Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12
MY L OST SELF.

ION the other side Of the island7'' re-
peated. How can that be when he has
scarcely landed?'
At that Masita looked at her in sur
prise.
II Will go and fetch him." said Molta,
hastily
mo, indeed you won't I intend him to
be as much surprised to find me here as
you were when I entered" and 1 put
myself between her and the door.
do you mean that Beltano has been
| away" asked Masita.
Did he not return with you?
mo. Julius brought me. and he has
| gone again..
"Julius!" 1 exclaimed In profound as
| Constituent. and then the scales fell from
my eyes. / understood the meaning or
| the boat I had seen and the reason Tor
the clumsy handling Of IT. He was about
weather as puppy dog.
Beltano had not returned after all. ana
| 1t had been the boat with these two In 1t
| which had been mistaken for his. With
him still absent 1 had nothing TO fear. so
I drew away to let Molta leave II she
wished.
"Beltano is not on the island. signor-
| ina" I said
But Mora has told me that he is and
will come to me here
$50 he will" was the reply, sharply
| spoken.
But how can he when he is not on the
island as Masita hesitated now to re-
fer to me. and finished the sentence I'M
| personalities is stated?"
He will come, I say, declared
Molta. doggedly.
| can help it. that is." l said. firmly.
Tell me. signorina. why have you VEN
She paused before replying. II had to
come
II am at sea as to all this still. But
| for Beltanos absence you would have
been in the greatest danger Why on
earth then should you run such risk
when there was not the least need?"
II had to come" she repeated. lower
| ing her eyes.
You have no right to force your way
here in this way. Beppo." broke in Molta.
| angrily. land IL you don't go at once l
shall call the men to protect me-"
you are in no danger from me. Molta-
Why do you say that?"
because will not have you here Be-
cause 1 do not feel safe in the presence
| Of an assassin. Because-ah. why should
I stoop to give you my reasons? 1t is
| enough that order you to 60"
what is that anger intended to cover
! And why that term assassin. after what
you told me only last night? But viii
| CO. Of course. and II the signorina will
| consult her safety she will not remain
! either"
"she cannot go. She shall not" cried
| Molta. furiousy.
Your anger blinds you to the facts.
Molta. But you know as we'll as that
! now there IL not one among the men who
will dare to say shall not to me In Bel
| tano's absence"
I'VE shall see," she replied, and set her
| back to the door.
! 1 smiled. You are now preventing me
| from going. Molta. But as you will. and
| sat down deliberately. II am concerned
| only for the signorina's safety, and she
| will not only leave this room when l
please. but will also return to the main
land"
Molta stood by the door. her anger
| flushed face frowning f1ercely as she
stared at me, but she was obviously at a
| loss what to do. She could not keep us
more or less were of little importance
| to either Masita or me. / knew. too. that
when her anger cooled she would see the
absurdity Of the position she had created.
Why Masita should have been mad
| enough to come to the island alone in this
way beat me. and her reply-that she had
| to come-threw no light on the matter.
But she must not remain. That was GER
tain. and as her brother had been such a
coward as to run of the minute she
| landed there was nothing for 1t but for
me to take her back to the mainland.
The wind was rising very FAST ana the
gusts which swept round the house
showed that it would be q dirty crossing.
and one in which I would not trust any
other to manage a boat in which Masita
was a passenger. This and other con-
siderations. which will be easily UNDER
! stood. made me rather glad that her
brother had taken the course he had. I
had grave doubts. indeed. whether he
| In the midst of these thoughts Molta
gave me surprise by opening the door
suddenly and rushing out without word.
I rose at once. 1T is time to go. sig
| norma"
rs it really so that Beltano is not on
| the island?''
"Of course it is. Do you think he would
not be in this room IL he were?"
II can't understand 1t all.
1.-THE one thing really fnexpltcable IS
| that you should have come"
She looked steadily at me and then
smiled. 81 had to come" she repeated.
well. you must not lose a moment in
going again. While Beltano is away
there is no serious danger. but the In
! slant he returns there will be-
But how did you escape SO as to be
aole to come just now?'
Escape? I have not had to escape"
But Julius brought me word that you
were a prisoner in the old fort. and that
when 1 came Molta told me that that
| was true, and that her brother would
come to me toto Why do you look
at me like that?'
| She might well ask. for was staring
at her in blank amaZement at the thought
| which her words had started.
do you mean-that you did this mad
thing because of-of anything your
brother told you about-about me-"
| could I do otherwise? 1t was what
you did in helping me that reused Bel
| tano's wrath. Was to let that cost you
| your life?"
I was overwhelmed by the thought OF
such a sacrifice.
| ut was madness: sheer. downright
madness" I murmured under my breath.
| Blu. thank heaven 1t is not too late to
put 1t right
1T was no Madness she answered, al
| most resentfully. II could take no other
course. l came to offer him any ransom
| he chose to ask. That Is ALL"
II know not how to thank you. Words
are OF little use in such a case. But at
| least I can take you back"
To my still greater Surnriaa she hest