The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-12
A HAZARDOUS WORK
fOrirnaLl

sided over by the Grand Duke Soy"-
 nola. At that time assassination wcs
 the common method of getting rid of
 an enemy. and the duke had bis own cs
 peclal assassinator, who removed with
 poison any one obnoxious to his mas
 ter. At stnte banquets this man stood ! behind the dukes chair and now and | again would be dispatched to one Of the guests to pledge him by proxy for the sovereign The royal rule was that the two should exchange glasses, lt being the greater honor to drink from the dukes glass The distuc-
 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 8 woman the Countess Of yincenzs of eXuaor'
 dlnary character and virtue some | thing not usual in that prod.gate age. l She was much respected by the duke and stood high in his confidence, even
 to being consulted by him in onaiH3 of state. She had endeuyored Co in- [ stlu Into him a higher code of morals but had failed. She at last determined
 to put a stop to his murders even f
 it was necessary to sacrifice her own
 life. One day while she was driving
 she met a man. evidently @ stranger
 whose likeness Co the duke was aston ishing. She sent a servant to him bidding him call at her villa that even | Ing.
 "Who are youg" she asked when he appeared.
 "Ricardo Mardi the youngest son of ! a uoblemau of southern Italy,
 "What do you hereE
 ~I am iu quest Of some adventure to better my condition ] ann starving Would you like Co bc grand duket
 The man. thuuderstruck, stammered
 that be would. whcreupou 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.
 "I shall ask for an invitation for
 you. she said "to the next state ban i guet We win attend it together. sit- ting side by side. As >oou as tbe duke
 sees oue so closely resembling him he win send to you a person who win ask
 you Co drink with his master eNchong- ! ing glasses. The glass you receive win
 be poisoned. ] will pu, into practice one of several plans l have u mind
 using the one which at the time seems most practicable.'
 Ricardo impulsiyeIy resolved to place his lie In Che countess keeping and ! consented to do her H.jdug She at once wrote Co the duke. asking for the ! Invitation. and when ,le banquet came | or she was there with Ricardo Aardl ! His likeness Go thc duke caused a sem satiou. Indeed he was several times mistaken for the ruler The moment . Che host set eyes ou Ricardo t was ! plain to the countess that he was much luceused. But he controlled himself and later iu the evening sent his proxy to honor the stranger iu tho usual way. ! Ricardo rose and was about to take the glass offered him when the countess seized it and. holding it aiot, turned to the duke
 "I claim the honor Of first riedgug your hlghuess." she said Ricardo. who
 had been instructed by her. protested the two coutendmg for the glass. The duke who saw his intention liable to
 be turned awry. sat ouXiousiy watch Ing the scene. Presently he saw the
 countess drink. She had no sooner
 done so than. appearing to be ill. she
 retired to an anteroom From there
 she sent word to the duke that she was dying and asked him Co come to her
 alone since she would communicate to hlm a state secret of vital importance.
 The duke hurried to the chamber
 The countess iu her efforts to get the
 glass from Ricardo had succeeded in drinking from her own glass. making lt appear that it was the one offered
 by the poiSouer. When thc 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. be hid the body under a
 dlvau and returning to the banquet
 room. took the hosts seat
 As soon as Ricacdo had left the ante.
 -oom the countess called for one ot l her servants. who had bcou instructed and. wrapping tbe dukes body iu her mantle he carried it out to Ler ,Jr rlage and drove away with it Then the countess slipped out unseen
 Ricardo Mardi remained but a few moments at the table, fe.guus to be srieved at the Illness Of the countess
 and withdrawing apparently much lt Gected In fact it was plain to tho guests. some Of whom recognized l difference in his appearance from the real duke. that something eNUao-ji nary had happened When he drove up ! 10 bis palace. he at once went into sa illusion. and the next day 1t was an. uounced that be was very ll 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 ! ributed either to remorse or illness That there was a great change iu him