The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-23

(Contfnued.l sYou needn't doubt me-" he replied, and .hen turned toward me. "Agapa has been in league with Beppo Juan. and warned him today that I had not left the island and she has promised to have the boat ready for him to es- cape tonight, That Is why he made no attempt to leave before when we were prepared for him. She is going now to tell him that everything's ready and bring him out. In return for her help now, I have sworn to make her my wife. The others know this"
 "r am satisfied" said Agapa- and iri- mediately started toward the building "we shall have him now; he can't es- cape" said Beitano to me in a ioT voice. Pedro, Ahmet, and Drako win be up in a minute. Ahnet will seize the signorins: and we four. Beppo. If he gives too much trouble thrust a knife into him. the treaeherous dog!' he added with vicious oath.
 It was an ugly mess In all truth and the worst of the thing was that even if we reached the landing stage. there would after all be no boat ready for us What fool had been to trust to the Creek Again the thought came to me to rush back to the building and face the risk of remaining there and holding out as long as possible even
 
 sent.
 Masita would be waiting at the door; might even have 1t open; in whicn case Agapa would get in and have Mssita In her power.
 "why the devil don't you speak Juan7" growied Beltano. irritated at nv silence or suspicious of 1t. and coming up close to me.
 Then we heard Agapa's voice calling to me;
 "Beppo! Beppo!"
 Beitano held up his hand, signalling to me to be silent while we waited for the reply to her call.
 And In the silence, as If the matter were not bad enough already, the in- tured man In the brushwood groaned
 "What's that?" said Beltano under his breath, as he turned his head quick fy in the direction of the sound.
 saw my chance and took 1t. Club. hing my musket, brought 1t down with crashing force on his head. Hs fell like a stunned OK: and having made sure that he was senseless, AArted up the path and met Agapa, who had heard the blow and. came rushing down to learn the reason,
 It was ugly work to have to raise my hands against woman; but there was no alternative. If we were 10 es cane she must be silenced; so caugh hold of her, and clapping my hand tt her mouth. dragged her back to tht fort.
 Masita was waiting. and had the dooi wide open in the belief that Agapa haC been sent by me. Quick, Masfta, exclaimed. using her name in my ex citement. 'aTake the key out and pu tt in the outer side"
 kept my grip of Agapa while. thil was done, and then pushing her ava, Into the building. closed and locked the door and threw the key away.
 "She had betrayed us" I explained Go Masita as we ran down the path "She brought Beltano here and was t lure us out while he and the res waited for us at the turn of the path But I knocked him on the head; and h. won't give us any more trouble"
 At that moment Agapa began (, scream violently. She had run up [, one of the windows and was yellini at the top of her voice to alarm th' rest of the men; and soon heard then cunning toward us at full speed.
 I drew Masita back into the sheite # some bushes and there we croushe'