The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-07-02

Pedro doubtless had concluded he could
easily crush the remainder OF the con-
spirators.
But his success. argued, would de-
pend upon his securing the key To tn
secret vault, tor without that the rec-
ords would never come into his possess
sion.
Did he have the key? Was this the
explanation Of his sudden activity7 Tha
thought made me hasten my steps. but
although put forth my best efforts, II
was close upon midnight before sight
ed the great hedge that surrounded d
Plntra's mansion I half expected TO
md the gateway guarded. but to NV
relief the avenue was as deserted as thu
highway had been.
Cautiously. L passed along the 49,.
leading 10 the mansion am not usr-
ally nervous at such times. but soma
thing IN the absolute stiffness OF the
scene, something menacing in the deem
shadows cast by the great trees. IN
nerved me and made me suspicious OF
my surroundings
once. indeed, / fancfed that heard a
stealthy footstep advancing to meet M
and with bound L sprang from thu
driveway and crOuched among the tbicl-
shrubbe-y. listening intently. But aftar
a few moments I became treasured ana
resumed my journey, avoiding this TINA
the graveled drive and picking NV vvav
noiselessly across the grass. slxfrtinr fba
endless array Of flower beds and shr,,b-
berry.
Fortunately. the moon came ont o-
might have lost my way: and befor.
long the black line of shadow cast ~,
the mansion itself fell at my feet. Peer
ing ahead. L saw that I had approached
the right wing Of the house. It was
mere that my own room was located
and with q low exclamation OF relief 7
was about to step forward into the patb
When my eyes fen upon a sight thar
caused me 10 suddenly halt and recoJI
in horror
1t was mans arm showing white O.,
the moonlight, and extending from he
meath a clump of low bushes.
For few moments gazed. at Il. as ~
fascinated; but. quickly recovering nv
self. I advanced to the bushes ana
gently withdrew the body, until ii Law
exposed TO the full rays Of the moon. 7
fully expected 10 recognize one or our
conspirators. but when I turned the man
over. face was disclosed that was
wholly unknown to me-that of a dark.
swarthy person Of evident inteIligenoa
and refinement
lie had been shot squareIy between the
eyes, and doubtless had met death In
stantiy- was about to consider the
man a government SPY who had been
killed by PaOlo or some other Of thu
conspirators, when L discovered. with A
start of dismay, that the mans Ieft
hand had been completely severed at the
wrist Also, the hand was MISSING. and
a 7
~ in the neighborhood. I could find no
trace of it.
This discovery gave me ample food for
thought The only plausible reason for
the hasty amputation of the hand had
doubtless been TO secure a ring which
the dead man had worn-the secret kew
70 Dom Miguels vault probably. since
the murder had been committed at this
place
In whose possession, then. was the
ring now? Madam Izabel, the Emperorrs
spy, had first stolen it Then another
had murdered her for its possession
not conspirator. for all had denied
any knowledge Of the ring. Could II
have been the man who now Law dead
before me? And if so, who was he2
And had the government again manased
10 secure the precious jewel and TO re-
venge Madam IzabeTs assassination bv
mutilating this victim in the same way
that she had been served2
But if the dead man was not one OF
the few leaders Of the conspiracy who
knew the secret of the ring. how should
he have learned its value, and risl0ed his
life to obtain it from Madam IzabeI7
That. however. was Of no vital irnpor-
lance The main thing was that the
ring had been taken from him, and had
once more changed ownership.
Perhaps PaOla, lurking near his IN
cle's mansion. had encountered this per
son and killed him to get the ring II
so. had he carried II TO the Emperor
And was this the explanation Of Dom
Pedro's sudden visit to de Pinto's resi-
dence?
Yet what object could PaoIa have IN
hc-raying the conspiracy at this june
ture?
Filled with these thoughts, I was
about to proceed to the house. when a
sudden thought induced me to stoop and
feel of the murdered mans arm. The
flesh was still warmi
The murder had been done that very
evening-perhaps within the hour
I own that the horror of the thing
and the reckless disregard Of life evinced
IN iIlS uouble HiuEuer Tor the possession
OF the ring warned me against pro
ceeding further in the matter: and for
the moment L had serious thoughts Of
returning quietly 10 Rio and taking the
first steamer for New Orleans But thera
were reasons for remaining. One was to
get possession in some wa OF Dom Mi
guel's body and see il decentIy buried.
for he was my uncle's friend. as well
as my own, and I could not honorablv
return home and admit that L had LET
him lying within the dungeon where his
doom had overtaken him. The second
reason 1 could lot have definitely ex-
planned Perhaps it was curiosity 20 see
the adventure to the end. or a secret
hope that the revolution was too pow
erful 70 be baked md then there was
Lesbai At any rate. L resolved not to
desert the Cause just yet although ac-
knowledging IL TO be the wisest and SAT-
est course 10 pursue
So. summoning all my resolution and
courage TO my aid, crept to the win
dow Of my room. and by a method that
had many times before made use Of
admitted myself to the apartment
had seen no lights whatever shining
from the windows. and the hOuse-as L
stood still and nstened-seemed abso-
lutely deserted I felt my way TO a
shelf, found a candle and lighted it.