The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-08-17
CHAPTER XIII.
THE PLo11ER IS AT WORK.

10 slt up. lie was IN great stuiIed
chair, playing with favorite dog,
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 z"
'Not that know of" returned
Urzen.
ooh, l wish were able to assist
in the searchl But have you heard
anything of what suspicious may be
afoat 2"
"Only that the humpbacked priest
is looked upon by some as having
had some hand in il"
'Hal And how does suspicion
point toward him !
"Why, IN no direct way, believe.
i cannot understand it, All / know
is he is suspected"
The count pondered a few mo-
ments, and he thought he could see
it. Trzen did not know the secret of
his friends strange relapse, for that
had been kept private So he had
no clcw To the priests true charac-
ter, as the count possessed.
II believe the fellow is villain"
Urzen resumed. Gle is surely vii
famous looking man."
$50 he is" responded the count.
81 never saw such a wicked look
before in any human face"
"Ah!" uttered a voice close by the
door "Who comes in for the flatter-
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. Cup?
BY the holy Virgin, you are recover
ingw
"Aye," returned Conrad; 81 am
gaining fast now, as you may see"
The priest struggled hard with
his feelings, and at length he man
aged to conceal the deep disappoint-
ment he felt-that is, he hid it from
Stephens eyes, but the count knew
him too well.
"You have not been very punctual
Of late, father" the latter said, also
trying to conceal his real feelings.
"No, no." returned Savotano in IL
perplexed manner: 81 admit it. But
the fact is / have been called away.
Let's see. / have not been here
since the evening on which ! found
stranger sitting by your side while
you were asleep"
"Who was the stranger 7"
81 don't know. i think | never
saw him before. lie was a good
looking young man. Perhaps he
was some relative Of yours |"
This downright falsehood, so bold
and fragrant, astonished even the
count, for he knew the conversation
which the priest had held with Ru-
rio 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.
"No. / 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 son 2"
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 a wondrous de-
gree Of Joy and qualification, and
he even presumed to bless God that
such a reconciliation had taken
place.
"And 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