The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-09-28
AQubkeCk, HE uol.10na.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author Of Jack Robbins Of America In the
China Sea-" Two Gentlemen Of
Hswaii,' 'Cn a Palss
Charge" Etc.
Copyright, 1895. by Ronssr BoxrEs's SOFA
XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Let us so to the prefetto," said the
monk, and give him warning of the
evil work that is planned against him
tonight. The prefetto is our master.
We must protect him. for he is the
representative of the king. What is
Your name, SOM"
= am called Dambo. father"
Come with me to the prefetto.
Come, traveller; l will need your evil
dence as we'll"
Wondering what desperate game the
monk was about to play, l followed
him. 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 eScellency!" said the monk,
by way of s%alutation.
Yes, Brother Michael responded
the prefetto. You have news of i'm
portance to convey. So said the sery-
ant. | am ready to listen"
Your eNcellency," said the monk,
1T 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.
NO. 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 l a friend so false? His
name. His name! l demand his
uame!"
Slow, your eXcellency. Do not be.
come excited" said the monk, calmly.
1T is the Count di Pordino who thus
plots against you"
"Pordino? lmpossible! He was
here to-day and drank wine with me,
and we spoke Of his approaching mar
rlase to the ward of my poor brother.
He! Is he so bad as that? Let him
NhISi GIG dAu NY OWu Aduu 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. l will avenge."
The prefetto called the officer of
| tb a orr q rd ord 4old L;~, Az e., 49,, mt.
count was expected about midnight,
anu it was nearly that now.
Remember" said the prefetto, as
his captain was leaving. Kill all the
others, but leave the count to me-"
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
a yell that came from a coppice to the
right. A shot was fired, evidently by
n 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
a 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
di Pordino was a tall man, and bore
himself with a carriage that was too
marked in character to be easily over
looked. He was not wounded in the
charge, and in the glare OF the lights
in the windows he could be seer urg-
ing his men on.
The prefetto, with a muttered curse,
sprang forward, evidently to meet the
count face to face. AS he leaped from
the porch. the Jesuit slid after him. |
was about to follow. when I missed
Dambo, who had been standing be-
hind me. A rush of fear came over
me. Dambo had had another purpose
III coming to the villa than to warn
the prefetto. He had before attempt
ed Nita Barlotti's life-he would do it
again.
Dropping my peddler's pack bound
ed through the halls and up the stairs
toward Nita's room
IN the excitement the door of Bar
lotti's room had been opened. l reach
ed the upper hall just in time to see
Dambo, knife in hand, enter her door.
Then a scream. in a voice which l
recognized as Nita's, told me the vii
lain was at his work. Painting, I
plunged on. and reached the room. to
see Dambo, with a knife appraised In
his right hand. while his left clutched
the frightened girl by the throat.
Raising my club. I uttered a prayer
for muscular strength. 1t must have
been answered. The club descended
upon the skull Of Dambo, and he fell
back, half stunned, the hand that had
been at Nita's throat relaxed it's hold,
and the knife fell from the other to
the floor.