Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12
By Arthur W. Marehmont,
Author of
"A Dash for a Throne"

use will you make of IT," ne mumbled.
Write Numbered. with an oath,
and with that he fell to the task with
laboring. unsteady fingers.
While he wrote I decided what to do
with him. The cords with which I had
the room, and I resolved to keep him a
prisoner until ! had had an opportunity
OF dealing with Drake. and then to carry
them to the mainland and hand them
over to the authorities.
AS soon as he had finished the brief
statement-and an ill-written. badly spelt
farrago 1t was-I read 1t over and ordered
him to sign 1t clearly. Then / made him
stand up with his hands behind him. and.
slipping a moose on his wrists, tied him
up securely, and took him to the story
above to the small room behind the look
out.
bound his legs together and. crooking
them, dashed the cords round his body
and thrust him into corner, and truSSed
and thrust him into a corner. and trussed
up in this fashion I left him to his own
gloomy meditations. while I searched the
building for his companion. Drake had
fed. however. and l returned to my room
to think over the best use to make OF the
news ! had obtained.
Giuseppe's statement by itself was not
much value of course. but / intended to
use 1t to draw one from Drake. l knew
the Greek we'll enough to be sure that
when he found Giuseppe had accused him
he would accuse Giuseppe. and II they
were handed over separately to the cara
binieri, the latter would find means to
brighten the truth out Of them.
AS soon as the dawn began to show 1
set to work to make it impossible for me
to be again surprised by means OF the
cliff path. 1t was not difficult, but 1t oc-
cupied two or three hours, by the end OF
which time I had destroyed the path
which had been recently made. and left
a gap which not one man In ten thousand
would dare to attempt even in broad day
light.
That work completed to my satisfaction
had some breakfast and took some food
up to Giuseppe, and while l fed him l
examined the cords very carefully to
make sure that they were secure.
/ was now in less danger than at any
moment since my return to the island.
With Giuseppe laid by the heels and All
met disabled with his broken arm. there
was no man likely to give me any trou-
BILE. even supposing that Molta was still
in the vengeful mood of the preceding
night. set off to find Drake. therefore.
with the confident assurance that an hour
or two at most would see me on my way
to the mainland.
The luck had gone all in my favor. and
IL II would but last little while should
be we'll away before Beltano's return and
all my troubles would be at an end.
But Drake had not been seen. / set
Breva to inquire about him. telling him
to be careful not to drop a hint that it
was ! who sought him. He was not In
his hut: Agapa had not seen him. the
men knew nothing about him and. as the
time passed and he was not found. 1 be-
gan to grow uneasy.
The afternoon came and found me still
without tidings Of him, 30 decided to
abandon the search and run the risk Of
taking Giuseppe to the mainland alone.
Beltano might return at any moment,
when my chance would be gone.
Then for the first time ! realized the
difficulties of what I had to do. and that
l could not overcome them alone.
The instant I attempted to carry Gu
seppe down to the boat I should have
every man on the island round me. and
every one Of those friendly to him ready
to take hostile hand in the game.
The thing was a sheer impossibility in
the daylight; while even at night I must
have some one ready at the boat 80 that
I could get away before any alarm could
be raised. BY many Of them I was al
saw me taking Giuseppe away as a pris-
oner they would accept that as con-
f1rmation Of my treachery and be ready
to stop me even at the risk Of their lives
I sought Breva's help therefore. but al
though he was devoted to me and hated
Giuseppe as a saint hates the devil. I had
to be very guarded. He was willing
enough to help me to escape. anu was
for an instant start. but when I limited
that that was not all had to do. he be-
gan to question me curiously. and the re-
serve with which I replied made him sus-
picious Of my purpose.
I saw there was nothing for II but to
tell him frankly what my plan was. but
when he heard 1t he shook his head.
II can't do it. Beppo. I'll risk my life
to help you escape. but I can't give up
one Of the. band. even Giuseppe. to the
carabinieri. 1t would be treachery for
me. You may be right. and no doubt
were In your place I should do as you
mean to do. Til keep your secret, but I
can't help you"
I endeavored to persuade him and urged
him to come with me. and we were still
discussing the thing when Pepita came
running to US. excitedly.
+ 'Beltano is coming. Beppo," she cried.
His boat is In sight
You should have gone. Go at once.
There is still time" urged Breva.
We ran to a spot commanding a view Of
the sea. and as I saw the boat. Molta
came out Of the house and. seeing me so
near the boats. called the men to the
landing stage. as II she had guessed I
might make some attempt to get away
and was resolved to prevent It.
gritted my teeth in impotent regret
for the delay which had thus destroyed
my chance of escape.