Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-20
CHAPTER AANlll.

CHAPTER AANlII.
He soon reused himself from MS
pleasant reverie, and drawing MS
chair closer to mine, assumed an air
of mystery
And fer your friend who is In
trouble" he said, in a confidential
tone, then paused and looked at me
as though waiting permission to pro-
coed.
| nodded.
Go on, AMIGO. What have you ar
ranged?"
'.Everything!" he announced, with
an air of triumph. All is smooth
sailing. At six o'clock ON Friday
morning the 'Rondinella,' that is the
brig l told you of, eccellenza, will
weigh anchor for Civita Vecchia Her
captain, OLD Antonio Rardi, will wait
ten minutes or even a quarter of an
hour if necessary for the-the--'
Passenger" 1 supplemented. Very
good of him, but he will not need to
delay his departure for single instant
beyond the appointed hour. Is he
satisfied with the passage money!
Satisfied" and Andrea swore a
gOod-natured oath and laughed aloud.
by San Pietro! if he were not, he
would deserve to drown like a dog on
the voyage! Though truly, it is always
n To 1,1n h i'm mo
and cross and crusty. Yes; he is one
of those men who have seen so much
of life that they are tired of it. Be
lieve it! even the stormieSt sea is a
fish-pond to old Bardi. But he is
satisfied this time, eccellenza, and his
tongue and eyes are so tied up that l
should not wonder if your friend found
him to be both dumb and blind when
he steps on board"
"That is WE'LL" 1 said, smiling. 81
owe you many thanks, Andrea. And
yet there is one more favor / would
ask of YOU
He saluted me with a light yet
graceful gesture.
'Eccellenza, anything L can do
command me-"
ct is mere trifie,'' l returned. cit
is merely to take small valise be-
longing to my friend, and to place it
on board the 'Rondinella' under the
care of the captain Will you do
this?"
Most willingly. l will take it now
if it so please you"
THAT is what / desire. Wait here
and 1 will bring it to you"
And leaving him for a minute or
two, went into my bedroom and
took from a cupboard l always kept
locked a common rough leather bag,
which l had secretly packed myself,
unknown OF Vincenzo, with such
things as l judged to be useful and
necessary. Chief among them was a
bulky roll of bank-notes These
amounted to nearly the whole Of the
remainder of the money l had placed
in the bank at Palermo. | had with
drawn it by gradual degrees, leaving
behind only couple of thousand
francs, for which l had no special
need. l locked and strapped the
valise; there was no name on it, and
it was scarcely any weight to carry.
[ took it to Andrea, who swung it
easily in his right hand and said,
smilingly:
Your friend is not wealthy, eccel-
lenza, if this is all his luggage!"
You are right" l answered, with a
slight sigh; ''he is truly very poor
beggared of everything that should be
his through the treachery of those
whom he has benefited" | paused;
Andrea was listening sympathetically.
That is why L have paid his pas
5age-money, and have done by best to
aid him.
"Ah. you have the good heart, &C.
murmured the Sicilian,
would there were more
ike youi Often when fortune gives
/ kick to a man, nothing will suit but
hat all who see him must kick him
also. And thus the povero diavoIo dies
If so many kicks, often! This friend
If yours is young, senza dubbio?
Yes, quite young, not yet thirty"
1T is as if you were a father to
limi' exclaimed Andrea, enthus-
astically. Il hope he may be truly |
grateful to you, eccellenza."
Il hope so too,' L said, unable to
esist a smile. And now, AMIGO, take |
his" and | pressed a small sealed |
Jacket into his hand 1T is for your
elf. Do not open it till you are at !
lome with the mother you love so
veil, and the little maiden you spoke |
4 by your side. If its contents please
gu, as I believe they will, think that
am also rendered happier by your
His dark eyes sparkled with graft
ude as spoke. and setting the valise