Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19
CHAPTER Xxx
sIDE.L1GHTs AND SERMONS.

SIDE-LlGHTS AND SERMONS.
f01 Elm Gott!" said Oeltjen, what a ter
M rbe confirmation of your story, my
IESSY Cressingham picked up the journal
which Perigord had let fall and read
aloud the account and horrid details of King
Humbert's assassination.
do you know, Oeltjen," he said afterwards
from the very moment l heard the Count dat
tala so cold-bloodedly predict the fulflment of
his pledge, l somehow felt in my bones that
Humbert doomed, and that nothing in the
power of man to do might save him. | do not
feel at all surprised for l expected this"
Il wonder if they will be able to extort any
information from Bresci the murderer
"Be sure not. The Count knows how to choose
his instruments too well for that. Remember
Klein!''
ugh! 1 shall never forget that night. I often
dream of the poor wretchs screams of pain"
"And yet in spite of that dreadful torture, he
obstinate and finally deceived us"
who do you suppose fired the bomb that
night, my Lord?'
"Who but the Prince, or rather the Archduke.
He arrived the scene Immediately after the
explosion. 1 marked his face particularly and
saw his eyes counting us over with an express
sion of utter disappointment. am sure Peri
CORD commenced to suspect him from that mo-
ment / wonder what fate Perigord intends for
him."
HE is a Prince, you know, and heir to a
throne"
''You think then"
"That he is too highly placed to touch Peri
CORD will probably warn his royal nephew, and
in that way draw his teeth. You see once the
Count d'Attala is killed or imprisoned, the inner
circle will crumble to pieces and Nihism will
fade away for want of a leader, never to be re
vived in generation at least"
"That is so, for it is the Count who holds all
fhe strinUs The Prince and tha Ti,rr
y figure-heads."
$50 it seems; but what Internal villains they
are, in my opinion than the Count"
"Ah, you think that because you have not
yet the Count! Wait little"
"Do you believe we shall encounter much re-
sistance on the island?"
Every little, if we have any luck. hope to
surprise the place"
The friends dined in the bedroom, Crossing
ham pretending sprained ankle in order to
pacify the waiter. Their conversation drifted
with liqueurs and cigarettes to the inevitable
subject of women, and the Englishman unbur-
dened himself of long description of Francine
Elliott's charms and virtues, also his fears re-
garding her health and safety. Oetjen was sym
pathetic and encouraging; he listened for an
hour without evincing the slightest signs OF
weariness, and then strove to comfort his friend
by resolutely refusing to entertain any but the
bright side of the situation.
ViyeIla "Is she still smitten with you, Frank
do you Think" he asked.
Cressingham shook his head "I don't know
that she ever was really" he replied at was
all in the game she was playing. Anyhow, it
would be impossible to measure her sincerity
The woman is such a perfect actress that what
ever she says or Stimulates she actually means
for the time I've studied her pretty thorough
ly, and in my opinion she is incapable of any
deep feeling. Besides, man, think Of her age!"
'What do you mean?"
"Well, she has daughter of eighteen!"
"Gott in Himmell Is the girl so old?'
"Now there's chance for you Ludwig!" CRIED
Cressngham laughing. "Desire is exactly what
her mother may once have been-a lovely i'm
pressionable child pure as an angel and wonder
fully intelligent and sweet. She resembles Kath
erin most wonderfully too, in fact I be
heve when her hair grows and she fills out &
fit she will be most beautiful woman"
Oeltjen's face assumed expression of pain
"Please don't jest about that, will you Frank%
he murmured.
"My dear fellow you don't mean to say
Nothing" interrupted the other "except tha
my recovery is still recent; the still hurt
at times although try to think it is entirel,
healed. For all that can't quite help dreadnl
10 meet her again little"
"Phew!" whistled Cressingham I'm sorr,
spoke, old chap. l know perfectly what yo,
mean I've been there myself, the saying is
Oeltjen arose. 81 think we'd better get aboart
the Sea Hawk now, Frank"
"All right, I'm your man."
They found the streets of Naples in n strang
ferment Excited crowds thronged the thorough
fares SoloIers were everywhere in evidence
forcing their way through the press in half IN
panies and squads, acting the part of patrols
speaking not az all but occasionally using freel
their scabbards and sword hlts to clear a PAL
sage The popuace seemed on the verge of dc
ing something desperate.
''It looks like a revolution!" said Oeltjen.
'GNo fear of that" said Cressingham, 9Th
military are too strong, but the spirit of revo
is loose. There will be blood split tonight
think"
An upstairs window of the house opposit
which they stood opened at this moment, an
voice cried out, the voice of the thief: "Tak
friendly hint from me, Count Won Oetjen, an
get yourself as soon as possible out of harm
way"
''Who are you?" demanded Ludwig
'What matters that? Do as ] bid you; yo
are marked with the red cross, and tiger is a
ready after you"
"Thanks for the warning but tell me litt
more"
keep your thanks; one good turn deserve