The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-28
/ THE ADVERTISERS # # ? " .s # DAILY SHORT STORY.N
tcopyrisA. 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Co,

sure. and the girl had ceased to breathe The horror of It catne over me so strong iy that l had faint feeling and could hardly articulate, but my cry had at. tracted attention, and in a few moments the hall was full of people. talking and gesuculating violently. telling some calm beside the others as his soft, yolu- ble Italian flowed on.
 My knowledge of the language was very slight. but the scogling faces soon turned upon me made me realize that the wretch was laying the guilt of the mur- der at my door. I was young and inexA perienced. a stranger in the place. and l whom l had gotten my permit was tenn porarily absent-my sensations were far from pleasant, as the officers of the law arrived on the scene and took us both into custody. To add to my misfortune I was bound to admit that the stiletto used exactly resembled the one I had so re- gently purchased, as a curiosity, which
 vas nov missing from tho pocket of the | The other man when questioned made | plausible story, saying that we both | were admirers of the unfortunate girl
 but pledging faith to me. for the purpose | of extorting mo ney from the rich for | eigner, her .affe itions were really his. A | connection of the custodian of the palace, she succeeded in obtaining entrance and | made an appointment to meet him, he having formerly been an employe. That had obtained knowledge of the pro: | posed int sryi jew, purchased a stiletto (the
 having sold the dagge) and followed | Further that on son.. false pa etext also
 had obtained admission. and. coming be
 hirl them as they were passing through the hall. had fatally injured my victim. | Corroborated in one or two points by | other witnesses, the story seemed credi-
 ble.. the case looked i'll for me, and re- l peated assurances that I had never seen | either of the parties before were not un- | derstood or credited. The purchase of the | stiletto I could not deny, and that seem | ed the clearest circumstantial evidence. "A night spent in confinement did not seem to raise my spirits. everything look ed very black to me- and I was almost in despair, when suddenly, a ray of light broke in on my darkness, and for the first time since the trouble began I be- thought me of my camera. If only 1t had rot been stolen and could again secure 1t possibly it might bear silent testimony in my favor.
 By entreaties and bribes, succeeded | in getting hold of someone who spoke
 English and in interesting him sufficient
 fatus. which was secured and brought | to me. With trembling fingers I went | through the necessary processes of de-
 veloping my picture. and there, .ghostly,
 but still visible. was the evidence l sought.
 .'in the center of the stairway through
 which it could be plainly seen was 2 I H-eTc OI d group tHe SenBl
 tive plate had caught-the girl as sh.
 ran. the man behind her with the up
 Tilted stiletto In his hand-unmistakable
 damnatory! It has faded now and yot are near ar-sighted, but 1t was clear enough
 then to be recognized and to save me.
 The girl had made an appointment
 with her lover. whose jealousy had beer
 wildly. and it seemed not unfoundedly
 excited by her acceptance of the atten
 tiOns of another man. Coming to mee
 her, the first lover had chanced to pas where my coat was lying. and, flndin,
 the stiletto. had possessed himself of it His intention had not been to murde her. was evident from hts not brinC:n, his own weapon, but talk with her hal excited his passions and with dan
 gorous instrument in hand when angr, he had used it with only too fatal effect "The consul to whom I appealed an my new English-speal;ing friend unite, l their efforts in my behalf. and I wa
 soon released. very thankful to he ire ? once more. I have never gone back t } Genoa; the memory is too vivid and pain } full"
 And the other manr' asked [ They don't hang or lelectrocute fl Italy, you know. and suppose he i 3 passing his life in solitary confinement
 Ugh!' he said, putting his hand over hi eyes; "how fresh it all seemsr' and h 2 thrust the photograph Into an empt 7 drawer
 Bert Foster