Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-06-26
CHAPTER XVI.

4 Aft't ttN%' ~ tat' ciNt0s o0oh mas tttb
his rifle and his field glasses behind
him. and they galiop up the pass OF
| the Force. But the ascent is SO steep
| they are soon compelled to walk their
horses. A precipice Is on one side OF
them and the great TANKS OF Del Orc
are on the other Both Edwin and
Burton have been silent. thinking of
their wives. The latter now remarks.
pointing to a deep gorge running up
the mountain side: THAT. ! believe.
leads to La Pintica, the home OF the
Bellacoscia. which the gendarmes
never dare to visit.
| But they having reached the summit
| of the Col, now speed their horses
| sharply down the declivities into the
great forest of vizzavona. the road
leading them through pines. beeches
and the inevitable chestnut trees.
They have passed no one in the
darkness. In fact. they have not yet
gone far enough to have any hope OF
oyertaking Marina unless accident has
befallen her vehicle. Besides, her
horses were fresh: theirs, according
the preceding day.
Soon after. they dash through the
| village of Viyario. announced by the
barking OF some ours and the gruntIng
Of some pigs. Every house In the viii
lage Is closed and no one would open
for us in the dead OF night In this land
Of the vendetta" remarks Barnes.
| rrhov or, ~ Ill ,,,b;n, aai, ard c1,,.
after descend through the gorge of the
rapid Vecchio, the river foaming far
| beneath the road, while rocky hills
| and sharp mountains rise on either
! side.
| They have knocked at no doors:
| they have made no inquiries; they
have only hurried on. But some hour
after the red-tiled houses of Corte
loom up before them and a few min
utes later they jog their tired steeds
up one of the principal streets OF the
| central inland town of Corsica, the
| great Monte Rotondo now looking
! down upon them.
! Above them are tall elm trees that
| catch the rays of the rising sun.
( 4 idAhCd on CoSA EluC ny WHitc StOut,
red-roofed houses, they pass between
the hotels Pierracci and Paoli, almost
deserted now, this being the beginning
| of the hot summer season Along the
street are many placards indicating
the approaching election. Every time
he sees the name OF Saliceti. Barnes.
| COMPRISING his lips, thinks OF his lost
| darling.
At the Pierracci they learn from one
of the walters that lady had paused
to obtain relay Of horses. and had
brought out to her at her request q
cup of coffee.
Was she driven by an old man ?"
| questions Edwin. hurriedly.
Yes with a beard like bandit"
! answers the man with a grin. The
| Carriage was full OF cyclamen flowers.
| You could smell them all over the
! street"
| It's your wife. whispers Barnes,
| giving the man 20-franc piece thu
makes him look almost as happy as
1 this news does Anstruther,
"only an hour ago, We will over
take Marina long before she reaches
| Bastia," cries Edwin.
They ride hurriedly, the road skirt
| ing the torrent Of the fcaming yecchio
until considerably over an hour after
leaving Corte they reach Ponte.alla-
I Lecchio, where the big bridge crosses
| the river Colo. During this the horse
| men note more signs of the coming
casting OF votes.
Some of the Lucchese" workmen
\ from Italy are throwing stones at an
election placard that displeases them.
THE pests from Lucca," mutters .
| Corsican shopkeeper as they buy a
! glass OF wine from him, ARE always
riotous. and at election times batter
every ones heads with stones--their
own included. They've been here since
! sunrise fighting and brawling. heard
| their shouts when / was in bed. But
everyone pardons the Luccheses they
| do all our hard work. adds the man
with a grin. pocketing the coin Edwin
| hands him.
| But the wine shop keeper can tell
! them nothing OF woman travelling,
1 and to their astonisnmeDt, though tney
make many Inquiries, they hear Of no
| lady in carriage passing through
| the village this morning.
Its quite possible" says Edwin TO
/ Barnes. "she didn't stop here. Her
horses were fresh. She's gone on. No
| one has noticed her.
That's very true answers Burton.
though his face grows more concerned
| and gloomy.
Therefore they ride rapidly along
over the now well-kept road, which
generally skirts the Colo. Turning
north, they spur on over the cause
way that crosses the great lagoons
and soon after passing through some
small villages, they come out upon the
sea and ride almost straight along its