Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-04
CHAPTER VIII.
THE GLOVE AND THE RING.


answered Christopher Race.
They were sitting together at Flo
rian's. in Venice, at one of the, out
of-doors tables. They had met for the
first time that evening at 8, when the
place had been crowded. and they had
been forced to sit down at table to-
gether, IL they would sit at all. Now
II was 2 in the morning (for Florian
never closes) and they had talked
ever since.
Christopher knew that Baria had
loved a lady, the most beautiful on
earth-according to her lover; that
they had been engaged, and that then
he had lost some thousands Of pounds
and had received an adverse opinion
his health from an emf
nent doctor. The lady admired strong
men and threw Baria over to take one
whose lungs and whose bank account
we're both more satisfactory than MS
She was now the wife Of this person,
who happened to be prince, and the
Marchese Baria wished to forget her
as soon as possible. The only way IN
which he felt himself able to do this
was by death, and at present he was
engaged in shortening the short lease
ingstoo much alcohol. He found this
recipe disagreeable, as he disliked
wine and spirits. But. unfortunately,
he had promised his English mother
on her deathbed that never, In any
circumstances, would he follow the
exampJe,set by one or two of his ia
theirs hot-blooded ancestors and COM
nit suicide Noxious microbes had
IL l.
take typhoid fever, or any other dis
ease warranted to carry off delicate
patient. But he had hopes OF pneu-
monia. That was why he had chosen
to sit out Of doors on an unseasonably
chill, cold. rainy night. clad in the
lightest of garments.
.1s II murder to annihilate a per-
son whose one wish is to die2" the
marchese asked.
I'm inclined to think the law
would regard 1t so. But"-and Chris
topher spoke slowly, as II on mature
deiiberatlon--"I'll tell you what ! can
do. You say you're trying course
Of freezing treatment to hurry up
matters, Well. this Is June, but it's
more like October weather, and / can
give you long, strong dose OF cold
air in my motor. What about coming
on with me until You pick up pneumo-
mia. or, II not that. a violent attack Of
Inflammation OF the lungs or even
pleurisy. as you may do If 1t doesn't
soon stop raining?"
'.You are good fellow" exclaimed
Baria, THE moment we exchanged
our first words ] felt you would be a
friend"
.'And / you replied Christopher.
THE pity Is, our friendships likely to
be so short
''Still. we shall be together till the
end" said the marchese.
TITS worth trying" assented Chris
topher, Scarlet Runner and l are
at your service for the experiment.
I've got rid of my passengers; I've
seen Venice. must take the car home
In time for another engagement, and
| shall be delighted to have a COM
panion."
For as long as ! last?" said Ba-
ria.
''For as long as you last" echoed
Race.
They started next morning, the
marchese having wound up his more
pressing affairs in case OF a sudden
end. and giving all necessary instruc-
tons to the servants who looked after
his palace on the Grand canal.
Their way led through southern
country, where the days should have
been summer days: but the weather
was abnormal. There were cold winds
and bursts of rain, which delighted
the Marchese Baria. He would wear
no overcoat. and insisted upon sittine
. in front beside Christopher. Each
night he expected to be III. but hi
had instead an enormous appetite ant
slept as he had not slept since the
marriage Of his faithless lady. Thi.
annoyed and puzzled him. but he wa,
somewhat comforted by Christopher
suggestion that the seeming improve
ment might be mere flash Of life be,
fore the end.
They drove through Padua and We
roma to Milan and on to Alessandria
SO across the plain Of Lombardy I,
Cuneo, all by easy stages, and whei
the sun shone on them again Bari,
longer coughed, except when 1t oc
Cured to him as the duty Of a jiltet
lover.
Now Scarlet Runner was set t,
climb the mighty barrier of the Alp
which shuts off Piedmont from tn
Mediterranean, and darkness had fall
en- for the third time since its start
when 1t had passed through the Ion,
tunnel of the Col di Tenda and ha,
begun to descend past San Dalmazz
into the valley of the Roya.
Christopher had entered Italy witt
his late passengers by way of Noun
Gents and the valley Of the Roya wa
strange to him. He knew 1t bnl
through study OF maps and guide
books, but he had no fear of losin
the way and hoped to reach Mention
by midnight. There. though II was on
OF reason, one or two hotels would b
open.
Scarlet Runners lamps and search
light threw a binding glare ahea
as the car picked its way, round shar
curve after sharp curve of rock. dow
the slippery road. On one side ros
always a wall Of mountain; on III
other was a precipice, in the troug
of which roared the River Roy,
There was no reason that anyon
ahead should be surprised at sight {
Scarlet Runner, yet suddenly, takin
quick curve. the car all but dashe
into the leader Of three horses draw
ing a market-cart.
Instantly Christopher put on tn
brake and stopped the motor, just
J time TO save disaster. but not in tin
to avoid frightening the horses, TT
leader. whose pale gray color gleame
ghostlike in the fierce light Of II
acetylene lamps. reared back upo
its fellows, swerved and would ha,
plunged over the precipice, draggif
the other two horses and the gre
covered cart with him, had not Bar
sprung out Of the car and seized hi
by the rein.
II was admirably done, not the a
OF world-weary invalid, but OF ale
youth. quick to think and do, becau
full Of interest in life. There w
just time for admiration and som
thing OF surprise to fash throus
christopher's mind as he also jump,
down and ran to help his friend wi
the horses.
Between the two they had the ar
mails under control after few wi