The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1903-09-18

her. COul0 tnlS young IudH pe Iuc
cousin lover against whom the girl re-
belled? His good looks deserved a
stronger hold upon her fancy.
"How did you know l understood
Italian?" Willis demanded abruptly.
81 heard the signore speak to beg
gar at the door,"
Evidently the fellow had been fol-
lowing him. That he should wish to
conduct him to the dome was a singu
lar coincidence; but he dismissed as
improbable the idea of any stronger
motive than the hope of pos
sible fee, and, moved by an unexplain-
able impulse, ne determined TO &C
cept the offer he had been on the point
of declining.
Ten minutes later, stepping through
the doorway opening upon the mar
row platform surrounding the dome,
he heard a sharp click behind him,
and turned to see his companion coolly
pocket the key he had just removed
from the lock.
THE signore appears surprised" he
said, regarding Willis with a smile of
triumphant malice "He has perhaps
never seen a rat caught in trap. To
understand, he must first regard the
scaffolding closing the platform on the
left"
The other had mechanically turned
to the point indicated. Certainly the
left was completely blocked by the
scaffolding; but no matter-they could
pass to the right.
Still that smile of triumphant mall
ice Willis made a step forward, but
recognizing rather late the value of
discretion, paused before the steely
CLINT of a stilettO Nevertheless he re-
turned the Italians gaze without
f1inching, leaning against the wall, and
thrusting his hands nonchalantly into
his pockets.
stirring-or-" The gesture was sig
nificant.
Il understand. No need to illus
trate," said Willis. Besides there's
nothing in my pockets, but the small
change | keep for your compatriots.
Now, if you will be good enough to
explain"
There is nothing to explain, signOre.
1 am Giuseppe Montanari, who was to
marry Rosetta Nicoli.'
"You have taken too much trouble.
Signore-er- Willis said,
insolently civil Still, l am as yet in
the dark. Is this perhaps part of the
ceremony of announcement?
Montanari's eyes cleaned. Il care
nothing for the signOre's words" he
said; ''it is with what he has done
that I have to deal. Three months
ago Rosetta and | were happy in the
thought of passing our lives together.
She danced and sang the whole day
through. Now she weeps-she turns
from me-she will hear nothing OF
The debt is heavy"
Willis now moved uneasily. Ihe
pathos of this statement, simply made.
planted a certain sting, and his mind
engaged in a rapid reconstruction or
the past, accused him of cutting
poorer figure than he cared to admit.
"Montanar1," he said, upon my hon
or there has been no-wrong-only-
'I know that" interrupted the otner
not be standing there-alive. Yet, he
mistakes-there has been wrong. Ro-
setta is spoiled for her own people
her simple home She has become
dreamer of dreams. The Mother OF
God knows how it will all end
well, what are you going to do?'
Willis cried whats the use OF ban
dying words?" He had opened the
little penknife in his pocket, resolved
that his adversary should not go un-
marked
"The signore is at least brave
man. For one chance OF life would ne
swear to leave Rome?"
''And the chance?"
"To cross, by the plank, to the other
side of the dome"
In spite of himself the young man
drew back A sudden paralyzing fear
came over him. Two boards had been
tied together by the workmen and fixed
across the opening in the dome. They
spanned an aperture nearly three hum
dred feet from the marble floor OF the
church; and this was the bridge he
had been invited to traverse. To even
contemplate such passage seemed
suicidal.
Willis glanced down at the lights
glimmering on an altar far below AS
he looked, procession OF priests
crossed the nave, their chanting mel
lowed by distance. The sound recalled
him to the necessity Of action; re-
stored his self-command Turning, he
measured his antagonist with his eye.
There was no reinsurance in the sight