The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-08-12

and saw the end of it whiz over the |
parapet.
"VillainT' 1 shouted. "What have
you done? How is it possible for me
now to descend?"
'Descend?" he queried, with much |
stupefaction. Hast thou forgotten
that the penalty prescribed by our
laws for leaving the country is death |
and that the same penalty awaits the
stranger who intrudes himself upon
US? During the last 400 years know
of no one besides thyself who has
made the descent alive, and well l wot
that thou art the only one who ever
came up. Have l not, then, done well
thus to destroy the evidences of thy
crimeW
My amaZement was great as l lis
tened to the old man. Here was a
pretty situation. l could see no imme-
date way of getting down without
killing myself, and would be killed
by these hospitable people if stayed
where 1 was. 1t was a fine nest that
had climbed into. But my resolution
was Immediately formed. / had been
taken by this old driveler for Prince
Timoteo, and, come what might, Prince
Timoteo must remain.
'But these enemies of my housew l
objected. "Peradventure they have
still the same kind intentions toward
me which they had formerly. BY my
halidom, l fear them not. But would
it not have been well to keep this
means of escape as q last resort?
"Nay, Timoteo. The present ruler of
Firenzalino, the Duke Castruccio degli
Albizzi, is an ancient dotard, who is
tottering to his fall. He has lost the
martial instincts of his ancestors, his
time is spent in tournaments, in dane
ing festivals and drinking bouts. Per
dio, put myself at the head of thy true
adherents and win back the princely
throne which was wrested from thy
race three generations back by the
AlbiZzi. All that thou hast to fear
when thy presence becomes known is
chance stab or two in the back from
thy opponents; for the which | rec
ommend that thou shouldst straight
way invest myself in a suit of mail
or plate, either of which in good as
sortment thou wilt find in the ward
robe of thy noble father. And that re-
mindeth me that we must hasten to
his bedside, for, as | have informed
thee, he is veritably in extremis. God
forgive me for babbling at such a
time"
OF necessity followed the old man,
though, as may be supposed, / had lit
tie wish to meet the illustrious sire Of
the runaway Timothy. The place where
found myself was a garden or pleas
ure ground of about an acre in extent
and incosed on all sides by high stone
walls. A small house, surrounded by
a veranda and built of whitewashed
brick, stood at one end of the close,
| and the grounds were laid out in green
sward, gravel walks and flower beds
and were shaded with olive, lemon and
orange trees. A fountain played re-
| freshingly in the midst, from which
/ argued that this island or country
of Little Florence, or, as Jacopo called
| it, Firenzalino, was not fiat and even
as l had before supposed, but that il
abounded in hills and valleys and run.
ming streams Without these there
would have been no fountains.
| Following my guide, now came tC
the house and, passing through a cor
ridor, entered with fear and trembling
the chamber of the princely patriarch
| Upon bed lay the emaciated yet noble
figure of man of seventy years. His
long and snow white beard flowed dowI
upon the coverlet, his aristocratic ant
| hawklike features were waXen pale
and his eyes were closed. Clan JacopC
fastened to his side and seized his
wrist and bowed down and listened fol
his breathing. Then suddenly crying
out, Holy Virgin, he is dead!' he drop
ped upon his knees and buried his face
in his hands. Then presently he aros'
and, turning to me sadly, said:
1--WE are too late! We are too late
Look upon him, Timoteo; look upon thu
last of thy father, the noble Arnolf'
de- Pazzi. Eccelentissma," he contin
ued. 1--WE must eftsoons seek out ant
inform Father Sylvester, the old ant
worthy priest who for many years ha
been the confessOr of thy good sire
that he may arrange for tonight
watch over the corpse. Fortunatel,
his grace was shriven and absolved b.
him yesterday, so that his passag
hence must have been straight ant
easy. After 1 have found Father Syl
vester will put into thy possession
the princes strong box, that thou may
est examine its contents and reckon
thy Inheritance"
Where is the strong box of whic
thou speakest?' l asked.
Marry, it is here. my master, upo
the floor under the princes bed, col
cealed by yon valance Of embosse
leather, and the key will doubtless b
found under his pillow"
The old servant dragged the box froI
its hiding place and lifted it with som
, difficulty upon a heavy oaken table i
the center of the apartment. While b
-, V,s1I foYst