Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-04-12
AVENGERS OF
THE OPPRESSED
BY OWEN OLIVER


q II was evening when / arrived at The
Laurels." My fathers wife (he had
II, been dead two years. looked stealthily
l., from behind a curtain before she came
10 to meet me.
y What is it, Luey?" inquired, anx-
re iously. Her letter had been almost in
re coherent
" The past has risen up against me-"
Il she said in a slow. unsteady voice. ct
p was when we lived in Italy four years
D ago" Her mother was Italian. Il was
], only lS Dick; and I Joined a secret so
: ciety. They called themselves 'Aveng-
$ ers of the Oppressed. They kill peo-
t ple-l thought Il was all talk and would
Q not believe him when he warned me
4 against them"
+ He? Who?' She twisted her hand
e kerchief and did not answer. You'd
: better tell me, Lucy"
He doesn't matter, really; but viii
tell you'll loved him. That is all
/ Afterwards | found out that he loved
! me; but | thought then that he only
, looked upon me as foolish. wilful |
enid. He was very masterful, and he |
used to try to dictate to me. So joined |
them, because he told me not to. /
feared that some day the lot to do some /
thing would fall on me- Then your ia
ther proposed to me. He was content
with such affection as could give him.
was fond of him, Dick. in a way. So
married him to get away from Italy and
them"
And from-the man ?" / suggested.
mo, no. He went away before was
married. have never seen him or heard
from him since. thought that the so.
clety had forgotten me till a month ago.
] Ihen | saw two Italians watching me.
as l went into shop. | found one of
the men at my elbow. He whispered in
my ear-Oh, Dick! The first warning,
THOSE who desert the society are given {
three warnings TO return. If thew go
back they have to commit the next !
crime If they do not go back-they diet /
prefer to die" She shivered. b
! came down here stealthily TO try Il
ana escape them. The morning before =
yesterday | yentured out for ride I d
met the one who had spoken TO me. He .c
gave the second warning. After thar L
they give three days-then they will
kin me" "
Can you describe those men to me?" Ct
| asked. n
They are Italians: but they are very h
hnglish In looks and dress. do not
know how to describe them" a.
An English-looking Italian came
doWn with me in the train this or
morning observed. thoughtfully -
ran and dark; black mustache and no II
beard; about 80; very good looking" III
II is the one who did not speak 10 T,
me- She clutched my arm. -
He spoke to me freely enough In m
iact' he seemed anxious to make NV az. IN
qualntanee. He gave his name as An. tle
tonelli" .i'
ne would not give his real name
GU did not tell him yours. or where Won u,
Iived?" ~" i'
Yes, did," | smiled. 81 had seen -,
MIN read my luggage labels. He asked 10,
about you too" tai
Are you sure that you need RIM IN
iway?' | asked VI.
he spoke to you about me? Whv an,
mould he take any interest in mepo
a man might. He merely said tba, on.
Ie had seen you in Rome when vo,, 90,
we're young girl and he would liza ~
o meet you. He admires you That's ln,
IL. So far as Antonelli is concerned ), "a
SAID = viii back your looks against the
he society" 'he
You would not If you knew them - mo
may not know societies. but lie
now men. | don't believe for a mo wis
lent that he belongs to it. Nv dear NV
I'll us all fancy. No one is spying he
n you" Ds l,e
Some one comes at night" she nor. MOI
lsted' have stood at the window "
l,now ~ anu seen something move. he?
ne man who spoke TO me in London c
as not fancy | am sure. Dick dou
Inc fact Is you're overwrought and q
ear what you expect hear. Yop, +
lusions will grow. IL YOU ruin vour w.
ealth and nerves by shutting yourseI, 49,,
p indoors. Come out with me to ror,
orrow. If We meet Antonelu I'm IN go
oduce him"
ana II think he's dangerous?" an.
Then We'll have a detective down u
watch him, and slip of to London tI
hen he's out OF the way There's nc fhe
ace IKE London 10 hide in" cow
Il shall have 10 take another name f" ga
le observed. | smiled. the
Il suspect that is the danger that
ntonelli threatens, | told her.
She toyed with some grapes for
W moments. Then she suddenl, Quic
ughed, and jumped up and danced Dess
hdishly round the room. After Ice
. ,abla o,s -, !. 4. ,o'e iroH trial
-, !" :" Hei "hite dress have
q 'i'V'.ei III her halr' and
iou think il is the love-lorn An
nelli that wafrhesp" sha ayl,aa