Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-03-27

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 comprehendlng by what
means this vas possible. Pietro, re-
Numbering 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 confined?" Alike
asked.
The little Battista turned his eyee
on her a second, a%pprovingly. but
briefly. They went back without delay
to their 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 a prisoner"
But no, my signor."
What then? 2att!ste 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 .Austriane? 7" The
face of the marquis took all the JOY
full light out Of the face Of little Bat
tista.
my signor," he stammered, at
could not be helped. He was there. He
knew the castle. They forced him at
hrst, and-and it came to be So"
Knew the castle!" Pietro repeated.
what castle? 2"
Battista's ayes 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 W castle-what other?"
A sharp exclamation from Alike
summed up everything. Your castle
is confscated; they use 1t as a prison.
Francois is q 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 l have tried
to find him in. l never dreamed Of
Castelforte."
At the end of the interview the little
nattista 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 it before he
touched food.
And Jean Philippe Moison, who had
lurked discreetly back of the nearest
stone vase, not missing a syllable, was
given orders, and the huge little Bat
tista was sent OF Up the stone steps
between the scarlet flowers, up the
velvet slope of lawn. In charge OF the
purple me-. I.
Half an hour later the general
walked up from the village. walked
slowly. thoughtfully through the beech
wood, HE ace hardly older Than when
he had come to VicQues, but sterner
and ssdder; his still soldiery gait less
bucyant than 1t had been five years
ago.
He saw Alike and Pietro coming
joyfully toward him. running light.
heartedly. calling to him with excited
gay voices. It stabbed the generals
heart; q 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
VS. kissing him, hugging him. push
ing . letter into his hand. mp his
sleeve, into his faceeanywhere.
~EAther-good news-the best news
almost the best Father, DE ready
for the good news!"
II am ready" no general growled
impatently. what 10 this foolery7