Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-08-09
CHAPTER XII.
AN ASTOUNDING AFFAIR.

AN AS1OCNU1NG AFtAlh.
Half an hour had the gunmaker
cat by the side of the sick mans bed
when he was aroused from the rever-
lie into which he had fallen by the
gentle opening Of the door. He turn
ed and beheld human form emery
Ing from the narrow, dark entry
way. As it came into the room the
watcher started, for he beheld the
humpbackel priest, Savotano.
"Who is here?" the arch fend
whispered, shading his eyes and try
ing to peer into the gloom.
|*Sh!'' uttered Ruric. <FThe count
is alseep.''
By this time our hero had so far
overcome the first emotion caused
by the villains entrance that he
could be calm.
"And who is this?" the priest
whispered, moving nearer to the
bed. Ella! The gunmakerp'
eyes," replied the youth, watch
ing every look and movement of the
fellow most closely.
"N OIL are in a strange place, I
should say" Savotano whispered,
not looking the young man directly
IN the face, but casting upon him
sidelong glance, as though he dared
not look direct.
"Speak not too loud, sir priest"
said our hero, determined to enter
into no conversation with the man
# he could avoid it. 'FDo not awak-
en- the count, for he is very faint
and weak
And then Ruric had another rea-
son. He feared if Damonof should
awake that the strange discovery
they had made might be revealed,
and, of course, he wished not that
the villain should yet know how well
he was understood.
"But why are you herer p pursued
Savotano, who seemed determined
to know. II am this poor mans
spiritual comforter, and I surely
have right to know wherefore is
the presence of one bearing the Pc
culiar relations toward him which
are sustained by you"
Ru4ic's first impulse was one of
disgust and wrath, but.he managed
to keep it to himself.
''Sir priest" he returned, moving
his chair noiselessly nearer to the
visitor, so that his whisper might
not disturb the sleeper, 81 heard
that the count was dying, and I
would not have him die without first
forgiying me for all that I had
1ope."
:And has he done it?''
'He has,
"And why do you remain here?
Where is his attendant %
"She is out somewhere. The
count has had a strange ft-a star
Ting spasm-and / feared i be
had another the woman could not
manage him alone"
"Ahr' uttered savotano. "A
spesm?"
Eyes, most strange one, as
though something were at his heart,
q though his brain were on fire and
his whole system shaking"
The priest turned his head away,
6ut Ruric saw plainly the exultant
box which rested there. There was
% installing any more. That one
1ook for Ruric saw twas proof
enough.
well, we'll" the 1nisehapen VI
hin said, II will call again when he
b awake. I would not have him
de and I not BY him" >.
Thus speaking Savotano arose
and moved toward the door. His
step was eager, and his every look
betrayed some anxious purpose. He
stopped as he reached the door and
;. booked back, but he did not speak.
Ruric was afraid he might 90 to the
6deboard to look ct the medicine,
but he did not. He simply cast one
more glance at the watcher and then
0e4t the room. IL 8. Eft. ~
In half an hour more the sureeoa
Deturned. His face wore I clear,
smphatic expression, and his move
0ents were Ill quick and prompt,
= though each one was for the pur-
pose Of announcing some self svi-
Dent decision. IS: sz.1 a.;.,5zsz
We'll, he uttered, with . quick
drawn breath, we have mt ~