Cañon City record., 1901-09-19
CHAPTER XIII.
THE PLOrTER IS AT WORK

while near by him sat Stephen Ur-
zen. The young nobleman had gain
ed rapidly since the visit Of Ruric,
for the antidotes he had taken had
proved efficient, and he soon came
back to the point he had reached be-
fore the administering of the poi
son.
stephen" he said, pushing his
dog gently from him. ''has anything
been heard yet from Ruric Newell"
Not that | know OF" returned
Urzen.
"Oh, wish | were able TO assist
in the search! But have you heard
anything OF what suspicions may be
afloat ?"
"only that the humpbacked priest
Is looked upon by some as having
had some hand in it."
"Ha, And how does suspicioL
point toward him =
"Why, in no direct way, believe.
! cannot understand it. All know
is he is suspected
The count pondered few mo-
ments, and he thought he could see
it. Urzen did not know the secret of
his friends strange relapse, for that
had been kept private. So he had
no clew TO the priests true charac-
ter, as the count possessed
81 believe the fellow is villain"
Urzcn resumed. 'ae is surely viii
lpinous looking man
$50 he is" responded the count.
81 never saw such wicked look
before in any human face"
"Ahl" uttered voice close by the
door "Who comes in for the fiatter-
ing remark, my friend?'
Both the count and Stephen turn
ed, and the humpbacked priest HIM
self stood in their presence.
"Ha" he uttered as he noticed
the position Of the invalid. up?
BY the holy Virgin, you are recover
ing,"
save" returned Conrad; 81 am
ginning fast now, as you may see"
The priest struggled hard with
his feelings. and at length he man
aged to conceal the deep disappoint-
meni he felt-that is, he hid it from
Stephens eyes, but the count knew
him too well.
"You have not been very pnnctuai
OF late. father" the latter said, also
trying 10 conceal his real feelings.
"No. no" returned Savotano in u
perplexed manner; Il admit il. But
the fact is | have been called away.
Let's sec. | have not been here
since the evening on which found
stranger sitting by your side while
you were asleep"
"Who was the stranger? 2?
81 don, knew. | think ! never
saw him before. He was a good
looking young man. Perhaps he
was some relative of yours z"
This downright falsehood. so bold
and fragrant, astonished even the
count. for he knew the conversation
which the priest had held with Ru-
ric on that occasion, and, quick as
lightning, too, went the thought to
the sick mans mind that this was to
hide the probability of his being
suspected in connection with Ruric's
disappearance.
81 thought you knew that man."
the count said, looking the priest
sharply in the face.
mo. may have seen him be-
fore. but | did not surely recognize
him then. asked him why he was
here. but he would not answer me
save by urging me to silence. Who
was he, my son5'
The count was at first inclined
not TO answer, but he thought bet
ter of it and finally told the priest
that it was Ruric Newell. The vii
lain seemed much surprised at this
and professed to wonder why the
fellow should come to that place.
Urzen, who knew nothing OF the
falsehood which rested under all
this questioning, went on and ex-
planned the nature of Ruric's mis-
sion and its result. And thereupon
Savotano expressed wondrous de-
gree of JOY and qualification, and
he even presumed to bless God that
snch reconciliation had taken
place.
Sand now," the priest resumed,
after this matter had been disposed
| Of, chow happened this sudden
change in your disease, my son?
The doctors thought you dying
when | was here last"
"Ycs, know" answered the
lcount, still hiding the deep disgust