The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-08-24

door, taxing d seat DoS1d0 me, and
the carriage ratified away.
After an hour of smooth rolling on q
Sandman stone road, we came to a
halt before a small white inn almost
concealed among the trees.
Come, signor," said Mutterelli,
stepping from the carriage.
l followed him into the inn, and he
led me up a flight Of stairs to a room
in the rear. Taking a key from his
pocket, he unlocked the door. Inside
was a collection of garments-part Of
hunting garbs-uniforms, grotesque
jackets, trousers, ~leggings. Two guns
stood against the wall.
What the deuce is all this, Mutter.
elli?" l asked in surprise.
"It is part of our plan, signor. You
wish to view the country near Ma
ligni's country villa. If you went
there as you are now, you would at
tract attention. On the road past
Maligni's many mouflon hunters pass.
We are now mouflon hunters. Do you
understand, signor?"
81 begin to-" said.
Mutterelli smiled, and began al once
to change his clothing for some at the
picturesque Sandman garments that
he had provided. I followed suit.
When I had finished l was clad froyn
my feet to my thighs in leather leg.
gings. A red and black velvet jacket
fitted over my shoulders and waist.
A more or less faded and dirty sash
went around my waist over the jacket.
A three-cornered hat, with a small
plume in it, replaced my own COM
Portable tourist cap. Mutterelli was
attired in a similar fashion.
Mutterelli took up the two guns and
handed one to me.
But where is the ammunition" I
asked.
I'VE don't need any ammunition"
replied Mutterelli. "These guns are
only for show, to make us look like
other people who will pass. Come,
u horses are waiting"
At the door we found two horses,
saddled, and Mutterelli mounted one,
leaving the better looking one of the
two for me. +
Leaving the inn, we rode out into
the smooth road and started toward
the north. In a short time we came
to a fine villa surrounded by a high
wall of rock, the gate of which was
a splendid work of massive masonry.
There were signs of activity about
the place. Workmen hurried here and
there. Two priests, clad in somber
garments that completely enveloped
them, walked slowly from the house
toward the gate, their shaved heads
under their broad hats bobbing and
nodding as they conversed.
Mutterelli gave me a few minutes
in which to drink in the beauties Of
Sandman nature.
"That is Maligni's villa, signor," he
said, pointing to the fine estate I had
noticed.
"Ah!" l replied. "Then that is.
where the Snowman has Mia Bar
lotti in concealment?"
THAT is the place, signor. Let us
move on a little, lest those priests
see us and remember our faces. I
am not "a Sandman, signor. There
are priests in Sardinia who are good
and holy men; there are Others"
He said this with a shrug of his
shoulders that was very expressive.
This is a fine estate in the val
ley" + said, pointing to a villa and
spacious grounds not very far from
us. "But it looks neglected. It is
a sin to let a place like that go to
ruin"
Mutterelli frowned, and muttered
something that sounded like a curse.
"That place is the Villa di Thor
lano," he said. "It is a fit example
of the peculiar condition of Sandman
politics."
can Italian nobleman in disgrace?"
l asked.
ITO he continued