The Argosy — page 134: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Sapphire Cross. 121 Thus entreated, reluctantly, with many protests, she told how on the very evening of the murder Isoletta had been ill, how Tito, desperate, had gone out to get money, and had returned in about an hour apparently with a good deal. “And you say that the interval of his absence corresponded as nearly as possible to the time of the murder P” Wes,” « And what has become of him ?” “ He is living at Pistoja, I hear. He left this a very few days after the murder.” Suddenly ?” “ Quite suddenly.” «And yet nobody ever thought of connecting his departure with the murder!” exclaimed Signor Renzo. “Tn all that excitement I think his going attracted no attention,” said Lucia. ‘And what is he doing at Pistoja, do you know?” “Working at his trade as a carpenter.” Prosperously P ” “Very prosperously, I believe. Somebody even said that he had opened a shop.” “T am always suspicious of ne’er-do-weels who are suddenly found in easy circumstances. But what I do not understand is how, supposing him to be our man, he could so quickly have converted the jewels into money. Who were hisassociates P Oh, Internationalists ! I would believe any harm of ¢hem,” said the prejudiced lawyer. He relapsed into musing. “I am afraid it is not very much of a clue, after all,” he presently continued. ‘‘ Nay, don’t lose heart, Signora Lucia! It is a starting point if it 1s nothing else. You must leave me to think it all over. Meanwhile, I know that I need not entreat you to be silent. The least hint would ruin everything. You shall hear from me in a few days. Good-bye.” “JT am very grateful,” said Lucia, with her modest grace. Signor Renzo, bowing with an involuntary reverence over her out- stretched hand, muttered something not very clear about his duty and the cause of justice. But as he walked home the young lawyer caught himself wondering more than once wherein lay the nameless charm of this proud but gentle maiden of the people. Certain it is that she played a far more prominent part in his meditations than the austere goddess of the Sword and Scales. (Zo be concluded.) CON (-) lNOOKS ACO