Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-10-20

He added that silence would bring such
reward as Zoffani chose to name.
The latter, who had already been bitten
by the craze for alchemy, saw in this offer
the means of beginning the work that
would bring such wonderful results. The
deserted palace outside thes Porta Nuova
would be secured. q laboratory set up and
chemicals bought; so he held his peace
and received his reward.
Stating that the excitement of play was
his sole means of forgetting his sorrow,
Count Mass.ni became a confirmed gam
bier. For years Zoffani heard nothing Of
him until he came one day to consult him
about his sight. lost through one of those
impulsive acts of heroism, of which the
basest are somewhat capable. 1t was
some twelve months later that Zoffani
heard, through the Sasari family, that
Massini had married young English
widow who had become infatuated by him
and with Whom he had gone 10 live in
England, taking his son with him.
Hearing also that she was rich, Zoffani
sent a trusty messenger with letter ask
Ing for money to continue his experiments,
and warning the count that If his second
wife died and left him her wealth he
would not fall to have inquiries made re-
garding her death.
In sending the sum demanded Massini
assured him, truthfully, that he had every
reason to hope his English wife would
outlive him; for the income of thousand
year. allowed him by her trustees, would
be reduced to nalf that sum a. her death,
and her fortune revert to her only child
and daughter. He did not consider it nee
essary to add that If the latter died with
out heirs before her stepfathcr the great
err part of her Inheritance would pass to
him.
Ioftanl occasionally sent for money that
his work might be continued, now 1t was
so near being perfected. Even when the
counts second wife died and his annuity
was curtailed, the demands continued to
be made. for Ioffani. now more infatu-
ated than ever by his dream, declared his
experiment must be proceeded with. no
matter at what cost and Massin did not
dare to refuse this keeper of his secret,
whom he regarded as mailman.
1T was while sorely pressed for money
by Zoffani and worried by the thought Of
his sons debts to Richard Goffe. that.
taking advantage of his knowledge of
poison and of his Observation-Disclosures in
darkness, he had murdered this young
man to recover the l. o. Us Max had
given him. and to obtain whatever money
he possessed believing that even If Lof-
FAM heard of the deed and suspected him,
he was so far removed and so engrossed
In his pursuit that he would make no i'll
quiry.
marrying his son to Edith failed, that he
resolved to get rid of the man she had
promised to marry The evening when
he brought the Jewels seemed the most
fitting time, for their loss might be made
to account for the murder and point to
thieves. On that occasion the counts mar
row escape was due TO his seeing i'll dark
ness. 1t was he who had flung from his
bedroom window into the shrubbery be-
meath the black box from which he had
previously taken the Jewels, which were
placed IN n drawer whose secret was only
known to himself.
AS he failed to put Godfrey Bysshe out
OF the way, and Edith had determined to
marry him, the count next resolved that
she must die, when he would come into
the greater part Of her fortune. He had
selected the night time as best suited for
his Work. and dropped the poison into the
glass standing by her bedside; but his GUS
tomaly caution forsalking him. and his de-
sire to hasten the end prompting him. he
had given dose sufficient TO lead the
medical men to suspect the true cause OF
her sudden illness.
His last acts We're to place the jewels
where they should be found and to take
himself out Of life with as little scandal
as possible. No confession was left.
Though Urbano had not been called on
to aid his master IN these murderous
deeds. and though reference was never
made to them by the count. there was no
doubt his valet was aware of the truth
lie 1t was who Invariably met Zoffani's
messenger and gave him the money de-
manded. as he had done on the night they
were arrested. 1t was the count who had
prearrnnged the tale they were to tell in
case OF being surprised by the police.
Edith was never allowed to suspect the
terrible parts played by her stepfather of
whose talents and whose graciousness she
sometimes spoke in after years to the
happy children who romped round the
rooms and corridors through which the
calm, pathetic figure Of the blind nand
had SO often glided.
THE. LNn