The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-06-24
CONTINUED from Last Week )

your hand and sweat upon your brow
Oh, oh, tale indeed, Shall / read 4
to you, or shall raise my voice anC
fetch those who have the irons heated
and the boot SO made for your leg that
no last in Italy shall better it? Speak
rascal! Shall read you the tale?'
mercy, prince. for the love of Godg
The priest released the pressure of his
hands and let the other sink at his
feet.
"Who sent you, rogueT' he asked.
"Who pays your wager
II dare not tell you, excellency."
Dare not; you dare not! You whom
word Will put to torture greater than
any You have dreamed of In your worst
agonies! You dare notr'
"Excellency, the Countess of Treviso
am her servant"
"And the man who sent her to the
work-his nameT
andrea, count Of Pisa, excellency."
The priest stepped back as one whose
curiosity was entirely satisfied.
"Ah! / thought so. And the price
they paid you, knaveT
VIZ oANSi QuCulot cACtlleuCy,
"Ho, ho! So that is the price Of a
friar In Venice"
The bravo sought to join in the Jest.
Had they known 1t was the Prince
OF Iseo 1t had been hundred thousand.
excellency."
Fra Giovanni did not listen to him.
His quick brain was solving strange
problem-the problem of the price that
these people in their turn should nav
to Venice. When he had solved it, he
turned to the cringing figure at his
feet
"Eignor Rocca," he said, do you
know Of what am thinking"
"Of mercy, excellency; Of mercy for
one who has not deserved it,
But who can deserve itY'
"Excellency, hearken to me. / swear
by ell the saints
In whose name you blaspheme ras-
cal Have l not heard your oath In |
Naples when the irons scared your
heshf Shall l listen again when the |
nre Is being made ready and there is |
burning coal beneath the bed you will |
lie upon tonight, Signor Rocca?''
"Oh. for Gods sake, excellencyr
Not SO; for the sake of Venice,
rather"
II will be your slave. l swear II on
the cross. will give my life'-
Your precious life Signor Roccal
Nay, what prohigate you arer'
Fra Giovannis tone perhaps betray-
ed him. The trembling man began to
take heart a little
Prove me, excellency," he whined.
Prove me here and now"
The friar made a pretense of debat-
Ing it After a little spell of silence he
badc the other rise.
Come" he said, your legs catch
coid' my friend, and will burn slowly.
Stretch them here upon the Campo
while | ask you some questions. And.
remember, for every lie you tell me
there shall be another wedge in the
boot you are about to wear. You I'M.
derstand that, signorf"
"Excellency, the man that could lie
TO the Prince of Iseo has yet to be
born"
II was compliment spoken from the
very heart, but the priest ignored It.
Let US not speak of others, but Of
you and your friends. And, firstly. OF
the woman who sent you. She Is
now
I'm the Palazzo Pisani waiting news
of you"
You were to carry that news to
herr?
| d.
And to receive my wage, excellency.
But l did not know what work 1t was. !
would not have come for
Fra Giovanni cut him short with
gesture of impotence. IL
And the woman-was she aloha 6
when you left her?"
There were three with her to sun" :
The priest nodded his head. I
"Benissimor' he said. 1--WE shall even i
presume to sup with her" c
ITO sup with her. but they will Kill
you, exeellencyw v
"Ho, hol See how this assassin is v
concerned for my life" b
Certainly / am. Have you not given c
ne mine twice? / implore you not TO
20 10 the house.
He would have said more but the
plash OF an oar In the narrow canal by =
which they walked cut short his en-.
reafies. gond0la was approaching =
hem. The cry OF the gond0lier awak. =
ming echoes beneath the caves OF the
VI houses, gave 10 Fra Giovanni that .
aspiration he had been seeking now =.
)r some minutes. -
"itoeea Hleani," hs exclaimed, Il sm !,
ping W put your professions 10 the y
roOfw
"tkesiisney, ! VIII DO anything !,
Then, ~ you would wake tomorrow -
~ your bead upop your shoulders \,
'tef yonaef sondole and 80 back 10 F"
49, sho senf yop, Demand yopT ssge q,
them ~
'hul. signoF' ~
1lenaenq fppg Base " fhswg peF g N