The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-08-24
CHAPTER XVI.
Letters From Jail.

For two weeks Slgnor Pietro Petro-
,lnni. known to the Secret Service as
an unaccredited agent of the Italian
government, and the self-confessed as.
sailant OF Senor Alvarez Of the Mexi.
ran legation, had been taking his ease
In cell. He had been formally ar.
raigned and committed without bail
to await the result Of the bullet wound
which had been inflicted upon the dip.
lomatist from Mexico at the German
Embassy Ball. and. since then, undis.
turbed and apparently careless of the
outcome, he had spent his time in
reading and smoking. He had an
,wered questions with only curt yes
or no when he deigned to answer
them at all; and there had been no
callers or inquiries for him. He had
abruptly declined suggestion OF
counsel
Twice each day, morning and night,
be had asked question of the jailer
who brought his simple meals.
How is Senior Alvarez"
"He is still in critical condition" {"
The answer was always the same.
Whereupon the secret agent would
return to his reading with not a
shadow OF uneasiness or concern on
bis face.
Occasionally there came a courteous
little note from Miss Thorne, which he
read without emotion, afterward cast
Ing them aside or tearing them up.
Tie never answered them. And then
one day there came another note
Which, for no apparent reason. seemed
TO stir him from his lethargy. Out.
Tardly It was like all the others, but
when Senor Petrozinni scanned the
iheet his eyes lighted strangely. and
be stood staring down at It as though
10 hide a sudden change of expression
IN his face His gaze was concen.
Tated on two small splotches of ink
where, 1t seemed. the pen had
scratched as Miss Thorne had signed
her name.
Ihe guard stood at the barred door
Tor moment, then started to turn
lway. The prisoner stopped him with
quick gesture.
oh' Guard, may | have a glass OF
MILK please?" he asked. mo Ice.
prefer 1t tepid."
lie thrust small coin between the
oars; the guard accepted it and passed
Vh' Ihen, still standing at the door,
me prisoner read the note again:
My Dear Friend;
understand, from an indirect
source that there has been a marked
Improvement in Senior Alvarez's con.
l'uoh' and am Fastening to send you
.ne good news. There is every hope
.uat within a short while, If he con.
ahues to improve, We can arrange
,ah pond, and you will be free until
We tme of trial, anyway.
Might 1t not be well for Won to
consult an attorney at once? Drop me
hls s,noaro,, " o'''N
ISABEL THORNE."
'lhally the prisoner tossed the note
'h tiny table in corner of his
seIl, and resumed his reading After
milk. "''' '1'
would 1t be against the rules for
ue TO write an answer to this?
sueried signor Petrozlnni, and he in.
nlcated the note.
Certainly not" was the replv
Il | might trouble you, then, for
pen and ink and paper?" suggested
"'e S'shor and he smiled a little. BE
re'e me, would prefer to get them
Tor myself" " 'Ne
guess that's right" the guard
GriHned good.naturedly
Again he went away and the nris.
vnef ,I sat thoughtfully slipping the milk.
"e LOOK half of it, then lighted a Gig.
, ..'e, puned 1t once or twice and per.
united the light to die. After n little
uere came again the clatter of the
suSru ieet on the cement pavement.
r uu 'ne writing materials were thrust
through the bars
M inank you" said the prisoner.
lne guard went on. with nod, and
nonnent later the signor heard the
Snsor OF steel door down the cor.
ua , as 1t was closed and locked.
u t",, leaned forward in his chair with
,uIaH'elosed eyes, listening for long
e' then rose and noiselessly ap.
,,roaehed the cell door. Again he lis.
I''eu intently, after which he resumed
ra s seat He tossed away the ciga.
S,'e ss, he had and lighted a fresh one,
ea' e,,pFward holding the note over the
W.T. e Oh the match Here and there,
mere the paper charred in the heat,
e''er or word stood out from the
witness of the paper, and finally
tbo Vssage complete appeared between
ns,. 'unocuous ink-wrltten lines. The
,aoner read It greedily:
u,, An privately Informed there is
shau chance of Alvarez's recovery.
AMI '' arrange escape for you, or have
fDassador fo.' intercede? Would advise
ef' as the other might take