The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-08-12

ly at the soldier.
what what is his name, did
you say?" ->
Lorenzo Castrocaro-a captain
of Valentinois," he repeated.
Lorenzo Castrocaro?" she said
in her turn, but on her lips the
name seemed another, so differ
emily did she utter it.
cay. Madonna" he replied.
Suddenly she gripped his arm.
so that she hurt him. and is he
wounded-to the death ?" she cried
with a sudden fierceness. as it
seemed to him.
May; not wounded. He is to
die, having been captured. That is
all. Messer Tolentino will have him
Jump from the rock. You will have
a good view from the batlements,
Madonna. 1t is"
She released his arm, and fell
back from him in horror, cutting
short his. praise of the entertain
ment provided. "Take me to your
captain" she commanded.
He stared at her. bewildered.
And the priest?" he inquired.
Let that wait. Take me to your
captain
The command was SO imperious
that he dared not disobey her. He
bowed, muttering in his beard. and
turning, went up the passage and
So out into the courtyard, the lady
and her women following. -,
Across the intervening space
Madonna Bianca's eyes met the
proud glance of Messer Lorenzo.
and saw the sudden abatement of
that pride, saw the faint flush that
stirred at sight of her in those
pale cheeks. For to the young man
this was a startling apparition.
seeing that-as Cesare Borgia had
been careful to provide-he had
no knowledge or even suspicion of
her presence in San Leo.
A moment she paused. looked at
him, her Soul in her eyes; then she
swept forward, past Bernardo. her
women ever following her. Thus
came she, very pale but very reso-
lutte OF mien, to the captain of her
fortress. Messer Tolentino bowed
uncovering and at
once explained the situation.
Here is young adventurer,
Madonna. whom we captured last
night within these walls" said he.
He is captain in the service of
Cesare Borgia."
She looked at the prisoner again
standing rigid before her. and
from tie prisoner to her officer.
How came he here? ?" she asked.
her voice curiously strained.
'He climbed the rock on the
southern side at the risk of his
neck" said Tolentino.
"And what sought hep
It's what we cannot precisely
ascertain" Tolentino admitted. |
Nor will he tell us. When cap |
'ured last night he pretended to |
De an envoy from Duke Guidobal-
10, which plainly he was not. That |
vas but subterfuge to escape the
of his rashness."
And the captain explained, with
4 pardonable parade of his own
'hrewdness. how he had at once
perceived that had Messer Lorenzo
'een what he pretended, there
would been no need for him to
lave come to San Leo thus. in
ecret.
"Nor did he risk his neck. as
'ou have said, by climbing the
outhern side. had he been employ
d by Cesare Borgia," said the
ady.
"That is too hasty a conclusion,
fadonna,' Tolentino answered. 1T
J only on the southern side that
is possible to climb the wall:
nd along the summit itself there
; no way around
"To what end, then, do you con-
Give that he came ?"
ITO what end? Why, to what
nd but to betray the castle into
ne hands of the Borgia troops ?"
you have proof of that?" she
sked him, a rising infection in
err voice.
ITO common sense no proof is
eeded of the obvious" said he
ententiously, snorting little as
e spoke, out of his resentment of
is feminine interference in mems
fairs. eve are about to fling him
ack the way he came" he ended
18th a certain grim finality.
But Madonna Blanca paid little
ttention to his manner.
"Not until I am satisfied that
is intentions were as you say"
ne replied; and her tone was ev-
~ whit as firm as his, and was
vested with a subtle reminder
nat She was the mistress para
lount Of San Leo. and he no more
nan the castelar,. Tolentino glow
red and shrugged.
"Oh. as you please, Madonna.
ct l would make bold to remind
on that my ripe experience teach
me best how to deal with such
matter"
The girl looked that war-worn
eteran boldly in the eye. "Knowl-
1ge. sir captain, is surely of more
ccount than mere experience"
His jaw fell. "You mean that
you have knowledge of
by he came
ut is possible" said she, and :
lrned from the astonished captain |.
the still more astonished pris-
ner. Daintily she stepped up to
lesser Lorenzo whose daen SAN l.