The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1911-11-03
CHAPTER XVI.
Letters From Jail.

cO1 I"O Weeks olBOOr fletrO Retro
Einni. known to the Secret Service as
an unaccredited agent Of the Italian
government. and the self-confessed as
sailant Of Senior Alvarez OF the Mexi-
oar legation, had been taking his ease
In a cell. He had been formally ar
ra1gned and committed without bail
to await the result Of the bullet wound
which had been inflicted upon the dip
iomatist 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
swered questions with only a 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 q suggestion of
counsel.
Twice each day, morning and night,
he had asked a question Of the iailer
who brought his simple meals.
How Is Senior Alvarez?"
HE is still in a 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
his face.
Occasionally there came a courteous
little note from Miss Thornc, which he
read without emotion, afterward cast
Ing them aside or tearing them up.
He v answered them. And then
one day there came another note
which. for no apparent reason, seemed
to stir him from his lethargy. Out
wardly 1t was like all the others, but
when Senior P%etrozinni scanned the
sheet his eyes lighted strangely, and
he stood staring down at it as though
to hide a sudden change Of expression
IN his face. His gaze was concen-
trated on two small splotches of Ink
where. 1t seemed. the pen had
scratched as Miss Thorne had signed
her name.
The guard stood at the barred door
Tor a moment, hen started to turn
away. The prisoner stopped him with
a quick gesture.
"Oh. Guard. may I have a glass of
milk, please?" he asked. mo ice. l
prefer 1t tepid."
He thrust a small coin between the
bars; the guard accepted it and passed
on. Then. still standing at the door,
the prisoner read the note again:
my Dear Friend:
u understand, from an indirect
source, that there has been a marked
improvement In Senior Alvarez's con-
oltlon, and am Fastening to send you
the good news. There is every hope
that within a short while, if he con-
Gnues to improve. we can arrange a
ball bond, and you will be free until
the time Of trial, anyway.
"Might 1t not be we'll for Won to
sonsult an attorney at once? Drop me
. line to let me know you received
this. Sincerely.
ISABEL THORNE."
Winally the prisoner tossed the note
on q tiny table in a corner of his
cell, and resumed his reading. After
q time the guard returned with the
milk.
Would 1t be against the rules for
me to write an answer to this? %
uueried Signor Petrozinni. and he in.
61cuted the note.
Certainly not" was the reply.
III l might trouble you. then, for
pen and ink and paper?" suggested
the signor and he smiled q little. BE
l!eve me, I would prefer to get them
Tor myself"
u guess that's right" the guard
yrtnned good-naturedly.
Again he wen away and the pris.
oner sat thoughtfully slipping the milk.
HI took half of Il. then li1htad n cir.