Newport weekly independent., 1903-07-17

there is Pietro. l will tell him."
 But Pietro wasn't there when she finished her sentence. He darted into nearby court, and was to be seen no more. Francesca was visibly an- noyed. That evening she pleaded with me to remain at home, but I had a special engagement. As I went out l cautioned the night porter to let no one disturb her.
 ] had previously ordered carriage; it was waiting at the curb I stepped forward, and, stooping over, pulled open the door That instant pair of long, bony hands pushed through the aperture and clutched me by the throat. With strength that seemed to be Herculean l was dragged inside, bound hand and foot, and gagged.
 "Maleditto!" exclaimed the one with the fingers in guttural snarI, and recognized the voice of the old signor. The other was Pietro. The latter slid out, climbed to the box, and lashed the horses into a gallop.
 l tried to cry out. but with the gag 1 was dumb. Fancy my state of mind
 Finally we brought up before for bidding-looking house in a narrow, de- serted street, and I was lifted to the curb. The horses were given their heads, and as they wandered aimlessly away into the night I was roughly seized, carried in through dark hall- way, down a narrow passage to a squalid, dingy room, where I was de- posted on the floor Pietro locked the door after us, then said something to the signor in Italian that made the old man growl with fiendish approval. The latter, turning to me with sardonic leer, muttered: Make happy ze mo- ments; it ees few" Both went out through another door, and I heard the bolt slide into place.
 They were going to murder me, and do it with diabolcal finesse
 I was given the tortures of anticipa- tion while they leisurely discussed the method. My thoughts wouldn't come cohesively, for my brain grew soggy and obstinate and refused to compre- bend.
 All at once, as if struck with a blow, Francesca came into my head. Fran cesca! could see her, athome, tucked in her dainty bed; her beautiful face nestled softly against the pillow.
 But the bolt clicked, the door opened and my executioners had returned. With stealthy catlike movements they approached me; I was helped to my feet and placed upright in an angle of the room. Pietro glided back, leav- ing the old signor standing before me; his hard, rigid face set; in his eyes the cold, sinister gleam of pent-up hate and ferocity.
 Facing me, and assuming the dignity of Roman judge, he proceeded in a solemn, vibrating voice: No man can leeve who deeshonor ze name Pauli. Francesca, my honor, my love, ze steal. To-day she ze meestris, tomorrow worse. Ze play ze game ze lose. I kill yous'
 Leaning forward with a convulsivetre- nor, thought he was about to plunge the blade into my heart. How I strained for speech-but the gag, was dumb. An, why did he not strike! was dying thousand deaths.
 For an instant there was the still ness of the tomb; then the rumbling wheels of a carriage sounded from without. Suddenly this stopped, a voice called "Whoa!" Then the pattering of fast moving feet in the passageway; somebody violently grasped the knob of the door to the rcom-it would not open.
 The signor and Pietro stood breath less, transfixed.
 A key scraped in the lock, the door flung back; on the threshold stood Francesca.
 "Matre di Dio!" hoarsely breathed the old man.
 Francesca, scantily attired, hair dis heveled. her eyes ablaze with fever ish glow, her cheeks whiter than ala baster
 My heart gave a great throb of joy.
 moments hesitation, and she grasped the meaning of the scene be- fore her in one overwhelming inn pulse With heartrending cry of an- guish she leaped forward, seized the signor's hand, and fell on her knees before him.
 Father! father! For the love of Jesus spare him, Kill memo, wait! See what have gotl Wait. father; that's a good father!" She fumbled in her bosom and drew forth paper. "There, father, see; he's my love, my life!"
 "Back, child; zee ees my deeshonor, I kill him!" he replied, as he spurned her from him.
 Frantic with alarm. she rushed up to Petro. "Pletro. my brother, you love me-see. read! I am his wife"
 Pietro took the paper reluctantly, glanced at if skeptically suddenly gave start and read eagerly.
 "Father! father!' he almost screamed. "Come-look. 1t is a mar riage certificate!"
 With a hurried stride the old man