THE NINTH MAN
"And what shall you do with yours?" he asked her, gently.
She shook her head. "I know not. And you with yours?" she made bold to answer.
"With mine I shall kill myself," said he, in his simple way, "so no blood shall be upon my head."
"Then I, too. Then I, too!" §he said, clapping her hands. "I, too, will kill myself like you, Agnello!"
At this he was troubled. Then he said: "Why, no! I am as one already dead, so do you cast your ballot for me, and you shall live and not one more be killed besides. So you shall be innocent."
With that a light as from heaven streamed over his face, and the little maid clapped her hands, crying:
"That I will do! That I will do!" and glad enough that she need not kill herself. But he did not hear her. And I went away, leaving him as one who listens to the voice of God's angels speaking.
