Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12

1 - a
that his guest was 'gentilhomme" and wealthy Il
| boot, became excessively solicitous for his com
tort, and provided Cressingham not only with
caoln, but very welcome change Of clothing
| Cressingham informed him that he had tried t
cross from Elba TO Piombna in an open boat ir
consequence of a wager, but had fallen asleep ant
SO lost his bearing. This story the captain seem
ed to find no difficulty in creditng, for he merely
shrugged his shoulders and murmured something
in an undertone about the mad English.
In his turn he informed Cressingham that he
was taking cargo of general merchandise from
Genoa to the island of Gozzo, and offered, for
consideration of ten pounds, to call in and land
him at 11apani if he so desired. Cressngham
offered him his whole store Of ready money
twenty-five pounds-if he would proceed straight
to Naples, but this Captain Frioche refused to do
and the young man dared not tempt him with
jewels, for the mans face was not prepossessing
and his crew appeared as blackguardly a set Of
cut-throats as might be found in Europe. 1t was
not that the Englishman valued so much the pre-
clous stones which he had stolen from Attala, but
he thought that if the captain by any chance
could learn that he possessed so great a treasure
he might feel tempted to hurl him overheard,
and the crew were all creatures who looked as
though they might be bought body and soul for
a few scudi.
He was compelled therefore to rest satisfied
with Sicily, but he felt sure that from there he
could make his way to Palermo and Naples in
time to save the King of Italy, for it yet only
July p, and he had still seven days of grace.
He landed safely at Trapani an hour after day
light on July "a.
He arrived at Naples by eleven o'clock on the
morning of the 26th, and driving to the Hotel
d Europe at once wrote and despatched by mount
ed messenger a letter to King EIumbert, in which
he covertly reminded His Majesty of the occasion
when he had made his acquaintance under the
auspices OF Perigord, and begged for an immediate
aYYI ata IL Il
the royal palace at noon, his business was
vitaly important
He was received at the door of the palace by
gaudily dressed officer, who gave an astonshed
start on learning the visitors name, but he was
very polite to Cressingham, and at once led him
into an empty ante-room and begged him to wait
Cressingham took a chair beside window that
looked out on the gardens, and blithely hummed
an air from la Cigale" which he had heard
barrel organ numbering while passing through the
streets of Naples on his journey to the palace
He watched with some amusement the move
ments of perky brown cock-sparrow on the
paved courtyard below, when hand was laid up
on his shoulder and soft Italian voice spoke
whisperingly these words: "Sir you are nv
prisoner. Put up your hands above your head,
and do not make another movement, or you are
a dead man."
Turning curiously he found the room blocked
with men in uniform, and Immediately before him
an officer Of the household guard who held in
his right hand cooked revolver that was pointed
unwaveringly at the Englishman's heart.
"What is the meaning of this" he demanded in.
dignantly
The officer did not reply in words, but at a
nod four men had secured Cressingham by arms
wrist and hands in such manner that had he
been Hercules he would still have been power
less. They hurried him then with scant courtesy
from the anteroom and up several fights of stairs
fo he floor of the nalaoa 1uhara fba,y
him into small room whose one barred window
looked out upon the Campanian Hills This apart
ment had evidently been at some time used as an
asylum for hnatic, for walls floor and door
were all thicky padded; furniture there was none,
with the exception of mattress and bedding
spread in far corner the floor, above which
a small steel ringbolt with chain attached swung
from a narrow embrasure in the wall.
The officer at once closed the door and pro-
ceeded with nervous caution to search his prs-
oner perhaps expecting to discover a collection
of dangerous bombs.
His surprise on finding the jewels was almost
ludicrous; he uttered cry of something like fear
and dropped the glittering treasures as though
they had burned his fingers, while the men gath
cred round staring with wide eyes at the price
less baubles.
One stopped to recover them, but the officer re-
proved him sharply "Do you want to lose your
life, foo" he cried; "they are no doubt poison
weapons to be found"
The man started back as though an adder had
stung him, exclaiming incoherently.
| Cressingham, who had been growing more and
more angry by this, had nearly lost his temper.
To the man in command he said: "Send
Immediately for the English Consul or the Minis
| ter I don't care which, they are both friends of
mine"
The officer bowed and smiled Certainly, nv
! Lord but in the meantime nv orders are tn take
all precautions. Your Lordship will doubtless ex-
cuse me- for | must obey my orders!" He bowed
again and turned to his men. "Ohieti, Malsamo,
be so kind to fasten my Lord Cressinghams
wrists to the chain yonder and behind his back,
but be careful not TO injure or hurt my Lord in
any way" Cressingham struggled violently but
vanly. In a moment he was handcuffed and
chained, and could only stand glowering angrily
| at his captors.
The officer made sign, and his men departed,
saluting him one by one as they passed to the
door He then strolled over to the jewels and
kicked them about with his feet until the floor
was strewn and shining like the coat of Per
sian king. '"rhey are very beautiful, Milford"
he observed critically "but deadly, are they not?"
"Give them to me" said Cressingham with
savage snarl, "and I'll eat few TO show you"
The officer smiled and shrugged his shoulders
at is possible that my Lord would prefer suicide
to the rope" he suggested calmly.
"Haye them tested by whom you please, only
for Gods sake be quick about it, You will find
them harmless enough. You think me Nihilist
but you are horribly mistaken. L came here to
save your kings life, not to try and murder
! him"
"Ah is that so?" The man spread his kerchief
on the floor and pushing the jewels on il with his
boot, Gngerly gathered up the ends and knotted
them, then lifting the bundle with the end of his
scabbard held it from him at arms length