Arizona republican., 1909-06-25


friend. He readily believed that H.
lard's hurt was of the incurable kind
and so long as memory lasted The full
stab of the pain would recur So II
get him away from the scene at once
was the best possible thing he could
do. Merrihew noticed the little group
of men collected at the edge of the
road, but he was too deeply absorbed
in his own affairs to stop and make
inquiries. The principal thing was TO
reach Florence without delay. He
smoked two cigars and offered scarce
dozen words to Hillard When
they arrived AT the white hotel in the
BorGognissanti and tho night watch
man drew the great bolts to admit
them, Mcrrihew was glad And all
this to evolve from an unknown wo-
man singing under iIillard's window
but six months ago, And princess, ,
Truly the world was full of surprises.
He went to bed. advising Hillard to
do the same. Mental rcpose was need
ed before they could sit down and
discuss the affair nationally
At nine in the morning Hillard
heard fist banging on the panels of
the door.
open, Jack; hurry" cried Merri-
hew outside. There was great agita-
ton in his voice.
Hillard opened the door, What's
the trouble. DAM" he asked.
Merrihew closed the door and whis-
pered: Dead" As the light from
the window fell upon his face it dis
closed pale checks and widely opened
eyes.
"Who?" Hillard's heart contracted
In Gods name, who?"
THE prince. They found him and
his horse at the bottom of the gorge.
There was broken place in the road
and over this they had gone. The con-
cierge says that there has been foul
play. Tracks in the dust, a strange
cut in the neck of the horse, and
scabbard minus its saber. Now, what
the devil shall / do with this blamed
sword?''
Dead Hillard sat down on the
edge of the bed. Dead, Then she was
free, free.
What shall l do with it," demand
ed Merrihew a second time.
The sword? You really brought
it,"
Yes. And if they find us with it"
Put it in the bottom of the trunk
and leave it there till you land i'm
New York. But the prince dead?
You are sure?"
"All Florence is ringing with the
story of the ball, the ind-up, and
the tragedy. He's dead. no doubt OF
it Shall we so up to the villa this
morning."
NO. DAM" but all the WEAKNESS
went out of Hillard's eyes.
And then Merrihew noticed. Hillard
still wore his evening clothes and the
bed was untouched.
That's very foolish
Why? l couldn't have closed my
eyes" replied Hillard.
But won't she need you up there"
Merrihew was obviously troubled.
IF she needs me she'll send for
me But | am not needed, and she
here and wait
Hes dead. Things work out queer
ly, don't they?"
She is free Thank Cod"
You are not sorry, are YOU"
Sorry? In a way. yes. He was a
blackleg, but it isn't pleasant to con-
template the manner of his end
We'll. can frankly say that there's
no such sentiment on my side. He'd
have cut you down if | hadn't stop
ped him. said Merrihew, rubbing his
swollen knuckles.
1T was measure for measure:
should have killed him had not you
and O'Mally interfered."
That's true. But what's back OF
all this muddle? Why was she
masquerading as an opera singer.
when fortune and place were under
her hand?"
"She has promised to write"
BY George"
What now?'
Didn't Giovanni tell us that he
had friends in Fiesole. and that he
was going to visit them"
Giovanni? l had forgotten" But
what had my old valet against the
prince"
Giovanni had a daughter said
Merrihew. His knife left scar on
the man. The prince carried long
scar on his cheek. Two and two
make four"
But Giovanni had promised us.
IF this man did not cross his path.
It looks as If he did"
Hillard had nothing to offer He
simply began dressing in his day
rlothes, stopping at times and frown-
ing at the walls. Merrihew wisely re-
Trained from adding any questions.
He was human; he knew that some
where in Hillard's breast the fires of
hope burned anew.
The day passed without additional
news But at night the last of the
American Comic Opera company stray
gled into the hotel. plus various
pieces of luggage. O'Mally, verbose
as ever. did all the talking and vend-
ing of news.
You wouldn't know her." he said.
referring to La Signorina-for they
would always call her that When
she heard of that buffers death l
swear that she believed you had
hand in it, But when she heard that
the accident had occurred before you
left the villa, she just collapsed. Oh.
there was a devil of a mess; police
agents. carabinieri. inspectors. 1t was
a good thing that there were plenty
Of witnesses to prove that the prince
had called La SignOrina his wife, or
she would be in Jail this night, and
we along with her. The police were