Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-20

the prefetto and l will kill the count.
Tut II they conquer me and fail to
kill them. ! will plunge this knife into
my own heart rather than become
the bride. the slave, of the Count di
Pordino."
Her eyes flashed as she spoke, her
bosom rose and fell in an excess OF
emotion. and the delicate but muscu.
lar little fingers grasped the handle
of the knife In most determined way.
Now Dambo. who had been motion
less under the effects OF the merciless
blow had given him. began to crawl
away from me. Springing to the win'
dow. which was shaded with heavy
lace curtains. held In festoons by cord.
I tore the cord away, and SELLING the
Italian. bound him strongly and Sc
curely. and warning him not to make
any further attempt to escape. left
him In heap on the floor.
The din In and around the villa was
now something awful. Sounds Of rife
shots. cries, shricks. means and curses
reached us through the doors and win
dows. and rushed out on the balcony
to get peep at the scenes OF war be-
low.
More lights had been brought. Ian
terms flashed all over the villa grounds.
The monastery bells were changing the
midnight alarm. The battle had be-
come hand,to.hand struggle. the
forces OF the prefetto essaying not
only to defend the villa from attack,
but to drive the invaders from the
place. and the horde of cutthroats un'
der the Count di Pordino still hot In
the hunt for Nita Barlotti. and what
ever else OF plunder they could lay
their hands TO.
Backward and forward the clashins
groups ran. shouting. shooting. stab
bling. blinded by rage and passion. In
famed by the blood already spilled. de
stroyIng life where they could. fearing
no. death themselves.
To my eye II seemed rs II the
Count dl Pordino's bandits were gain
ing. And II the military failed TO
arrive from caslinri. NIL would soon
be up with Nita Barlotti and me.
Apart from the other struggling
combatants. two staiwart men swayed
to and fro In fight to the death.
One had worn n mask. and II had fall.
en- on. disclosing the features OF the
Count di Pordino. The other was
Maiisri. the prcfctto of ca.iiari.
They were armed with knives. and
as they writhcd and twisted In each
others grasp. the knives were
plunged first into one and then Into
.hc other. until IL seemed ms u they
surely must drop dead from their
wounds.
Near these two s,rurriin. princi.
pals In the ARRAY stood Brother Mich.
nci. the Jesuit. and so silent and cold
was he. amid the boiling and sccthinx
of the caidron around him. that his
caimncss thrilled me as In another
some great deed OF vaior might do.
And Siia saw him, and watched the
silent figure n moment In wonder. 30
distinct and apart from the entire
scene did he seem to be.
''Signor!" sho whispered. See
that silent monk. II he not srandiy
calm amid all the horrors around
hIm' lie is different from the others.
See how noble and still he Is"
Yes" I replied. In whisper.
THAT Is Brother Michaci-a Jesuit.
He saved mo from the soldiers and
prison guards when ! ran away. and
he saved my life from wound they
gave me. have my suspicion that
Brother Michael Ia one wnom the pre-
fctio thinks Is doing scr,ii- pcnancc
In the monastery. Perhaps you have
heard of Henry Thosinnc. think
tina, Brother Michael Ia none other
than he In the -
Henry Thorianc'"
The cry rang ont from Nita's lips
with wiidi css that frightened me.
and caused the silent monk to look
toward us.
Henry Thorianc." she cried again.
NO. no: II cannot be Henry Thor.
isnc. Henry Thorianc is dcaIl lie
died when"
She recicd. Her hands wen, ZIP to
her head. With gasp and moan. she
sank into my arms and lost all con.
sciousucss. I nurricdly carried her
into the room and placed her on the
Ted. Water was handy. and I bathcd
her face with II. When the nght
should be over. | would call for liquor
and give It TO her.
I stepped out on the balcony again
to sec how the 1iht was progressing.
Suddenly the prefetto and his murder.
ous foe. Pordino. relaxed their hold
and fell together.
Encouraged by this, the bandits re-
ncwcd their attack. The villa must
certainly fall into their hands.
Just then, by sudden movement.
the silent monk drew from his bosom
peculiar symbol and held 1t aloft.
He spoke n few words. and | heard
cXciamations OF surprise calculated
among the crowd of Pordino's hire
liugs. They swarmcd around the
Jesuit. who spoke to them again. It
seemed in commanding way.
Then the attacking party turned.
and just when they seemed to have
everything In their grasp. they filed
silently out OF the place, leaving the
defeated soldiers of the prcfetto dunn.
founded at this new turn that affairs
had taken.
Bending over the fallen chiefs. the
monk felt their breasts az II to learn
whether they were alive or dead. The
investigation evidently satisfied him.