THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9647, 12 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued

"And why*?" demanded Granitto, eagerly. I "Well, in memory of your friend- i ship she feels distress d to have you outlawed here 011 the hills, and living outside tha comforts of civilised life, and, since unfortunately, you killed poor Madz >. she is afraid of you, and does not wish to see you. ' Granitto smiled. "I shall make my peace with the lady. As to the life here, permit me to detain you, in kindly durance for a few weeks, that you may accurately describe to your t'nir cousin our mode of life; and as for Madzo, the poor fool blew himself up with an ancient pistol, and I having cured him of his wounds, he is at pie sent at the Palazzo Ridnifi, Iho lady need feai me no more," Dugald found himself compelled to stay; but was it puch a burden to him to do so? He was not thirty, and he had his spice of adventuresoineness. He ionged for some distraction for his spirit, after his ilisped wing. This Gianitto hhd always attracted him by his genial easy grace. He was in a mood to make the best of his circumstance?, and he had nothing to fear. He leaned back against the chestnut tree with a sigh that was consenting. Behold Dugald among the bandits. "Away, then!" cried Granitto, leaping up; the day sinks in the western sea. I must go to post my sentinels for the night along these hills of our fathers, seized by the Austrians. So, Signor Probyn, as the sun sinks, the sun of Italian glory has gone down under waters of shame and a sea of blood, but on the long forfeited hilis young Italy waits to see that sun re arise!" He slung his carbine over his shoulder, and light of step climbed the steep hills to his fortress. Dugald as he followed him quite ceased to | wonder that his romantic cousin bad become interested—for he woul.l not yet recognise hf r feeling as a lady loving—with this Italian. The beauty of his face, the springing grace and vigor of his motions, the many sided nature, now breaking out in lofty elegance, now in iron persistency, now in fantastic jest, would captivate a nature wearied of sameness. .As he meditated, at light among the leaves behing him struck hia ear, and turning he saw himself followed by six of Grauitto's comrades. The silent regularity of their movements impressed him with the orangioiog power of this recent Pisan student of theology. At last on the top of a hill, tlu Torre del Pocco rose before them. Granitto sounded a note on the horn at his belt; the gate in the wall swung open and the men filed in. Swinging oil lamps dimly lit the great hall of t arms. Opening from this on one side were sleeping apartments, furnishd each with a pallet and blankets, and cert? in hooks of burnished arms and the inevitable green cloak of a mountaineer. The rear end of the hall had a large door which revealed a room where most of Granitto's followers were gathered. A fire of orush was in the wide chimney. A huge table, possibly two centuries old, stood in the centre of the room, bearing three loaves of black bread, loaves two feet in diameter and six or eight inches thick, and a dozen quart battles of the country wine. Supper hour was near, and the men of the hills stood rubbing up their carbii.es, mending their hide buskins, or telling tales, their bright swarthy faces lit by the fire, and the wavering flame of two oillamps. Granitto opened a room un the side of the hall opposite the sleeping apartments, and motioned Dugald to enter Here a fire of olive roots burned on the hearth. A round table was set for two; an old woman knelt 011 the hearth roasting a panful of great chestnuts, and watching a rabbit which browned on a spit. Not far from the first was a couch covered with lions' skins, and on it lay a gigantic old man. He rose atoSight of a stranger.

"Ha! All Mattino?" "Conte Latrelli, let me present to you my friend, a signor of the English Legation—Ser Probyn. Not a knight of the road, conte, but a friend on a. visit." "Welcome," said Conte Latrelli, taking Dngald's hand in an iron grip and drawing him to a seat at hia side. "You seek the old lion in his den;" and then, in the unconHcious poetry of strong emotion, he caught up the wail of the ancient Hebrew, "I am the man that hath known affliction." Age is garrulous, Granitto went to lay aside some of his clothing and to give his orders for the night, and the conte, still holding Dugald in a grasp that was painful, turned to the theme ever uppermost in his mind: "I mourn two brave sons, as like II Mattino as one fair morning to another. They died far the Italian liberties; they have been dust long, it seems to me, but still the tryant reigns above theit ashes. I have sworn not to cut my hair or beard, nor enter the homes of men, until in

