Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1915-08-06
CHAPTER VII.
Llfe,s counter.clalm.

LIVES Counter-CIairn.
No word OF mine can express my alb.
solute and abject amazement when
faced the man, whom I had seen ly-
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 EVIL
IDENTIFY been furnished with a photo
graph of the dead man. and now, like
myself. discovered him alive and llv-
ing.
"Signor Padrone!" cried the man
whose appearance was so absolutely
bewildering How did you find me
here? admit that I deceived you
when told you l worked at the Mi.
lano." he went on rapidly In Italian.
but 1t was under compulsion-my &C
tons 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 these people. Your
padrone knows italian, no doubt" And
turning with smile to the Pole, [
apologized for taking away his serv.
ant for a few minutes.
And when we we're 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 com.
plete change In his countenance.
"Ah, signore!" he responded. 81
only wish could tell"
Il cas-. no reflection whatever upon
you, Oilnto. | 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
II give you no reply. because
can't" he said In Italian. "Armida-.-
my poor Armida-has left home"
why did you tell me such a tale OF
distress regarding herr"
AS ! have already explained sig
more. | was not then master OF m,
own actions. I was ruled by Others
But | saved your life at risk OF my
own. Some day. when 1t Isl safe.
will reveal TO you everything"
Let us allow the past to remain.
I said, Where Is your wife now
He hesitated moment. lookins
straight into my face.
The truth Is. Signor Commenda
tore. that my wife has mysteriousl,
disappeared Last Saturday at clever
o'clock she was talking over the gar
den wall with neighbor and wa!
then dressed to go out. She apparent
ly went out, but from that moment M
one has seen or heard OF her"
II was on the tip OF my tongue 4
tell him the CHASTITY truth. yet 81
strange was the circumstance that hi
own double, even to the mole upon hi
face. should be lying dead and burlet
In Scotland that | hesitated to rela;,
what | knew.
she spoke English. suppose?"
She could make herself understood,
very we'll" he said with a sigh. and
saw a heavy. thoughtful look upon hi
brow. That he was really devoted Il
her. knew. With the Italian O
Whatever station in life. love is all
consumfng-it Is either psJfect low
or genuine hatred. The Tuscan char
acter is one OF two extremes
! glanced across the road. and ga,
: that the detective who had ordere
his chop and coffee had stopped /
light his pipe and was watching us
But why haven't you told the DC
lice?"
: II prefer to make inquiries for my
, self"
: And in what have your inquiries n
sulted?"
. 'Nothing-absolutely nothing" h
! said gravely.
a