The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-08-26
1.-THE very man I want" Lady Bysshe
replied, eagerly. II am so glad I men,
toned the subject. Pray tell me about

replied, eagerly. II am SO glad I men,
toned h subject. Pray tell me about
him."
II have known him to make extraor-
binary cures. My father has Immense
faith In him, and. indeed, he has at
tended our family since he came to
settle here as q young man.; 90 he re-
CARDS me as one OF his few friends"
My dear count, l Will send for him
at once"
II should tell you that he is rather
eccentric. and is greatly feared. He
has a reputation. IL singular reputa-
ton"
rs he so wicked?" Lady Bysshe
asked. arching her brows inquiringly.
on the contrary, he is most chart
table, leads the life OF a hermit, and
prescribes without recompense to any
poor people who consult him. But they
believe him to be a wizard. partly be-
cause of his dress and appearance,
partly because of the cures he makes.
but chiefly because when they see the
red and green lights burning through
the windows of his laboratory at mid
night or early morning, they cross
themselves and tell each other that he
Is having a conference With his satanic
majesty. You know how superstitious
our people are" he added, with "a low
pleasant laugh.
But is he u chemist?" Lady Bysshe
asked.
H is an alchemist. Fer nearly half
a century he has been seeking for the
secret which shall turn base metals
into pure gold" Sasali told her quite
seriously.
What" Does anyon believe in
such things in this century"
"Oh, several, l assure you. The clev-
crest men sometimes follow the most
absurd hobbies. | laugh at Dr. Zof-
FAM for his c%redulity, and he pitics me
for my ignorance. He can name a doz-
en- alchemists who have turned lead
into gold in ancient times. AL all
events, he has wasted half a century
and a large fortune in experimenting"
Have his fees brought him this large
fortune" Lady Bysshe asked.
No. for he has never had many
wealthy patients, and | have never
heard from him where he gets the
money to rent his palace. keep up his
laboratory. buy expensive chemicals and
instruments. and give freely to tho
gets have seen him drop into the
crucible as if they We're so many
tones"
He must be interesting as an indi-
vidual," said Lady Hysshe with a
doubtful air. But as a doctor
II will pledge myself for his skill"
Then | Will send for him. she de-
cided.
Il fear you will haze to take the pa
tient to him, for he has not left his
palace for years. Nothing will tempt
him to go far from his laboratory,
where a fire has been kept burning
night and day for a quarter of a CEN
tury."
Then will take Edith to him the
first day she is able to be out. Perhaps
you woul come with as
With pleasure" answered the count.
And meanwhile, l will prepare him for
your visit
A week later and they drove through
the Porta Nuova, half a mile beyond
late looking place whose thick. rough
stoned walls stood close by the road
side, from which its lower windows
We're protected by thick iron bars. A
few Clipped and broken stairs led to
a high-arched DOORWAY, beside
which hung the rusty handle of a bell.
whose sounds presently Went echoing
through empty halls and corridors in
lnterlninable rev~erberations.
A few II later they caught the
sounds of shutting feet approaching,
then a door Edith had not previously
noticed was pushed open n DIR. Zof-
FAM stood on the threshold. His Heb
rev origin was Instantly perceptible in
his withered yellow face, with it's prom
inent nose and UNDERLYING lower lip.
His gray beard was unkempt, his high
dome-shaped forehead swept by wisps
of white hair, while the crown of his
was covered by a little purple
The chief features in his sage
and kindly countenance was his eyes
dark, sunken, full of underlying sad
ness, yet extraordinarily luminous and
With an intelligence that made itself
visible like light. Hsi tall, hin figure
was slightly stopped and clad in a loose
brown gaberdine, the garment worn by
his people in the east.
He lifted his little skull cap and bow
with dignity and courtesy to Lady
Bysshe and Edith, then warmly greeted
who at once explained thai he
had brought the patient of whom he
had already spoken. AT his the doctor
his eyes on Edith and begged that
she n her friends would follow him.
With slow steps he conducted them
to the apartment where he saw the few
who consulted him-an octag-
onal room whose atmosphere was heat
ed by charcoal burning in a great bra
zier. 1t was lighted by the midday
streaming through It's deep set
Edith was impressed with the doc
tors grave yet kindly manner, by his
venerable and unconventional appear
but above all by an indefinable
air of insight and knowledge which the
expression of his eyes guaranteed him
TO possess.
AS she walked beside him she had
addressed him in his own language.
which her stepfather had taught her.
when with delighted surprise he began
to aske her various questions about
herself and the country from which she
had come.
Sasari-who had been showing Lady
Sysshe some curious crystal pitfalls and
marble statuettes that he had dug I'D
IN a n%eighboring garden-came forward
tell Zoffani that his patient was he
Of Count Massini. At
his he looked at Edith seemingly with
fresh interest.
The Count Massini." he said, as IL
a memory with some effort.
All, Yes. l remember Count Massini."
My uncle by marriage" Sasari ex-
You remember-'
Yes" Zoffani interrupted, 81 remem-
oer." And turning to Edith he said
nusingly. and SO Count Massini IL
stepfather. He live altogether In
="
myself"
His son is of age-yes, more than
If g by this time"
- Is four or five and twenty"
SO much as that" he muttered. hi.
'yebrows meeting and almost hiding
1i-IA