The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-02-02

The man turned round to a closed door be-
hind him, rapping at it with his mailed hand.
From inside / heard shutting noise, a
heavy body lurched against the door, and
there was a scratching at the wood. No an
swer, however, came to the knock.
KNOCK again. l said, little inpatient
ly, and this time deep voice called out:
Enter"
placed my hand on the door to open it,
when the sentry spoke with unexpected civ
ility:
"Take care of the beast, signore!"
1.-THE beast-what beast?" l asked, pre-
tending not to know anything of Pluto's ex-
istence
"His excellency's bear-do not fear it
else it might i2jure you--cospetto! But it is
a perfect fend if you run from it. 1t killed
a poor woman the other day."
Thanks, friend, l will beware" l an
swered, and pushed open the door, spring
ing back yard as did 80, for with short
roar that echoed through the house a huge
bear rose on his hind legs and struck out at
my face with his claws.
"Diavolo! 60 back" shouted the sentry
to the brute, and whipped out my sword !;
but the animal merely stood in the open
doorway, making no further advance, his
great jaws open and putting like black
smiths bellows.
"Cospetto! excellency, call off the bear"
shouted the sentry again; indeed he seemed
positively to hate the animal, and from in
side came low, deep-toned but hooking
laugh. Come back, Pluto-down, you
brute-down!" then there was a heavy
''thud," the tinkling of shivered glass, and
the bear, dropping on its fore feet, shambled
back into the room. l was considerably
startled and not little angry, but, conceal
ing these feelings, stepped boldly into the
room, keeping my drawn sword still in my
hand.
"The Cavaliere di Baglioni?" 1 inquired
"At the Cavaliere di Savelli's service"
and tall figure rose from lounge chair
and surveyed me. l confess that my heart
began to beat little fast when / saw the
man against whom was to pit myself. He
was far above the middle height, and pro-
portionately broad. His grizzled hair, part
ed in the middle, hung down straightly to
his neck, and thick gray beard and mus
tache hid his mouth and chin. A cruel
hooked nose, almost Hebraic in shape, was
set between q pair of small and piercing
eyes. His complexion was deathly pale, and
by the light which fell from the barred win
dow l saw beneath the skin the little red
lines of swollen veins which marked an in
temperate life. At a small table beside the
chair was a pack of cards and glass half
filled with red wine, the bottle from which
the WINE was taken was lying in fragments
at the door, where it had fallen and broken
to bits, after being flung at Pluto. The bear
was now beside his master, facing me, his
huge head held down and swaying from side
to side. We remained for half a minute
staring at each other, and then Baglioni
spoke again, with his deep, sneering accent:
T. G., -
pay visits with drawn sword in his hand"
"Is it usual" replied, "for gentlemen to
be received by having savage beast set at
them?"
ooh, Pluto" and he touched the bear;
pluto was not set at you, man-you would
not be here if he was"
"Probably-if, however, you will call the
beast to one side would like to discuss my
business with you, cavaliere."
'Shut the door and sit down there" he
replied, "Pluto will not disturb us-you can
put back your sword. It would avail you
little" he grinned.
1t cost me an effort, but did as was
hidden, and Baglioni sank back into his
lounge, the bear still standing and keeping
it's fierce eyes on me. Its master, however,
kept running his hand up and down its
shaggy coat, whilst he asked, in his measured
voice:
We'll, and to what do owe the honor of
this VISIT"
"You would prefer no beating about the
bush?"
cit is my way"
"Wcll, then, cavaliere, have come from
Rome with special object, and that is to
ask you to change sides and to use your in
fuence with your cousin, Count Carlo, to do
likewise"
81 follow the head of my house."
Exactly. You are aware that His Holi
ness is now over 20 years of age"
''The lambkin of God, Alexander-yes."
"Well, he cannot 60 on forever, and if he
were to die it is an end to the Borgia."
clio! ho!" he laughed, ct is an end to
the Borgia-Cavaliere, your employers are
mad. 1t win take not little to break Ce-
sare-Cesare Borgia, Duke of Romagna,
Imola and Faenza, Marquis of Rimini, Count
oniere of the Church-good for low-born
bastard-eh? Ho! no! break Cesare! Not
you"
Stronger trees have fallen, signore-re-
member. we have France and the Floren-
tines on our side, and %, 900 men, under Ire
mouille and Trevulzio, are not 20 miles from
you"
1 was playing risky game. If did sue
coed in inducing this man to listen to my
and he actually persuaded his
cousin to do likewise, it would be terrible
blow to the Borgia. On the other hand,
ran the immediate risk of being arrested and
kept a prisoner or killed outright. But it
was the only way to gain time and look
about me; and whilst Baglioni redectively
stroked his strange net making no reDly to