The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-01-14
CHAPTER YIN.
llfeis Counter-CIajm.


No word Of mine can express my ABB
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 Padronei" cried the man
whose appearance was so absolutely
bewidering 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 ac-
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 a smile to the Pole, /
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"
said quickly. You married Armida
at the Italian consulate. Where Ia
she nowhere Is she this morn
ing?"
He turned pale. and l saw a com.
plete change in his countenance.
"Ah. signore'" he responded, Il
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
can't" he said in Italian "Armida-
my poor Armida-has left home"
distress regarding herr"
"As l 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 II is safe. I
will reveal to you everything"
Let us allow the past to remain
I cat a..
He hesitated a 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 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 hesitated to relate
what | knew.
She spoke English. ! suppose?"
She could make herself understood
very we'll" he said with sigh, and
| saw a heavy. thoughtful look upon his
| brow. That he was really devoted to
| her. | knew. With the Italian Of
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
J his chop and coffee had stopped to
| light his pipe and was watching us.
But why haven't you told the po-
| lice?"
| Il prefer to make inquiries for my
self
And in what have your inquiries re-
sulted?"
Nothing-absolutely nothing" he
| said gravely.
you do not suspect any plot7 I