Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-01-02
CHAPTER xi.

Eyes, Brother Michael" responded
the prefetto. you have news OF i'm
portance to convey. So said the serv.
ant. am ready to listen."
"Your excellency," said the monk,
ut is my good fortune that l 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 Americana" 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 ct Dambo
and me with staring eyes. Is this
true? Have friend so false! His
name! His name! demand his
name!"
"slow. your excellency. Do not be.
come excited" said the monk, calmly.
1T is the Count di 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
riage to the ward of my poor brother.
He! Is he so bad as that? Let him
enter here and my own hand shall
STAY hint" %s
And as the enraged prefetto uttered
his threat against the count thought
of the words carved in the wall Of the
cell in the Tore dell Elefante and In
the marble of the grotto, Henry Thor
lane. I;will ayenge."
The prefetto called the officer Of
the guard and told him the facts. The
count was expected about midnight,
ana 1t was nearly that now.
Remember" said the prefetto. as
his captain was leaving. kill all the
others, but leave the count to mel"
The bells OF the monastery were
ringing the hour Of midnight, and the
darkness of q 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
yell that came from coppice to the
right. A shot was fired, evidently by
one Of the prefetto's guards, and the
nash Of his rifle lighted UP the grounds
for an 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
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 thinly 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 a 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 ! 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
thes prefetto. He had before attempt
ed Nita Barlotti's life-he would do it
again.
Dropping my peddler's pack ] bound.
ed through the halls and up the stairs
toward Nita's room.
In the excitement the door of Bar
lotti's room had been opened. l reach
ed the upper hall just in time to see
Dambo, knife in hand; enter her door.
chen scream, in voice which
recognized as Nita's, told me the vii
lain was at his work. Painting, l
plunged on, and reached the room, to
see Dambo, with q knife appraised in
his right hand, while his left clutched
the frightened girl by the throat.
Raising my club. 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
been at Nita's throat relaxed It's hold,
and the knife fell from the other ia
the floor. sI,.
I "Nita!" I cried, selling the hall
fainting girl, and seeking to reassure
her. "You are safe! You know me!
am Wilberton, your friend!'
"Signor Wilberton!" she gasped
What does 1t mean? And what means
all the noise, the shots and the cries!
Are we attacked? Are they friends
or foes? Is the prefetto's house in
4 danger?" H
threw aside my wig and beard te
i assure her OF my Identity.
'"The villa is attacked by the Count
diPordino, l said, who seeks to take
you away by force. But the warning
was brought in time. and the soldiers
OF the prefetto are lighting on the
forces Of the count. J" 5s3s 3 s1s
Nita was now beside herself with
{ grief. passion and fear. STOPPING, she
s picked up the knife that Dambo had
dropped. q
kiil doit siknor w.lbstton. 7 q,