Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-05
MY LOST SELF.

the others following his example as they
closed up to his side.
You are traitor. you dog" he re-
peated. encouraged by the promise OF the
support of his friends.
! Hot with rage and needless OF the
others uplifted knives, sprung at him
| before the words were we'll out OF his
mouth, and caught his right hand in my
| left as he was in the act of rushing at
me, dragged him forward before the rest
| had time to strike and leveled my re-
| volver at them
| Stand back!' I called loudly. land
leave US two to settle this for ourselves
| My old reputation stood in good stead.
| They skunk back, murmuring and mutter-
/ ing. but cowed by my weapon.
| Turning then on Giuseppe I thrust the
revolver against his head. Drop that
knife and eat your words or you'll eat
nothing else in this world I growled.
with a fierce oath.
He let 1t fall on the instant and then
Molta interviewed.
! Are you going to do murder the mo-
ment you come here?" she cried.
| This Is between Giuseppe and me. No
man on this island shall call me a
traitor. That I swear Come. Giuseppe "
| Molta on that attempted to seize my
pistol. but 1 prevented her and twisted
| Giuseppe round so that he stood between
me and her.
| bOI Nil Illu, bcppu. Sic Soiu.
"Tll kill any man who utters that lie
| about me-
Believing that his life was in peril. Giu-
seppe mumbled something about not hav-
! ing meant what he said.
| Louder, so that all may hear" cried.
| sternly. Confess you lied
| He was too frightened to disobey. II
| am sorry. You are no traitor, Beppo.
| lied when 1 said it, he said. in loud
| voice. and with that I thrust him away
violently and went up the path straight
| to my hut.
| There would be no more trouble that
| night, I was convinced, but I barred my
! door and. placing my revolver under my
| pillow. slept soundly.
In the morning Agapa brought me my
breakfast and was full of curiosity as to
what had passed on the mainland. AS I
knew that she would repeat what I said
| to the others, 1 was careful to make 1t
clear that had been nowhere except to
| Masita's house, and. for her benefit, I
| laid stress on the fact that Masita was
now safe and would not return to the
island.
She questioned me closely about this,
and couple of hours later I understood
the reason for her eager curiosity. As
sured that Masita would not return she
forced a quarrel with Julius, in which
she told him bluntly that she had only
been fooling him at Beltano's bidding;
that he was as dirt in her eyes; a coward
dHu anu "OTScs anu uluSl
leave the island at once. And when the
poor fool protested. she called Drake to
help her. on which the lad fed like a
scared sheep from a wolf
l saw her purpose. and was not sorry
for it. She had resolved to assert her
would find other trouble to worry about
besides that with me-
I was returning to my hut after the ex-
element caused by the scene when Breva
S0{, III
had gone after I had left with Masfta,
and whether Beltano had suspected him
Of having helped me.
eat first he did. I thought he would
have killed me on the spot" he said. II
have never seen him in such fury. Had
prove you had been there he would never
have believed me. But you were surely
insane to come back"
I told him the reason-to get the truth
as to Vicino's death-and that it was
more to me than my life We discussed
the matter at length. and he told me over
again all that he knew Of that nights
doings II am positive you were struck
before Vicino was killed." he declared
1T was either Giuseppe or Drake or
both. but how can you force either Of
them to admit it?
I repeated what Luigi had told me
about the friendliness Of the men who
were hostile to Giuseppe. and suggested
against Beltano, but help to get the truth
about Vicinos death.
But he shook his head. ''They are more
afraid of Beltano than of you. Beppo.
and would not dare to disobey him. Nor
could they help against Giuseppe. You
will never learn the truth. and your only
chance is to fly before Beltano returns.
He will have your life for this. and no
one will dare to stop him. Before he
went after you. indeed he called the men
6nnnnnaod mi $roSf
and promised a reward to any one who
killed you If you returned. Flight is
your only chance"
THAT was the meaning Of the scene
last night, then. I do not fear them"
You can at least take one precaution.
Leave this place and go to the old fort
Pepita and I will secretly carry there
store Of provisions"
1t was both a shrewd and kindly fore
thought, and 1 thanked him for it, and
resolved to do as he said.
I was busy with the few preparations
had to make, when I saw Molta coming
from the farmstead in the direction of
my hut. Her black looks were storm sig
could not avoid the interview l deemed
it best to appear to court It. So rose
and went to meet her.
I'VE must have an understanding,
Beppo." she said. without any word of
greeting. Il have the right to demand
an explanation, of course
"Of what?"
"Of your conduct. What else? I am
not the woman to be lightly spurned and
tricked, as you have spurned and tricked
me-"
Il have not spurned YOU"
did you not send Carlo to me with a
lie that you wished to be reconciled and
that you were ready to let things be be-
tween us as they had been, and didn't
you tell that lie in order to get Masita
away?"
Eyes. But that was not tricking or
spurning you. 1t was Beltano tricked."
But 1t was about me you lied" she
retorted, fiercely. ut was my name you
dared to play with. and my love for you.
And for the sake of another woman!
When think of 1t my blood is like fire."
ION my word. I intended no insult to
you nor to make light Of any feeling you
have for me-"
"Why have you come back?" she asked.
with an angry toss Of the head, as II re-
pudiating my explanation. 'Is 1t for that
woman's sake? Have you still some pur-
pose to serve for herr"
II have come back for my own purpose
Molta. but what this is will keep to
myself. This matter Of Masita is be-
tween Beltano and me only. I told him
l would be no party to forcing her to wed
him, and 1t was"
What is she to your she burst in, We
hemently.
IF you will not listen to me, why ask
an explanation"
What is she to your? she repeated,
even more angrily.
she was to me woman In distress
mn T ha1D