Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-03-14
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Hazardous Work.
IOriRinal.l

sided over by the Grand Duke Save
nola. At that time assassination was
the common method Of getting rid of
an enemy, and the duke had his own es-
pecial assassinator, who removed with
poison any one obnoxious to his mas
ter At state banquets this man stood
behind the dukes chair and now and
again would be dispatched to one or
the guests to pledge him by proxy for
the sovereign. The royal rule. was
that the two should exchange glasses,
it being the greater honor to drink
from the dukes glass. The distinc-
ton came to be considered one which
might better be declined, for it was
quite likely to be followed by the
death of one of the persons honored.
There was at the capital n woman,
the Countess of Vincenza. of extraor-
binary character and virtue, some
thing not usual Ia that profiigate age.
She was much respected by the duke
and stood high in his confidence, even
to being consulted by him In affairs
of state. She had endeavOred to in
still into him higher code of morals,
but had failed. She at last determined
to put Il stop to his murders, even If
it was necessary to sacrifice her own
life. One day while she was driving
she met man, evidently stranger,
whose likeness to the duke was aston
ishing. She sent a servant to him,
bidding him call at her villa that even
ing.
"Who are your" she asked when he
appeared.
Ricardo Mardi. the youngest son of
a nobleman of southern Italy"
what do you here?'
81 am in quest of some adventure to
better my condition. l am starving"
Would you like to be grand duke|
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,
falling every moment more under her
influence.
81 shall ask for an invitation for
you" she said. ito the next state BAN
Quet. We will attend it together, sit
ting side by side. AS soon as the duke
sees one so closely resembling him be
will send to you person who will ask
you to drink with his master, eXchang-
ing glasses. The glass you receive will
be poisoned. l will put into practice
one of several plans L have in mind,
using the one which at the time seems
most practicable"
Ricardo impulsively resolved to place
his life in the countess keeping and
consented to do her bidding. She at
once wrote to the duke, asking for the
invitation. and when the banquet came
off she was there with Ricardo Mardi.
His likeness to the duke caused SEN
sation. Indeed, he was several times
mistaken for the ruler. The moment
the host set eyes on Ricardo it was
plain to the countess that he was much
incensed. But he controlled himself
and later in the evening sent his proxy
to honor the stranger in the usual way.
Ricardo rose and was about to take the
glass offered him when the countess
seized 1t and holding it aloft. turned to
the duke.
Il claim the honor of first pledging
your highness." 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 anXiously watch
ing the scene. Presently he saw the
countess drink. She had no sooner
done so than, appearing to be i'll, she
retired to an anteroOm. From there
she sent word TO the duke that she was
dying and asked him TO come to her
alone since she would communicate to
him a 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
it appear that it was the one offered
by the poisoner. 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 him, he hid the body under a
divan 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
riage and drove away with it. Then
the countess slipped out unseen.
Ricardo Mardi remained but few
moments at the table, feigning to be
grieved at the illness of the countess
and withdrawing apparently much af-
fected. In fact it was plain to the
guests, some of whom recognized
difference in his appearance from the
real duke, that something eXtraordi-
nary had happened. When he drove up
TO his palace, he at once went into Sc
clusion. and the next day it was an
nounced that he was very ILL., 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 in him