shall catch the nj
train"
Since my presence in Naples is
perativc," said the count, Il am vi
you," and mounted into the carrit
without n word.
They talked baeatellcs till they vi
alone in hrst-class compartm,l
Then the chief of the police said 81
denly:
"a young priest has been missing
Naples since yesterday morn"
80 much the better said the cou|
Its but another cat lost"
The chief of the police smiled.
too. was anti-clerical. But preser
he fixed his piercing eyes on his
companion-in-arms. and went
The fact is, my friend, Il
your next door neighbor,
baroness Bravura, alleges that
has heard gronns and cries proceed
from your unoccupicd palace. She,
in point of fact. certain that somebl
is shut up there
That cannot be- said the col
for locked up the palazzo mysI
and before l did SO, TO my cert
knowledge, all the servants had lefts
mo doubt" said the chief OF poll
1.-The Baroness Blavura's suspicious
absurd' Indeed, | may tell you thai
listened intently for some time WI
She called me in. but heard nothi
But, perhaps, considering the so,
standing of the fair alarmist. :,
continues so importunate, it wouldi
best if a private search be made by
| police"
by all means" said the count
On arriving at The chief of poll
offices in Naples, the two friends fol-
the Baroness Biavura in high STATE
tension. anNiously awaiting their
turn. She inplorcd the chief of the
lice TO make haste.
You will not need me-" said
count, since You know the pala
we'll Here are the keys. Search
God lctsyou. and the baroness, \
await your discoveries here"
They waited for nearly tn
hours Then the chief OF the
lice rcoppcared, rubbing his ha
softly. and with the expression on
face of man who has sounded myst
| les.
He waved the impetnous baron
aside courtcously and led the count
Il distant window.
lie is dead" he said. eve TO,
him lying on his face with his tc
buried in his arm"
Whom may yon be talking abou
says the count.
The missing priest. lie was in
ebony chest when you locked it,
'Ah. | recollect now that Nine
| Comtcssc seemed anxious that sho
not lock that ebony chest
My friend" said the chief of the
lice, between ourselves this in an
fernal vengeance that you have tai;
But the Church, no doubt in her O
interests. wishes the matter husl
up"
For once I am with the Church. e"
But here the Baroness Bravura,
able to restrain her curiosity any Ions
broke in upon this conclavc.
''Ah. you have found something.
was sure you would. What did
| find!
The dead body of my wifc's favo
| 'it. SdItl iilc tONill lit poor Ut
was locked in. it seems. by mistake.
How HORRIBLE cried the Baron
Bravura, who worslippcd animals, ;
went out fa-;
| The two friends stood silent 70
time. cycling each other. Then the 81
of police said suddenly:
The police know much in Naples,
they do not know all. They do not,
instance. know who Al'pino, the b!
bcggar. was. or where lie has gone ,
All said the count, mo one knt
more about Arpino, the blind bcgg
than myself"
I'm fact. you We're Arpino.. ....l
my friend, Won must have grown we;
of waiting opposite that palazzo
yours. An almost threc-months Wig
Sapristi.'
The Count Medina looked fixedly
| the chief of police.