The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07

rtCdAlulAJ 10 ElSd, IOr the master OF
Casa Gufccioli, cheated OF his dearest
plan, had haG recourse to the
unbrage of Tuscan officialism. On thia
day. as it happened. Trevanion had
been closeted with the police COM
mandant when that official had been
called upon to wise the passports OF
two strangers: Prince MavrOcordato.
a tall commanding Greek. and a
shghter, blond hearted Italian, at
whose name the listener had started
with the leap OF a plan to his brain
Trevanfon had followed the young
Count Gambia to his hotel picked ac-
Qualntance and, pretending ignoran nee
or the others relationship. had soon
told him sufficient for his purpose:
that the young and lovely Contess8
Guiccioli, lured from Ravenna and her
husband. was living at that moment In
Pfsa-the light-of-love of an English
noble whose excesses In Venice had
given him the appellation OF the milord
maligno
The story had turned the brothers
blood to fire. All he deman nded was
to be shown the man. Trevanion led
him to the palace. where only Fletcher
had met their entry. and now the open
ing of door had brought this winged
vengeance and it's object face to face.
The sight OF her long-absent brother
-Trevanfon behind him-the pistol thu
former held leveled at Gordon's breass
-froze Teresa with sudden compreher-
sion. She stood stock-stilI unable 10
utter a word Trevanion sprang for
ward, his finger pointing.
There he ISL he spat savagelY.
There's your Englishman!"
Gordon had made no move IN
armed, resistance would have been fu-
tile In presence OF the poised weapon.
So this was the way that lurking Mem
esis OF his past was to return TO him,
He was looking. not at Trevanion, but
at his companion, dxedly; recalling
with an odd sensation OF the unreal. a
windy lake with that face settling help
lessly IN the ripples as he swan toward
1t, the water roaring in his ears. The
outre thought flashed across him how
sane and just the homilists OF England
would call it that he should meet his
end in such inglorious fashion at the
hands Of this particular man.
You white-livered fooli" scofred Tre-
vanion. Why don't you shoot?
His companion had paused. eytng
Gordon in astounded inquiry His out
stretched arm wavered.
The paralysis Of Teresa's fear broke
at the instant. She ran to him. throw
ing her arms around him, snatching at
the hand that held the pistol.
"Pietrol Petrol" she screamed "Ah,
God Of loveI Hear me, frstI Hear
mei''
He thrust her to her knees and
again. as TrevaniOn sneered. his arm
stiffened. But the negative OF that
Genevan picture was before his eyes,
too-itS tones reversed. He saw him.
self rising from the beach clasping the
hand Of his rescuer-heard his own,
voice say: You have given me my lifes
shall never forget it,"
His arm fell.
'Signore." said Gordon steadily, ~
long ago released you from any fancied
"Pietro," Teresa's voice was choked
with agony 1T is not him alone you
would KILL You are aiming at my
heart. tool Pietro."
Amazedly, as she staggered to hsr
feet, she saw her brother hurl the pig
tol through the open window and cover
his face with his hands.
Trevanion stared. almost believing
Gordon an adept in some superhuman
diablerie, by which in the moment OF
revenge he had robbed this cat's-paw
of courage Then laughing shrilly and
wildly, he turned and lurched past
Fletcher-leaning against the wall.
dazed from the blow that had sent him
reeling from the landing-down the
stair.
In the street he picked up the fallen
pistol. The touch of the cool steel ran
up his arm. He turned back. devil
ish purpose in his eye. Why not glut
his hate once and for all? He had tried
before. and failed. Why not now. more
boldly? Italian justice would make
only a pretense Of pursuit Yet British
law had a long reach: Its ships were
in every quarter of the globe. And
Gordon. above all else, was a peer
A sudden memory made his hesh
creep. He remembered once having
seen a murderer executed In Rome.
1t came back to him as he
stood with the weapon in his
hand: the masked priests: the half
naked executioner: the bandaged
criminal: the black Christ and his
banner; the slow procession. the scaf-
fold, the soldiery, the bell ringing the
misericordia: the quick rattle and
fall of the ak.
Suddenly he flung the pistol into
J the river with an imprecation.
Looking up he saw a gathered figure
that moved briskly along the street.
to stop at the Lanfranchf doorway.
Trevanion recognized the severely cut
clerical costume, the clean-shaven
r face with its broad scar. the queerish,
insect-like, inquisitive eyes he
glanced down the river with absurd
!, apprehension, half expecting to see
! his Majesty's ship Pylades anchored
In its muddy shallows-the ship from
which he had deserted at Bombay
once upon time, at the cost OF that
livid scar on DIR. Cassidys cheek.
. He had shrunk from Cassidy's OBJ
! servation in the lights OF q London
street but In Italy he had no fear.
l He looked the naval surgeon boldly In
the face, as he passed on to the police
barracks.
In the room from which Trevanion
had rushed Teresa put her hand on
. her brothers arm Back OF Gordon'S
4 only words and his own involuntary
. and unexpected action she had d.
vined some joyful circumstance ce
4 which she was ignorant What IL waA
she was too relieved to care.
Come" she said gently; I'VE hava
e much to say to each other"
i She sent one swift glance at Corr
i don; then the door closed betweeu
them
Z CHAPTER L
Cassidy Finds Lost Scent
0a cordor, in fhe shack of fh4