The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-11

help of single man on the island save Breva. and in the crisis wficn was at hand, the lad. devoted as he was, would be powerless.
 Plagued by thesN bitter reflections. was thinking what to do when Molta called Breva away and then came up to me. She know what her brothers return meant to me and the desperate mess should be in the instant his foot touched the store, and guessed I should be ready to grasp at any chance.
 What am I to tell Carlo when he lands. Beppo?"
 What should you tell him7"
 That rests with you. am still wil- ling to be friends." -
 T had proof of that last night" re- piled, with a ury smile. Do you wish me to give him that stiletto?"
 You drove me mad. did not know what I was going"
 There was method in your madness Molta, for you left Giuseppe and Drako to try and succeed where you had failed.
 No. not that. swear. [ sought high and low for them to stop the att tempt, but could not ind them. They must have been already in hiding and have crossed by the cliff path when you and were together, I tried even to follow. by that way. and nearly lost my life in the attempt. l have been on the rack ever since. Do you mean they made the attempt after all?"
 Yes"
 What happened?"
 looked steadily and meaningly at her. "I told you I was armed. Have you seen them since?" l asked.
 Mother of Heaven, do you mean they-they are dead?"
 q was in no play-acting mood, last night" I replied, with a shrug.
 This will add to Carlos fury against you. Even I many not be able to pre- vail with him. she cried, wringing her hands.
 "Yod may spare yourself the risk of failure"
 Her lips quivered as she bit then, nervously. You don't mean that"
 T mean that what I told you last night was the truth. You attempted my life then, and you can tell Bentano what you will. There can never be anything between you and me. ana even if I cared for you, your act last night would have ended everything be- tween us," and turned away and left her.
 went back to the old fort and lock- ed and barred the door securely. I wished to have time to think about the meeting with Beltano, and felt that the first interview between us had better take place while I was in a place of safety. I entertained no hope that I could appease his anger; Dut had nothing to lose and everything to gain by preventing him from venting 1t on the impulse of the mement. Moreover, at the worst I could hold the place against him for several days. I had sufficient food to last me week or more at need, and as the narrow slits of wondows had been construed so as to defend the approach to the door, and I had a fair supply of ann munition, I could make matters very unpleasant for anyone who tried to get in.
 Delays was all in my favour. Iknew that matters on the mainland were in a very critical condition. and that Bel tano's friends and patrons. the mys- terious Count. was likely to send for him at any moment. If I could hold out until he had to leave again the pendulum would once more swing over in my favous.
 spent what time I had in strength ening the defences as much as possi- ble. and in making such other prepa- rations as were practicable. felt fully justified in going to any extremes against Beltano. From Molta down wards everyone on the island believed he would take my life. He had i'm deed already ordered the others to kill me. and if 1t was to be question of his life or mine and the chance offered to take his. I need not hesitate as to l the answer. So long time passed without any 1 one coming near me that I was sur prised. Half an hour at the most from 1 the time I had left the shore would | have sufficed for the boat to arrive 1 and yet for over an hour I was busied with my work and was left undisturb- l ed. At loss to account for this. went up to the lookout to see what was l going on.
 I As passed Giueppe- he begged me tc lrelease him, swearing by all saints ir | the calender that he would not attempt | to escape.
 Thinking this might be ruse. I ex. amined the cords carefully. I had done the work well. I could see by marks on his wrists that he had been strain