The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-01-27
IsvvvssAs. iss2 b. Rosssr Dsuuu,,s s,,a

SsvvssAs. issA ~ Ross.r Dssxn's sssA
CHAPTER XII.
Let US 60 to the prefetto." said tn,
monk, land give him warning Of tn,
evil work that Is planned against hin
tonight. The prefetto Is our master
We must protect him, for he is tn,
representative Of the king. What II
your name. son?"
Il am called Dambo, father"
Come with me to the prefetto
Come. traveller; l will need your eyi
dence as WELL"
wondering what desperate game the
monk was about to play, l followed
MIN. The monk spoke a few words
to the guard. A servant was sum.
moned, and we were led into the pres.
ence OF the master of all Cagliari.
Your excellency!" said the monk,
by way of salutation.
Yes, 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,
IT 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 at Dambo
and me with staring eyes. Is this
true? Have friend so false? His
name! His name! l 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 him!"
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 avenge."
The prefetto called the officer of
the guard and told him the facts. The
count was expected about midnight,
ana it 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 a 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
flash 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
IL Pordino was tall man, and bore
himself with carriage that was too
marked in character to be easily over
ooked. He was not wounded in the
charge, and in the glare of the lights
n the windows he could be seen urg.
ng his men on.
The prefetto, with muttered curse,
prang forward, evidently to meet the '
cunt face to face. AS he leaped from 9
he porch, the Jesuit slid after him. t
vas about to follow, when I missed
)ambo, who had been standing be.
ind me. A rush of fear came over |;
le. Dambo had had another purpose d
l coming to the villa than to warn
he prefetto. He had before attempt. h
d Nita Barlotti's life-he would do It s.
gain. 81
Dropping my peddler's pack bound. IL
through the halls and up the stairs b
,ward Nita's room. h
In the excitement the door of Bar 81
tits room had been opened. I reach al
l the upper hall just in time to see
ambo, knife in hand, enter her door, to
Then scream, in a voice which l 81
,cognized as Nita's, told me the vii OF
in was at his work. Painting, I al
unged on, and reached the room, to
"a Damho with knife unraisad in ne