The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-07-02
A HAZARDOUS WORK
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Nnf common ntkuOl VT kNAAAh AAa VI an enemy. and the duke had his own e pecial assassinator, who removed witl poison any one obnoxious to his mas Or. At state banQuets this man stood behind the dukes chair and now and again would be dispatched to one oi the guests to pledge him by proxy for the sovereign. The royal rule waf that the two should exchange glasses lt being the greater honor to drink from the dukes glass. The distine ton came to be considered one which might better he declined. for it was aulte likely to be followed by the death of one of the persons honored.
 There was at the capital woman the Countess ot Vincenza. of e1traor dlnary character and virtue. some thing not usual in that prohigate age. She was much respected by the duke and stood high in his confidence, even 10 being consulted by him in affairs ,f state. She had endeayored to in' till Into him a higher code of morals put had failed. She at last determined to put stop to his murders, even II lt was necessary to sacrifice her own life. One day while she was driving she met man. evidently a stranger whose likeness Co the duke was aston lshing. She sent servant to him. bidding him call at her villa that even ing.
 "who are youy" she asked when be appeared.
 aRicar,io Marli, the youngest son Of a nobleman ot southern Italy,
 What do you herer'
 "I am In quest of some adventure to better my condition. am starving.
 Would you like to be grand duker
 The man. thunderstruck. stammered that he would. whereupon the countess told him that it was possible, though to effect the object he must risk his life. Ricardo was much impressed with the striking Individuality of the countess. failing every moment more under her influence.
 "I shall ask for an invitation for YOU" she said. "to the next state ban quet. We will attend 1t together. sit ting side by side. As soon as the duke sees one SO closely resembling him be will send Co you a person who will ask you to drink with his master, exchang- Ing glasses. The glass you receive will be poisoned. I will put Into practice one of several plans l have In mind' using the one which at the time seems most practicable.
 Ricardo impulslvely resolved to place his life in the count9ss' keeping and consented to do her Slddlng. She at once wrote to the duke. asking for the Invitation, and when the banquet came off she was there with Ricardo Mardl. His likeness to the duke caused a sen satlon. Indeed. be was several times mistaken for the ruler. The moment the host set eyes on Ricardo it was plain to the countess that be was much lncensed. But be controlled himself and later in the evening sent his proxy to honor the stranger in the usual way. Ricardo rose and was about Co take the glass offered him when the countess seized lt and. holding lt aloft, turned to ,he duke.
 "I claim the honor of first pledglng your hlghneSs." she said. Ricardo, who had been instructed by her, protested, the two contending for the glass. The duke. who saw his Intention liable to be turned awry. sat anxlOusly watch Ing the scene. Presently he saw the countess drink. She had no sooner done so than. appearing to be m, she retired to an anteroom. From there she sent word to the duke that sbe was dying and asked hlm To come tO her alone since she would communicate to him state secret of vital importance. The duke hurried to the chamber
 The countess in her efforts to get the glass from Ricardo had succeeded in drinking from her own glass, making ,t appear that it was the one offered by the polsoner. When the duke en- tered the anteroOm. Ricardo closed the door. and while the former hurried to the countess Ricardo stabbed him in the back. Then. exchanging clothes with hlm, he hid the body under a dlvan and, returning to the banquet room, took the hosts seat
 As soon as Ricardo had left the ante room the countess called for one Of her servants. who had been instructed, and. wrapping the dukes body in her mantle. he carried it out to her car. rlage and drove away with it Then the countess slipped out unseen.
 Ricardo Mardi remained but a few moments at the table. felgnlng to be grleved at the Illness of the countess and withdrawing apparently much af' fected. In fact. it was p'aln to the guests. some of whom recognized a difference in hls appearance from the real duke, that something extraordi- nary had happened. When he drove up b his palace. be at once went Into se- illusion. and the next day it was an- uounced that he was very ll. He was accessible to no one for some weeks, except the countess. whose unexpected recovery was received by every one with delight When the duke emerged from his retirement he was much al- tered in appearance. but this was at tributed either to remorse or illness. That there was a great change ln him was indicated by his ordering his poi soner to be thrown Into prison, where be was secretly executed.
 The countess, who was a wife and