The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-09-12

!
glance. What are you doing here,
Nelson? What manners are these?''
Then. relapsing In fash into pure
human trust and affection toward the
anxious old servant: MY dear, old
good Moison-he is alive-Monsieur
Francois Ia alive--in q horrible prls-
on In italy. But he is alive, Moison."
And with that q sudden jump again
into dignity. who brought this,
Moison?"
Jean Philippe was only too happy
to have a hand In the joyful excite
ment "Mademoiselle. the young per-
son speaks little language. But he
Quis that he was the little Battista.
Pietro looked up quickly. Alike It
10 the servant from my old home or
whom spoke to you. l can not i'm
agine how Francois got hold Of him.
but he chose good messenger. May
have him brought here? He must
have something to tell u.s."
Alike. her letter tight in her hands,
struggled In her mind. Then: The
letter will keep-yes. let him come,
FOR what he may tell us"
duce At once the said little Battista.
retired. much excited. and returned
shortiy--but not so shortly as to have
omitted fling of the great news into
the midst of the servants hall He
conducted. marching behind him, the
little Battista, an enormous young
man Of six feet four. erect, grave,
stately. This dignified person, salut-
ha ar Vuith M
ped on one knee before his master.
his eyes full of q worshiping Joy. and
and kissed his hand. Having done
which. he arose silently and stood
waiting, with those beaming eyes
feasting on Pietro's face. but other
wise decorous.
friendly words of his great pleasure
In seeing his old servant and the
friend Of his childhood, and the big
man stood with downcast eyes, with
the color flushing his happy face.
Then, "Battista," asked the marquis,
how did you get the letter which
you brought mademoiselle?"
MY father" answered Battista Ia
How did your father get IT."
nor"
Alike and Pfetro looked at him at
tenrively, not comprehending by what
means this was possible. Pietro. re-
mem5ering the little iBattista Of old.
vaguely remembered that he was in
capable OF initiative In speech. One
must pump him painfully.
was your father In the prison
-bnr ho M Ia N cd
asked.
The little Battista turned his eyes
on her a second, approvingly, bu.
briefly. They went back without lie
lay to their affair Of devouring the
face Of his master. But he answered
promptly. Yes. Signorina; he Is
there always"
Always" Pietro demanded In
alarm rs Battista prisoner"
But no, my Signor.''
what then? Battista, try to tell
u.s."
So adjured. little Battista made
violent effort HE IL one OF the jail
ers, my Signor."
"Jailers! For the Austrians?" The
face Of the marquis took all the 1oylui
light out OF the face Of little Battista.
my Signor." he stammered. 1T
could not be helped. He was there:
He knew the castle. They rorced
him at first and-and 1t came TO De
So"
KNEW the castle!" Pietro repeated
what CASTER
Battista's eyes turned to his mas
ter's like those of a faithful dog, trust
ing but not understanding. What
castle, my Signor? Castleforte-the
Signor's own castle-what other!
A sharp exclamation from Alike
summed up everything. your castle
10 confiscated: they uae 1t as q pris-
on. Francois 10 q prisoner there
Pietro!s All these years--in your
own home!"
Fl never dreamed OF that" Pietro
spoke. thinking aloud. Every other
prison In Austria and italy have
tried 10 find him In. n~vsr dreAs9"d
Of Castieto-te."
and with that, al II pulling teeth,
they not by slow degrees all that ne
knew from the little 3actisto. the
letter. tight in Alixe's hand, was stiIi
unread. this living document seemed
Ito bring them closer to their friend
Than, even his written words. There
we're s3me things In the living letter.
moreover, not to be found In the one
Of paper and Ink. The little Battista,
being put to the wall. told them what
his father had told him, what the
doctor Of the prison had told his
father. How the prisoners health was
falling; of that band Of white In his
dark hair: at last that the doctor
had said to the big Battista that the
prisoner could not live more than
two or three years as things were:
that even II released he might not
regain his health. would not live, per-
haps: that the only thins which could
rave him would be long sea voyage.
- long sea voyage!" Alike groaned
md put her face into her hands sud-
dealy. and Pietro looked very sorrow.
fuL ~ long sea voyage for q politi-
oil prisoner In the hands Of the piti-
less Au3trians!"
At the end Of the interview the
little Bsttista put his hand into his
breast pocket and brought out an
other letter, thickly folded. Would
uoAom0leelle have him instructed
vbeeNto ind the mother Of the sig.
nor prisoner? He had promised to
~ NJ into her own hands. He must
- Il before he touched food.
And Jean Philippe Nelson, who had
1sauoe~A AA~o~c~x1- 80. - - --.