The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-09-15

stood in the road looking after him.
studying in my mind what to do next.
As stood there I saw smonksap-
preaching. I recognized him, Is BRO.
Michael at once.
When he drew near to me he
seemed to start and show evidences Of
surprise. stepped quickly to him.
Brother Michael" said, "do you
know me?"
Il know you, son." was the reply.
and then l noticed that the soft voice
had none of Mutterelli's Italian &C.
sent why are you here in spite Of
Mutterelli's warning? Do you not
know that your life is in danger?"
II know it, Brother Michael" said,
"but look at the retreating figure
skulking along the fence of the pre-.
fetto's grounds. Can you see him
well?"
II see him, SON."
Ellis name is Dambo. saw that
man make a deliberate attempt to kill
Nita Barlotti in New York. He prob
ably knows more about the murder of
Maligni than he would care to tell. No
doubt he will kill the girl now if he
has an opportunity"
Brother Michael seemed lost In
thought for moment.
He is dangerous man, son." he
said finally. Come, let us meet this
Dambo and learn from him something
of his purpose here"
l followed the monk, and together
we went around the prefetto's grounds
to meet Dambo in the rear. When he
saw us coming he stood a moment as
ii irresolute and the monk motioned
for him to approach.
My son." said the monk, who was
now firmly fixed in my mind as Henry
Thorlane, your movements around
the villa of the prefetto have been
watched with suspicion. Danger turks
in the air when skulking men are
seen in shaded place. Is it not so?"
Dambo bowed his head as il abashed
by the implied accusation of the
monk.
1T is so. father" he replied. But
no danger turks where Dambo goes.
come to warn the prefetto, father"
TO warn the prefetto, SOM" said
the monk. This is a strange place,
indeed. to find one who seeks to warn
the prefetto. You must explain bet
ter than this your strange actions,
SON. ..
Il know whom I would meet, faith.
err" replied the willy scoundrel. Il
have seen you of late walking around
the prefetto's grounds outside the wall.
| knew you were friendly to the pre-.
fetto, and that | might trust you.
you convey my warning to the pre-
fetto."
"Ah. son. your zeal is to be com.
mended,'' said the monk. But tell
me. son. what is your message to the
prefetto?'
1T is this, father. The villa of the
prefetto is to be attacked at midnight
this very night. father-by the Count
di Pordino and his hired assassins and
bandits, for the purpose OF securing
the Signorina Barlotti and to carry her
away for his own evil purposes. 1t is
this that l came to tell the prefetto.
father"
The monk seemed to be communng
with himself for moment. Then he
said:
But how is it. son, that the Count
di Pordino seeks thus to desecrate the
house OF the prefetto and to win his
bride by force, when it has been long
understood that the hand Of the sig
norma would be given him in mar.
riage by his friend the prefetto?"
"Ah. father. it is a case of money.
1t seems that the prefett0 has be-
friended the count greatly in the past,
and now he demands from the count
the payment of a large sum Of money
for the signorina before he will allow
her to become the bride of Pordino.
And the count while he consents to
this while talking to the prefetto, plots
to take the signorina by force and not
pay the prefetto any money"
(To be cOntinued.)