Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1908-11-12
new vfgor seem to enter eacn nerve,

each limb.
1t is now quite late in the afternoon.
Burton soon passes the chestnut lands
of La Castagniccia, still finding few
faded cyclamen blooms to guide BIN
on his way. But now a little shock
thrills him. He checks his horse alb
ruptly springs off and picks up a
bunch Of the wild flowers. AS he rides
along examining it he calculates:
This is very extraordinary. This
branch, which l supposed Marina drop
ped out of the carriage yesterday, was
certainly cut this very morning"
Suspicion flashes through him as he
questions: Can these flowers have
been strewn in the road by Cipriano's
agents to lead someone on?" and what
had been no warning to the easy going
sailor becomes a danger signal to the
man of the world.
Yet, twist it how he will, Barnes can
see no reason why Danella should
want anyone near him save Marina.
If the Corsican's passion for that
young lady is what he thinks it is, he
will prefer q free hand to deal with
her alone. And yet it is evident some
body wanted somebody to follow this
cyclamen trail, and whether somebody
wants it or not, I am here anyway"
thinks the American grimly. And
thanks to the divine Orezza water, /
am rather fit for fighting" Then care
fully examining his revolver, the pistol
shot remarks: And that's fit also,
thank God"
With this, resOlutely but more cir.
| cumspectly, Mr.. Barnes continues his
way over the path marked by the eye
| lamen branches.
BY the time he has come out on the
hills looking down toward the Tuscan
sea, it is very dark. There is no moon
yet, but the light from the lone watch
tower attracts him. The cyclamen
flowers he occasionally picks up make
him know this is the road Anstruther
must have travelled.
Suddenly, but quietly, he turns his
horse from the path, and in the seclu,
| sion or a thicket of wild grapes, lis.
tens. Some dozen men are coming
from the east; he hears one of them
| growl: why, there's no Lucchese'
| nearer than Petra to fight, though the
farm to go out and protect the vines
from them
We'll, there's some good reason for
Maestro Cipriano's orders. Perchance
the Italian labOrers in the Green Orez.
"a quarry have risen up" adds an.
other.
Perhaps with the lady he wishes
not to be disturbed" giggles a third
The count has musicians in a beat of
the shore"
The men have no sooner passed
than Barnes starts quickly down the
road. The lady" he guesses, means
either Marina or his own bride, though
Of the last he has slight hope. 4 sub.
dued light from the town guides him
in the darkness.
But when he is within less than q
hundred yards of the building, his
horse. with a sudden snort of terror.
draws up right in the path, crouching
| on his launches, and Barnes peering
over his steed's head, gazes into the
deep chasm that descends sheer to the
very sea. Springing from his trem.
bling horse, the American finds that
the bridge, which is a light, swinging
one not over 35 feet in length, has
been swung to the other side.
The scent of fresh cyclamen bloom
enters his nostrils. He looks at the
removed bridge and remarks acutely:
It's evident Cipriano has got On the
other side the person he wished to fol.
low these flowers
So Barnes gaZes across the chasm
he cannot pass. The night being very
still, he hears over the soft murmur
Of the waves beneath him the sweet
romantic music of Corsica rising from
boat. 'Tis the playing of stringed in.
struments accompanying sweet ma.
tive love song, each stanza ending in
that curious prolonged note peculiar
to these island ditties.
What the deuce is that bizarre,
crafty devils game?' wonders the
American. Then he hears voices from
the low Corsican house. Beyond the
| crevices he sees Marina in white robe
amid the lights and flowers of the
veranda. Her sweet tones are scarce
audible. Then Danella's voice reaches
| him family in the soft night air.
He begins to understand and NUT.
ters: Good God!"
After little cry of love yet despair
rends the heavens from the tower. It
is Anstruther's. 'Tis mingled with
woman's shrek for mercy My hus-
band" in Marina's voice.
Next Barnes hears Cipriano's suave,
triumphant laugh, and he mutters:
My God, for a pistol it's fearfully
long shot, but it's the only way!"
Ito BE CONTINrIEnN