Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29
CHAPTER XXI.
A Fresh Danger.

A Fresh Danger.
AS the man began to feel among the
dresses above me and to move them aside
two of them fell. and Masita uttered a
| little exclamation of concern. "Oh. please,
please. take care. Let Blanca clear the
place for YOU she cried. 1t will not
AXE more than an extra minute
1t was A subtle stroke and succeeded.
To my intense relief the man drew back.
There is no need ! am satisfied, sig
norma" he said
Blanca hurried to the cupboard and
snatched up the fallen dresses to replace
them the hooks. grumbling audibly
the while at his carelessness.
The danger was passed. and in another
minute the room was cleared.
Prepare my bed. Blanca | shall re-
tire as soon as the search is ended said
Masita, as she left with the men.
Again l thought of attempting to leave
the house. but. as If divining my inten-
ton, Blanca began to Groom her song
man was posed close TO the room and
others We're about the house. l had only
to wait and all would be We'll
How long / remained hidden l cannot
say. but Blanca came at length to tell me
that the men had left the house and that
Masta wished to see me. She took me
to the small room where | had been left
on entering the house. 1t was dimly
lighted by only one small lamp carefully
shaded so that no rays from it fell on the
window.
How can l thank you?" 1 said. as l
entered.
do you wish to-"
Il owe you my liberty. and probably my
life. and know the risk at which you
have saved me-
Il ask no thanks. Do you think l could
betray you after what you have done
for me? Besides I have had my way
after all: l have forced you to accept
some little help from me in part repay
ment. All / wish now Is to make good
the balance and that you will let me help
you further. You will remain here to-
night. and tomorrow go with me to
Trapani as my servant
l hesitated what reply to make. TIC
refuse her wish after such a service was
the act OF a churl, and yet / could no,
consent.
Surely you will trust me now she
said. in some astonshment.
lit is no question of trust or mistrust
Believe that l speak in all sincerity. Blu,
have that to do which must be done
before l think of flight
Tell me and let me help you in it,
I still hesitated. You cannot help me. Is
l replied. after a pause.
You mean that you will not be be-
holden to me-
Not that. indeed. on my honor" i
said. with quick earnestness.
She made a little gesture of disappoint-
ment and then said. firmly. You shall
tell me. / am resolved on that or / shall
believe you ungrateful-'
THAT you shall never think. l will
tell you. l must find out the truth as
to what occurred on the night Nicino was
killed.
The intention was so firmly fixed in my
mind and appeared so obvious and neceS-
sary that her surprise astonished me.
DO you mean you do not know" she
asked. her eyes fixed on my face.
Il do not know. 1t will sound strange
and probably incredible to you. But l
can recall nothing of my life here in this
country until came to myself after the
blow l received that night
I'm this country She repeated my
words as if not understanding them. DO
you mean that there is a doubt as to how
Nicino came by his death?" she asked
next. leaning toward me, every feature
alight with intent interest. That he did
not die by your hand?''
Il have reason to hope
She drew back and put her hand to her
forehead in thought. You mystify me- =
she murmured Wait" She rose and
left me. to return after d short while
with A letter in her hand. She went to
desk and laid out paper and ink and
held pen toward me.
Write?'
Yes I sadly as / took the pen in
hand
She commenced to dictate a letter to
some one unnamed. reading one or two
sentences from the paper she held and
pausing as she substituted a word here
and there for those of the letter. | wrote
rapidly. and when | had finished she
took the writing and compared it closely
with that of the letter she held. When
she had done this she glanced al me with
suspicion.
1T is the same Can you explain this?'
she asked. somewhat sharply. and put
both papers into my hand.
The paper which she had fetched was
the letter which had been written to
Vicno to bring him to the hut, and the
writing was unquestionably my own.
1T is my, writing" I said. quietly. Il
cannot explain it.
This letter was given to me while
was on the island as part of the proof of
your act that night. 1t was known that
l had sworn to accuse you. Ii was this
letter which brought Nicino to his death
and it was your work. How then can
you mean there is doubt Her face
was pale and set and the look in her
expression changed. II am not judging
you. Heaven knows l would too gladly
help you to clear yourself" and with
deep-drawn sigh she leant back in her
chair
Il have no answer yet ! know. for
Beltano himself told me, 1 had written
such letter, and one also to YOU in
your brothers name and in counter
felt of his writing, that you, too. should
be at the hut. l must also have known
his intention-to get you to the island
that you might become his wife But
remember nothing of it all-nothing of
the time before 1 awoke to consciousness
in the hut"
She made no reply to this, sitting with
her hands close pressed to her face.
1T is believed by the men on the island
that l killed Vicino. but Breva raised my
doubts. He was present and declared
that 1 had been struck while Vicino was
still struggling for his life. If that be
true-and it is the only foundation for
my scanty hbpes-it follows that l could
not have killed the man
l saw her shake her head as II unable
to believe what l said. A long, trying
silence followed
She broke it at length. II wish to
believe what you say. But how Is it DOS
sible you could have forgotten such
thing?"
1T is as I say. That is why must re-
fuse your help to fly
DO you remember nothing at all be-
fore your injury
Nothing of what has ever passed with
Beltano and the rest Of them"
But before that? All your life be-
fore"