The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-09-22
Bending over the fallen chiefs, tho

Bending over the fallen chiefs, tho
monk felt their breasts as II to learn
whether they were alive or dead. The
investigation evidently satisfied him,
for he turned and signaled for some
Of the house servants and soldiers to
carry the prefetto and the count into
the house.
Thoroughly bewildered now, made
sure that Dambos cords were secure,
dragged him out of Nitas room and
into that in which Pacho Maligni had
been killed, and, locking both doors,
| put the keys in my pocket and went
| down to meet Brother Michael
On the stairs | met Mutterelli, who
was sauntering carelessly along smok-
| ing a cigarette.
you here?" I cried II did not see
| you in the fight"
mo, signor," he said "A man who
has prospects of fifty thousand lire
| never risks his life in a fight with
bandits. l was looking for you.
have something for you"
From under his jacket he took q
box--the red tin box that had been
taken from Pacho Maligni.
Where did you get that?" 1 asked.
"In Dambo's quarters" he said. 1T
seems to connect him with the murder
of Maligni.''
ut does, it does!" I said "And
Dambo is this minute lying bound in
| Pacho Maligni's room. And in the
next lies Nita Barlotti in a dead faint.
| was going after some cognac for
her, The doors are locked"
Give me the keys" he said. II
have a flask. | will bring the sig
norma round. You go below-Broth.
er Michael may wish to see you"
l felt that l could trust Muterelli,
and handed him the keys. Then
went down into the library, where the
prefetto and the Count di Pordino
had been carried.
| Two broad, low couches had been
hurriedly drawn out into the center Of
the library. Upon one lay the pre-
fetto, and upon the other the Count
di Pordino. 1t was evident, even to
my unpracticed eyes, that both these
men were dying.
Physicians who had hurried to the
villa, aroused by the alarm bells Of
the monastery, were working over
them, and by the side of each stood
monk, holding a crucifix in his hand.
That is all we can do" said one
"The wounds are fatal. Neither the
prefetto nor the Count di Pordino will
live till daylight"
The wounded men looked about
them. They were conscious, and
heard their doom as pronounced by
the physician.
Brother Michael stepped nearer to
them. and said:
Sons, you have heard the sad
words of the physician. Make your
peace with God. for you will soon
stand before him to be judged for
your deeds on earth, and if they have
been evil. for the degree of repen-
tance and reparation you have given.
Have you. Count di Pordino, any sin
f, or secret on your soul which you
wish to confess and receive absOlu-
ton and forgiveness before you go
before the final and the Almighty
| Judge?"
The count looked at the monk fee
bly, moment and slowly shook his
| head.
rs there nothing? Think, count,
OF your past life Is there nothing?
Have. you ever borne false witness
against another?'
A frightened look came into the
counts eyes.
''Ah!" softly SAID Brother Michael.
There is something. Is it about
| Henry Thorlane?"
The count made a sign of assent.
'The crime with which he was
charged, and for which he was SEN
fenced to a servile penance for twen-
ty years, and for which his estate was
confiscated and turned over to your
hands-did he commit that crime
Was he an enemy of the prefetto?"
The lips of the dying count formed
the word NO"
The monk then turned to the pre-
| fetto.
(To be continued.)