The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-03-28

Brutally they draw near to her. AS
the girl draws back from the contain
mating clasp of the monsters. Tomas
so. with a 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 tn the American. see
with astonishment that he makes no
move to aid her. but is abjectly squirm-
ing toward the cabin door. Suddenly
she utters a 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.
Wen knife him in a minute." yells
Romano. and the two. cooking their
guns, fly after the bastard American.
But as they reach the door. the mo-
ment 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 4 cry, fall to the earth.
inert and dead.
The smoke OF Barnes rcvolvcrs is
sues from them as he quietly re-enters
and says apologetically: Il knew |
wouldn't have time to grab my guns
and shoot before they'd knife me, SO l
initiated the trick of Jerry. the Den
yer barkeeper. and ran away till l
could get my weapons ready"
A moment later he says: Comet"
and 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. Tomasso, following. car
rying the Americans rife, is saying
oh, you will be worshiped in this
commune for this. So many poor men
have been butchered, so many poor
women have been carried away to the
mountains by these dead devils"
But the reports have drawn others
to the spot. AS Barnes steps over the
dead men lying in the entrance OF the
cabin. he suddenly says: by heaven.
here are more of them" puts Marina
down and would draw his revolvers
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 Rochini and his fellows.
/ You have saved us the trouble of their
/ killing. We are the Bellacoscia. Your
| pistols, stranger. have relieved us OF
/ the execution of these rufiians We were
! pursuing, who have brought discredit
| on the honored name of bandit +"
| And Tomasso is crying, Antonio
! Bonelli." to a man of noble bearing,
who, carbine in hand, comes into the
1 cabin followed by eight stalwart young
men. all armed as he is.
/ But the young men fear the super.
natural and stand back. their eyes
cleaning. and one shudders: TITS
/ the ghost of old Monaldi, killed by De
/ Belloc's troopers two weeks ago" For
moment they would retreat but their
| leader laughs at them: '''Tis flesh
and blood that is kissing my hand
And old Tomasso says: You know
how well the troopers shoot. Do you
think they'd hit man at 200 yards
| hiding behind rock in the gloom Of
the morning."
But the flashing eyed man orders:
Stand back, while l question this
stranger who has done Bocognano
service tonight"
Marina has risen. murmurng: An.
tonic Bonelli."
Gran Dio. Mademoiselle Paoli,"
says the man. and gallantly sinks upon
{ his knee and kisses dpyotpdly the fair
hand the girl extends to him After
moment he continues most emphati.
cally: 1t was with sorrow that Cor.
I sica heard that you had forgotten the
oath of the vendetta in the arms OF
the English officer who killed your
brother"
CTO BE'CONTINUED)