The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-09-10
CHAPTER VIII.
life's Counter.ClaIm.

mo "OrQ or mine can express nv All
solute and abject amazement when |
raced the man, whom | had seen w..
Ing cold and dead upon that gray stone
slab in the mortuary of Dumfries.
My eye caught the customer who,
on the entry of Olinto, had dropped
his paper and sat staring at him in
wonderment. The detective had eyi.
IDENTIFY been furnished with a photo.
graph Of the dead man, and now. like
myself, discovered him alive and liy.
ing.
"Signor Padrone!" cried the man
whose appearance was so absolutely
oewildering. How did you find me
here? | admit that | deceived Won
when told you I worked at the Mi.
lano, he went on rapidly In Italian.
But 1t was under compulsion-my &C.
lions that night were not my own
but those Of Others"
Yes, understand" said "But
come out into the street. don't wish
to speak before theae peon1a vo,,r
padrone knows Italian, no doubt" And
turning with smile to the Pole, |
apologized for taking away his serv.
ant for few minutes.
And when we were outside, Olinto
walking by my side in wonderment.
| asked suddenly:
Tell me. Have you ever been in
Scotland-at Dumfries?"
Never. signor, in my life. Why?"
Answer me another question:"
said quickly. You married Armida
at the Italian consulate. Where is
she nowhere is she this morn
ing?"
He turned pale, and | saw a com.
plete change in his countenance.
All signore!" he responded, 81
only wish could tell"
Il cast no reflection whatever upon
you. Olinto; | have merely inquired
after your wife, and you do not give
me direct reply"
We had walked to the ROYAL Oak
and stood talking on the curb outside,
Il give you no reply, because 7
can't" he said in Italian "Armida-
my poor Armida-has left home"
why did you tell me such tale Of
distress regarding herr
las have already explained sig.
more, was not then master of nv
own actions. | was ruled by others
But | saved your life at risk of nv
own. Some day, when it is safe, I
will reveal to you everything"
Let us allow the past to remain"
| said. Where is your wife now?"
He hesitated moment. looking
straight into my face.
THE truth is, Signor Commenda.
tore, that my wife has mysterious|y
disappeared. Last Saturday at eleven
o'clock she was talking over the gar
den wall with a neighbor, and was
then dressed to go out. She apparent
ly went out, but from that moment no
one has seen or heard of her"
1t was on the tip of my tongue to
tell him the CHASTITY truth, yet so
strange was the circumstance that his
own double, even to the mole upon his
face, should be lying dead and buried
in Scotland that | hestated to relate
what knew.
She spoke English, suppose?"
She could make herself understood
very we'll, he said with sigh, and |
saw heavy. thoughtful look upon his
brow. That he was really devoted to
her, | knew. With the Italian of
whatever station in alife, love is all
consuming-it is either perfect love
or genuine hatred. The Tuscan char.
acter is one Of two extremes.
glanced across the road, and saw
that the detective who had ordered
his chop and coffee had stopped TO
light his pipe and was watching us.
But why haven't you told the 20.
lice?"
Il prefer to make inquiries for my
self"
And in what have your inquiries re.
suited"
"Nothing-absolutely nothing" he
said gravely.
'You do not suspect any plot!