The Detroit times., 1913-09-11

I lifted his head. leaned on his elbow,
and looked at him thoughtfully.
| But Battista, know you now: he
mas spoken TO me OF you; II was your
son, the little Battista, who was his
body-servant when they were chill
dren?"
| Yes, Signor."
II did not dream Of It; never kn~
what castle this was; never dream
ed OF Castleforte; you would not tell
me-"
Il could not. Signor. II was for
Didden. II In forbidden. l am risk
Ing my life every minute
"Go Battista." and Francois pushed
him away with weak hands. Go
Quickly-you have been here too long.
There might be suspicion. could
not live II brought tsouble on you. .
1T Ia right SO far, Signor." Bat
tista answered. 1T 10 known you are
Ill; must care for the sick ones a
little. But l had better 60 now"
With that he slipped 10 his knees
and lifted the feverish hands to
lips. rne friend OF my young mas
ter, he said. simply. but his voice
broke on the words. The traditional
fafthfulness OF centuries was strong
In Batttsta; the Zappis had been
good masters: one had been cared for
and .contented always one was ter
rcrized and ground down by these
austrian SWINE; the memory of the
OLD masters. the personality of any
one connected with them. was sacred.
battista lowered his head over the
hands In his own, then he stood up.
Il snail be back at bedtime, Sig
nor" he said quietly, and was gone.
But Francois had an ally now. ana
he knew It. The excitement OF the
thought, the Joy OF dim possible re-
suits buoyed his high-strung ten.
permanent like tonic. He must be,
he would be careful beyond words
to guard against any danger, any
suspicion for Battista, but There
were chances even with that pro-
vision Here was hope. 1t IL neces-
sary. perhaps, to have been Ave years
prisoner In cell In an unknown
castle In foreign land to know
what the first glimpse OF hope may
mean.
Instantly, with the hope working
In him, he began to get well. Little
by little. watching fearfully against
the he. n '':g OF eqsnSy ,x long
4 \ / |,.,- :. ~, (s' \. TO Of s iss
close friendship of the chateau In
France, of the splendid old officer OF
Napoleon and OF his daughter, the
beautiful deUpiselle. who was Alike;
OF the years at school together. the
boyish adventures innumerable. Every
word Battista drank In; he had not
seen the young marquis since he had
left Castelforte with his father on the
journey which took them to VicQues
When, at the end of his school-days,
the boy of IL had come back to his
country. the castle had already been
seized by the Austrians, and il had
not been safe for Pietro to come into
his own country. But the mans mem.
DRY Of his little lord was vivid and
loving; he listened eagerly to the
least detail OF his unknown older life
And day by day the prisoner who
could tell him such things, who was
the friend of his master. who had
lived with his master, became more
OF an idol to him, stood to him more
and more In the place Of the marquis.
From the beginning Of the imprison-
ment he had had an affection for this
young stranger; few people ever
came under the influence Of Fran
co.'s without having an affection for
him; but the day of his mention OF
Pietro had made Battista his slave.
"A person of more importance than
Battista had fallen under the spell
Of Francois personality. The gov
ernor himself had been attracted by
the young Frenchman. The COVER
nor. Count Won Gersdorf, was a vain.
disconnected. brilliant Austian, at
odds with the world because he had
not risen further In It. He was with
out society In this mountain fortress
Of his, and longed for It; he had
fine voice and no one to sing to; he
liked to talk and had no one to talk
to. Francois. with his ready friend
Illness, with his gift of finding good
ner and simplicity which had the ease
of capitalization, was treasure-trove
Of amusement to the bored Austrian.
Moreover, Francois could play gui-
tar and accompany his songs. and
knew enough music to appreciate the
governors really beautiful voice; his
delight In II was better than the most
finished hattery. He had taught the
governor French songs; they sang
together, and the count reared them
out and then roared with laughter.
and Francois smiled and was pleased.
II had come to be = custom with the
governor, during the last two years,
to have the rrenchman brought down
very often to his room for dinner,
and to spend the evening. All this
was against regulations-but who
was to know? The count was lord
of life and death at Castleforte. and
II higher powers came once In
year or two, no one would dare to
speak of the doings Of the governor
except the governor.
Things stood SO with the prisoner
at the time OF his discovery of the
Identity Of his jailer and, Of his jail.
The governor at that time was away
on a visit to Vienna, looking for
promotion; he came back elated and