Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-04-05

I'LL CudllCy, anu uIcNe Cucm Oh WltA q
rough oath. One of the number, however,
ported himself on crutches, and wore
huge patch over one of his eyes.
Chat is right, excellency-drive them off
the scum, the goats-pestering every noble
gentleman. It is only to the deserving your
excellency will give-a paul, excellency-
brown copper for the poor cripple-a mil
lion thanks, excellency-may this copper be
increased to you thousandfold in gold"
"Begone, fool!" I said, and walked on;
but he hobbled along at great rate beside
me.
"But favor, excellency. If your wor-
ship would but come with me, I would
show you wonderful sight. A bird cage,
excellency; would your lordship be pleased
to buy bird"
turned round in my anger, and RAISED
my hand to cuff the rascal's ears, cripple
though he was, when he suddenly added:
cor free bird, excellency-there is some
one coming-a paul, quick-thanks, excel
lency-may your lordship die q prince"
AS he spoke couple Of gentlemen and
their servants pushed by US, and gave
them the road, the beggar hopping nirnbly
to my side. Ny heart was beating rapidly,
and all my blood tingling. Was on che
edge of a discovery?
mo more riddles" said; "who are
you%
'1t is not safe to talk here, Egnore," he
answered. Follow me-" He started off
across the square, hobbling along on his
crutches and wailing out: "a copper tor
the poor cripple-a brown paula little
"copper""
followed behind, what does this mean!
I had to find out for myself, however, and
followed the man, who stumped along at
a great pace, notwithstanding the ups and
downs of the side streets by which we went.
He never once looked behind him, but kept
up his cry of "a copper for the poor cripple
"a brown paula little "copper"" and once
or twice, when lost him in the crowd, the
cry served as signal to me, telling me where
on reaching the Via della Conca, made
lected, and, paying his paul, he went
straight out of the town. kept him in
view now easily, and could have caught him
up as liked, for the speed at which he had
hobbled along had no doubt breathed him.
At last he left the road, and, toiling some
what painfully over the very uneven ground,
vanished behind spur of the hills on which
Perugia is situated. I now put on my best
walking pace, and in minute or two turned
the elbow of the spur myself, and found
the mendicant seated on stone hopping
his brow, his crutches lying beside him. BE
stood up with the greatest ease as ap-
preached.
"Wen, fellow" said, what does all
this mean? Beware if you have attempted
to trick me-"
"Does not your excellency know mer'
"Never saw you before"
IT am Clan, excellency."
"Gianl Clan! That throws no light on
the subject"
"The cavaliere remembers the garden Of
st. Michael in Florence!
l was not likely to forget the place where
had received Angola from Luigi, but
could not conner. the man before me with
the circumstance. 81 remember perfect
ly, but do not know you. Drop this fool
cry and speak plainly"
y am speaking plainly, signore. was
not sure if it was you myself until now. lam
Clan, the Lady Angiola's servant, and his
excellency the secretary has sent me ia
sou"
"But how did you hear I was in Perugia!
His excellency did not himself know was
coming here until half-hour bsfore I
started, and have ridden hard
"The pigeon, your worship; it few to
Florence with letter to the Lady Marietta.
She sent another one on to the convent Of
9ss5qk sa t55asr r sSasn il ga fsFS
you where my lady is confined"
"Basta! It was well conceived by his e.
eellency. But whore is she-in the cita-
delY
mo, e3cellency; but in the Casino Bag
lioni, behind Santa Agnese."
'How did you find outp
II was brought here prisoner, e1csl.
lency, and was allowed to be in attendance
on her ladyship, together with Madonna
Laura, her maid. escaped back to Flor.
ence with letter from the Lady Angola
day OF so after. It was by her orders I
went"
Then she may not be there now?"
81 have made sure of that, excellency-
but Madonna Laura" he stopped.
"The maid-what of her-no doubt with
her mistress?"
"Alas, no, excellencyl She was killed BY
Pluto"
"Pluto!"
eyes, your worship. A black bear that
the Cavaliere Paolo, who holds the house,
has as pet" And he commenced to weep.
felt for the faithful fellows grief, but
said nothing, and after little he com.
posed himself.
"Come, Gian," I said, laying my hand on
his shoulder, "be man, and we will have
an eye for an eye"
He ground his teeth but made no reply,
and went on:
GLOW far is the house from here!"
"Close," he said. eve can reach it by the
Porto San Angelo"
Come, then"
'There is ne need for the crutches nov"