Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-02

is all there is in that elderly country |
for tourists to see, but it is the prin- |
cipal part of the matter. Lucia and 1
were zone morning visiting a Roman
cathedral several hundred years old,
looking at pictures hanging on the
painted for the purpose Of soaring
away the devil; at ghostly marble fig
ures lying on their backs, with their
hands claspe6 over their breasts;
straining our eyes in dark cnapels to
see hideous frescoes, the principal part
of which had been Clipped of, when
we heard the clock above US strike the
hour Of noon.
At the moment we were looking at
a statue, wondering whom it might
represent. A gentleman-rather sim
gular looking person he was-hearing
our remarks, politely told US all about
the marble and of another much older
and more curious in a different part OF
the church, offering to guide us to it.
Lucia said she was tired and would
con.
l would rather have gone with her,
but the stranger was so urgent
| that 1 should see the curious statue
that I consented to remain with him.
l told Lucia 1 would be with her with
| in half an hour, and she left me. Then
1 started to another part of the church
with my guide.
He showed me the statue. told me its
history, beginning back in the twelfth
century and ending in the eighteenth,
when, after having been stolen, buried,
resurrected, lost its nose, one of its
ears and both hands, it had been mirac-
ulously set up in its present position In
the middle of the night, when the
church was locked, with no one inside.
As he proceeded 1 thought had new
er met q person more voluble. Why
he took so great an interest in me l
could not divine. Instead of listening
to what he said was taking in his
personal appearance.
He was rather small. wore little
bell crowned hat, which, of course, in
the cathedral he carried in his hand;
had coarse dark hair standing straight
upon his head and a short stubby
beard. His coat was dark blue
cloth, fitting tight at the waist, with
full flowing skirt. His trousers were
checkerboard and tight to the skin.
The most remarkable feature in his
face was his eyes, which twinkled like
pair of stars in the heavens.
When he had told me all about the
statue and the archaeological disputes
as to just where it had lost its nose
and the other features l thanked him
for his kindness, bid him good morn
ing and was about to leave him when
he said:
''There's something far more curious
in this church than this-the bones Of
st. - q have forgotten the name),
that have come down to us through
500 years. 1t will require but a mo-
ment to see them, and 1 shall be hap
by to show them to you"
"Thank you very much said, "but
my luncheon hour is at hand, and ]
must rejoin my wife"
81 will not detain you five minutes, T"
.
i should enjoy a sight at these old
bones in which he seemed to take such
interest that / went with him TO see
them. Taking me to the forward part
of the church on one side, he opened
n door that I judged to be about five
feet high-at any rate, one must bend
to enter it-and told me to step in
side. after you," said, but he stood
holding the door open so deferentially
that | went In. The only light there
was In the place came in at the open
ing through which / had entered. and
even that was shut off Immediately,
for heard the door close and q click
; in the lock My companion had re-
manned outside.
1t required q few moments for me
to realize my situation, to become
| frightened. Then turned to the door
and tried 10 find a knob by which to
open It, There was no inside knob
: l hammered on the door, but it was
of iron and made of several plates
so that my thumps were not likely to
be heard. / listened eagerly for the
door to be reopened. Perhaps 1t had
closed of itself and sprung bolt. In
this case my guide must find some
one to enable him to open it and
might have gone away for that pur
pose.
Then / remembered that starry look
In his eyes, and l became terror
, stricken. Suppose he was insane! II
| so he had doubtless shut me up in q
dark room. seldom opened, and al
some future time, instead of the bone,
Of a saint, my own skeleton would be
found there. / felt around the walls
OF my Enclosure and was horror striclk
en- to find that It was but about by
, feet. / could not lie down in it.
looked up and could see llght--it seem
ed far above neon the four sides OF
the ceiling, as though let in by ear
row strip of glass. Reaching up,
, even standing ON my toes or jumping
!, l could touch nothing.
What would Lucia think when tn
luncheon hour came and did not re
turn? How long would she wait be
fore becoming frightened. and wha
would she then do? No one woul
likely think Of looking for me in til