The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-08-31

tHrtls w 4dN - VIC hiilllG VI a
man? But tell me, did you conceal
the body SO that no one viii find
ii %
II was some moments before Sa-
votano spoke. His frame trembled,
and his hands worked nervously to-
gether. But at length he said in a
hesitating tone:
"He is not dead, my lord"
''Not dead yet? But you promis-
ed me he should be-"
81 know, but we could not do it."
"Bah 1 gave you credit for more
firmness. Not kill man? What is
there so terrible in that ?"
"You misunderstood me, my lord.
We did all we could toward killing
him, but he escaped u.s."
"Holdw cried the duke, starting
forward and grasping the priest by
the shoulder. "You do not mean
that Ruric Newell has escaped you?"
''He has, my lord"
'But not entirely. You do not
mean that he has fairly gone from
out your hands ?"
Gle has, my lord. But listen"-
Listen, thou bunglerl BY the
saints, what story can you tell TO
make that smooth and reasonable !?
You had him in your power, and sou
should have kept him"
"But, my lord, the devil himself
is working for that man. We went
last night to kill the fellow, and /
waited all Of two hours for Totma
and Viska, but the rascals did not
come, and ! engaged others"
"And did they prove treacher-
Gus ?" cried Olga in sudden passion.
"No, my lord; they did their best,
but they were interrupted by that
accused monk, who came backed by
some dozen men,"
"What! Do you mean that Vladi-
mir came there?"
"Yes."
"And with band Of armed
men?"
Eyes"
"Then, by the gods. there's
treachery somewhere"
81 know not what to think, my
lord" returned Savotano in an UNI
easy, perpIexed tone. "The only
men who are absent are Lesko Tot
ma and Frederic Viska, and they are
surely our best men,"
"But you see plainly that there
must have been treachery," exclaim-
ed the duke passionately. ooh, how
! would like to know the man! And
did this monk carry off the gun
maker ?"
"He did. And he captured four
Of our men. | escaped without be-
ing seen"
"That is fortunate"-
81 mean that the monk did not
see me, nor did any of his followers.
But the gunmaker saw me-"
'And do you think he mistrusted
you had any hand in the matter of
his Imprisonment"
Il should Judge so, returned the
priest, with a peculiar twinge Of
vengeance about the lips. 'Crhe viii
lain knocked me down."
"Haw
"Aye; the moment he saw me-
"But do YOU think he knows any
thing about it ?"
'No do not think he does. He
can only suspect"
"Then wen be prepared for him
if your own men are to be depended
upon. But leave that TO me. III fix
that matter with the emperor. I'll
see him this very day. and be sure he
shall have a story that can destroy
all evidence which these fellows can
hatch up"
"But | must flee, my lord"
"Not yet, Sayotano. | must have
your help within a very short time
BY the true God, | swear that tho
Countess Rosalind Naldai shall be
my wife within the present week
I'll place the seal Of fact upon that
at once. Fear not, for
know my influence over the emperor
will shield you from all harm. Why, |
Peter would sooner lose his right |
hand than lose me-
"Then most surely / will remain,
my lord, for | much wish to perform |
that ceremony for you. But who is
this black monk-this Vladimir z"
The duke started across the floor,
and for some moments he continued !
pacing TO and fro. When he stop
ped, he brought his hands together
with an energetic movement, and,
looking the priest sternly in the
face, he said:
az t that monk be who he NAV.