The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-30
CHAPTER XI.
AN ASTOUNDING AFFAIR.

HAN an nOur nao Ine gunmahef
sat by the side of the sick mans bed
when he was aroused from the rever-
lie into which he had fallen by the
gentle opening Of the door. He turn
ed AID beheld human form emerg-
ing froal tie narrow, dark entry
way. rs il came into the room the
watcher started, for he beheld the
humpbached priest. Savotano.
"Who IS I:cre =: the arch fend
whispered, shading his eyes and try
ing to peee into the gloom.
5Sh!'' uttered Ruric. "The count
is alseep.
By this time our hero had so far
overcome the first emotion caused
by the villains entrance that he
could be calm.
aAnd who is this?" tie priest
whispered, moving nearer to the
bed. .Ha! The gunmaker!!"
eyes," replied the youth, watch
ing every look and movement of the
fellow most closely.
5sYou are in strange place, I
should say" Savotano whispered,
not looking the young man directly
in the face, but casting upon him
sidelong glance, as though he dared
not look direct.
"Speak not too loud, sir priest, :"
said our hero, determined to enter
into no conversation with the man
if he could avoid it. 'Do not aWak-
en- the count, for he is very faint
and weak
And then Ruric had another rea-
son. He feared if Damonof should
awake that the strange discovery
they had made might be revealed,
and, of course, he wished not that
the villain should yet know how well
he was understood.
"But why are you here" pursued
Savotano, who seemed determined
to know. "I am this poor mans
spiritual comforter, and l surely
have a. right to know wherefore is
the presence Of one bearing the pc
culiar relations toward him which
are sustained by you"
Ruric's first impulse was one of
disgust and wrath, but he managed
to keep it to himself.
sSir priest he returned, moving
his chair noiselessly nearer to the
visitor, so that his whisper might
not disturb the sleeper, Il heard
! that the count was dying, and l
would not have him die without first
forgiving me for all that / had.
done"
"And has he done it %
"He has,"
"And why do you remain here?
Where is his attendant"
"She is out somewhere. The
count has had strange ft-a star
ting spasm-and l feared if he
had another the woman could not
manage him alone
"Ah!" uttered Savotano. GA
spasm:''
"Yes, most strange one, as
though something were at his heart,
as though his brain were on fire and
his whole system shaking
The priest turned his head away,
but Ruric saw plainly the exultant
look which rested there. There was
no mistaking any more. That one
look-for Ruric saw twas proof
enough.
"Well, WE'LL" the misshapen vii
lain said, 81 will call again when he
is awake. | would not have him
die and / not by him.
Thus speaking Savotano arose
and moved toward the door. His
step was eager, and his every look
betrayed some anxious purpose. He
stopped as he reached the door and
looked back, but he did not speak.
Ruric was afraid he might 60 to the
sideboard to look at the medicine,
but he did not. He simply cast enc
more glance at the watcher and then
left the room.
In half an hour more the surgeon
returned. His face wore a clear,
emphatic expression, and his move
ments were all quick and prompt,
as though each one was for the pur-
pose of announcing some self evi-
dent decision.
"Well," he uttered, with a quick
ly drawn breath, eve have put the
medicines to a test.'' And then he
leaned back and looked into Ruric's
face.
"And what did you 6nd"' the
yn11no man asked