The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-12-29

treaty, keeping MS eyes away lIOm We,
however, and nervously twisting a. mis-
mustache.
"And your secretary, as you call him. the
abbe:"
ooh, he will come, too, and we couli on
fess to him."
l hcstated for second, and then made
answer:
Every well. Only you must be prepared
to start at moments notice, and there
will probably be hard riding and hard fight
ing, and there is yet another thing"
"What is that?"
"You must come as a simple volunteer,
and must make no inquiry as to what the
business is on which am engaged. ! risk
my life for my own purposes; if you wish
to do likewise you are welcome to join me,
on the condition 1 have stated"
81 accept with pleasure"
"Then that is settled, and / have a new
comrade."
"Hurrsh!" and he raised his glass to his
lips.
After that he retired, it being late. saw
him across the courtyard as far as his apart
ments, and then, returning to my rooms,
unconsciously took the chair st. Armande
had vacated. The goblet of wine he had
filled was before me, and ! idly lifted it in
my hand. 1t was barely touched. In TACT
he could but have tasted few drops only.
Like lightning suspicion of treachery
came on ME. The man had been pretending
to drink. With what object? l could not
make out. Was the offer of the money d
blind? Perhaps SO, and if then? ! had
been a fool to agree to his joining Inc, with
that sour-looking able of his. Yes, l had
been a fool, but it was lucky 1 discovered
my own folly in time. l should keep my
ell I,r1o
sary pick quarrel with him, and run him
through. Somehow did not like the idea
of this, however; but determined to get
rid of him in one way or the other. Iwould
allow nothing to stand between me and the
road back to honor. So musing. l sat for
half-hour or SO, and was startled by ia
copo' sudden entry, so lost was in thought.
He came and stood, bolt upright, next to
my chair, without saying word. l knew
from this that he had some request to
make, some favor to ask, as otherwise he
would not have hesitated to make play with
his tongue at once.
"What is it, Jacopo?"
He shifted uneasily from one foot to the
other, and then replied:
"Your excellency, want leave"
Leave! What for? You are not going
to be married, are you?"
lency. No-no-it is not that, it is only
leave for the day I want, and also for our
men,"
"The devil! What are you going to do?"
"Only little dinner, cxcellency, which
am giving"
"And wasting those crowns you got the
other day. Well, that Is your affair, not
mine. Yes, you can have the Leave"
"a hundred thanks, excellency."
'Mind you, there must be no brawling,
no trouble"
"Excellency."
"Well, good night, and remember what
I say. Here, you may remove this wine
cup as you 60"
Good night, signore," and Jacopo, lifting
the goblet, went out. The night being fairly
warm, kept my door open, and as he passed
into the portico I saw him drain the con-
him draw his lips together with q smack
Of approval, and march off to his quarters,
chuckling at something or other.
The following afternoon I rode out with
Bayard and half dozen others. It was
hawking party, and there was long gal
lop to our point of operation, which was to
begin little way beyond Ponte Molle. In
short time we started noble heron, and,
Bayard flinging his peregrine into the air,
we rode after the birds. 1t was a glorious
ride, and Castor and Pollux far outstripped
the others, SO much SO that when we drew
rein beside the stricken heron, and Bayard
slipped the hood onto his hawk, our COM
panions were not in sight. This, however,
troubled US little, and turning rein we made
backwards. On our way back, seized the
opportunity to mention to Bayard that st.
Armande had volunteered to aid me in my
task, and that had accepted his offer.
"It will do him good" he said; che seems
| 4 noble youth, who has been tied too long
to apronstrings."
"Do you think sou I said; che strikes
me a. being effeminate to a degree-and yet
I cannot help liking him"
"He has wonderful pure mind" said
Bayard; 'the boy, for he is no less, is "a
| innocent as a child"
''The vatican will not improve him then,
especially if he plays for gold crowns with
Colonna.'"'
"Plays for gold crowns!" exclaimed Bay.
ard; you are surely mistaken, cavaliere."
Ibid he not do SO last night, my lord?
| understood he won three hundred off Fab
| rizio!"
Impossible" said Bayard, II was at the
! vatican last night, and the party in which
Colonna was playing consisted of Strigonia,
| Mgr. Elorido, our lord the pope, and Colon
no himself-no more. st. Armande was
| standing hard at hand for some little time
but never took a wager. In fact, he passed
most of the evening with Giuha Bella,
| drumming on a lutte, much to the annoy
ance of his holiness. 1 should say it would
be well for him to quit Rome"
Then am wrong" said; Eyes, fancy