Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-03-05

color flushing his happy face. Then,
"Battista," asked the marquis, how
did you get the letter which you
brought mademoiselle?"
MY father" answered Battista la.
conically.
How did your father get it,"
From the signor prisoner, my sig
nor"
Alike and Pietro looked at him at
tentively. not comprehending by what
means this was possible. Pietro, re
membering the little Battista of old
vaguely remembered that he was in
capable of initiative in speech. One
must pump him painfully.
Was your father in the prison
where the signor is contined?" Alike
asked.
The little Battista turned his eyes
ON her a second, approvingly, but
briefly. They went bacA without delay
to then affair of devouring the face
Of his master. But he answered
promptly. Yes. signorina; he is there
always"
"Always?" Pietro demanded In
alarm. rs Battista prisoner"
but no, my signor."
what then? Battista. try to tell
u.s."
SO adjured. little Battista made a
violent effort. HE is one OF the jail.
ers. my signor."
"Jailers? For the Austrians? ?" The
face of the marquis took all the Joy.
full light out of the face OF little Bat.
tista.
my signor." he stammered, III
could not be helped. He was there. He
knew the castle. They forced him at
first, and-and 1t came to be So"
Knew the castle." Pietro repeated
what castle?"
Battista's eyes turned to his Mas
ter's like those of a faithful dog, trust.
ing but not understanding. What cas-.
tie. my signor? Castelforte--the sig,
nor's own castle--what other"
A sharp exclamation from Alike
summed up everything. Your castle
is confiscated; they use II as a prison
Francois is prisoner there. Pietro.
All these years-in your own home!"
II never dreamed OF that" Pietro
spoke, thinking aloud. Every other
prison in,Austria and Italy have tried
to find him in. ] never dreamed OF
Castelforte."
At the end OF the interview the little
Battista put his hand into his breast
pocket and brought out another letter
thickly folded. Would mademoiselle
have him instructed where to find the
mother OF the signor prisoner? He had
promised to put this into her own
hands. He must do 1t before he
touched food.
And Jean Philippe Moison, who had
lurked discreetly back Of the nearest
stone vase, not missing a syllable, wac
given orders. and the huge little Bat.
tista was sent off up the stone steps
between the scarlet flowers, up the
velvet slope of lawn. in charge of the
purple one.
Half an hour later the general
walked up from the village, walked
slowly. thoughtfully through the beech
wood, his face hardly older than when
he had come to Vicques, but sterner
and sadder; his still soldiery gait less
buoyant than 1t had been FIVE years
ago.
He saw Alike and oietro coming
joyfully toward him. running light.
heartedly. calling to him with excited
gay voices. II stabbed the generals
heart; quick thought came OF that
other who had been always with them,
now dead or worse, of that other whom
these two had forgotten. And with
that they, were upon him, and Alike
was kissing him, hugging him, push.
ing letter into his hand, up his
sleeve. into his face-anywhere.
"Father-good news-the best news
almost the best! Father. be ready
for the good news!"
Il am ready" the general growled
impatently. What Ia this foolery