Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02

| had left IL, The old man lay quietly on his
SIDE, trussed up like fowl and breathing heav-
! lily. Orsni stood beside him with revolver cock
ed, Vicenzo guarded the door and the bounden
PROSTATE negroes, alert and anxious as fox
Neither had been disturbed nor heard a single
alarming sound
Cressnghsm tappel heavily upon every panel
of the bedroom and libary wall but with the
single exception of the door which had admit
ted his comrades and himself TO the apartment,
all appeared solid, and resounded duly TO his
knocking
BY this time he had become horribly anxious
for his sweetheart's safety, and commenced TO
despair Of finding her alive. He was on the
point Of ascending to retest the upper floor,
when the two men whom he had dispatched TO
the lookout suddenly returned, their eager faces
showing they brought news.
"Well" said Cressinghan excitedly.
One replied: There are dozen negroes on
the beach and scattered round the bay, my Lord,
all hard at work engaged in collecting and burn
ing wreckage."
Like fash there occurred TO the young man
the true reason he had been unable to discover
the remainder of the Counts attendants. They
were no doubt covering up the traces Of last
nights destructive work
But that did not explain the disappearance Of
Miss Elliott and Madame Viyella. He at once
ordered his whole force to await the arrival Of
the negroes, concesling themselves, as well as
they could, in the main hall, and secure them
Immediately entrance. Then with renewed
anxiety he betook himself to the upper floor and
resumed his work. In ten minutes he was in.
terrupted by messenger with the information
that one negro had returned as If on an errand
to the castle, and been captured.
He suddenly determined to question this ne
gro, and accompanied his comrade to the great
hall, where he found the fellow covering bound
upon the floor, displaying the most craven ter.
ror: Cressingham ordered his gag to be removed,
and standing over him with cooked revolver
demanded in italian: "Where are the two la.
dies who were in this house last night"
The negro answered with chattering teeth
Pardon, Excellency, do not know"
When did you see them last?"
"Excellency, last night at dinner ;they dined
with my master, the Prince"
"The Prnce!"
Eyes, Exccllency, the Prince of Attala."
You are lying to me. You know where they
are. Speak, or / shall kill you.''
The fellows black face became gray with fear.
Good, kind Excellency," he walled, ri dare not
tell your Excellency a lie. I know not where
they are, swear It,"
The fellow evidently spoke the truth, and
Cressingham was bitterly chagrined. After
moments thought he said: !" You came here
with message to your master, is it not so?"
Yes, Excellency"
Give it to me; am your master now"
| l.
glad that you are my MASTER Excellency, II
Cressingham cut his shivering protestations
short. The messagep he cried sternly
"Excellenoy, the foreman julius Octavius An.
thony discovered that one of the boats il miss
ing, and he ordered me to hasten to my mas
ter-pardon, Excellency,rm late master-with
the tidngs; he feared" The man hesitated
Feared what, fool?"
"Excellency, he feared that one or some Of the
Turks might have survived the explosion and es
cape us while we slept"
Cressngham turned to his companion and
spoke in French Gentlemen if a complete ex-
animation of the island fails to reveal the pres
ence Of my fiancee, Miss Elliott, and Madame vi
yela, we shall know that they have escaped the
island in that boat"
"Hist" cried one Of the men, interruptnp
suddenly.
In the silence that ensued noise of footsteps
and voices was heard on the path without the
great door. Instantly all prepared themselves for
struggle, one man to save time stunning the
negro with a violent blow from a revolver butt.
Next moment the or-opened, and the remain;
ing servants of the Count, weary and dirty from
their toll, trooped unsuspiciously into the hall
anxious, probably, for their breakfast. When ali
had entered the gentlemen sprang from their hid.
ing and threw themselves upon the astonished
negroes. Then followed wild melee, but before
many minutes had passed all were bound and
helpless.
Gentlemen" cried Cressingham. rising. ex.
cited and painting from his exertions, eve have
accomplished our mission and bloodlessly The
island of Attala is ours" and
Two hours afterwards the island of AttaIa wos
practically abandoned and Cressingham and his
companions were feted in the cabin OF the Sea
Hawk with a magnificent disregard Of the cost
Of Perigord's champagne.