The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-07

tserpret the term. had become. this other man. Beppo Serano and must have played the part with all the semb. lance of eompIsfe sanity
 But every act and thought and word during that interval was a sealed bool; .o me How had Some to Sicily. why had taken the narie by which I was known. and how I Could have become associated with the desperate men who were now my companions. was com plete mystery.
 Iccuid haxard q guess at the reason for my presetice In Italy. It was in the Italian quarter of New York that had been struck down: and when the rphions whoe had attacked me found that was not dead. but had no recoI- lection of my identity it was possible that they had considered it less risky to pack me across the Atlantic as an Italian than to kill me and dispose of my body. s9le
 did not yet know how long a time had elapsed since that first attack; but I gathered that 1t must have been many weeks and perhaps months. My people at home had no doubt come to the con- clusion that was dead; and tried for while to think what could have been the reason for the attack and who could have insttgated t. knew that my father had enemies among the Italians, and that he had been threatened more than once by the Black Hand gang. He had only laugh ed at the idea of any danger from such quarter: but I saw now that 1t was quite pQssible the attack upon me might have come from there.
 The present was, however, more in- portant than the past: snd had to de- eide what course to take. Should I let my people know at once, that I was still alive or attempt first to ascertain If there was any connection between Beitano and the man who had sought my. life. te.
 The decision was not easy as 1t would have been few hours earlier--before I had seen Masita, in fact ! was eager to learn more about her. Her glorious beauty had dazzled my eyes and be- witcbed my senses; I knew that she was in danger from this Beltano and his men: 1t was possible I might save her; and in my present mood the thought of flight seemed just miserable cowardice. And far stronger than my reluctancs to abandon her was the overpowering desire to change. her thoughts of he. to right myself in her eyes and to force her to look upon me as far other than the scopndrelIy cut-throat she held me 10 be-
 It was quixotic, if you will. To re- main a member of Beltano's band was to run the risk that she herself would be the first to accuse me of a crime of which could not prove my innocence --of which. indeed. myself did not know whether I was innocent or guilty. But I was In love: and the mere thought of being able to help her and change her opinion of mel dared not hope to do more-was in itself enough to quicken my pulses and set me grit ting my teeth with resolve.
 would stay. at least for time: until had recovered from the effects of my injury. until had found chance to help her, perhaps until I saw that my wild thoughts of winning her round were indeed hopeless.
 But should have to act warily. She was being taken to the island on my account--t0 prevent her accusing me of this murder; and my first step must be to remove the reason for her de- tention. I must either prove my inno- cence of the deed or secure her escape from what would be q prison in all but the name.
 This meant that I must continue to deceive the rest of my companions, and, what would be much more difficult must find the means of convincing Ma sita herself that meant her nothing but good.
 I had reached that point in my thoughts when Breya broke in with a