South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-28
Continued from Thursday
CHAPTER XVIII.


sky and the sea-line six miles away.
and, by leaning close TO the bars, tbs
hill that sOped down into sooded
country; beyond that the sand of the
shore. The jailer stood close by the
little window in the stormy sunset
for better light as he dropped the
medicine.
"One-two," he counted the drops
carefully up to nine, and then glanced
at the prisoner on his cot in the cor
ner. who tossed, and talked rapidly.
disjOintedly. 1T is nigh time that
the doctor saw hlni," the jailer spoke,
half aloud IF the governor had
been here this would not have been
allowed to run on. ] am glad the gov
ernor is coming back
With that the prisoner threw off
the cover from his shoulders and sat
up suddenly, with wild bright eyes
staring at the jailer.
"Pietro!" he called in establishment.
why, my dear old Petrol" and flung
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,p he said respectfully. 1T is
only old Battista you will see if you
look. Only Battista, who has taken
care Of YOU these five years"
The brilliant dark eyes stared at
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. He
spoke slowly. ~ thought it was my
friend-my best friend" he explained
gently.
will the signor take the doctors
incidence Battista asked then, not
much noticing the words for the sick
man was clearly light-headed, yet
with certain pleasant thrOb Of mem
DRY which always moved within him
at the name of Pietro. 1t happened
that the name stood for some one
dear TO the jailer also The signor
took the medicine at once. like good
child.
Twill it make me better do you
think Battista >" he asked earnestly
But yes, signor; the doctor is
clever"
II want to be better; I must get
we'll, for / have work to do as soon
as ! come out of prison"
Surely. signor. That will be soon
now, / think, for it is five years: they
will let you go soon, l believe" BATHS
ia lied kindly.
Yet he knew we'll how the Austrian
tvrantS left men for a little thing. for
Il -
geOns worse than this for three times
five. wears. 1t vas 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 see high bred mobiles
of Italy chained to felons. living in
underground cells Battista shud-
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 it in his
heart. but he himself was Italian-a
J patriot And behold him, jailer to a
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 off chance
that had left him here. Battista Ser
rani. in the castle Of his old masters.
after the castle had been confiscated
! by the AuStrians, TO he used by them
as a prison But what could he do?
He was a poor man; he had a wife
ard children to think of; his knowl-
edge of the place had been useful at
| first TO the new lords. and then they
had seen that he was hard working
and close mouthed. and had kept him
on till they had forgotten, it seemed
was. set to guard men whom ne would
give his life TO make free. But the
masters knew Well and he knew that
il meant more than his life 10 be dis
loyal-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 felOns.
SO Battista was trusted as if he were
Austrian born.
All this flashed through his mind
as he gazed pitifullv at the sick pris-
oner. only just out of bOyhOOd, vet
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 if his tossing were
all finished. his face turned to the
wall: Battista, sOft-hearted, cautious,
stopped 10 look at him a moment be-
fore going out. AS he looked the
dark head turned swiftly and the
bright big eyes met his with light
not delirious yet not quite Of every
day reason.
"You are good to me. Battista,"
the hoy said. land just now YOU gave
me a great pleasure IT warns me
to vet TO think Of it. for. you see /
thought you were Pietro-my dear
Pietro-the MARQUIS Zappi'
Battista. breathless, stared. SIAM
mered "Whom-whOm did You say
signor?'
But the prisoner had flashed into
reason. The color went out OF his
face as the tide GIBBS. "Battlsta. did
7 say n name? BattiSta--you VIII not
betrav me-yoi will not repeat that
name? would never have said it
but that 7 was not quite steady. l
must have been out Of my head;
have never spoken his name before
in this place oh. IL I should bring
danger to him Battista. for God, :
sake. YOU will not repeat that name ="
Battista spoke low. glanclng az the
/ bid. signor,~ he whispered. that |
should speak, here in his own castle
the name Of my young master
There was a long silence. The
prisoner and his taller gazed at each
other a. il saving things beyond
words. Then the boy put out his long
rs before vou leave town. I should
so like for YOU 10 meet Mr.. curtis.