Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-10-21

would bring such WONDERFUL results Ine
deserted palace outside the Porta Nuova
would be secured. q laboratory set up and
chemicals bought; so he held his peace
ana received mis- reward
Stating that the excitement of play was
his sole means OF forgetting his sorrow,
Count Massins 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
impulsivc acts OF heroism, OF which the
basest are somewhat capable. 1t vas
some twelve months later that Zoffani
heard. through the Sasari family, that
Massini had married a young English
widow who had become infatuated by him
and with whom he had gone to live IN
England. taking his son with him.
Hearing also that she was rich. Zofrani
sent a trusty messenger with a letter ask
ing for money TO continue his experiments,
and warning the count that IL his second
wife died and left him her wealth he
would not fail TO have Inquiries made re-
garding her death.
In sending the sum demanded Massint
assured him. truthfuliy. that he had every
reason to hope his English wife would
outlsve him: for the income of a thousand
a year, allowed him by her trustees, would
be reduced TO half that sum at her death.
and her fortune revert TO her only child
AIM 0aNSn tcN. 41C IN nOt tOt3HahCi - nt(-
essary TO add, tina IL the latter died with
out heirs before her stepfather. the great
er part of her inheritance would pass TO
him.
Zoffani occasionally sent for money that
his work might be continued. o IL was
so near being perfected. Even when the
counts second wife died and his annuity
was curtailed. the demands continued to
be made. for Zoffani, now more infatu-
nfn1 fhnf. A1fce. Ixr AZ Arans ~ x3Ar1oN 49, hfC
experiment must be proceeded with, no
matter at what cost. and Massini did not
dare TO refuse this keeper OF his secret,
whom lie regarded as a mailman.
1t was while soreiy pressed for money
by zoffani and worried by the thought OF
his sons debts to Richard COTE. that,
taking advantage OF hts knowledge OF
poison and Of his Observation-Disclosures In
darkness. he had murdered this young
man TO recover The /. o.. us Max had
given him, IND to obtain whatever money
he possessed. believing that even TX Zof-
FAM heard of the deed and suspected him,
he was so far removed and so engrossed
In his pursuit that he would make no in
curry.
1t was only when his great scheme of
marrying his son to Edith failed, that he
resolved to get rid Of the man she had
promised to marry. The evening when
- - tAA1 J&FNE N&AAt1 Nv 80
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 in dark
ness. 1t was he who had flung from his
bedroom window into the slirubbery be-
meath the black box from which ne a
previously taken the jewels, which were
placed in a drawer whose secret was only
known to himself.
ri Az ha foiiad M nY1t EnnfFraxy Igxtuchn NtIf
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
tomary caution forsaking him. and his de-
sire to hasten the end prompting him. he
had given a dose sufficient to lead the
medical men to suspect the true cause OF
her sudden illness.
His last acts were 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, n though reference was never
made to them by the count, there was no
doubt his valet was aware OF the truth.
11S ~ was VINO lHNdIldDiy met IOlLdhl
messenger and gave him the money de-
manded, as he had done on the night they
were arrested. IL was the count who had
prearranged 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 mand
had so often glided.
THE END.