Gilpin observer., 1913-06-05
BROKEN MOSAIC TILE
BY RALPH }. HERKiMER.

AS it was dark when reached
Amiens l decided to spend the night
at the house of friend, for ! did not
dare to imperil the message by riding
at night. Already had been attacked
twice since landing at Bologne and
had no mind to fail in the first i'm
portant trust with which the king, my
master, had intrusted me.
found my friends house with some
little difficulty, being obliged to in
quire the way several times from
passers by. This was unfortunate, as
the event proved, for 1t gave my enc
mics clue to my stopping place. Jean
it seemed was absent on visit, but
was expected to return any minute.
His father, the Count d'Arteis, receiv-
ed me kindly and bade me, as friend
of Jeans, to make myself at home.
The house was very old and the
drawing-room which was used as a
guest chamber had an air Of historic
association which was increased by
the trophies Of sport and war that
hung on the walls. The windows were
of heavy plate glass and were hung
with curtains of fine Brussels lace.
On the ceiling was a peculiar mosaic
tile which was crumbling in places
with age. In one corner of the room
stood carved oak cabinet containing
a valuable collection of glass articles.
Two of these in particular the count
pointed out to me as the pride of his
collection. They were OF crystal.
without other ornament than their
natural purity and clearness. He in
formed me that they were of the cele
brated Venetian glass, SO delicate that
If poison were poured into one it
would crumble to pieces.
Dinner was soon over, and after a
chat with my host over our cigars l
nine the bell rang and the butler an
nounced gentleman to see me.
asked to have him shown to my room.
and after an interval he appeared. He
was thin, pale individual, constantly
coughing. In a roundabout manner,
but without displaying any tact. he
managed to convey the idea that he
wished to purchase my message. Nat
urally my first impulse was to throw
him bodily from the room: but l re.
flected that if he could be made to
talk 1 might learn something of value.
With this idea in mind l got from my
saddlebags a flask of cordial and as
there were no other glasses in the
room / took from their resting place
the two Venetian goblets, and, pour
ing the wine into them, returned to
the end of the room to get chair.
AS 1 picked up the chair there was
a sharp sound as of stone dropping.
When l returned to the table l no.
ticed that a piece of my glass was
broken in a star-shaped form, as
though it had been suddenly hit To
put him at his ease and partly to give
him notion of the value Of what he
had broken / told my visitor of the
legend connected with them. As
finished I saw that he was much agi-
tated, drops of perspiration stood on
his forehead as he trembled violently.
He saw me watching him and tried to
cover his confusion by fit of cough.
ing, but l was thoroughly aroused
Why had the tale SO affected him? In
a flash / saw it all. Holding a piece
of my glass to the light, / saw on the
side a powder-like substance. l was
examining this when my caller took
the opportunity to escape. The pow
der l knew to be arsenic, with which
l had before had experience. 1t was
now quite late and would have to
start early. retired Immediately,
and being accustomed to unexpected
adventures was soon asleep.
Early the next morning Jean, who
had returned during the night, awak.
ened me. As related the adventure
q look of amazement overspread his
copntenance and when had finished
he told me that the goblets were mere
ly copies of the famous Venetian glass
and that the originals were safely
stored in the family vault. This great
ly relieved my mind, for had been
worrying over the breakege of an heir
loom which could never have been re.
placed; but why. then. had the goblet
broken? Walking over to the table.
Jean pointed to the ceiling. There
above US was crack In the mosaic.
and from the debris of broken glass he
picked up a little red tile. It had
saved my life!
That night l reached Paris In safety
and delivered my trust to the king.
When l told him Of the happening he
gave me a beautiful cut glass goblet
to present to my friend as q compen-
sation for the loss Of the copy Of the
Venetian goblet.
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
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