Evening journal., 1899-03-15

more than shelter from the VOLTS
Teeth. Look herel"
And he held up to their wondering
gaze the finest turbot they had ever
seen.
Wasn't that worth risking wet
jacket for?" asked the lad, triumphant-
ly. "They may well say that those
rocks are a good place TO fish just after
squan. Now, I'm going straight up
10 the castle with this turbot of mine.
and we'll see whether his highness
won't think him worth paying well
for"
Antonio was as good as his word.
Tired though he was. he started Off at
once up the hill, on the summit of
which the dark gray battlements of the
princes castle stood out above a huge
mass Of sandstone cliff, from which the
domain of Monte Rosso (Red noun
tain) took its name.
The hill was steep. the way dusty, and
| by the time he reached the castle gate
Antonio's dust-begrimed face and tum-
bled hair, added TO his tattered red shirt
and bare feet. made him anything but
presentable figure for a drawing
room. So evidently thought the burly
hall porter, who eyed him from head 10
foot, with a most supercilious sneer.
What do you want?" snapped he.
I'VE don't allow beggars here"
II am not a beggar," replied Antonio.
as quietly as he could. II bring his
highness the turbot that he ordered.
"Show it to me-"
ut is for the prince, not for you"
said our hero. somewhat roughly, for
his hot Italian blood was beginning to
boil at the lackey's insolence.
"Fellowl" roared the porter. "do you
know to whom you speak? Doyou sup
pose that will suffer any impertinence
from barefooted fsh-seraper~
Better be a barefooted fish-scraper
than an overfed yard dog" retorted An
tonic. "And as for impertinence,
would advise you not to offer too much
Of it to mel"
There was something in the young
fsherman's look and tone, TO say moth
ing of the broad-bladed knife in his
girdle, which made the clustering bully
start back as if he had been stung, and
look round instinetively forsupport.
"Youneedn'tbe so violent" grumbled
he. If you have business with his high
ness. I'm quite ready to admit you
But, since you won't touch penny of
his money unless do, think it's only
fair that I should have half-share Of
it."
You a half-share in what I've risked
my life forl" shouted Antonio. "I'd
sooner"
But just then a thought struck him
which checked his anger, and brought
a mischievous twinkle into his bright
eyes.
You drive hard bargain" said he ;
but suppose there's no help for it.
call to witness St. Antonio, my patron
saint. that whatever l get for this fish,
you shall have your fair half Of It,"
Good" said the porter; II Iknow you
daren't break that pledge. Here, Carlo
take this fellow inside, ard carry the
fish to his highness"
In speaking thus the worthy porter
was counting upon AntOnio's being
paid and sent away without more ado.
But the prince was so delighted at get
ting his turbot after all, that he called
the young fisherman up into the bal
! cony, where he was sitting with his
guests, and bade him name his own
J price.
"My price," said Antonio, is a hun.
dred blows Of a whip on my bare shoul-
ders."
Are you mad2" cried the prince
staring.
mot I; I've named my price, and
j stick to it,"
"Well, cried Monte Rosso, wishing tc
humor the supposed joke, $50 be H. ri,
( him up, grooms; but strike gently"
He was obeyed; but at the fftiet1
stroke, Antonio called out:
Hold I have partner"
2 And who is the partner in this hope
! full venture?' laughed the prince.
= Your own porter. who made m,
. promise him n half share of Whatsoever
i I got"
e "And he shall have I'll" declared III,
prince. Drag him hither grooms, and
! lay on as if you were threshing corn"
, But the grooms needed no urging 1,
pay the porter for all his insoleace, ant
] the courtyard echoed with his yells
e Meanwhile the prince awarded Antoni,
e with a hundred gold crowns, sad prom
ised that the knavish porter should b,
! dismissed forthwith; but Antonio VIII,
I was not the man TO be hard on a falleI
I enemy, interceded for him and begged
him off.
q "Ill spare you this time, rascal. " sal,
! the prince to the rolling and roaring
porter; but beware how you offent
again. You think yourself very clever
4 no doubt; but this time you've been to,
t, cler by halfl"
I And the porter himself was Of mucl
q the same opinion.-Golden Days.
n A "Dig Die"