Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-15
CHAPTER XLIIf.
THE RANSOM REFUSED.

| cent.
"of course I am; what do you want
with me?"
"A short conference, General, that
ought to be strictly private"
At saying which, the stranger MODS
towards Nigel, and the steward, still in
the room.
you can retire, Warrener," directs
| the General. THAT is my son." he
adds, indicating Nigel. Anything you
have to say may be said before him"
"Bene!" assents the stranger, the
| exclamation telling him to be an al
ian. your son indeed" he adds, eye
ing the progeny of the Indian Princess,
| as if he saw in his dark skin and sin
lister features something congenial.
''But you have another, Signor Gen
eral?"
well, sir! Suppose 1 have-what
them"
do you know where he is?"
The question gives the old soldier a
start The mans mission is about
Henry; and with such a messenger it
cannot be agreeable. Some trouble his
younger son has got into-it may be
disgrace!
Boldly daring the revelation. he de-
mands:
do you know, sir?''
81 do"
"Where?'
Read this!" answers the Italian,
taking letter from his pocket, and
presenting it to the General who sees
it is directed to himself.
Breaking open the envelop, he
spreads out the sheet with shaking
fingers; that shake still more as he
becomes acquainted with the contents
of that epstle-the same written Dron
the Pratone, to the dictation of the
bandit chief.
This is NONSENSE" he exclaims, on
finishing its perusal "Sheer, down.
right nonsense! Read that, Nigel"
Certainly it is" answers the half
Hindu, after running it over. This
man must be mad" he adds with a nod
towards the messenger. IF not, they
who sent him are. The whole things
a conspiracy-a plant, as they call it
to get money out of you. YOU remem-
her that story of Henry's about an
Italian artist he saved from garroters?
Most likely this is the very man: and
the letter has been written not in Italy,
but somewhere in the neighbornood of
Leicester square, London
DAMNED" exclaims the General; lit
looks like it,"
With the thought further incensing
him. he faces toward the Italian, all the
while standing silent by, and angrily
adds.
You're an imposter, sir; rank i'm
postor!-what's more. a swindler!"
"Grizzie, signor General" returns the
man with a mock bow. and to all APP
pearance proyokingly unmoyed.
Harsh epithets you make use of-very
uncomplimentary to one who has come
all the way from Italy for the sake OF
doing your son a service"
From Leicester-spuare!" breaks in
Nigel
May l ask" continues the Italian
without needing the interruption, ''if
that be all the answer I'm to take back
to him? Reflect General! Remember,
I'm as much your sons messenger as
of the others also interested. My COM
mission is a serious one-to him more
than anyone else. His liberty-aye,
his life-deperds upon your paying the
ransom demanded"
"Bah!" calculates the General. "A
cock and bull story. DO you suppose
me such a simpleton as to believe it?"
do you know, sir. challenges Nigel,
putting himself forward as spokesman,
"are you aware that you've placed
yourself within the power of the law?
We can have you arrested, thrown into
prison, for attempting to extort money
under false pretenees."
His excellency, the General" coolly
returns the stranger, will not order
my arrest. and for two good reasons
First, because there are no false pre-
fences, the other. that to do SO would
be sealing his SONS fate. The moment
it becomes known to those who have
him in their handS that I'm in an En-
glish prison. that oment Mr.. Henry
Harding win lose hiN ahead