Warren sheaf., 1901-08-15

been heard yet from Ruric Nevel?'
"Not that / know Of" returned
'Urzen.
ooh, wish were able to assist
in the search! But have you heard
anything Of what suspicious may be
af1oatw
"On]y that the humpbacked priest
| is looked upon by some as having
had some hand in it." ....,-.
"Ha! And how does suspicion
point toward him?"
"Why, in no direct way, I believe.
I cannot understand it. All know
is ne is Suspected"
The count pondered a 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. -
Il believe the fellow is villain"
Urzen resumed. *FHe is surely vii
lainous looking man." s.
$50 he is, !" responded the count.
81 never saw such a wicked look
before in any human face.''
"Ah?' uttered voice close by the
door. "Who comes in for the Aatter-
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
ing!"
"Aye," returned Conrad; FI 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 we'll.
"You have not been very punctual
Of late, father,'' the latter said, also
trying to conceal his real feelings.
./<<No, nc" returned Savotano in a
perplexed manner; <1 admit it. But
the fact is I have been called away.
Let's see. 1 have not been here
since the evening on which I found
stranger sitting by your side while
you we're asleep.''
"Who was the stranger?"
**I don't know. I think I never
saw him before. He 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-
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.
''I thought you knew that man. y
the count said, looking the priest
sharply in the face.
**No. I may have seen him be-
fore, but did not surely recognize
him then. I asked him why he was
here, but he would not answer me
save by urging me to silence. Who
was he, my son? ??
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 Nevel. 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 it's result. And thereupon
Savotano expressed a wondrous de-
gree of joy and qualification, and
u0 CVSu ~ u1uCu W UICoo OOu CIldt
such a reconciliation had taken
place.
"And now," the priest resumed,
after this matter had been disposed
of, chow happened this sud den
change. in your disease; my son?
The doctors thought you dying
when I was here last"
eyes, I know" answered the
count, still hiding the deep disgust
that moved within him; <<but new
physician was called in, and he pre-
scribed new medicine. He said
the medicine I had been taking was
unsuited to my case, and so he gave
me new. You can see the result"
eyes, I see,'' was the reply, "and
as you seem to have very good COM
pany I'll take my leave. I have
several calls to make tonight"
The count made no reply to this,
and as the priest found that he was