Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-07-13


"From all that | can see and un-
derstand, the proud duke meant to
get all your wealth and all of Rosa
lind's."
The count spoke not ret. he lay
with his eyes closed and groaned in
agony at the strange revelations
that were breaking in upon him.
But, see! Why starts Ruric so
suddenly, and why does he turn so
pale? Why do his hands tremble,
and why is his brow bent so eagerly?
"What is it?" asked the count,
startled by the strange event.
"Hold!" whispered Ruric in a
frantic tone. ''You were recovering
once?"
'From this wound?"
"Yes."
eyes. | was getting we'll fast,
and the doctors said | should be
stout and we'll in a month. But sud
denly this change came on. Let's
see. On Friday morning felt the
first relapse"
"The very time'' gasped Ruric to
himself.
The count moved his head for
ward and would have caught his
companion by the hand if he could
'eFor Gods sake, Ruric, what is it?'
GAS l came this way ! saw E
humpbacked priest pass out from
this house," said the gunmaker in
terrogatiyely.
eyes, yes," returned the count,
speaking shortly and quickly. ut
was Savotano. He has attended
me. The duke recommended him"
"And was he here Thursday
night?"
''Thursday? All, yes; he watched
with me that night"
"And has he been in attendance
since?"
eyes every day. But why do
you .sk? Say, what is that mean
ing upon your face? What is it?"
"At this moment the door of the
apartment was quietly, noiselessly,
opened, and Kopani, the surgeon,
entered the place.
"Haw cried Ruric, starting to-
ward him and grasping him by the
arm. "Your patient is poisoned! A
deadly poison has been given him,
and it is even now eating his life
awayT
"Impossible" gasped the surgeon.
straining his eyes to see plainly who
it was that spoke to him. "Ah!" he
uttered as he became somewhat used
to the gloom of the apartment els
it you, SIR"
"Aye, but mind not that now.
Cannot YOU do something for the
count? He has been poisoned"
cit cannot be-"
"By the hopes of my salvation"
cried Conrad Damonoff, starting up
to a sitting posture, che speaks the
truth! That accursed priest! Oh.
Olga, Olga, ! never dreamed that
thou vast mine encmyp
"But what is it all ?" the surgeon
asked. gazing first upon Ruric and
then upon the count. "Speak, some
onei, en- - !. ,. ,,..
"Listcn." said the gunmaker. 81
have my suspicious. But, mind you,
they are founded on facts, and the
facts are these: The Duke of Tula
is well nigh free from the possession
of property. His half of Drotzen is
all mortgaged. and he wants the
other half. That other half he can
not have while DamonoT lives. The
duke, too, has sworn that Rosalind
Valdai shall be his wife, so he would
have her property also. This hump
backed priest is Olga's tool. 1t was
Olga got him into the church, and it
was Olga who freed him more than
once from deserved punishment.
Last Thursday evening he was with
the duke in private council. and he
came from thence directly to this
place. Now you can judge for your
self"
The surgeon started slightly, and
then he bowed his head. A few mo-
ments he remained thus, and then
he lcapcd up and claspcd his hands.
"Bv the living God of all things"
he cried. cit is. it isl" There is no
burning up, as | thought, of icy,
wintry fire. but the helliSh work is
from a human hand! Hold! | know
the symptoms! know them now.
Be quiet, Conrad. 1t may not yet
be too late"
As the surgeon spoke he hastily
opened a small leathern case he car
Rod with him and from thence he