The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1915-06-03
CHAPTER discontinued.

He thanked me profusely when
consented to go with him.
All, signor padrone!" he said CRATE
fully, she will be so delighted 1t is
so very good of you"
We hailed a hanson and drove
across Westminster bridge to the ad.
uress he gave-a gloomy back street
on the York road. one of those narrow.
grimy thoroughfares into which the
sun never shines.
A low-looking, evil-faced fellow
opened the door to us and growled ac-
quaintance with Olinto, who, striking a
match, assembled the worn, carpetless
stairs before me, apologizing for pass
ing before me, and saying in Italian:
We live at the top, signore, because
1t is cheaper and the air is better"
Quite right" said. Quite right.
Go on" And l thought l heard my
cab driving away.
1t was a gloomy, forbidding, unlight.
ed place into which l would certainly
have hesitated to enter had not my
companion been my trusted servant,
out contrary to my expectations, the
sitting-room we entered on the top
hoor was quite comfortably furnished,
clean and respectable, even though
traces OF poverty were apparent. A
cheap lamp was burning upon the
table, but the apartment was unoccu.
pied.
Olinto, In surprise, passed into the
adjoining room, returning a moment
later, eXclaiming: "Armida must have
gone out to get something. Or per-
haps she is with the people, a compost.
tor and his wife, who live on the floor
below. They are very good to her.
I'll go and find her. Accommodate
yourself with a chair, signore." And
he drew the best chair forward for me.
and busted it with his handkerchief.
! allowed him to go and fetch her,
rather surprised that she should be
well enough to get about after all he
had told me concerning her illness. Yet
consumption does not keep people in
bed until its final stages.
Olinto returned in a few moments,
saying that his wife had evidently gone
70 do some shopping in the Lower.
Marsh.
Il hope you are not pressed for time,
signore?" he said apologetically. But,
of course, the poor girl does not know
the surprise awaiting her. She will
surely not be long"
Then I'll watt" l said, and flung
myself back into the chair he had
brought forward for me.
Il have nothing to offer you, signor
padrone." he said, with a laugh. 81
did not expect visitor, you know"
mo, no, Olinto. I've only Just had
dinner. But tell me how you have
Jared since you left me-"
"Ah!" he laughed bitterly. "T had
many ups and downs before / found
myself here in London. The sea did
not suit me-neither did the work.
managed to work my way from Genoa
TO London. My first place was sculliou
In a restaurant in Tottenham Court
road. Afterwards went to the Milano
and l hope to get into one of the bis
hotels very sooner perhaps the grill
room at the Carlton"
I'll see what / can do for YOU"
said. Il know several hotel managers
who might have vacancy"
"Ah, signore!" he cried. filed Will
qualification. eff you only WOULD A
word from you would secure me gooC
position. can work, that you know
and l do work. / will work-for hel
sake.
Eyes," he said in hoarse voice, hi
manner suddenly changing. you hav,
tonight shown me, signore, that you
are my friend, and | will, in return
chow you that am yours" And sud
denly grasping both my hands, h,
pulled me from the chair in which
was sitting, at the same time askin,
in a low intense whisper: do you al
ways carry a revolver here In Eng
land, as you do in Italy?"
Eyes," answered in surprise at hi
action and his question. "Why?"
Because there is danger here" h,
answered in the same low earnes
tone. Get your weapon ready. Yo'
may want it,"
81 don't understand" / said, feeling
my handy Colt in my back pocket Il
make sure II was there.
Forget what have said-all-al
that have told you tonight, SIR" h
said. 81 have not explained the whole
truth You are In peril-in deadl!
PERIL"
"How?" l exclaimed breathlessly
surprised at his extraordinary chang
OF manner and his evident apprehen
sion lest something should befall me.
wait, and you shall see," he whis
pered. "But first tell me, signore, tina
you will forgive me for the part ! hav
played in this dastardly affair. |, hk
yourself, fell innocently into the hand
OF your enemies"