Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-30
CHAPTER xv1n-(continued)

AAf0 YEATS. ~ was q HlCio CA6AANSp AAS
had hoard, that this young signor had
not been sent to spielberg instead OF
this place; to horrible SpieIberg, WheTs
ore might see high bred mobiles OF Italy
chained to felons. living in underground
cells. Battista s~huddered. He had
come to have a great affection for this
prisoner; he trembled at the thought
that some caprice Of those in power
might send him even yet to Spielberg.
Moreover-Battista hardly dared think
1t in his heart, but he himself was
I%talian-a patriot. And behold him q
jailer to q man who was suffering-he
believed-for the patriot cause. His soul
oven to be too gentle with his prisoner.
It was an off chance that had left him
here, Battista SerranL In the castle OF
his old masters. after the castle had
been confiscated by the Austrians, to
be used by them as a prison. But what
could he do? He was a poor man; he
had a wife and children to think Of; his
knowledge of the place had been USE
full at first to the new lords, n then
they had seen that he was hard work
ing and closed mouthed, 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 we'll and he
knew that 1t meant more than his life
to be disleyal-it meant the lives OF his
wife and children. There would be
small pity for such as Battista when
great noblemen were treated like
felons. So Battista was trusted as II
he were Austrian born.
All this flashed through his mind
as he gazed pitifully at the sick pris-
oner. 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
row. as ii his tossing we're all fin
ished, his face turned to the wall;
Battista. s~oftheartcd. cautious, stopped
to look at him a moment before go
Ing u AS he looked the dark head
turned swiftly and the bright eyes met
his with q light not delirious, yet not
quite of every day reason.
"Ycu are good to me, Battista," the
boy said. ".and just now you gave mo
g great pleasure, 1t warns me yet to
think OF 1t for you see. I thought
you were Pierto-my lear 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
as the tide GIBBS. "Battista, did I say a
name? Battista-you will not betray
ime-you will not repeat that name? I
would v have said 1t but that I
| was not quite steady. / must have been
out Of my head; / have never spoken
his name before in this place. Oh. If I
should bring danger to him! Battista.
Tor Gods sake. you will not repeat that
e1arne?"
Battista spoke low. glancing at the
heavy iron door OF the cell. God for
bid. signor," he whispered, that 1
should speak. here in his own castle, the
lame OF my young master.
There was a long silence. The pris-
oner and his jatler gazed at each other
- II saying things beyond words. Then
the boy put out his long, hot fingers
and caught the mans sleeve.
"Battista." he murmured, .Battista-
y that true? Is Il possible? Do you
Snow-my Pietro?'
yoice was unsteady. MY fathers have
Jerved his for 500 years" The man was
shaking with q loyalty long pent up,
but Francois lifted his head. leant on
his elbow and looked at him Thought
fully.
But. Battista. I. know you now; he
z spoken to me Of you: 1t was your
,ody ervan when they were chill
dren?"
Eyes. signor."
~ did not dream oe It: / never knew
what castle this was: I never dreamed
p Castelforte: you would not tell me-"
\ not. signor. It vas forbid
den: ! am risking my LIE every min
l ute"
"Gso Battista." and Francois pushed
aim away with weak hands. Go quick
ly-you lave been here too long. There
might pc suspicion. ! could not live II
brought trouble on you"
.It ts right 80 tar. signor." Battista
i AnRWAH06S& ssYf - Innu,r 1Yo,. 49, Asv. :
must care tor the sick ones q little. But
I had better go low"
Wall. that he slipped to his knees
md lifted the feverish hand to his lips,
80 friend Of my young master" he
said simply. but his voice broke on the
words. The traditional faithfulness Of
centuries was strong in Battista; the
Zappis had been good masters: one
had been cared for and contented al
ways n WAS ~tArrorized and GROUND
down by these ssAustrian swtne:s the
memory OF the old masters. the per-
sonaltty OF any one connected with
them. wa sacred. Battista bowed his
head over the hands in his own. then
he stood up.
~ shalt he back at bedtime, signor.'
he said Quietly. and was gone.
BIN Ffancoio had an ally now, and
ne knew, A.. The excitement OF the
thpught,s the Joy of dim possible res
suits buoyed his hiehSstrung tempera-
ment like q tonic.s He must be. he would
hecarefll beyond words to guard
se1atn1t any danger, any suspicion foI
BAtttDtas but There were chancAa
even with that proviaion.8 Here wa
hope. 1T % DISQUALIFICATION, to have
been nye years prisoner IA 4 cell III
an unknown castle IN 4 forelgn land
ko knoM wha the ftrst giimpee Of hops
sTnafSnflyY8with ,fha honAsrorlin. i,