Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-12-26
AouDikHIA, The uol-Ia1leI.
sx SEWARD W. HOPKINS, :
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CHAPTER X.
"Mutterelli. want to ask you a
question"
1t was the second day of my re-
newed life and felt much stronger,
and had been watching Mutterelli
with a feeling of amusement as he
puttered around, doing this and that
for his own comfort and mine.
ASK it, signor," he replied. There
is no law in the grotto to compel me
to answer it If don't want to-"
NO." l said. But there is no rea-
son why you should not tell me this,
if you know. Have you any idea who
really killed Pacho Maligni?"
Everything dropped from Mutter-
ellis hands, and he stared at me,
seemingly overcome with surprise.
"Who killed-who-who killed Ma
ligni? What is that, signor? Oh. yes,
l forgot. No, signor, l do not know
who killed Maligni. You did not kill
him."
NO." l replied. II swear it. I did
not even see him struck. l was out
side of the villa making my way to
the gate with Nita Barlotti, when I
heard him cry out and heard the
alarm given. / saw him when / was
on the balcony, but he got up from his
chair and left the room. The next
time saw him, he was lying dead. l
am as much in the dark about 1t as
any one"
Mutterelli whistled.
This is news to me, signor. l
thought, of course, you killed Maligni.
But If you did not, then who the deuce
did,"
II don't know. That is what want
to know"
You shall know, signor," said Nut
terelli, and his jaw snapped. Nearly
a month has been wasted. in which,
perhaps, could have run the MUIR
derer down and set you free. But I
will do it yet, signor. Do not fear.
l will know who the murderer Of Ma
ligni is in less than sixteen days
more"
Find him." said, land the twenty
Ave thousand lire that l promised
you shall be doubled
"Ah! Thank you, signor. Mutter-
ELI is faithful, but he is poor. There
fore he is grateful. I must see
Brother Michael to-day. If l can find
him."
The last sentence seemed to be an
afterthought. My own opinion was
that if the willy Mutterelli wanted to
see Brother Michael he would not
need to go far-a mirror would show
him the Jesuit's face. NV
That afternoon Mutterelli went
away and did not return until long
into the night. When he did come in.
he breathed heavily, and seemed like
a man who had been drinking much
wine .
lay there in silence watching him,
as in the dim light of the candle he
moved about preparing to go to bed.
In a far corner of the grotto, upon
some boards laid lengthwise, some
furs like those on which l lay had
been placed. Upon this rude couch
Mutterelli stretched himself, and was
soon snoring away as if he was repos-
ing on the softest bed in his probably
comfortable home in Genoa. And as
thought of it l laughed softly to my.
self. 1t was probably strange place
for Mutterelli to be sleeping. Yet
more than that, the thought came to
me that it was strange couch for a
monk. And laughing again at Nut
terelli's clumsy attempts to. deceive
me, fell asleep.
The days passed slowly after this,
yet l mended rapidly, and my return.
Ing strength brought renewed ambi'
ton and stronger determination to
carry to q successful issue the pur.
poses that had brought me to Sar.
DINA. But l could get nothing out
of Mutterelli. I piled him with ques-
lions about the monk and about the
prefetto and about Nita Barlotti, but
all got, day after day, were reiter.
ated cautions about leaving the grot.
to and vague and misty sentences
about great plans being laid for my
benefit by Mutterelli and Brother
Michael, .,.zrs- +. >.ss' ~,
Nita Barlotti was still at the coun-
try residence of the prefetto, and Nut
terelli informed me that it was ru-
mored that she would soon become
the bride of Count di Pordino. l
could not see how or wherein the
count was any improvement over
Pacho Maligni, but Mutterelli par
TALLY treasured me by saying that
the count would not be allowed to wed
her, for when he and Brother Michael
had got my affairs Strengthened out,
they would attend to the case of the
Count di Pordino and his proposed
marriage. h. -. 5s..S -
All this was pacifying and almost
satisfying in the early days of my
convalescence, but there came a day
when was no longer weak, and when
the blood. full of life, rushing through
my body, gave me vigor and desire
to 60 outside again into the world
and see for myself what was going on,
and do for myself what had become
convinced no one else would be able
to do for me. - ~,
It was on one Of these days, when
Mutterali was away, that the spirit
of unrest seized mo, and l grew i'm
patient and nervous at my enforced
idleness. -. A.. l..
Mutterelli, with his usual regard for
my comfort, had procured in some
way supply Of good cigars, and
.l,ad hao ~