The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-09-06
CHAPTER XI.
AN ASTOUNDING AFFAIR.

lie INTO Wnlcn he had fallen by tn
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 tn
watcher started, for he beheld tn
humpbacked priest, Savotano.
"Who is here?" the arch fent
whispered, shading his eyes and try
ing to peer into the gloom.
SSh!' uttered Ruric. "The coun
is alseep.'
By this time our hero had so fal
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. "Ha! The gunmakerl'
Yes" replied the youth, watch
ing every look and movement of the
fellow most closely.
"You are in strange place, |
should say" Savotano whispered,
not looking the young man directly
In the face, but casting upon him a
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
If he could avoid it. 'Do not awak
en- the count, for he is very faint
and weak"
And then Ruric had another rea-
son. He feared if Damonoff 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 here ?" pursued
Savotano, who seemed determined
to know. 81 am this poor mans
spiritual comforter, and | surely
have a right to know wherefore is
the presence of one bearing the pc
culiar relations toward him which
are sustained by you"
Ruric'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 | !
would not have him die without first
forgixing me for all that | had
done"
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 fit-a star
ting spasm-and | feared if he
had another the woman could not
manage him alone"
"AhP uttered Savotano. ga
spasm?"
- es, most strange one, as
though something were at his heart.
as though his brain were on fire and
his whole system shaking"
The priest turned his head away,
but Ruric saw plainly the exultant
look which rested there. There was
no installing any more. That one
look-for Ruric saw twas proof
enough.
well, WE'LL" the misshapen vii
lain said, 81 will call again when he
S awake. | would not have him
lie and not by him"
Thus speaking Savotano arose
md moved toward the door. His
'tep was eager, and his every look
betrayed some anxious purpose. He
stopped as he reached the door and
ooked back, but he did not speak.
iuric was afraid he might 90 to the
ldeboard to look at the medicine.
'ut he did not. He simply cast one
more glance at the watcher and then
eft the room.
In half an hour more the surgeon
eturned His face wore a clear.
mphatic expression, and his move
nents were all quick and prompt,
S though each one was for the pur-
'ose of announcing some self evil
ent decision.
SWELL" he uttered, with a quick
drawn breath, "we have put the
medicines to test" And then he
eaned back and looked into Ruric's
ace.
Sand what did you fnd?" the
Dung man asked.
Just what we expected. We
ave detected arsenic in three of
he medicines which the count had
o take. But this poison is not
lone. There is much opium in the
me, even SO that we could smell it
'hen our suspicious guided us. The
olson has been most adroitly fixed.
he priest must have one of those