Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-06-12

AlS ctcFS III atsU says &u&fuuStN w
Marina: The evening is very clear.
You know my anguish--do you think
you have strength TO venture down the
heights. assisted by Tomasso and me.
aud enter your own villagefr
Certainly, am refreshed. Anothe,
cup of tea and ! win so with YOU,
cries the girl SO eagerly that Rnncs
puts grateful eyes upon her. for ne
knows II is her spirit more than her
strength that produces her assent 70
further journey
They are making hurried prepara
tions TO leave the cabin Barnes Is
bending over the Gre brewing Ma
rina's tea---their guns. aud even the
Americans revolsers are lying In the's
belt on the pile OF boughs near the on
trance Tomasso Is saying VIII
not astonish the men who sworc a
vendetta against you for my DEATH !
who am alive andand wien sud
denly Tomasso stops, There is a rat
tie In his throat that causes lsarnes 10
lock hurriediy up. Marina has retreat
"a to the corner Of the cabin and Mon
'ldi's eyes are full OF horror.
Just across the fire from him stand
two dark mountalneers Rough. nm.
dressed sheepskIns cover thsir brawny
shoulders; lcng guns are in their
hands and stllettos in their belts. One
is d big. powerful looking ruitian: the
other slighter. but his brown limbs
1.-THE and sinewy The eyes OF both
are shining INDEPENDENTLY In the blaze.
Corp di diayolo, this Is rare catch
you have made. hermit bandit. whose
name we do not know, chuckles the
bigger OF the two men, this Ameri
cano whose pockets saliceti declared
we're lined with gold, he whom We
waited for and missed In the vale be
low"
All, you are Rochini and Romano,
believe from your speech, gentlemen.
says Barnes quietly.
Aye, that we are. And who Is this
woman Of the beautiful eyes? Hand
thy captives over TO us, hermit bandit.
Divide your spells with us and we will
save you the trouble Of cutting the
mans throat jeers the slighter mis-
creant
As for the woman. the fire tells me
she is very lovely both as TO limbs and
face, and | have a better use for her
outlaws the bigger man
And never was Marina more beauti.
full She oonfronts the ruffians with
undaunted mien, and says command.
ingiy: Fellows, dare to lay your
hands on me and the whole OF Bocog-
nano will hunt you down. The Bella
coscia will destroy you. | am Marina
Paoli.D
oh, she Is merry with us, this girl
who runs after foreign gentlemen.
Now we will show her that Corsican
kisses are as good as those OF this
Americana"
Brutally they draw near to her. As
the girl draws back from the contain
mating clasp OF the monsters, Tomas
80, with a savage cry, and uplifted
stiietto, stands between.
la a second the old man will be dead
under their knives and the brave girl
their prey. Marfna's undaunted eyes,
turning in appeal TO the American, see
with establishment that he makes no
move to aid her. but Is abjectly squirm-
ing toward the cabin door Suddenly
she utters gasp Of despair and 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 reyolvers.
He has the gold! After him.e cries
Rochini.
Wen knife him in minute!g 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 cry. fan to the earth,
inert and dead.
The smoke OF Barnes revolyers is-
sues from them as he quietly re-enters
and says apologetjcaliy. u knew j
wouldn't have time to grab my guns
and shoot before they'd knife me, so !
initiated the trick Of Jerry, the Den
yer barkeeper, and ran away iii
could get my weapons ready
A moment later he says: Gomez"
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, Ii saying:
"oh. you will be worshiped In this
commune for this. So many poor men
have been butchered. 30 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 heavss,
here are more OF themt" puts Marina
down and would draw his revolvers
were hn unt zeivad nv tbraa afhtafs<.