The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-18

low my instructions you shall not only
be saved, but you will become duke of
Francavella.
How? Speakl"
Seem indifferent to my remarks
now, my lord. Have you over heard of
the Red Death, my lord?"
Never, to my knowledge"
1T is briefly this: On the nights of
fcstivity figure in red domino and red
mask sits near the duke. At the close
of the feast this figure shakes hands
with all present, and it is rarely that
some one of the number does nok.dio
shortly after. Does your lordship COM
prehend?"
II think do-secret poison
"When this Red Mask takes your
hand on that night, he will leave within
it paper of instruction, which you
must find an opportunity to read i'll Sc
cret and follow to the letter.
How do you know this?'
lyon shall know if you come"
II will como-though how am I to
know you mean mo well?''
IF meant you i'll, my lord, what
need to warn you?"
True-it is enough will be here"
Punctual to the appointed time, the
Count of Palmera appeared at tho ban
quet of the Duke of Francavella AT
the close came the handshaking round
of the dreaded Red Death.
The count, being a stranger, seemed
the most indifferent of any, as was nat
ural he should He poured out more
wine and drank and then seemed tc re-
fleet. In this mood he held tho small
paper which he had just received in
such way that he could peruse it with
out being suspected. This paper con-
tanned these words:
Fcign illness and be shown to n private
apartment. 1 will be there TO complete the
design.
In few minutes the duke, who had
been furtively watching the count, re-
marked, with seeming concern, that he
feared his lordship was i'll.
The mobiles exchanged chances. and
each breathed freer us he fancied he
had discovered the victim in other than
himself.
But the count, instead of getting bet
ter, seemed to grow more faint, and his
kind host suggested that he should be
shown to Il private apartment and his
chief physician be summoned
He offered his arm to the count, who
leaned heavily on it, and thus left the
hall. Passing through an anteroom,
they entered one hung with damask
and richly furnished.
The Red Mask, who had left the ban
quoting hall before them, WAS standing
hero as il awaiting their coming. AS
the duke assisted his guest to Il divan
tho Red Mask quietly closed and botcd
the door.
Then, producing small rope with
the sliplnot of hangman. he glided
up to the duke as he bent over the
count, and throwing the moose around
his neck drew it tight and strangled
him before he could comprehend his
murderous design and raise his voice
for help.
When the duke was quite dead, the
mask was removed. and the face of An
tonic appeared before the count.
Quick, my lord!" said Antonio.
pale and trembling at what he had done.
"Disrobc. put on tho dress of the duke,
return to the hall and he lord of the
palace. If you succeed in dccciving the
assembled guests which | trust your
close resemblance will enable You to do
we are safe; if you fail, we are lost. =
Assisted by Antonio. the Count of
Pamcra was soon dressed in the gor-
geous robes of the Duke of FrancavcI-
la. and the counterfeit was so perfect
that none int a wife could have detect
ed the difference
The plan of the iniquitous schcmer
succeeded perfectly, and all the guests
that might retired in the belief that the
false duke was the real
The next day the Count of Palmcra
appeared i'll st. Mark place and other
parts of Venice in his own proper person.
This destroyed the suspicion that he
had been poisoned, as all at the BAN
Quet believed.
In fact, it was only through the dy-
ing confessions of the count himself that
the truth came out at all, which many
would not believe even then.
Long before this event, however, the
Red Death had ceased to appear lee cause
of the real death of Antonio whom his
new master had murdered in turn for
fear of being himself murdered or be-
traycd by he only one who possessed his
fatal secret. -Exchangc