The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-02

/ many promissory notes written on small
pieces of parchment. 1t seemed as though
in this chest were locked up farms. fields.
vineyards. woods. ponds. marble quarries,
chariots, ships. donkeys, horses, herds OF
cows docks Of sheep, pigs. weavers' work.
shops, together with the looms and the
workers: tanneries. gunsmiths' shops.
FORCES, palaces and castles. For the notes
were signed by those who had given Their
property as security to signor Nicola. :
Holding the candle in his left hand, the
old man searched with the other among the
papers, looking for the one signed by Ze-
none, as he wanted to copy it before he
handed it over to the judges whose dut-- It
was to expel debtors and order that their
property be confiscated for the benefit of
their creditors. While he was thus engaged
and at the very moment when he was put
ting his hand on the paper a black form
shot in through the window and. swiftly
darting across the room, knocked down and
extinguished the rosin lamp. In the dark
ness Signor Nicola felt small hairy crea-
ture which chung to his robe and dug Its
sharp claws into his breast. '.It is the
devilI' he cried in sudden agony, and with
all the strength that fear had left hin, he
tried to shake 1t of. Tho animal, painting
and crying horribly. held fast. and as 1t
squirmed and clawed tore his skin through
his doublet and scratched his hands.
After violent efforts and with the help Of
Our Lady and the Saints, whom he invoked,
Signor Nicola finally succeeded in shaking
on his assailant. who. swearing meanwhile
in some unearthly language. fell Into tho
strong-box among the gold coins and jew
els Fearing more than anything else that
he was about to be robbed. Signor Nicola
boldly thrust his arms and head into the
box. but a second later he drew back in
horror, and as he ded his enemy chung to his
h. "A -<th ty, ~
and almost tainted.
Barbara heard his cries In tho kitchen and
ran into the room with candle. Tho enc
my had vanished.
Give me the candlestick." said signor
Nicola. Come. give 1t to me at once. SO
that I may see whether the devil has stolen
anything or not"
precious box and carefully examined his
treasures. He saw that nothing was miss
ing. but in the box was q new object. the
sight Of which filed him with terror. It
was q red and bleeding heart.
TITS my own heart" he cried The
saint spoke truly. My heart Is In my strong
box. Look at 1t. All It's roots are cut. It
does not beat any more. VIII It never beat
any more? A heart that does not beat is
no longer heart. Barbara. it's only too
true. The devil has put my heart in my
strong box"
After long argument Signor Nicola
finally consented to see the apothecary.
Barbara went for him and told him tho
story. 1t was not all new to him. for he
had seen his cat Pluto running out Of Lotto
0aiiehdfs butcher store with bullock's
heart In its mouth and closely chased by
Lotto, who threw larding pin at him
Frightened and hurt. the animal with the
heart still In its mouth had then jumped SIX
feet and gone straight through Signor Mic
cola's window. And, as he heard his friends
story. Zenone at once understood that the
grim and bold Pluto had only abandoned
his prey In the box that he might bite q
piece out Of his enemy's nose.
Taking with him q jar Of ointment and
. small pincers. Zenone went to the house
OF eignor Nicola. who at sight Of him.
for hfs courage was returning exclaimed:
Don't Gems Aeae me. 6oc't ned you.