Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-06

work on the public read to-day and
escaped. A fellow prisoner fired at
ne Sirh the guards rife and wounded
me. They will be after me soon"
''A'as, son. This is bad bust.
ness"
The monk. as he said this. glanced
n"rvousiy around. as II apprshensiys
OF detection in thus sueeoTing a prIs.
oner of state who had escaped.
lie put his hands under me and
lifted me gently from the ground.
seemed to be but a ehiid in his arms,
Holding me across the back of his
mule. he easily mounted. and. speak
ing to the animal. We We're soon moy-
Ing up the mountain side,
W. did rot travel far in this way
perhaps a quarter Of a mile. Then
we had come 20 thick portion Of
tie forest, and We were ia a rugged
mountain region. The monk had
been peerIng from side to side. as IL
In search of something. and suddenly
halted his mui. befor. a tall. white
barkei tree that stood near the edge
Of the road.
Il thought l Knew the place. he
tainly the tree"
Sliding from the saddle TO tho
ground. the monk took M. In his
arms and carried me into tle forest.
lie spoke To his mule and the animal
followed him.
lie carried me carefully over rocks
and fallen trees and through seeming,
iy impossible places lie seemed TO
know fully every foot OF IN. uneven
ground. ard to be looking for some
particular spot,
"Ah." he exclaimed at last 1t
iH here. Tae soldiers OF the prcfctto
will have 20 work to Ind you here"
And you will rot betray me.
fathory' I asked.
Nay. I know full well the ease
with which the prefe,,o Imprisons
falsely. You are safe here. And you
will be fed
Il thank you. father" faId. Ia
gratitude.
We had entered sro,;o. The air
inside vas cool and sweet ! could
hear the murmur and ripple of
spring and mountain stream near by.
felt q Ecnnc of rest and security.
and my trust Ia the monk was arm.
| Soon dcllcium set In.
| was row nj the circus aEd gazing
with wo-dcr and admiration at Nita
Bar!o;u. the uTapcEc queen. and Mt
/ Muubikcck. the Hon tanner. In their
respective acts.
| Then the visit to Ralph Grayls.
courts rooms and the discovery of
tho photograph was MS vivid In my
| mind aA on the day Il actually oe.
currcL. hni 70 on. lived over and
\ over again .Lo stirring scenes OF my
last days In New York. and the dc.
/ par,Irc OF Naubiscck aad myself ON
the steamer.
| And then tho accident: MaubIkcck
rushing into my room Had carryin.
me ON deck: ard there standing on
top of n wave. still In tho glare OF tho
light from heaven. stood MaubIkcck.
and above tin. In red letters. seem.
lngly of ere i.cn,ing In the air. saw
the words. Il: you are saved and
am not. save Ni,a from Maiigni!''
! WIS vaguely conscious OF lapse
/ OF time ms I lived over these scenes.
I seemed 10 feel that some one was
near me Eut | knew nothing real
There was nothing of actual lie abou,
me.
A-aln fanc'sd heard thc rippling
| Of stream.
Again thought that marble walls
| surrounded mc. At FIRST Il seemed
that was ir tomb. but gradually
Consciousness came TO me and
nwokc. Tao bed OF furs was my
/ a. al.
me. An odor OF something came to
my rostrils faintly. | turned my
head.
a fire was burning In the little
stove. By1it. n cigarette in his mouth.
holding something over the Goals. sat
Mut.crelli. lie rose and looked at
ne.
I "All right. signor," he said. In the
| calm voice OF man who knew what
he was doing and had been doing II
a long time. "It will be ready In
minute. A bit of toast and n. sip us
wine will do you good. Keep still.
| You are all right. signor.''
| "Mutterelli!" | whispered.
"Signor, You know me-" he cried.
Jesus be praised, You have long been
near death. but now you will be re.
stored to life. All, signor! How's
that?"
As he said this he put n wooden
board before me. upon which was a
| glass of wine ard a bit of white breast
of chicken and slice of toast. Moth.
ing that | had ever eaten in Delmon-
ico's tasted half so good as that dain.
| ty morsel In that hour of my return to
! earth.
Then | closed my eyes and delic.
ious sense OF rest stole over me. and
fell asleep.
| slept long and sweetly. and awoke
much refreshed. Feeling strong.
raised myself on my elbow and looked
about. SQuatting on a low stool near
the opening Of the grotto was Nut
terelli, smoking the inevitable cigar
cite, calmly pairing some potatoes.
the expression OF his face being one
of utter content and placid happiness.
"Mutterelli!" said in whisper,
which was all the voice | could raise
Mutterolli laid down his knife and