Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

from the effects of the ordeal
through which she had passed
She had lighted her lamp, and her
great eyes fastened questioningly
on nv face as she turned on my entrance.
"You are SAFE" assured her. II will see
that you have no more trouble of this
sort"
What have you done with her? You
have not"
She has left the building. l do not
ilItreat women" I replied, answering her
unfinished question.
'She threatened my life. Did she mean
really to kill me?
'.She is a Greek and mad with jealousy,
and was to have been Beltano's wife
She knows that he will be here the day
after tomorrow and that a priest comes
with him to- make you his wife.
us that the truth?''
II have no end to gain by saying what
is false"
But my brother? He sent her to me
here with written message that she
would help me. that she was to be his
wife and that-that you had arranged
for her to come. He wished us to be
friendly
was IT in friendship that she drew her
knife? I do not yet know all that oc-
Cured. but 1 do know that to gain ad-
mittance for her here Breva was bound
and drugged. 1 found him and so learnt
what had been planned"
But YOU were in the building, SIle
said. quickly and with suspicion.
1T would be simpler to say at once you
do not believe me- There Is pain
round by the cliff. I came that way"
But why not by the door below! Ine
way you brought meg
"Drako. Aeapa's brother, and another
man would have sought to stop me. and
I thought it urgent that no time should
be lost"
Then You risked your life. Pepita told
me of that cliff path when thought you
had merely been spying.
"Pepta had no right to speak OF II;
She chatters too freely. I ran no risk;
had to get here quickly and secretly.
That is ALL"
She told me that only a month or two
since man had fallen to his death III
attempting that path" She passed her
hand across her troubled brow, and then,
with an effort as If she had to force her
self to utter the words. she added: II
seems I wronged you when thought you
had spied upon me-.
II have a broad back and that is not
the only wrong. You were placed In my
charge and l am answerabie Tor your
safety. That is why / came
why do you seek to belittle what you
have done?'' she asked, with a sugges-
ton of irritation. accompanying the words
with a shrug and a slight curl OF her
mobile lips. You have saved my life and
risked your own to do 1t. Do you think
cannot understand that. or that the
obligation is more to my liking because
you pretend otherwiSe?"
II can understand that 1t hurts you to
own such a thing to man whom you
have vowed to accuse. II you wish it
bluntly put. then it is true that 1 saved
your life and ran some risk. small or
great, as you please to think it. I have
known from the first that you were In
danger on the island
She started at this and glanced sharply
at Inc. Il understand that. believe Is
that why you insisted upon my being
here under lock and key"
I smiled. Infer what you please. ]
had to answer for your safety.
ITO Beltano?' she shot the question at
me as if prompted by fresh train of
thought and bent forward eagerly to
scan my face.
Your safety Is everything to me-.
The answer perplexed her. She thought
a second. do you mean because OF my
vow to accuse you OF signor Vicino's
death?''
made no reply to this. and she stood
thinking. Then she shook her head. yet
If that Greek had had her way my death
would have served you in that. What do
you mean by my safety? You ventured
to cross to the mainland, too. Why can't
you be candid?" She waited for me to
reply and when 1 remained silent she
made gesture of irritation. You seek to
mystify me. Why? Is it true that In Le
vaccio you were found by the carabinieri
and escaped by passing as an American
with Capt Murito?''
Yes. Who told you?
She waived The question aside. But
he has been in america. He would know"
Il have also been in America speak
English well enough!'
II remember" she said. with a shud-
der. But don't understand yon. Who
are you?"
You know. You have heard my name
often. Beppo Serrano-"
why do you say my safety Is so much
to you?" she asked, after pause.
You have sworn to accuse me OF that
crime and / am resolved that YOU shall
have the chance to keep your VOW"
She stared intently into my eyes as 1
answered. and again l noticed the ex-
preston of half hope. half DOUBT in hers
as she thought over the words Then she
rose and began to pace the -oom. stop
ping suddenly close to me. Did you
know of the plan that l should escape
from here?"
Yes
And was that why you came hurrying
back hereto prevent it?'
DO you mean you were ~oing to help
me?"
Yes"
although you knew that I should keep
my vow? Do you think 1 believe that?"
NO. ! do not expect you to trust me-"
She went back to her chair and sat with
her face buried In her hands / guessed
the struggle in her mind. Torn between
her loathing of me as the murderer Of
Vicino, desire to use me to help her es-
cape. inability to believe that / would
try to save her in the face of her threat
and fear that I had some secret purpose
against her. she was at her wits end
what to do.
1 waited in silence while she fought her
way to decision.
Il must keep my VOW she said. at
length, her voice strained and agitated.
DO you wish to become Beltanos
wife?" I asked.
II would sooner die"
will you let me help you to escape?
IF could only trust you! / know not
what to do" deep sigh of despair
broke from her lips.
IF you cannot. II ia hopeless. But as
you will" said. slowly.
She did not reply, and in the pause that
followed We heard a knock at the door
below. She started nervously.
That may be Pepita.'' said. II will
answer for your safety. You need feel
no fear. Take time to think of what I
have said. l will help you to escape, and
will have all In readiness. You can then
decide"
! did not wait for her to reply and went
down to the door below. 1t was Pepita
as I had thought, and Breva was with
her.
] sent the girl up to Masita, and then
questioned Breva as to what had passed
before 1 had found him. He told me
hat Y,,iit ay,6 no bod