The Globe-republican., 1902-10-23
M0ubkeck, The Lion Toner.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author OF Jack Robbins of America ..In the
China Sea- Two Gentlemen Of
Hawaii" .-On FaI<o
Charge Etc.
Copyrights. 1895. by RoBrHr Boasr.'. SOFA
CHAPTER XII

Let US go to the prefetto,'' said the
monk, land give him warning of the |
evil work that is planned against him |
tonight The prefetto is Our master. |
We must protect him, for he is the |
representative of the king. What is |
your name, son?''
Il am called Dambo. father
Come with me to the prefetto.
Come, traveller; I will need your evil
dence WE'LL
Wondering what desperate game the
monk was about to play, L followed
him. The monk spoke a few words
to the guard. A servant was sum
moned, and we were led into the pres
ence of the master of all Cagliari.
Your exce1lencyl' said the monk,
by way of salutation-
Yes, Brother Michael responded
the prefetto. You have news of i'm
portance to convey. So said the serv-
ant l am ready to LISTEN
Your excellency,'' said the monk,
it is my good fortune that I have
become possessed of important knowl
edge that concerns your safety and
that Of the fair Signorina Barlotti, who
is under your roof
The prefetto started.
THAT cursed American" he said.
mo. This time it is one of your
trusted friends who is plotting against
you, and who would, but for our
friends here, murder you this night
and carry away the signorina for his
own
Sacre!" exclaimed the prefetto,
turning pale and looking at Dambo
and me with staring eyes. rs this
true? Have I friend so false2 His
name! His name! demand his
namei'
Slow, your exce11ency. Do not be
come excited said the monk, calmly.
1T is the Count df Pordino who thus
plots against you
"Pordino? Impossible! He was
here to-day and drank wine with me,
and we spoke of his approaching mar
rage to the ward of my poor brother.
He! Is he SO bad that? Let him
enter here and my own hand shall
slay himi'
And as the enraged prefetto uttered
| his threat against the count 1 thought
| of the words carved in the wall Of the
| cell in the Tore dell E1efante and in
| the marble of the grotto, Henry Thor
| lane. 1 will avenge.
The prefetto called the officer of
the guard and told him the facts. The
count was expected about midnight
ana it was nearly that now.
| Remember said the prefetto, as
| his captain was leaving xiii all tn e
/ others, but leave the count to mel
| The bells of the monastery were
ringing the hour of midnight, and the
| darkness of a cloudy night was over
| everything, when we, who stood in a
| waiting attitude on the front porch of
| the prefetto's villa, were startled by
| a yell that came from a coppice to tn
right A shot was fired, evidently by
one of the prefetto's guards, and the
flash of his rife lighted up the grounds
| for instant. And in that instant
we saw the forms of men running to-
ward the villa.
Suddenly some one placed lights in
the windows of the villa, which threw
a glare out into the night, and by this
| light the guards of the prefetto saw
the attacking party, and formed to
| meet them.
The villa became the scene of indie
| scribable excitement and activity. The
| screams of frightened women, the
| servants of the household, pierced the
| air, and rang out in unison with the
| hoarse shouts of the soldiers and the
| cries of the attacking party.
The leader of the attacking crowd
| was but thinIy disguised The Count
| di Pordino was a tall man, and bore
| himself with carriage that was too
| marked in character to be easily over
| looked He was not wounded in the
| charge, and in the glare of the lights
| in the windows he could be seen urg-
ing his men on.
The prefetto, with muttered curse.
| sprang forward, evidently to meet the
count face to face. AS he leaped from
| the porch, the Jesuit slid after him.
was about to follow, when 1 missed
| Dambo, who had been standing be-
hind me. A rush of fear came over
me- Dambo had had another purpose
in coming to the villa than to warn
| the prefetto- He had before attempt
ed Nita Barlotti's Ife-he would do it
| again.
Dropping my peddler's pack I bound
| ed through the halls and up the stairs
toward Nita's room
the excitement the door of Bar
lotti's room had been opened. I reach
| ed the upper hall just in time to see
| Dambo, knife in hand enter her door.
| Then a scream, in a voice which 1
| recognized as Nita's, told me the vii
lain was at his work Painting,
| plunged on, and reached the room, to
| see Dambo, with a knife appraised in
| his right hand, while his left clutch ed
| the frightened girl by the throat.
Raising my club, I uttered a prayer
| for muscular strength 1t must have
| been answered The club descended
| upon the skull of Dambo, and he fell
| back, half stunned, the hand that had