The Holly chieftain., 1903-02-20

Great heaven!' I exclaimed. ma,
ligni has returned and discovered
your escape!"
s"You win be killed. signor." said
Nita.
"And your"
Il will be married! That is still
worse"
LET us hurry. They may not le
able to catch US before We reach the
carriage. We may yet escape"
Keeping as well in the shadow as
possible, ,ed my beautiful companion
swiftly forward. 81
Suddenly there was q rushing sound
behind us. / knew that a pursuer
was on our trail. l had, since reach
ing Cagliari. carried revolver In my
pocket. seized this, resolving to sell
the liberty of Nita and myself as
dearly as possible. Turning, was
met face to face, with two stalwart
fellows. both armed. Before l could
use my revolver. was knocked down
by blow from one of my assailants,
and my revolver was taken from me-
The guards shouted to others, and
in less time than 1t takes to tell it a
dozen more were crowding around
us. They jabbered away in the Sar-
dinian lingo, none OF which I under.
stood.
But Nita did.
Uttering a cry, she clutcned my
arm.
You are lost!" she cried, "and SO
am 1! You did not tell me you killed
hint"
"Eh?" replied, still half dazed
bv the blow l had received
They say Maligni is dead from the
stab you gave him!"
"Maligni dead!" yelled 81 saw
Maligni alive not ten minutes ago!
didn't kill anybody"
"Maligni is dead" she said. Now.
what will become of us? Oh, Mauhi-
keck, come back from the sea. Come
back, Maubikeck, from Your grave
beneath the waters and carry me
away! Maubikeck! Maubikeck!"
Even as she was crying thus nys-
terically, the girl was seized by two
men, and started back to the house.
And had l been perfect Hercules
| could not have handled the men
who grabbed my arms, neck and even
my legs and pushed me toward the
villa. :,
My fair fellow-prisoner and l were
conducted into a large room-a
library-in which sat a stern, cold
faced man, whose black eyes burned
with rage and whose mouth set in
ironlike firmness when we were
brought before. him.
looking at me.
[ l was in the presence of the gov
ernor of the Province of Cagliari,
whose house had invaded.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, at is you who
have entered the house of the gov.
ernor of Cagliari and murdered his
brother in cold blood! You! You
cur! You mean dog! And an Amer.
ican. are you not?"
Il am not murderer" replied.
Il did not kill your brother did not
injure him. When left the balcony
of your villa with this young lady,
your brother was alive and well.'
You are liar as well as mur-
derer," said the prefetto. II will show
you! will give you taste of Sar-
dinian justice!"
ut is lie!" exclaimed, vehement.
ly. "a foul lie. II your brother is
murdered. 1t was not by my hand!
am an American citizen, and de-
mand fair and Just trial."
A cold sneer came upon his face,
and he spoke to some of his men in
their own dialect.
Then was rudely jostled and led
along hall and up broad flight Of
stairs. Turning to the right from
these, / was taken into the very room
from which ! had taken the locket,
the pin and the. manuscript.
On the floor. near the entrance, lay
Pacho Maligni, dead, gaping wound
In his throat, and his body convulsed
as II In the last struggle. l glanced
hastily around. The contents of the
room were undisturbed, with one
important exception-the red box.
which l had left on the table, was
gone.
II did not kill him." said. point.
Ing to the dead Snowman. II know
nothing about his DEATH. My objectl