The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-09-15
NOu1ke(k, 1|e Lion Toner.
Nv SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Aathos q Jack Rebbins - America" In the
chisA Sea." 1.-Two Oentlemsn 81
Hawaii" ION . Falso
. Charge" Etc,
os,y1ghs, 1873. BY Rosrnr BoxrEH's soxA


op,yrsAs, 1885, BY RosEIr BoxxEH's SOM
CHAPTER X.
"Mutterelli, want to ask you q
question"
1t was the second day of my re.
newed life and I felt much stronger
and had been watching Mutterelli
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 il don't want to-"
NO." I said. "But there is no rea
son why you should not tell me this
II you know. Have you any ilea 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
ligni? What is that, signor? Oh, yes
I forgot. No, signor, do not know
who killed Maligni. You did not kill
him?"
mo-" replied. IT swear it. I 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 I was
on the balcony, but he got up from his
chair and left the room. The next
time I 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 who the deuce
did?"
Il don't know. That is what l want
) to know"
"You shall know, signor," said Nut
terell, and his jaw snapped. Nearly
. month has been wasted, In which,
perhaps, could have run the mur-
derer down and set you free. But l
will do 1t yet, signor Do not fear.
I will know~who the murderer of Ma
ligni Is in less than sixteen days
more"
Find him." said, land the twenty
i've thousand lire that l promised
you shall be doubled"
"Ah! Thank you, signor. Mutter-
ell is faithful, but he is poor. There
fore he is grateful. ! must see
Brother Michael to-day. If can find
him"
The last sentence seemed to be an
afterthought. My own opinion was
that II the willy Mutterelli wanted to
sea Brother Michael he would not
need to 60 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.
~ In the dim light Of the candle he
moved about preparing to go to bed.
In Z far corner Of the grotto, upon
some boards laid lengthwise, some
kurs like those on which lay had
been placed. Upon this rude couch
Autterelli stretched himself, and was
soon snoring away as II he was repos-
tng on the softest bed In his probably
comfortable home in Genoa. And as l
thought of It laughed softly to my
self. It was probably q strange place
Tor Mutterelli to be sleeping. Yet
more than that, the thought came to
me that It was q strange couch for a
monk. And laughing again at Nut
kerellis 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 successful issue the pur-
poses that had brought me to Sar-
dinia- But I could get nothing out
Of Mutterelli. piled him with ques-
tions about the monk and about the
prefctto and about Nita Barlotti, but
al I got, day after day, were reiter-
Ated cautions about leaving the grot-
to and vague and misty sentences
about great plans being laid for my
benefit by Mutterelli and Brother
Michael"
Nita Barlotti was still at the coun-
try residence of the prefetto. and Nut
terelli informed me that it was ru-
u1ored that she would soon become
the bride Of Count di Pordino. ]
could not see how or wherein the
count was any improvement over
I Pacho Maligni, but Mutterelli par
tally reassured me by saying that
tho count would not be allowed to wed
her, tor when he and Brother Michae
y haA rot my AFFAIRS Strengthened out
t]lny would attend to the case Of the
Ooant al Pordino and his proposed
snotr1age.
~ this was pacifying and almos'
8 4 a6fiSl1tng in the early days OF my
ocnvoloocence. but there came q da,
+ - no longer weak. and wher
l 1lloo4 full of life, rushing through
- y, enxe ne vigor and desire
n wA1r Hut~ $ho X