The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-10-12
MQu6ECk, me uu|.1QneI.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author Of Jack Robbins Of America" ''ln the
China Sea- "Tw0 Gentlemen Of
Hawaii ':On a False
Charge" Etc.
Copyright. 1895, BY Ronrnr Boss.,'. SOFA
CHAPTER XII.

Pordino-his dying confession. Do
you believe it?"
Yes, l believe it is true" whis-
pered Maligni.
"And is there any act which you
wish to perform before you die, to
make reparation for the wrong that
has been done an innocent MANI" :
"Yes-yes. Let Henry Thorlane be
brought before me. l will do him JUS
tice, that l, too, may receive justice
from Cod"
The monk sat down to the writing
table, and taking a pen, began writ
ing on some of the official paper of
the prefetto.
Having finished, the monk held in
his hands two papers. One of these
he began to read aloudsto the Count
di Pordlno.
1t ran thus:
THE Confession of the Count di
Pordino, on his dying bed, before
Maligni. the Prefetto of Cagliari, and
the assembled monks and soldiers of
his household:
81, the Count di Pordino, do confess
and do swear before God that the con-
fession is true; that my nephew, Hen
ry Thorlane, the owner of the Villa
Thorlano and its estate. is innocent
OF the crime of conspiracy against
the prefetto, with which crime 1
charged him, for the sole purpose of
putting him in prison and receiving
at the hands of the prefetto my
nephew's estate as my reward.
"And it is my fear of future pun
ishment hal impels me to make this
true confession and withhold none
of the truth, that justice may nov be
done to my nephew, Henry Thorlane,
whom l have wronged."
"Is this correct, count?" asked
Brother Michael, when he had fin
ished.
Eyes" whispered the count.
"Then sign"
Brother Michael dipped a pen in ink
and placed it in the grasp of the dying
man. Feebly his fingers moved over
the paper and scrawled his signature.
Then Brother Michael turned to the
prefetto and read the other paper.
This was an official document, restor-
ing Henry Thorlane to all rights of
citizenship, restoring to him his val
liable estate and removing ali faint
and disgrace from his name.
This was signed by the prefetto, and
the official seal was placed upon it.
Bring Henry Thorlane before me,
that l may beg of him forgiveness!'
gasped the prefetto.
Wait. There is one thing more to
be done in an official capacity" said
the monk. "Your excellency, you re-
call the incidents of the night on
which your brother was murdered?"
The prefetto signified that he did.
"a young man who had entered here
to rescue Nita Barlotti from your
brother-a young man who had no en-
nifty toward Pacho Maligni himself.
but who was acting in obedience to
the request of a friend who was lost
evidence against him, was sentenced
to Imprisonment for life for the
crime. Your e~xcellency, that young
man escaped, but he is here" Obedi-
ent to his signal, I stood before the
prefetto. "He is the, Jew who came
with me to give you warning of the
attack that was to be made tonight.
We have evidence, your excellency,
that will convict another of the
crime, and it but remains to seize the
real murderer and place him in prison.
And this young man, who is innocent
of any crime against the state, needs
but your signature to make him free
from the stigma that has been put
upon him.
rs it true? You know the real
murderer"
ut is true" said the monk. 81
swear it."
Before | die-before l die MUIR
INJURED the prefetto, "let nothing re-
main undone."
The monk again wrote, and this
time it was a paper declaring me
innocent of the crime of murder, and
ordering the removal from the books
in the Department of Justice of all
charges against me, Richard WILDER
ton, Of New York.
This the prefetto signed, and again
the great official seal was used.
"Now-let me see Henry Thorlane,'
gasped the prefetto.
you SHALL"
These words came from the monk,
but not in the soft, priestlike voice |
had heard before. They came in deep
chest tones, with a sternness that
startled me and every one else in the
room. Brother Michael removed the
goggles from his eyes, and threw aside
his monkish garb. Standing erect, he
seemed taller, and his smooth-shaven
head was %squarely set upon shoulders
If massive mold.
Behold me! am Henry Thor.
lane!"
"Thorlane!" gasped the prefetto.
'Thorlane!" murmured the Count
di Pordino.
1T is true! He is Henry Thorlanc!'
exclaimed several of the soldiers,
among whom was the captain of the
guard.
But what of me? T stood trembling