The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-09-08

Bending over me was a monk.
s"You are wounded, son." he said, in
voice that was soft and almost
womanly.
Eyes, father" l replied. my own
voice coming only in a whisper. 81
have been shot"
The monks face was very. pale
unnaturally white. thought. He
looked at me through his goggles a
moment before answering.
You are wounded in the back,
SON" he said. is it the work of an
assassin"
II Will tell YOU the truth. father"
1 said. weakly, 81 am a prisoner of
the STATE. The brother of the prefetto
was murdered. | was accused of the
murder. and though | knew nothing
about it, | was convicted. l was at
work on the public road to-day and
escaped. a fellow prisoner fired at
me with thc guards rifle and wounded
me. They viii! be after me soon"
Alas. son. This is bad bust
ness"
The monk, as he said this. glanced
nnrvously around, as il apprehensive
OF detection in thus sGccoring a pris-
Oner OF state WHO had escaped.
He put his hands under me and
lifted me gently from the ground.
seemed to be but a child in his arms
Holding me across the back Of his
mule. he easily mounted. and. speak
ing 10 the animal, we We're soon NOV
ing up the mountain side
We did not travel far in this way
perhaps a quarter Of a mile. Then
we had come to a thick portion of
the forest. and we were in a rugged
mountain region. The monk had
been peering from side to side, as if
in search of something. and suddenly
halted his mule before a tall white
barked tree that stood near the edge
of the road.
81 thought l knew the place." he
murmured to himself. That is GER
tainly the tree"
Sliding from the saddle to the
ground, the monk took me in his
arms and carried me into the forest.
He spoke to his mule and the animal
followed him.
He carried me carefully over rocks
and fallen trees and through seeming
ly impossible places. He seemed to
know fully every foot of the uneven
ground. and to be looking for some
particular spot.
All he exclaimed at last at
is here. The soldiers of the prefetto
will have to work to find You here"
And you will not betray me,
father?" l asked.
Nay, I know full we'll the ease
with which the prefetto imprisons
falsely. You are safe here. And you
will be fed"
Il thank you, father" 1 said. in
gratitude
We had entered a grotto. The air
inside was cool and sweet. | could
hear the murmur and ripple OF
spring and mountain stream near by.
| felt sense Of rest and security,
and my trust in the monk was firm.
Soon delicium set in.
was now at the circus and gazing
with wonder and admiration at Nita
Bar!otti, the trapeZe queen, and at
Maubilleck. the lion tanner, in their
respective acts.
Then the visit to Ralph Gravis-
courts rooms and the discovery of
the photograph was as vivid in my
mind as on he day it actually oc-
CURED. Anal so on. l lived over and
over again the stirring scenes of my
last days in New York. and the de-
parture of Niaubikeck and myself on
the steamer
And then the accident; Maubkecls
rushing into my room and carrying
me on deck: and there standing on
top Of wave, still in the glare of the
light from heaven. stood Maubkeci,
and above him. in red letters, seem
ingly Of fire floating in the air, | saw
the words, IL you are saved and
am not. save Mia from Maligni."
| was vaguely conscious OF lapse
of time as I lived over these scenes.
| seerled 10 fee! that some one was
near me. But knew nothing real.
There was nothing Of actual life about
ne.
Again I fancied l heard the ripping
Of a stream.
Again | thought that marble walls
surrounded nc. At first it seemed
that | was in a tomb. but gradually
consciousness came to me and |
awCke. TIe bed Of furs was nv
couch: the grotto walls were above
me. An odor OF something came to
my nostrils family. turned my
lead.
4 fire was burning in the little
stove. By it. a cigarette in his mouth
holding something over the Goals, sat
Mut,"rell. He rose and looked at
ne.
All right. signor," he said in the
calm voice of man who knew what
he was doing and had been doing it
long time eft will he ready in a