Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-06-26

~ ANsAA NAS lAC o1l
large nose. Balbus asked the man
who he was, and he said his name was
Verro. a Roman-Briton He was very
poor and asked Balbus if he would
not give him some money. Balbus
gave him a piece Of gold and told
him that If he would come and see
him he would give him more.
An idea had got into Balbus' head
Of making the mar useful. but it was
vague. 1t was to secretly assassinate
Carolinus and substitute this man who
resembled him in his place. But the
details Of the plan had not taken
shape. He had a conference with Tul-
liza, told her what he had conceived.
and she promised to try to find some
way of putting his conception into ex-
ecution.
A few days later she had worked
out the problem. Whether her method
would succeed or not was another
matter. 1t certainly involved a great
risk. She told Balbus that she had
decided to take the man Verro with
her to the mex banquet given by the
governor. What she proposed to do
then would depend upon what Caro-
linus would do. She had made prep
arations for several issues. At the
banquet Balbus was to recline at the
same table as she and Verro. She n
joined upon Balbus to make up the
guest by such changes in his person
as did not correspond with those Of
the governor.
Balbus took Verro into the plan. so
far as it could be laid out. telling him
that there was a possibility Of his be-
coming the governor. True. he was
quite likely to lose his life instead, but
it was worth very little to him in pow
erty and II he should become Carroll
nus he would be immensely rich. 1t did
not take Verro long to decide between
these two courses. and his decision
was to stake his life against wealth.
When the night of the next banquet
came round. while Carolinus was re-
clining at his table, he suddenly sat up.
stared at a man who was the com.
plete duplicate of himself in dress as
we'll as person. and turned pale. At
the table at which this other Carolinus
sat were Tulia and Balbus. Both saw
the host looking at Verro, but pretend
ed not to notice that he was doing so.
Carolinus. who had all the supersti-
ton of that age. trembled. At first
Tullia and her lover feared that he
would have the interloper elected. and
this would have spoiled their plan.
C%arolinus. struck with terror. did not
know what to do. Was this man HIM
self. Carolinus, in the spirit? And did
be come to warn him Of his own death?
Then in occurred to him that he could
soon find out whether or not the stran-
ger was mortal. Taking up a cup which
he had prepared for another victim. he
told the slave behind him to take it to
the guest who resembled himself. ex-
in the governors name.
This is what Tullia and Balbus had
expected or at least hoped he would
do. When Verro extended his hand to
take the cup Tullia seized it and held
it aloft, saying:
L Sll4IA ldlN IouOl IL as uDOul
to drink it when Balbus tried to take it
from her. In the struggle between
them it was impossible to tell who
drank the poisoned wine. Carolinus
trembled. fearing 'rullia had drunk it
and that his failure to thrust it upon
his double indicated that the fates had
decreed his death.
In a few minutes Tullia. rising from
her couch, started staggering from
the room. Balbus went after her and
supported her. The stranger sat with
his eyes fixed on Carolinus. who. to get
away from the unearthly stare. left
the banquet hall.
A messenger came to the governor
from Tullia to say she was dying and
wished him to come to her that she
might explain to him the mystery of
his double self. He vent at once to
her apartment. Balbus closed the door
upon him and stabbed him to death.
Verro was there too Balbus took
Carolinus' body from the room through
a secret passage-the place of the kill
ing had been selected with that view
and placed it where it would not he
found.
Verro. p~ersonating the governor.
went to the latter's chamber. where
he shut himself up. and the people in
ferred that his having seen his double
had produced a distressing impression
upon him.
Meanwhile Tullia and Balbus gave
out that when they had entered the
banquet room the stranger had joined
them, much to their astonishment. and
had taken a place at their table. I'm
doubtedly his coming portended some
thing remarkable to Carolinus. They
advised consulting the oracles. The
oracles were consulted and said that
the stranger had been sent by the gods
to the governor to punish him for his
crimes: that he was now undergoing
that punishment in private. and when
he emerged he would be purified. and
after sacrificing to Jupiter would make
one of the best and wisest officials in
Tho NV; - H.