Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-27
o.,,ns.. a.,. ss no...r Bo.,..'. sos.
CHAPTER XII.

you believe it:"
"Yes. I believe II Is true" whis'
pered Maligni.
And is there any act which you
wish to perform before you die. to
make reparation for the wrong that
has been done an Innocent man!
"yes-ycs. Let Henry Thorlane be
brought before me. viii do him jus
tIee. that I. too. may receive Justice
from God"
The monk sat down to the writing
table. and taking pen. began writ
Ing on come OF the of'iclal 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.
II ran thus;
The Confession Of the Count di
Pordino. on his dying bed. before
MalignI. the Prefetto OF Cagiiarl. and
the assembled monks and soldiers OF
his household:
u. the Count al Pordino. do confess
and do swear before God that the con-
fessIon Is true: that my nephew. Hen
~ Thorianc. the owner Of the Villa
Thorlano and It's estate. Is Innocent
OF the crime Of conspiracy against
the prcfctto. With which crime !
charged him. for the sole purpose OF
putting him In prison and receiving
at tac hands OF the prcf.tto my
nephcw'S estate as my reward.
And II Il my fear of future pun
ishment that impelS me to make this
true confession and withhold none
Of the truth. that Justice may nov be
done to my nephew. Henry Thorlane.
whom I have wronred."
is this correct. counts" asked
Brother Michael. when he had tin.
Ished.
Yes" whispered the count
Then sign
Brother Michael dipped pen IN ink
and placed II In the grasp Of the dyinE
man. Fccbly his fingers moved over
the paper and scrawled his signature.
Then Brother Michael turned to the
prcfctto and read the other paper
This was an Official document. rcstor-
inE Henry Thorihnc to all rights OF
citizenship. restoring TO him his val.
uablc estate and removing ali taint
and dlsgrac. from his ramc.
This was signed 10y the prcfctts. and
the Official seal was placed upon II.
Bring Henry Thorlanc before me.
that | may beg OF him forsivcncss.'
gnspcd the prclctto.
Walt There Is one thing more To
bc done In IN Official capacity" said
the monk. Your cNccllcncy. you re-
call the Incidents of the night on
which your brother was murdcrcd?''
The prcfctto sIRnlned that he did.
"A young man who had entered here
TO rescue Nita BaTlotti from your
brothCr-n young man who had no en-
nifty toward pacho Miallgnl himself.
but who was acting in obedience to
the request of n friend who was lost
at sca-was seized. and. with no other
evidence against him. was sentenced
to imprisonment for life for the
crime. Yous cxcellency. that young
man escaped, but he Is here" obcdl.
crt to his signal. stood before the
pr.fctto. "Hc Is the Jew who came
with me to give you warning of the
attncl; that was to be made tonight.
We have evidence. your cxccllency.
that will convict another of the
crime. and Il but remains to seize the
real murderer and place him In prison.
And this yourg man. who Is Innocent
of any crime against the state. needs
but your signature to make him free
Tho - thut haa ham
upon him"
is 1t true? You know the real
murderer"
1T is true" said tho monk. 81
swear it,
Before die--bcfore die" muir
INJURED the prefetto. ''let nothing re-
main undone."
The monk again wrote. and this
time II 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.
This the prefetto signed. md again
the great official seal was used.
"Now-let me see Henry Thorlane. g
gasped the prefetto.
You shalt"
These words came from the monk.
but not in the soft. priestlike voice |
had heard before. They came in deep
chest tones. with sternncss 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!"
"Thorlane." gasped the prefetto.
"Thorlane," murmured the Count
di Pordino.
1T is true! He is Henry Thorlane!'
exclaimed several of the soldiers,
among whom was the captain of the
guard.
But what Of me? I stood trembling.
paralyzed in every limb. | tried to cry
out in an excess of joy. but my tongue
refused obedience to my will and
Glove to the roof of my mouth. Those
massive shoulders! That wellspoised
head! That thunderous voice! To
those around me, the undisguised
r,npls une Henry Thorinnn IN mo