The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-06-17
II = was near to sunset on die second

when Pietro Falier, the captain o
a the police of Venice, quilted tn,
piazzetta Of st. Mark and set GU
alone in his gondola for the palace o.
Fra Giovanni, the great Capuchin friar
who lived over on the island of the
Guidecca.
Il shall return In an hour" the cap
tain said to his subordinate as he
stepped into the black gondola which
no Venetian could look upon without
sigh. IF any have need of me, / am
at the house of Fra Giovanni"
The subordinate saluted and return
ed slowly toward the ducal palace. He
was thinking that his captain went
overmuch just then to the house of that
strange friar who had come to Venice
SO mysteriously and so mysteriously
had won the favor of the republic
st john" he muttered to him
self, that we should dance attendance
on friar-we, who were the masters
OF the city a year ago! What is the
captain thinking Of? Are we all wom-
en-, then, or have women plucked our
brains that 1t should be Fra Giovanni
this and Fra Giovanni that and your
tongue snapped off If you so much as
put question. To the devil with all
friars, say l."
The good fellow stopped a moment
In his walk to lay the fiat of his sword
across the shoulders Of mountebank
who had dared to remain seated at the
door OF his booth while so great a per
son passed Then he returned to his
Office and whispered in the ear Of his
colleague the assurance that the cap
tain was gone again to the island of
the Jews and that tomorrow would see
more heads between the columns of the
piazzetta.
And look you, Michele" said be. 1T
70 not to you nor to me that he comes
nowadays. Not whisper Of it, as /
i've except to this friar, whom could
crush between my fingers as a glass
ball out of Murano."
His colleague shook his head.
There have been many" said he.
who have tried to crush Fra Giovan- |
III. They grin between the bar of dun
geons now, amico-at least those who
have heads left to grin with. Be warn
ca OF me and make friend Of the |
man who has made friend of Venice. |
Inc captain knows well what he is do |
Ing. If he has gone to the priests |
mouse now, 1T Is that the priest NAV |
win rewards for us again, as he has
won them already q hundred times.p
he spoke earnestly, though in truth
MS guess was not good one. The can
tain OF the police had not gone to the
Island of the Guidecca to ask n service
or Tie friar. He had gone, as he thought,
to save the friar's life At the moment
when his subordinates We're wagging
their heads together he himself stood in
the priests house before the very table
az which Fra Giovanni sat busy with
bis papers and his books.
implore you to listen to me.
prince" he had Just exclaimed very
earnestly as he repeated the news for
the second time and stood clamorous
for the answer to his question.
The friar, who was dressed in the
simple robe of the Capuchins and who
wore his cowl over his head SO that
only his piercing black eyes could be
seen, put down his pen when he heard
himself addressed as prince"
captain" he said sharply, ''who is
TINS person you come here to warn?
You speak of him as prince 1t is some
other, then, and not myself?s
The captain bit his LID. He was one
OF the four in Venice who knew some
thing of Fra Giovanni's past.
Your excellency's pardon" he ex-
claimed very humbly. Were we not
alone you would find me more discreet
know well that the Prince of Iseo is
nead-in Venice at least. But TO Fra
Giovanni, his near kinsman. / say Be
ware for there are those here who
nave sworn he shall not live to saw
mass again"
For an instant strange light CANA
INTO the priests eyes, but be gave no
other sign either Of surprise or of
alarm
They have sworn It You know their
names, then, captainY"
The signors OF the night do not con-
FERN themselves with names. excellen-
~"
which means that you do not know
heir names. captainY
Pietro Falier sighed. This friar never I
allied TO humble him. be thought II II Z
we're not fof the hODors FRA Giovanni J
'ao obtained for the police since he be .
Ian Dis work IN Venice the captnin said Q
HAT he would not liff q hand 10 save !
''n IRON fhs meanest bravo iD Italy. 4
You 90 not know their names. cap
am confess, eonfessp CONTINUED lie .
'Fiest faisipg bis hand ip q bantaring t,
'sstpre. "fop come 70 me witb some D
'oss'p % chs bedohamber. your ear q
'hlf peep open ~ the market place. q
ilq tllf niile tafue y YOU purchase \
'onfeaf, confess "A
fllf fpp'aip fnshed ~ he you'd haye
w pefoif AN 9ihsr ~ all Yauloe p
y az Nqi hpQN flep naplea. 0Sosl q
''',fC M AlAnlMNlf 'u y s0aslp =