The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-09-15
MoUikDCk, NE uO|fIoIlcI.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Anthor Of Jack Robbins Of America" ..la tie
cAlna Sea- Tive 0satlensa q
Hawaii ''Oa Palss
Charge" Etc.
o.syr,sa.. ,sss. b, ROBERT sorr..'. sore
CHAPTER x.

CHAPTER X.
"Mutterelll, l want to ask you a
question"
1t was the second day of my re.
newed life and | felt much stronger,
and had been watching Mutterelfi
with feeling of amusement as he
puttered around, doing this and that
for his own comfort and mine.
ASK it, signor," he replied. There
is no law in the grotto to compel me
to answer it if l don't want to-"
NO" l said. But there is no rea-
son why you should notstell me this,
if you know. Have you any idea who
really killed Pacho Maligni?"
Everything dropped from Mutter-
ellis hands. and he stared at me,
seemingly overcome with surprise.
Who killed-who-who killed Ma
lisni? What is that, signor? Oh, yes,
l forgot No, signor, l do not know
who killed Maligni You did not kill
him."
No replied. 81 swear it. l did
not even see him struck. l was out
side OF the villa making my way to
the gate with Nita Barlotti, when
heard him Cry out and heard the
alarm given. l saw him when l was
on the balcony, but he got up from his
chair and left the room. The next
time | saw him, he was lying dead
am as much in the dark about it as
any one
Mutterelli whistled.
This is news to me, signor.
thought, OF course, you killed Maligni
But if you did not then VINO the deuce
did,
Il don't know. That is what want
to know
You shall know, signor." said Nut
terelli, and his jaw snapped. Nearly
month has been wasted in which,
perhaps, | could have run the MUIR
derer down and set you free But I
will do it yet signor. DO not fear
! will know who the murderer OF Ma
]isni is in less than sixteen days
more
Find him. said land the twenty
five thousand lire that l promised
you shall be doubled"
All! Thank you. signor. Mutter-
ELI is faithful. but he is poor. There
fore he is grateful. l must see
Brother Michael to-day. If | can find
him
the last sentence seemed to be an
attarthought. My own opinion was
that if the willy Mutterelli wanted to
see Brother Michael he would not
need to go far-a mirror would show
him the Jesuit's face
That afternoon Mutterelli went
away and did not return until long
into the night. When he did come in.
he breathed heavily, and seemed like
man who had been drinking much
wine
lay there in silence watching him,
as in the dim light OF the candle he
moved about preparing to go to bed
In far corner of the grotto, upon
some boards laid lengthwise, some
furs like those on which l lay had
been placed Upon this rude couch
Mntterelli stretched himself, and was
soon snoring away as if he was repos-
ing on the softest bed in his probably
comfortable home in Genoa And as
thought Of it | laughed softly to my
self 1t was probably strange place
for Mut1ereli to be sleeping. Yet
more than that, the thought came to
me that it was strange couch for a
monk And laughing again at Nut
terelli's clumsy attempts to deceive
me, | fell asleep.
The days passed slowly after this,
yet | mended rapidly. and my return
ing strength brought renewed ambi-
ton and stronger determination to
carry to a successful issue the prlr.
poses that had brought me to Sar-
DINA. But l could get nothing out
of Mutterelli. I piled him with ques,
tons about the monk and about the
pretetto and about Nita Barotti but
all | got, day after day, were reiter-
atcd cautions about leaving the grot
to and vague and misty sentences
about great plans being laid for my
benefit by Mutrerelli and Brother
Michael"
Nita Barlotti was still at the coun
try residence of the prefetto. and Nut
terelli informed me that it was I'll
mored that she would soon become
the bride of Count d Pordino.
could not see how or wherein the
count was any improvement ovel
Pacho Maligni, but Mutterelli par
TALLY treasured me by saying tina
the count would not be allowed to wee
her for when he and Brother Michae
had got my affairs Strengthened out
they would attend to the case of thu
Count di Pordino and his proposed
marriage.
All this was pacifying and almos
satisfying in the early days of m,
convalescence, but there came a da,
when was no longersweak, and whel
the blood, full of life, rushing through
my body, gave me vigor and desir
to go outside again into the worl,
and see for myself what was going on
and do for myself what had becom
Onvinced no, one else would no oh1