The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-03
The Torture of Fear.
"a Tale of Venice. From Cornhili Mag,
zine. In five parts)

| 60 swiftly away. Her course lay through
mazes Of narrow cali. between balcon:ed
houses. multitudes of little bridges North
ward 10 the R.alto she traversed the deserted
| city, turned then westward and southwark.
| Ter intricate way she filled with mutter-
ings: often dropped from her the words.
'Mauro Bell:ni.' She reached Santa Ma
ria before one. and IN the deep Of the arch
| way crouched.
| He is Gomez whispered the black. run
ming behind the abutment
| ''On foot?" said Ronaldo.
| Yes. signore; heard the step"
| "Sure?'
| 1t IL the 1nglese, s:gnore: heard the
step-the step of young man"
Give him that, then"
| He took from the Moor's hand knife,
| and glided out. His cloaked spectre-stalk
| in moment was doubling round the open
| ing, before ever Bresc.a could dream that
| death was upon her. Suddenly. Al the
| night. cry. Ronaldo, conscious of hu-
| man form in the gloom, and OF nothing
more. hurried of. Round the quay-corner
| loiled = gondola. He plunged into the
cabin. Hstled. and Ali was a, the oar
Two minutes afterwards Brand arrived.
| and babe his two brcarolli await him. Had
she come? He peered into the archway
d
and tumbled upon his hands over Brescia.
What the mischief" ne began TO say,
then. realizing claim upon his help. half
lifted the body toward the opening. There
was nc moon but the vault was rich with
e!ories. AS he noticed the slit throat. the
old dame. leaning heavy upon him, began
TO humble. He bent TO hear what ne ;ok
TO be only the rawlings OF death. ''Mauro
Bellini-he hurt my life-a girl-a poor
young thing. Then he shut me UP in the
cells-ah, years. Now-he kills me. Tell
him-who are you?-ah, If 1 could be the
death of him-yet; /, Brescia. l would
trouble-end him-somehow-ah.' She
stiffened suddenly. Brand said: shes
dead. I suppose" and at the same time
noticed his bosom, his hands. all red. A
measured tread startled him. CHANGING he
beheld three OF a Gordon of the city sb.rri.
on their nightly rounds, approach. The
quick thought of the blood on him, OF
Continental-official over-zeal, a night in
the dungeons, flashed upon him, and with
NO, thank you," ne gently deposited the
body and took TO running. Half-laughing
at first; in two minutes not laughing.
The men were after him. Brand had no
notion whittier he went. The narrow CALI
of Venice are slab-paved. without trottoirs;
pursuer. They twist and double infinitely,
with tiny bridges everywhere. Brands
heels went flying down every turning he
met; his rage to be free grew into a very
Juror of acton. But his pursuers, init
mate with the labyrinth, were quite his
equals. One especially gained surely upon
him. At last. on low quay. hearing the
near foot-beats round a corner, he pitch
ed down three steps. and. seizing an iron
ring in the wall, let himself into the water
to the neck. Here was a patch of deepest
shadow. One of the sbirri, dashing forth
now to the waters edge. halted astonshed,
and began TO seek him.
Half an hour before. Mauro Bellini walk
ed alone In spacious oval apartment of
his residential palaZzo. The columned
chamber was stately with classic chiselng.
HIS hands were behind him. the ample
sleeves ending tight at the wrist with the
fine lace called merletu. Outside, at each
of the seven doors. waited man behind
the hangings. Presently one entered. The
noiseess walk ceased, and the rheumy
bleared eyes glanced at the words of a
note: The affair OF Brand is ended. He
les, for the present, where you know"
Where is the Lady Belvidera?" His
voice was deep. contrasting with the Sc
nifty OF the hollow cheeks
she is not in the palace, Excellenza."
II know. But where is she?''
II cannot tell you, Excellenza."
Send me Dandolo.'
He resumed his walk, till Dandolo. a big
swaggerer, with curly hair, one-armed, in
velvet jacket stood by him.
WHO knows the whereabouts of the
Signorina Belvidera?"
'Orseolo. Sebastian. and Marco, SIR
''Where is she%'
He resumed his walk. till Antonello. rat
faced diminutive. timid of the lower or
ders, and a waterman, stood by him. He
walked to a center table beneath the dim
light, from a pile of official forms selected
a sheet, and held II up, reading through a
magnifying glass.
1T appears. Antonello"-he spoke with
strong distinctness-'that a pauper lunatic
al the Asylum of San Giorgic is lately dead. |
You comprehend"
Antonei,o ducked. nervously obsequious.
II see by this form that a relative has
been pursuaded to undertake the burial, |
the city providing, as usual, leaden shell. |
The name appears here. or address: he IS !
doubtless of the lowest "a bble: but all that |
one iesrns at the asylum itself. 1 nope |
you follow me. The number. however by |
which the lunatic is known is L, 3s5. Say |
L. 5. 81
Il, ?, S. repeated Antonello.
Every good Is here now at the water |
gate swift sondoia rot in use?''
one only, Excellenza. 1t is the Sgno- |
rina Pe!v:ders's."
That Will do Take It; and with you |
take this signed authority for the delivery |
Of the body of No. L, g. S. 5. You will OBJ |
- ~
that address you will convey the re-
mains"
Antoneuo commenced to retire back
wards.
Stop, Do remember rightly, Antonello. |
that you have been employed in the Graf; |
OF gondoia bulding?'
Yes, Excellenzs."
Then l take 1t. you are quite capable |
Of driving a neat. straight nai!?''
"Oh. yes sir"
Then. as you descend. go 20 Geronimo. |
who VII supply you with some sharp, long |
nails ari a hammer; also some masses o,
lead, ard Irvine. ThsSe take With you. |
The coffin gwen 20 you will. as usual. be
closed with a sliding lid. which. I think. !
you will find only loosely screwed. When /
in the middle OF the G:uiscca YOU III |
draw the I'd: you VII scarcely attach the 1
we ghtv masses 10 he body. and you wiz /
cors.gn x 10 The waters. ] think you com
prsheni ne"
Right, Excellenza"'
II may as well tell you something %
my reasons Antonello" with Sigh; toss
out q the hand "A poor youth has been
-kIiled-!n a quarrel: and i i 20 The IL
teres; CO the Banda that the body Dc Sc
cure,y secretsd. Cast into the canal. there
is small chance that q may same DAY