The Detroit times., 1913-09-11
CHAPTER XVIII.
After Five Years.

After Five Years.
The window OF the cell was small
but II was low enough SO that man
standing could see from II the vast
shy and the sea-line six miles away
and. by leaning close to the bars.
the hill that sl0ped down into wood
ed country; beyond that the sand of
the shore. The jailer stood close by
the little window In the stormy sun.
set for q better light as he dropped
the medicine.
"One---two," he counted the drops
carefully up to nine, and then glanced
ut the prisoner on his cot I'm the cor
her. who tossed. and talked rapidly,
disjointedly. 1T Ia high time that
the doctor saw him." the jailer spoke,
half aloud. If the governor had been
here this would not have been allowed
TO run on. | am glad the governor 10
coming back"
With that the prisoner threw OF
the cover from his shoulders and sat
up suddenly, with wild bright eyes
staring at the jailer.
Pfetro!" ne called in Establishment.
Why. my dear old Pletro;" and fiu"g
out his hands eagerly toward the
man. and would have sprung from
the bed to him.
But the jailer was at his side and
held him down, yet gently. BE
quiet, Signor,' he said respectfully.
1T Is only old Battista: you will see
II you look. Only Battista. who has
taken care Of you these Ave years"
ThA hVt1l la- Il, nj
him hungrily; then with sigh the
light went out of them and the head
fell on the pillow
'Ah. Battista.' he said, my good
Battista" A smile full OF a subtle
charm made the worn face bright.
lie spoke slowly Il thought IL was
my friend-my best friend he ex-
planned gently
'Will the Signor take the doctors
medicine" Battista asked then, not
much noticing the words, for the sick
man was clearly lght-headed, yet
with certain pleasant throb OF
memory which always moved within
him at the name OF Pietro. II hap
pened that the name stood for some
one dear to the jailer. also. The sig
nor took the, nledfctne' at once. IKE
ID
VIII II make me DETER. do you
think, 'Battista?" he asked earnestly
But yes, Signor; the doctor Is
clever
Il want to be better; must get
well, for l have work to do as soon
as | come out of prison"
Surely Signor That will be soon
now, think, for il Is Ave years; they
will LEI YOU go soon. | believe" Bat
tista lied kindly.
Vet ne knew we'll how the Austrian
tyrants left men for a little thing. for
q suspicion. for nothing. lying In dun
geons worse than this for three times
i've years. II was a mere chance. he
had heard that this young signor had
not been sent to Spielberg, instead Of
this place; to horrible Spielberg
where one might zee high-bred mobiles
Of Italy chained to felons, living In
underground cells. Battista Sudden
ed. He had come to have a great
affection for this prisoner; he trem-
bled at the thought that some caprice
OF those In power might send him
even yet to Spielberg. Moreover
Battista hardly dared think 1t I'm his
heart. but he himself was Italian-a
patriot. And behold him. jailer to
man who was suffering-he believed
for the patriot cause His soul
longed to help him, yet he was afraid,
horribly afraid, even to be too gentle
with his prisoner 1t was an on
chance that had left him here. Bat
tista Serrani In the castle Of his old
masters, after the castle had been
confscated by the Austrians to be
used by them as q prison. But what
could he do? He was q poor man; he
had a wife and children to think Of;
his knowledge OF the place had been
useful at first to the new lords. and
then they had seen that he was hard
working and closemouthed. and had
kept him on till they had forgotten,
1t seemed, that he was italian at all.
So here he was, set to guard men
whom he would give his life to make
free. But the masters knew him
we'll and he knew that II meant more
than his life. to be disloyal--it meant
the lives of his wife and children.
There would. be small pity for such as
: Battista when great noblemen we're
treated like fel0ns. SO Battista was
trusted as II he were Austrian born.
he gazed pitifully at the sick prisoner,
only Just out OF boyhood, yet with
that band of white hair, the badge OF
his captivity, in the thick brown
thatch of his head. He lay very still
now, as II his tossing were all finish
ed, his face turned TO the wall: Bat
tista. soft-hearted, cautious, stopped
to look at him q moment before go
ing out. Az he looked the dark head
turned swiftly and the bright eyes
met his with light not delir1ous, yet
not quite of everyday reason.
you are good to me, Battista." the
boy said. and just now you gave
mo q great pleasure. II warns me
yet to think Of II, for you see,
thought you were Pietro-my dear
Pietro-the Marquis Zappi.'
Battista, GREATNESS, stared, STAN
mered. "Whom-whom did you say.
Signor?"
But the prisoner had flashed into
reason. The color went out of his
face a. the tide GIBBS. ''Battista. did
say q name? SBattista---you will not
betray me-you viii not repeat that
ueme?? would never have said Il
bat that I Wa not Ouito atonAv-