Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-05
By Arthur W. Marchrnont,
Author of
"A Dash for a Throne"

So 1 said. very quietly. But the man
who tries to draw weapon or to leave
the room will get the next. and 1T won't
be in the hand next time"
The incident had a very cooling effect
even upon the Turk, and for some mo-
ments there was silence in the room.
In the pause / heard the sound OF
movements somewhere in the house. Evil
IDENTIFY Masita had returned. 1t was time
TO go.
You let Drake fool you. Ahmet." I
said, and swung back the curtain which
concealed the door. 1.-The signorina was
here. but left by that door She went to
get the help of the carabinieri. who are
close at hand. and 1 can hear that she
has returned
An exclamation of rage burst from him
and a cry Of fear from the Greek.
You have betrayed us then" said All
met, fercefy:
Il have saved the signorina. but as for
betraying you. who has most to fear
from the carabnieri. you or ~"
'You shall pay for this he cried. his
face livd with rage.
IF you come another step I shall fire,
Ahmet,' l. said. sternly. seeing that he
was going to attack me.
He held back for a moment before my
leveled weapon, but the next instant he
rushed forward to seize my arm.
fired and the bullet crashed into his
right arm. But he gripped my weapon
WITH MS leIt ana CalleO TO lne rest 10
seize me. Luigi did not move. but 1t was
fortunate for me that I had before
smashed Drakos knife or I should have
had a short shrift, for he snatched up
one from the table and tried to thrust it
into my heart. The aim was good, but
the knife useless. It snapped off short,
and as he drew back 1 gave him a kick
which put him out of action.
Luigi prevented the fourth man from
taking a hand in the affair. and thus
Ahmet and I were left to settle the
thing between us. He was a fellow of
broken arm he failed to overpower me,
and we were struggling in close grips for
the possession of the revolver when the
door behind us was opened and Masita
entered with one of her men. who leveled
the carbine he carried at Ahmets head.
He ceased the struggle Immediately.
but kept his hold on the revolver, and
faced the death which threatened him
with the stony impassiveness Of his race.
For few seconds there was dead ST.
lence.
Masta looked magnificent in the mo-
ment of her triumph. Drawn to her full
height, her shapely head thrown proudly
back. her cheeks flushed and bosom heav-
ing In her anger. ner nostrilS dilated with
her quickly coming breath. and her lip
curling In contemptuOuS scorn. she
glanced from one to the other of the dis
concerted men.
A disdainful laugh from her broke the
silence.
That she should have returned so quick
ly perpleXed me as much as the fact that
she had come without more help than the
one servant. 1 seized the moment Of con-
fusion therefore to drag my weapon from
Ahmet's grip and stepped a couple Of
PAGES from him.
expression changed and / saw him glance
at her with some fresh thought, and
from her to the other three. They were
still four to two. for wounded .lough he
was. he was more than a match for the
slim young fellow at Masita's side. And
he was utterly reckless Of his life
Masita was watching him closely and
was quick to read his thoughts
But the rest were too overpowered by
surprise to pay heed to him. Luigi was
sitting at the table with his hand to his
face. and Drake was stealing to the door
to escape with the other fellow close at
his heels.
stop, Drake" called Ahmet.
The two men turned together and
looked round at the Turk. and Luigi rose
l was still at loss to understand the
position. 1t flashed across my mind that
Masita had not really left the house, and
that. out Of fear for my arrest il she
brought the carabinieri there, she had
merely released her servants. and with
no more than this scanty assistance had
with me. That she should have dared
such risk for my sake at once de-
lighted me and yet filled me with new
fears for her.
IF that man moves you will shoot
him." said Masita to her servant
Ahmet smiled. Are we all to be scared
by woman and a boy?' he asked the
others, and I saw his hand steal to his
knife.
I stepped back hastily toward Masita.
But at that moment she showed her
plan.
do you think I am mad?" she said to
me. 'Bianca!" she called, loudly.
Again there was pause. and In the
silence we heard the stamping Of heavy
feet and the clash Of arms.
A command was uttered in a loud,
raucous voice. followed by the grounding
of guns.
The carabinieri were below, and, heed
less of the consequences to myself, I
breathed a sigh of thankfulness that she
was safe.