Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-03-27

Brutally they draw near to hes. AZ
the girl draws back from the contain.
mating clasp of the monsters. Tomas.
so. with savage cry. and uplifted
stiletto. stands between.
In second the old man will be dead
under their knives and the brave girl
their prey. Marina's undaunted eyes.
turning In appeal to the American. see
with astonishment that he makes no
move to aid her. but IL abjectly squirm.
Ing toward the cabin door. Suddenly
she utters gasp OF despair and q sigh
OF contempt: this great pistol shot Is
running timidly away. flying out OF the
cabin. though as he passes the pile OF
boughs he seIzes the belt holding his
two revolvers.
He has the gold! After him." cries
Rochini.
We'll knife him In minute!" yeils
Romano. and the two. cooking their
guns. fly after the bastard American.
But as they reach the door. the mo.
mcnt their athletic forms are outlined
by the blaze OF the fire. two quick.
sharp pistol reports come from the
outside. and Rochini and Romano.
without even u cry, fall to the earth.
inert and dead.
The smoke OF Barnes revolvers IL.
sues from them as he quietly re.enters
and says apoiogetically: Il knew
wouldn't have time to grab my guns
and shoot before they'd knife me. 70
Initiated the trick Of Jerry. the Den.
yer barkceper. and run away till
/ ts,r my
| A moment later he xays: "Come!"
aud taking Marina carefully In his
arms. whispers: Turn your face from
them.' and steps over the dead men
lying In the entrance Of the cabin.
Behind him. Tomaxso. following. car.
ryinE the Americans rife. Is saying:
oh. you will be worshiped In this
commune for this. So many poor men
have been butchcrcd. so many poor
women have been carried away to the
mountains by these dead DEVILS"
Hut the reports have drawn others
to the spot. As Barnes steps over tho
dead men lying In the entrance Of the
cabin. he suddenly says: by heaven.
here are more Of them!" puts Marina
down md would draw his revoivers
were he not seized by three athletic
young fellows who rise silently from
the shadows about them.
A clear. commanding voice remarks:
NO more Of tochini and his fellows.
You have saved us the trouble OF their
killing. We are the Bcilacoscia. Your
pistols. stranger. have relieved us Of
the execution Of these rnfiians We were
pursuing. who have brought discrcdit
ON the honotcd name OF bandit
And TomasSo Is crying. Antonio
iioncili." TO u man Of noble bearing,
who. carbinc In hand. comes Into the
cabin followed by eight staiwart youns
men. NIL armed as b. In.
hut the young men fear the super,
natural and stand back. their cyos
cleaning. and one shuddcrs: "'Tis
the ghost Of old Monaldi. killed by Dt
ttciioc's troopers two weeks ago" Fos
moment they would retreat. but their
leader laughs at them: ''Tis flesh
and blood iha, Is kissing my hand
And old Tomasso says: You know
how well the troopers shoot. DO you
think they'd hit n man ut 200 yards
hiding behind "a rock In the gloom Of
the morning.
hut the hashinscycd man orders:
Stand back. while I question this
stranger who has done Bocognano q
service tonight
Marina has risen. murmuring: An
tonic iioncili!"
Gran Dio! Madcmoisclic Paoii.
says the man. and saliantiy sinks Upon
his knee and kisses dcvotetiiy the fair
hand the girl extends to him. After
a moment he continues most cmpha,i
caiiy: 1T was with sorrow that Cor.
sica heard that you had forgotten the
oath of the vendetta In the arms oi
the English officer who killed your
brother