Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-14
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE OPAL RING,


Donati at supper this evening""
Defaure delivered his message, received
his answer, and tripped away, his little
pages cap set jauntily on the side of his
head, and the haft of his dagger clinking
against the silver chain which held it to
his belt. AS for me, my heart leaped at the
words, for l felt sure my business was come,
and, summoning Jacopo, / gave him the
necessary orders to have our men in readi
ness for an immediate start. then sought
St. Armande, and told him what expect
ed.
II am ready" he said, simply.
every we'll, then sup lightly, and await
ME in my apartments"
/ turned back, and on reaching my rooms
was surprised to find had visitor await
ing ME. 1t was Corte As I have said, he
has cast aside his fantastic dress, and was
robed as doctor. He still kept his heavy
hook under his arm, and the features of
his curious scanned face, and thin, bloodless
lips, were as pale as if he had arisen from
the dead. His eyes alone blazed with an
unnatural bri:liancy, but he was outwardly
calm.
II came but to see if you were safe, sig
more, after last night" he said, as he took
my hand.
"Thanks,'' replied, offering him seat,
eve are all quite safe. Nothing happened.
The don was not there. Either he had
changed his mind, or we were too strong
in force"
"a little of both, should think" he said,
with thin smile, as he placed his book on
the table. "Signore," he went on, ''are you
not little surprised and curious to see me
as l ann"
all h.
But | am honestly glad that fortune has
given the wheel right turn for YOU"
ut is not fortune" he said, "it is some
of the wheel Of sleeping goddess. When
voice choked little, II came to Rome
Never mind how. Here great man found
me. Great men pick up little things for
their purposes sometimes. And Matthew
Corte, who is but a little man, knows
things the great man does not know. 10!
ho!" and he laughed mirthlessly.
I "And that has put crowns in your purse?"
? Yes, crowns in my purse, crowns in my
purse" he repeated, and then the old mad
ness came upon him, and he rose and paced
the room. II could have done it last night,
made the hilt of my dagger ring against
his heart-the devil-the devil. But he is
not to die this way-not thus-not thus.
He will die as no other man has died, and
it will come soon, very soon-Mathew
Corte swears this"
4 He stopped suddenly, and turned to me
with the question::
ss "Have you ever seen mad dog die?"
III NO." answered, wondering what would
3 come next. s:-s d
fa "Well, my dog is dead"
$s II am sorry" began, but he interrupted.
:s "Dead, say. Life went from it in writh-
I ings and twistings, in screams Of agony
the little beast, poor little beast! would
d have ended it's misery, but I wanted to sec.
q wanted to find some death 80 horrible that
lit would pass the invention of man. And
III have found it, signore. See this toy Of
q knife! This fairy's dagger!" and he held
mp tiny lancet, "only touch of it, and
man would die as that dog did, in with
ings, in twistings, in screams" ~ ,.:..''
M I rose and put my hand on his arm, keep
4 ing my eyes steadily on his face. q, -,
"Corte," said, "this is not like you You
are not well. Here is some wine," and I
poured him out goblet of Orvieto. He
drained it at gulp, and sat with his head
buried in his hands, .'., :,
Al he sat there, the scene in the lonely
Is hut, when i went forth an outcast from
sSArezzo, came back to me, and there rose.
before me the dim light Of the torch, the
mad figure Of my host, and I could almost
hear the pattering Of the rain and the dy.
ing Kisses Of the log fire without. Then I
I INV other things as well, and pity came
son me for the man before me. III A. sudden
thought struck me, and, acting on the i'm.
,Spulse of the moment, l spoke: ,s . +
t1See here, Corte! You are ii, you want
relst t, quiet. Throw off these dark thoughts,
|and do what ! say. Two miles from Cola,
the Berg amasqae, lies q small farm. #
mine. Mine etill, though NOR gagged Go
AK for the Casino fayellli and say
II cu shayo come from me rom Ugo dii sa-5
You know my name now, and they
Il ~ sWant nothing more from you. Live