The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-07-09

hiHl' was apparently OF capith lhlelest W
the Mafa.
Suspicion and distrust were again
troubling Macheca regarding his private
secretary, who, I'm fact had his brains so
overturned by this time and looked ESQ
sullen and absentminded that the grand
master had plenty OF reason for doubling
his fidelity.
The eve OF Gabriella's elopement also
preceded the last day allowed for Orsini's
death: only one day more was left Scat
foldi In which 10 accomplish his duty
and still his reports continued 10 range
along the same lines, viz. lack OF oppor-
tunity which was really substantiated by
carefully given details showing that not
A single day had passed in which Scaf-
foldi had not located Orsini In different
places from the rising OF the sun TO the
setting; finding him often at home, but
when out, always accompanied by some
/ one.
In reality. IL Scaffodli had been more
verltable he would have told how. many
| n time. he had shadowed Orsini 20 Ma
/ checa's house nearby, how he had dis
! covered that Orsini was the lover OF Ma
| checa's niece and had hundred oppor-
/ tunities 10 kill him, II he had SO desired.
! In the Grand Masters mind things had
become so entangled, his doubts so firmly
/ knit and all the business so complicated
/ that he determined 10 have a direct hand
in the matter. and TO regard everybody
| with distrust
! To begin with. the uncle, one evening.
! went 10 see his niece. Finding the door
! locked. the old man was obliged 10 call
! for admission; and the girls, at the sound
! OF his voice began 70 talk In low, furried
| tones and 10 fiutter about the room.
| What is the matter with those girls
/ he thought alarmed by the clatter.
| n MachecR had had at his disposal
| perfect Roentgen apparatus not yet in
| vented. indeed, at that time) or IL ne had
been able in any way TO pierce the wall
/ with his gaze he would have seen that
| the matter with the girls was a very siu.-
| pie one. Not at all expecting visit
| from the uncle, Gabrielle was poring
| over a long manuscript which lay before
| her on the table adding words here and
| there, erasing and correcting II. and II
| the uncle had also had the chance to
steal a single glance at the paper he
would have found that II was OF some
| appalling nature. which was proved by
| Gabriella's CONSERVATION at hearing her
| uncle AT the door.
In her haste 20 conceal the writing. Ca
briella overturned the inkstand and
everything else In her way. while the
maid was cranming between the mat
| tress the "laborers'. clothes they had
used In their excursion TO the owls
| Nest"
| MeC1eCds Retling impatient, WAS on the
| point of forcing the door. when he was
let I'm by Margaret who apologized for
| the delay by saying that II was because
| her young mistress was just changing
| her clothes.
! The uncle. frowning, stepped into the
! room, gazing suspiciously all around. See
ing his niece's ink-stained fingers. ne said
I In ch.Gs!ng tone:
Il am sorry 10 have disturbed you while
| rnI In, fxx.v
| appears by the ink split on the desk and
| on the carpet"
| Gabrielle flushing, was unable to give
| any answer but there was the ever-ready
Margaret. who quickly formulated an am
bigious pretext which would neither be
an acquiescence nor a Nat denial to her
| employers query.
II wonder that even the furniture is left
| standing. in 30 great n hurry was she TO
attire herself becomingy 10 meet you"
The old man felt flattered at the hinted
compliment and staring at the niece as II
wishing her TO confirm what the maid had
said. he rejoned:
| rs that so, my lass?'
Yes SIR" came almost inaudibly from
Gabriellas lips
Whether or not this was true. Mecheca
could not ascertain. but not noticing any
thing else out OF the way in the room.
he felt somewhat satisfied, setting asfde
the suspicion which had FIRST come To
him, that Gabrielle might still be indulg-
Ing In correspondence with Orsini
Margaret with her most agreeable air
and an errant, roguish smile on her lips.
offered her employer a chair
Macheca- seating himself comfortably.
began In soft and gentle tones to inquire
about his niece's health asking IL she
was In need OF anything. and so on. He
was, on the whole. extraordinarily cour-
teous and affable.
Gabrielle answered mostly In mono.
syllables. but Margaret was always com.
piettng and replentishing all that thu
embarrassed girl had otherwise properly
said. Macheca's complaisance becam,
extended TO such limit on this visi
that he granted his niece permission Il
take her meals with him In the common
dining room hereafter deeming il n,
longer necessary he said. TO prolong tn,
rieces confinement on the second floor
because he believed that she deserved
better treatment on account of her salts
factory behavior. But Macheca's benev
olence reached Its highest degree at In.
moment Of his departure. when he handel
Margaret a snug bundle of bills (of tn.
one dollar variety. OF course) for Ga
briellss winter dress.
Macheca's amiableness and conces
sions were, however. a thunderbolt TO tn,
girls. who were about TO attain thei
utmost wish by leaving the house within
a few hours
To have their meals in the dining room
was to the niece the worst OF Ali Ma
checa's offerings.
Who could bear Macheca's hated com
pany? How could the girls get read,
J on the very night OF the flight? VIII,
could wait for Orsini who was comm,
into their room that night9 Would no
the uncle detect some unconcealable anx
iety and wariness in their countenance
that night?
All these questions were agitating botl
Gabriella's and Margarets minds; an,
here. again. the rescue came from tn,
maid who encouraged her mistress ant
assured her that everything would go al
, right when the time should come an,
that. I'm any case, she would map on
some means or take advantage Of SOM
fortuitous opportunity 10 execute safel,
, their escape.
Margaret said all this 10 calm Gabrielle
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