The sun., 1893-03-09

foul play of which the count would be
the victim, no doubt. But how? when
That must be solved. TO wait 1t is
always best to wait; had learned
this lesson already,
/ waited. 1t was now rather more
than half-past eight, and l had risen to
go to the door when ! saw the guard
returning to the wine shop with a man
whose dress indicated the stoker.
"Come in, Guido; come in," said the
guard; 'and drink with me-"
The man came in, and / was again
absorbed in my book.
They seated themselves at the same
table as before, and drank silently for
awhile; presently the guard began a
conversation in some patois ! could
not understands: but / could see the
stoker grow more and more interested
as the name Of Beatrix occurred more
frequently.
AS the talk went on, the stoker
seemed pressing the guard on some
part of the story with most vim
dictive eagerness, repeatedly asking,
His name? The accursed! His
| name"
At last the guard answered, "The
Count Spczzato."
"The Count Spezzato!" said the
stoker, now leaving the table, and
speaking in italian.
"Yes, good Guido; the man who will
travel in the train we take tonight to
Leghorn."
He shall die! The accursed He
shall die to-nightw said the stoker. IF
lose my life, the betrayer Of my sis
ter shall die!"
The guard, returning to the un-
known tongue, seemed to be endeavor-
ing to calm him; and could only catch
a repetition of the word 'Empoli'' at
intervals. Presently the stoker took
from the seats beside him two tin bot
ties, such as you may see in the hands
of mechanics who dine out; and I
could see that one of them had rudely
scratched on it the name William
Atkinson" I fancied the guard pro-
duced from his pocket a ph1al, and
poured the contents into that bottle;
but the action was so rapid, and the
corner so dark, that I could not be
positive; then rising, they stopped at
the counter, had both bottles filled with
brandy, and went out.
1t was now time to get to the sta
ton; and, having paid my modest score,
l went out.
A little in front of me, by the light
from a small window, saw these two
cross themselves, grip each others
hands across right to right, left to left'
| and part.
The stoker had set down the bottles,
and now taking them up followed the
guard at a slower pace.
Arrived at the station, found the
1 III fnn0Qln servant
and the courier.
The count came up to me, and said,
in broken English, "You are the Eng
Iish to 60 to Leghorn with me? Very
well, there is room. like the English.
| You shall pay nothing, because do not
sell tickets; you shall go free. Is that
so?'
I thanked him in the best italian I
| could muster.
do not speak your italian to me;
I speak the English as native; can
know all you shall say to me in your
| own tongue, See, here is the train
special. as you call it. Enter, as it
| shall please you"
The train drew up to the platform;
| and saw that the stoker was at his
| post, and that the engine-driver was an
Englishman.
| 7 endeayored in vain to draw his
| attention to warn him, and was COM
| relied to take my scat, which did In
| the compartment next the guards
| break-the train consisting of only that
carriage and another, ill which were
| the count, his mother and the servant.
The guard passed along the train,
locked the doors, and entered his box.
"The Florence goods is behind you,
and the Sienna goods is due at Elnpoli
| Junction four minutes before you;
| mind YOU don't run into it, said the
| station-master, with laugh.
"No fear; we shall not run into it, ="
| said the guard, with a marked en-
phasis on the I'VE" and ''it' that I re-
| called afterward.
The whistle sounded, and we were
| off It was drizzling dark night; and
/ lay down full length on the seat to
sleep.
AS lay down a gleam of light shot
across the carriage from q small chink
| in the woodwork Of the partition be
tween the compartment 7 was in and
the guards box.
1 was terribly anxious from the man.
ner of the guard; and this seemed to be
a means of hearing something more,
1 lay down and listened attentively.
GLOW much will you give for your
life, my little fox?'' said the guard.
| To-day, very little; when am
sixty, all I have, Conrad"
"But you might give something for
it, tonight, sweet Alexis, if you knew
it was ip dangerT'
u have no fear; Conrad Ferrate has
too often conducted a train for me to
fear tonight
"True, my good Alexis: but this is
the last train he will ride with as
guard, for tomorrow he will be the
Count Spezzato."
"How? Tomorrow? You joke,
Conrad. The brandy was strong; but
you who have drunk so much could
hardly feel that"
II neither joke, nor am I drunk;
yet / shall be Count Spezzato to-mor'
row, good Alexis. Look you, my gen
tie fox, my sweet fox; if you do not
buy your life of me, you shall die to-
night. That Is simple sweet fox"
cay; but, Conrad, am not in dan
ger.''
! NAY, Alexis; see, here is the door,
n heard him turn the handle). 'I1
you lean against the door, you will
| Al1A OuI uAAA DS AAAA1Shff - ~ NSN ~AAN
pie"
| But, good Conrad, I shall not lean
against the door"
/ ooh, my sweet fox, my cunning fox
my tin1id fox, but not my strong fox
you will lean against the door.
know you will, unless prevent you, ,un
less you give me all you have In thai
bag"
The mocling tone of the guard
seemed well understood, for I heard
the click of gold.
"Good, my Alexis; it is good; but
j. is vary Jtttie for q life. Come, what
is your life worth, that you buy i
with only your masters money? /
has cost you nothing. see you viii
leaa against IL that that door, which is SC
"What, In the name of all the deyilt
In hell, will you have2 said ths
trembling voice of the courier.
! "Unly little more; just that bel
that is ;G;sdar your shirt, unde every