Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-09-11
THURMONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBEI

crooked path. Life to him was not
much. one day meant nothing more
than another. It doesn't make any
difference to you what the great mis-
take was that he made. but one day
he made 1t and there was another
man in the world besides himself who
knew of 1t. The years went by and
he married. He had not heard in all
that time of the other person who
knew his secret; then one day the
crash came. Cassanelli appeared
'Cassanelli?' I asked.
Count Immeo went on as II he had
not heard me.
"'He needed money and he told me
Of his need. Also he told me that II
that money was not forthcoming the
woman who was my wife would know
the secret of my life. paid him. the
blackmailer--he went away smirking
and called down upon me the bless
ings Of the heavens, but l knew he
would come again. A month and he
was back smirking in the same old
way, rubbing his hands together in
anticipation Of the money he was to
get from me; limiting in his sinister
manner that 1t was either the money
or my happiness. Again I gave to
him-again and again and again. He
became leech. His face followed me
in my dreams and knew that l must
either pay him or he would tell, tell
everything to the woman I loved. A
year went by-two-the baby came.
and still Cassanelli hung on drawing
from me month by month the money
that was sapping my resources. At
last he showed before me and his face
had lost the smile Fifty thousand
lira," he said. Fifty thousand?" !
gasped. Fifty thousand" was the
cold reply. II have lost much in games
of chance-I am sick-I need much
money"
"'It was more than had-far more
and l begged with him. pleaded
with him, but always the same answer
greeted my every entreaty: Fifty
thousand Ira or l tell"
"In week. l begged.
Tomorrow was his answer. That
night l gritted my teeth and went be-
fore my wife. Trembling. told her
what l had striven SO hard to conceal
from her. My breath seemed to catch
In my throat and my lips. my knees,
my whole being shook as with q palsy.
Word by word l forced 1t out and
then like a condemned man awaited
her answer. I screamed when she
gave it-screamed with the greatest
Joy l had ever known. leaped for.
ward and clasped her In my arms-l
covered her face with kisses. wept.
yes. wept like a child. In the fullness
Of my gratitude.
"She had forgiven me! What did
I care now what Cassanelli threat
ened? The one person for whom l
cared had heard and had forgotten. I
laughed the next day when he told
me that he would give me no more
time, laughed in his face and dared
him to iniure me. l threw him out
of the house and stood smiling at a
window. watching his upraised arms
and listened to his fevered curses. l
was free! Free!'
"The face Of the man before me
had lightened and become almost ex-
alted, as he told his story. But now
the features grew saddened again and
the words came more slowly.
IA week later the baby was gone.
I knew where. knew also that II
set the police on the trail that death
would be the result. l was playing
against a man who had vengeance as
his object In life now. and could do
nothing that would further his anger
against me.
"'God.' he burst forth. the agony Of
it,
""The days and nights We spent just
staring ahead, just wondering whether
she were living or dead! Waiting for
tho information that We felt must
come to US some day. The flendish
exulting letter that would tell US how
she died! Ten times | started for
the police but my heart gave way. /
found a way to reach him with the
news that l was endeavoring by every
way I could to raise the money.
Some way or other managed to keep
q vague track Of him and at least
found he had left for the States. l
learned where hs was In Chicago. No;
| did not call the police. was afraid
even then Of the mischance that
would end my baby's life. l schemed.
l watched. l plotted-and one day
there came the chance I had waited
weeks for. took 1t. got my baby
back by the same means by which
she had been taken away from me!
I stole her!
"'And now.' he cried out As he
whirled and faced me, the trapped
beast showing in his countenance,
take her away from me II you can!
will fight you! l will fight every
one-for her! Arrest me-throw me
in prison. but l will still have, my lit
tie girl with ME! You can't take her
away from mel he almost screamed.
You cant-you cant!"
Miss Clement looked at me with .
smile in her eyes.
"Well?" l asked.
That's ALL" she answered.
"And after travelling all those miles
you believed this man?"
Certainly" was her reply. after
had cabled the information which
caused Cassanelli to confess"
She looked up suddenly. "Court
Cooper" she said. you'd better be
saying good-by and getting out OF this