The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-07-07

he wondered if there were no way of
bringing this apparently hopeless love
affaS to a successful issue, and like an
inspiration came an idea to him:
'This secret coloring of yours" he
said, must be of great value, if your
success has resulted from it,
Il do not think it really has," An
ton returned thoughtfully. AT first
it was necessity that compelled me
to use it; then when | saw how sud-
denly success came, I foolishly be-
lieved, even as Marco, that my sue
cess was solely due to that special
coloring. Lately / have been wiser,
have no intention of making any
further use of it; any mere touch of
colour, as contrast to the surround
ings, serves as well to compel mems
attention.
"Yet Marco would evidently give
much to possess the secret, the
priest said meaningly. perhaps he
would let you have Francesca in ex-
changer
Marco would hardly care to use
the secret" Anton replied.
THAT is surely for him to judge,
when he knows it, Father Paul sug-
gested. will you permit me to ne
gotiate with him in this matter, if
find an opportunity
Certainly, but first you must
know the secret"
An hour later the priests guest
was on the way to his lodgings on
the street where Marco resided, and
suddenly it occurred to Father Paul
that he had not done well in allowing
Anton to go alone: he might acct
IDENTIFY meet Marco, or the latter
might change whatever plan he had
in view for tomorrow and arrange
it for tonight. Accompanied by his
servant Giovanni, provided with a.
heavy club, the. priest was soon
walking swiftly along the moonlit
streets of Florence, over the same
road he had traversed by daylight
with Anton.
They came at length to a narrow,
deserted street, with tall houses on
either side where many shadows
lurked; they were quite close now to
the house of Marco, the priest paus-
ed: MY eyes are too dim, Giovanni"
he said, to make things out in this
light; but do you not see figures NOV
ing down the street,"
Eyes, someone is being dragged in
to house, the man answered. And
he would have dashed to the rescue,
but Father Paul laid restraining
narrow recess between two houses:
That is not Marcos house," he said
$50 it is possible they have not taken
the artist inside; they may be in the
portico. We will now proceed at a
leisurely pace down the street; and
| if any of the men are on watch, they
will suppose we are merely passers-
by; but when we reach the house we
| will quicken our pace
Meanwhile blow on the head had
deprived Anton of consciousness;
whereupon, Marco and his two con-
federates carried him into the portico
of the nearest house.
ou dlS QulL0 sure we Will lOC NC
disturbed here?" Marco asked.
Quite, one of the masked men
returned, there is only an old man,
the caretaker of this place, who stays
here now, and he has gone to bed
| hours ago.
ANY valuables on his person, you
| two may have" Marco said nervous
! ly, 'all | desire is paper, or perhaps
a vial. If we find it we need do moth
ing more and can leave the man
here
One of the men crouched low in
the shadow, was watching the road.
Marco flung Anton's cloak to the
other, bidding him examine it; he
himself knelt beside the artist, and
| pulling off his boots searched them,
then with his knife slashed his doub-
let and shirt; dropping his knife to
pass swift, deft fingers over every
part of the figure beside him: and
still there was nothing.
The man on guard turned his head
| Crouch low" he said, two people
are about to pass" But he did not
turn again to watch them, for at that
moment he caught the CLEAN of
something bright in his comrades
hand: it was the jeweled clasp of
| Anton's cloak, given him by prince
of the country, in token of apprecia-
ton of the artists work. The man
did not hear the quick footsteps back
of him, and the next instant blow
on the head felled him, the other had
seen them coming, but his cry of
warning had been uncomprehended.
He gave flying leap over the stone
parapet, Giovanni after him. A heavy
| hand fell on the shoulder of Marco,
bending over his victim, while on his
astonished ears sounded voice,
suave, gentle: ct is my friend,
Marco, l think"
Vainly Marco struggled to rise, he
was held to his kneeling posture
while the others merciless hand
stripped him of the mask
81 have business with YOU" the
calm voice continued. Perhaps it
is as well to transact it at once: you
have plotted and planned to discover
a certain secret; that secret was
| cenfided to me by Anton, before he
i Lea L