The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-02-03

CHAPTER XII.

Pordino-his dying confession. D,
you believe it,"
Yes, | believe it is true" whis
pered Maligni.
And is there any act which 70,
wish to perform before you die, tt
make reparation for the wrong tina
has been done an innocent man."
"Yes-yes. Let Henry Thorlane b.
brought before me. will do him JUS
tice, that l, too, may receive justice
IRON God"
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 ir
his hands two papers. One of these
he began to read aloud to 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:
Il, 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 it's estate, is innocent
OF the crime of conspiracy against
the prefetto, with which crime /
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 that impels me to make this
true confession and withhold none
OF the truth, that justice may now be
done to my nephew, Henry Thorlane,
whom have wronged."
lis 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 | 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
at sea-was seized, and, with no other
evidence against him, was sentenced |
to Imprisonment for life for the |
crime. Your excellency, that young
man escaped, but he is here" Obedi-
ent to his signal, stood before the
orefetto. "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,
hat will convict another of the
rhine, and it but remains to seize the
'eal murderer and place him in prison.
And this young man, who is innocent
# any crime against the state, needs
tut your signature to make MIN free
rom the stigma that has been put
lpon him."
''Is it true? You know the real
ut is true" said the monk. II
wear it."
Before die-before l de-" MUIR
aured the prefetto, "let nothing re.
1ain undone."
The monk again wrote, and this
lme it was paper declaring me
1nocent Of the crime of murder, and
rdering the removal from the books
1 the Department of Justice of all
harges against me, Richard Wilber-
IN, of New York.
This the prefetto signed, and again
le great official seal was used.
"Now-let me see Henry Thorlane,"
asped the prefetto.
"You shalt"
These words came from the monk, II
1T not in the soft, priestlike voice {
I'd heard before. They came in deep
lest tones, with a sternness that
artled me and every one else in the
ON. Brother Michael removed. the
cycles from his eyes, and threw aside !
8 monkish garb Standing erect, he
emed taller, and his smooth-shaven
ad was squarely set upon shoulders
massive mold. r
Behold me! | am Henry Thor
le!" a
"Thorlane!" gasped the prefetto. \
Thorlane!" murmured the Count b