The Holly chieftain., 1903-03-20

She reeled. Her haads vent up -
her head. With gasp and moan, she
sank into my arms and lost an CON
sciousness. I nurriedly carried her
into the room and placed her on the
bed. Water was handy, and bathed
her face with It. When the fight
should be over, would call for LIQUOR
and give 1t to her.
stepped out on the balcony again
to see how the tight was progressing.
Suddenly the prefetto and his murder
ous foe. Pordino, relaxed their hold
and fell together.
Encouraged by this, the bandits re-
newed their attack. The villa must
certainly fail into their hands.
Just then, by sudden movement.
the silent monk drew from his bosom
peculiar symbol and held it aloft.
He spoke q few words, and l heard
EXPLANATIONS OF surprise calculated
among the crowd OF Pordino's hire
lings. They swarmed around the
Jesuit, who spoke to them again, IT.
seemed in commanding way.
Then the attacking party turnes,
and just when they seemed to have
everything in their grasp. they hled
silently out of the place, leaving the
defeated soldiers Of the prefetto dunn
founded at this new turn that AFFAIRS
had taken.
Bending over the fallen chiefs, the
monk felt their breasts as II to learn
whether they were alive or dead. The
investigation evidently satisfied him,
for he turned and signaled for some
Of the house servants and soldiers to
carry the prefetto and the count into
the house.
Thoroughly bewildered now. made
sure that Dambo's cords were secure,
dragged him out of Nita's room and
into that in which Pacho Maligni had
been killed, and, locking both doors.
put the keys in my pocket and went
down to meet Brother Michael.
On the stairs l met Mutterelli. who
was sauntering carelessly along smok-
ing a cigarette.
"You here?" 1 cried. 81 did not see
you in the nght."
"No, signor," he said. "A man who
has prospects of fifty thousand lire
never risks his life in fight with
bandits. was looking for you.
have something for you"
From under his jacket he took a
box-the red tin box that had been
taken from Pacho Maligni.
Where did you get that?' ! asked.
"In Dambo's quarters" he said. ut
seems to connect him with the murder
of Maligni."
"It does, 1t does." I said. "And
Dambo Is this minute lying bound in
Pacho Maligni's room. And in the
next lies Nita Barlotti in dead faint.
l was going after some cognac for
her. The doors are locked"
'Give me the keys he said. II
have flask. will bring the sig.
norma round. You go below-Broth.
er Michael may wish to see you"
felt that could trust Muterellf.
and handed him the keys. Then I
went down into the library, where the
prefetto and the Count di Pordino
had been carried.
Two broad, low couches had been
hurriedly drawn out into the center of
the library. Upon one lay the pre-
fetto, and upon the other the Count
di Pordino. 1t was evident. even to
my Impractical eyes, that both these
men were dying.
Physicians who had hurried to the
villa. aroused by the alarm bells OF
the monastery, were working over
them. and by the. side OF each stood
a monk, holding crucifx in his hand.
THAT is all we can do" said one.
THE wounds are fatal. Neither the
prefetto nor the Count di Pordino will
live till daylight"
The wounded men looked about
them. They were conscious. and
heard their doom as pronounced by
the physician.
Brother Michael stepped nearer to
them, and said:
Sons, you have heard the sad
words Of the physician. Make your
peace with God. for you will soon
stand before him to be judged for
your deeds on earth, and If they have
been evil, for the degree of repen.
tance and reparation you have given.
Have you, Count di Pordino, any sin
or secret on your soul which you
wish to confess and receive absolu.
tion and forgiveness before you go
before the fnal and the Almighty