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

every well,' said he. And then
"You will not tell me who you are
and what you sought here?"
81 have told you already, but
you choose discredit what l say
What need, then, for further
words? 1t were but to weary you
. and me. Let us get to the hanging.
which, from the general look of
you, is no doubt a matter that yot
understand BETTER"
"Hav said Tolentino.
But now quite suddenly, from
the line of men there was one who,
having heard question and answer
made bold to call out: ''Sir cap
tain. 1 can tell you who he is"
The captain wheeled sharply up
on the man-at-arms who had made
the announcement.
"He is Messer Lorenzo Castro
caro-"
"One of Valentinois' condotti-
eri?" exclaimed Tolentino.
"The same, sir captain the man
assured him; and Messer Lorenzo
looking, recognized one who had
served under his own banner some
months since. He shrugged indif-
ferently at the captains very evi-
dent satisfaction.
"What odds ?" he said. zone
name will serve as well as another
to die under"
"And how" quoth the captain,
"would you prefer to die? You
shall have your own choice"
"Of old age, l think" said Mes
ser Lorenzo airily, and heard the
litter that responded to his sally.
But Tolentino scowled, displeased.
81 mean sir, will you be hanged
or will you leap from the ledge of
which you climbed last night ?"
'Why, that now is very diff
ferent matter. You circumscribe
the choice. Appoint for me, pray
the death that will afford you the
greater diversion"
Tolentino considered him, strok-
ing his long chin, his brows wrink-
led. He liked the fellow for his in
trepid daring in the fact of death.
But-he was castelar, of San Leo,
and knew his duty.
"Why," said he slowly at length,
1--WE know that you can climb like
an ape; let us see if you can fly
like a bird. Take him up to the
ramparts yonder."
"Ah, but stay!" cried Messer
Castrocaro, with suddenly startled
thots of those sins of his youth
and with certain corollary hope.
"Are you all pagans in San Leo?
Is Christian to be thrust across
the black edge of death unshriven?
Am I to have no priest, them"
Tolentino frowned, as if impa-
tient of this fresh motive for de-
lay; then he signed shortly to Ber-
nardo.
$50 fetch the priest" said he;
and thus dashed that faint. sly
hope Messer Lorenzo had been har-
boring that the place might con-
tain no priest. and that these men
being faithful children of mother
Church, would never dare to sIay
man who asked for
shrift.
Bernardo went. He gained the
chapel door on the very pronounce
ment of the eta Missa Est" lust
as the morning mass was ended.
and on the threshold, in his haste.
ne all but stumbled against a LADY,
in black who was coming forth at
tended by two women. He drew
aside and flattered himself against
the wall. muttering words of apol-
ogy. But the lady did not at once
pass on.
why all this haste to chapel ?n
4uoth she, accounting it strangely
in one of Tolentino's men.
"Messer Father Girolamo is re-
4uired," said he. "There is a man
about to die who must be shriven.a
"A MANI" said she, with a show
81 tender solicitude, conceiving |
that one of the all-too-slender gar. |
rison had been wounded to the |
leath.
AYE, a captain of Valentines
One Lorenzo Castrocaro-who
,ame hither in the night. And" he
added vaingloriously, sit was 1,
Madonna. who took him."
But the lady Blanca never heard