BY DUNCAN McGREGOR Author of "Kennedy's Foe," '-IsTimael Keformo "A Game of Three," "Edna's Peril," Etc, etc.

the train of the House of Savoy 1 enter Florence." • II Mattino returned: "Ser c( nto, this honourable stranger is a cousin of the lady of my love." "So," said the old rr,an, and added, with a bittfr smile, "The young man lives for iove an ] war, the old man for war and revenge." . The day on the hills had sharpened the appttile of Probyri, he ate heartily of the supper of roast meatblack bread, wine, and roasted chest, nuts. After the supper, half an hour of chat; then Granitto opened a little room giving on the conte's apartments, and pointed Probyn to a comfortable bed. He then vanished, and in a few moments returned with a portmanteau. llg opened it and discovered a dressing case and underclothing, and, with a merry "Good night, and blissful dreams," left Dugald to the undivided possession of stolen property! Day was just brightening the hills when Dugald was told that breakfast was ready. The meal was simply bla"l< bread, wine, and macaroni. "We cannot live iike kings while our country is in chains," said Conte Latreilli.

Hardly had the last scraps of this breakfast vanished when a clatter of feet and the dash of a musKet against the stone floor of the. hall was followed by the rushing in of one of Granitto's Pisan comrades.

"Rejoice," he cried, cutting a pig eon's wing, that seemed to leave him like Mahomed's coffin hanging between heaven and earth. "Mio captiano! Illustrious conte! behold ! The sister of il gran duce descends the mountains in a voiture, accompanied by an escort of t-venty soldiers; she has her jewel?, a box of splendid doubloons, her three ladies in wait' ing, and some dispatches " Granitto was in the hall, his trumpet at his lips, at once: "Collect! Arm! Form! Scouts! Reserve two in the rear; right and left supports three. En avant!" In five minutes twenty mountain men, with Granitto at their head, were pressing through the chestnut woods toward a spot favourable for intercepting the sister of the grand duke and her cortege. The enthusiasm of t : ;e chase stirred the young blond of Dugald; he felt instantaneously that his remonstrances might be cf use in behaif of the destined captives. He dashed in between the two reserves, and rushed along with them just in sight of the little column going at double quick. The rr.en of the hills established themselves behind dense at an abrupt tarn of the wood, and before long the tramp of feet, the soui dof German words, and the rattle of wheels indicated the c mring of the "guests" of Arriano. Dugald pushed forward to a knoll, loouing through the trees he could command the whole scene. It seemed the work of enchantment; the outward spring of seven bandits on either side of the road, their arms glittering ready for use, the imperious "Halt!" of Granitt'j, the reeling dismay of the heavily equipped Austrians, the shrieks from the chariot, the "Fire!" ot the Austrian captain, and the word was hardly out of his mouth when he was whisked from is horse and disappeared in the underbrush, and Dugald looking down from his knoll saw one ot Arriano's rssenea sitting upon him in placid content. Then a reckless volley from the Austrians, which rattled among the hills among which the braves seemed unconsciously lost.

"Caramba!" said the voice of a late student, near the ear of Probyn, "they have peppered my arm!" and like a flash the wounded man was inthe place of a reserve, and the leserve was in the assailant's. Then out of the bush swarmed the men in green, and various Russians were lying about in the dust, a brave was at the heads of the horses, another was opening the chariot door, and two or three of the convoy were sitting alung the road rubbing their bruises, and one was curiously inspecting a w oundtd hand. Granitto was master o£ the situation. Ae his follower opened the door of the chariot Granitto stepped forward, and with a profound reverence offered his arm to the ladies to aid them to alight. The three attendants stood behind the Austrian duchess upon the roadside. "Any little mementoes which you may deign to bestow upon these your admirers, gifts long to be cherished as a souveir of this hour, they will gratefully accept," said Arriano. turning his back as two of his men, unhatted. and with excessive humility of manner, waited upon the ladies for their souvenirs. Meantime the coach was thoroughly searched, the despatch bag was discovered, the box of doubloons removed, the ladies' baggage was opened on the roadside, and systematically and even artistically examined. The merry villian in charge of this operation explained his deft handiness to the duchess by the words: I TO BE CONTINUED."'!