The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-07-16
CHAPTER VIII.
Lies Counter-CIaim.

No worn Oh Inlne can express my aD-
solute and abject amazement when
faced the man, whom | 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 liv-
ing
"Signor Padrone!" cried the man
whose appearance was so absolutely
bewildering. How did you find me
here? | admit that deceived you
when | told you / worked at the MI
lano," he went on rapidly In Italian
But 1t was under compulsion-my &C
tions 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, I
apologized for taking away his serv-
ant for a 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" I
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.
"Ah. signore!" he responded, 81
only wish could tell"
II 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 I
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"
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. |
will reveal to you everything"
Let us allow the past to remain y
| said. Where Is your wife now ?''
He hesitated moment, looking
straight into my face.
THE truth is. signor Commenda.
tore, that my wife has mysteriously
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 sc
strange was the circumstance that his
own double. even to the mole upon his
face, should be lying dead and buried
In Scotland that | hesitated to relate
what | knew.
she spoke English, suppose?"
she could make herself understood
very well" he said with sigh, and
saw a heavy, thoughtful look upon his
brow. That he was really devoted tc
her, knew. With the Italian o.
whatever station in life, 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 tc
light his pipe and was watching us
But why haven't you told the DO
lice?"
Il prefer to make inquiries for my
self"
And In what have your inquiries re
sulted?"
"Nothing-absolutely nothing" ht
said gravely.
| You do aot suspect any plott
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