Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-01-09
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CHAPTER XII.

os,ynsAs. isss. b. Rons.r Bosans ssSe
CHAPTER XII.
"Your excellency," he said. you
have heard the words Of the Count al
Pordino-his dying confession. 10
you believe it,"
Eyes, / believe 1t is true" whis-
pered Maligni.
"And Is there any act which you
wish to perform before you die, TO
make PREPARATION for the wrong that
has been done an innocent man."
"Yes-yes. Let Henry Thorlane be
brought before me. will do him JUS
tice, that I, too. may receive justice
from God"
The monk sat down to the writing
table. and taking pen, began writ
ing on some Of the official paper OF
the prefetto.
Having finished, the monk held IN
his hands two papers. One OF these
he began to read aloud to the Count
di Pordlno.
1t ran thus: -
1.-THE Confession Of the Count di
Pordino, on his dying bed, before
Maligni, the Prefetto Of Cagliari, and
the assembled monks and soldiers OF
his household: .-.
II, the Count di Pordino, do confess
and do swear before God that the con-
fession is true; that my nephew, Hen
ry Thorlane, the owner of the Villa
Thorlano and its estate, Is innocent
of the crime of conspiracy against
the prefetto, with which crime |
charged him, for the sole purpose OF
putting him in prison and receiving
at the hands Of the prefetto my
nephew's estate as my reward.
"And it is my fear of future pun.
ishment that impels me to make this
true confession and withhold none
of the truth, that justice may now be
done to my nephew. Henry Thorlane,
whom have wronged."
us this correct, count?" asked
Brother Michael, when he had fin.
ished.
"Yes," whispered the count.
"Then sign.''
Brother Michael dipped pen in ink
and placed it in the grasp of the dying
man. Feebly his fingers moved over
the paper and scrawled his signature.
Then Brother Michael turned to the
prefetto and read the other paper.
This was an official document, restor-
ing Henry Thorlane to all rights Of
citizenship, restoring to him his val
liable estate and removing ali faint
and disgrace from his name.
This was signed by the prefetto, and
the Official seal was placed upon 1t.
Bring Henry Thorlane before me,
that may beg of him forgiveness"
gasped the prefetto.
"Wait. There Is one thing more to
be done in an official capacity" said
the monk "Your excellency. you re-
call the incidents of the night on
which your brother was murdered?'
The prefetto signified that he did.
"A young man who had entered here
to rescue Nita Barlotti from your
brother-a young man who had no en-
nifty toward Pacho Maligni himself.
but who was acting In obedience to
the request of friend who was lost
at sea-was seized, and, with no other
evidence against him, was sentenced
to imprisonment for life for the
crime. Your excellency, that young
man escaped, but he is here" Obedi-
ent to his signal, l stood before the
prefetto. "He Is the Jew who came
with me to give you warning of the
attack that was to be made tonight.
We have evidence, your excellency,
that will convict another Of the
crime, and it but remains to seize the
real murderer and place him in prison.
And this young man, who is innocent
of any crime against the state. needs
but your signature to make him free
from the stigma that has been put
upon him."
rs it true? You know the real
murderer"
1T is true" said the monk. Il
swear it." -...
Before I die-before I de-" muir
INJURED the prefetto. 'let nothing re-
main undone."
The monk again wrote, and this
time it was a paper declaring me
innocent of the crime Of murder, and
ordering the removal from the books
in the Department Of Justice of all
charges against me, Richard Wilber-
ton, Of New York. r. r
This the prefetto signed, and again
the great official seal was used.
''Now-let me see Henry Thorlane,"
gasped the prefetto. s-.....s
"You shalt" r..
These words came from the monk,
but not in the soft, priestlike voice l
had heard before. They came in deep
chest tones, with sternness that
startled me and every one else in the
room. Brother Michael removed the
goggles from his eyes, and threw aside
his monkish garb. Standing erect, he
seemed taller, and his smooth-shaven
head was squarely set upon shoulders
of massive mold.
Behold me! am Henry Thor.
lane!" a{
"Thorlane!" gasped the prefetto.
"Thorlane!" murmured tbs Count
di Pordino.
ut is true! He is Henry Thorlane!'
exclaimed several of the soldiers
among whom was the captain Of the
guard. 81
But what Of me? I stood trembling
paralyzed in every limb. tried to cry
out in an excess Of Joy, but my tongue