The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-05-19
LESLEY'S ENEMY.
nY TRAxcEs A. DuRIvAcn.

for @ certain number OF days to indem-
nifty themselves for the gloom of the
greater part of the year, a MIR. Martin
Rogers, a merchant Of New York, ar
-ivod in Rome, and took up his quarters
at the Minerva hotel. One Of the first
things he did was to call on his friend
Hon. Mr.. Richard Lesley, American
ambassador to one Of the foreign courts,
On leave of absence from his duties for a
short time, a favor solicited to enable
him to "see Rome and do as the Romans
DO" must state here that the incident
am about to relate is simply a fact, but
hat the reader will vainly seek in the
New York directory for the name of my
merchant, or in the Blue Book for that
of my plenipotentiary, as the former,
who told me the anecdote, made me
promise beforehand, if | ever put the
narrative into print, not to mention the
real names of the parties.
Mr.. Lesley received his friend very
c~ourteously, int in answer to a ques-
ton of Rogers about the carnival. an
swered:
cts slow-slow-my boy. Nothing
like the Fourth of July. am tired of TALL
these tomfooleries; the noise and row
have given me the headache, and I'm
nearly blind. for yesterday I rode
through the Corso without putting my
mask Oh and got my eyes full of white
dust from the %confounded confetti. So
I'm i'll to-day. So il you'd like to go
among the maskers and muminers, l ear
lend you my costume-I was foolish
enough to buy an entirely new and cost
ly rig"
The ambassador then showed the mer-
chant his properties.
Here's a shirt OF chain armor. I'd
put that on, because It e~litters, for my
stupid valet, not knowing it. was an
tique, valued for its venerable look,
must needs scour Off the rust. Here's a
scarlet mantle, laced with gold, a cap
and feather, and a mask"
The merchant rugged himself out and
sailed forth into the streets. He felt
rather foolish as he descended the stair
case, but once out Of doors he was in a
crowd Of maskers and lost his sense of
individual ridicule.
He soon reached the Corso. which
was densely crowded; the narrow side
walks being packed. the streets full Of
carriages, all the balconies filled, and
the air full of white dust from the
showerlng-plums.
All at ono a hoarse voice whispered in
his ear:
'Richard Lesley! I swore revenge,
and the hour has comet"
At the same Instant a keen pain shot
through his frame. the force of a blow,
delivered from behind, sent him off his
feet, he fell forward on the people before
him, who divided to the right and left,
and lay at the foot of the marble steps,
m%otionless.
All was wild commotion and dismay.
The crowd made way for an officer of
the police, who was near at hand, and
who demanded:
"Who is this man? Does any one
know him?"
Il do" said a man, advancing; che is
my master-the Hon. Richard Lesley,
an American ambassador. l recognize
the dress. brushed it for him this
morning just before he gave me a holt
day"
Lift his mask and give him air"
said the police officer.
Beppo, that was the servants name,
obeyed, but when he had removed the
mask, exclaimed:
This is not Signor Lesley" "
But you identify the costume?"
yes can swear to iti' said Beppo.
BY this time Rogers opened his eyes.
gave other signs of life, and even strug-
gled to rise to his feet.
Beppo and the police officer assisted
our friend into the shop Of an apothe-
cary, who proceeded at once to examine
the merchants hurts. On removing his
cloak a few drops of blood were seen
near the base Of the spinal column, and
from the folds Of the mantle a knife.
with the point broken, fell to the floor
This the police officer took charge of.
The wound itself, though painful.
proved to be slight, for the chain mail
had saved the life of the wearer and
broken the assassin's weapon.
The d%iplomatist was astounded when
he heard the details Of the adventure.
you are sure the would-be-murderer
called you Lesley, Mr.. Rogers?"
4thANNiy SUN Al0Nt NOu duY mOf-
tai enemy In Rome?"
None that l know of. I am a stran-
ger here"
ANY inveterate enemy that might
have followed you from the city for the
purpose Of revenge?"
Hal" exclaimed the ambassador.
sprinsing to his feet. Il have it! 1t is
a mystery no longer. Last year | was
active in procuring the extradition of a
Belgian murderer who fed 10 the United
States. On the passage over and in
prison he swore revenge on all parties
concerned in his capture and that Of
the plumber, for the sake of which he
had committed assassination. AS i'll
luck would have it, he escaped from the
Belgian authorities some time ago n
has not since been heard of. That was
the man who came so near killing Won
] will see Cardinal Montovari at once
and give him the Villains description"
"And while you're about it" said the
merchant, rubbing his back, "you NAV
as well take my passport and have IL
vised Immediately. I'm going to Flor