Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
Copyright. 1908,
By Arthur w. Marchmont
All rights reserved.

Have ever broken a pledge to you."
You never had SO strong a motive be-
fore But I'm through with the talking.
You can't get me out OF here and you
can't get in to me. Come back In the
morning and repeat your offer and agree
to my conditions. And now CO."
But I declare"
Co." 1 called sternly and not liking
my change OF tone. he went. We passed
an anxious night. but there was no re-
newal or active operations. kept watch
until close to the dawn, and then Law
down while the other two watched Mat
terS were so quiet that I feared Beltano
mao decided to try and starve us out.
ABOUT noon Luigi came to ask n would
| speak with Beltano and I agreed
he repeated his offer of the preceding
night. but declined my condition-that he
should leave the island first. decided.
him that held Molta as q hostage. add
Ing pithy threat of what would happen
10 her If he drove me to extremes.
You can't get in here, Beltano: IL you
mad ten times the number OF men you
have. You couldn't. and IL you did. YOU
know now what the result would be-"
The news disconnected him entirely. and
aiter while he expressed himself ready
TO DO what i required. He declared he
had only four men unhurt and said that
he and two OF them would leave the
island and remain away until the follow
ing day.
II watch you start. and as 7 don't
want to find YOU waiting for US when we
boat away to the south there" 1 replied
shant play you false in this. Beppo."
ne declared But II we ever meet again
there'll be another story to tell
L was still suspicious. 1t was so unlike
MIN to yield a single point to which he
had set his mind to gain. that this un-
conditional compliance appeared I'M
natural. even in spite Of the fact that
had defeated him and had threatened
Molta's life
But l told Masita the news and set
about the preparations for leaving re-
solved to adopt the same ruse as before
In regard to Pepita-to bind her. hand and
foot. and lock her into one OF the rooms.
that she should not appear to have helped
us.
1 was explaining this to her when Ma
sta called me suddenly to the narrow
windows at the front. and to my INFINITE
surprise l found Asapa in the path.
nave come to warn you. Beppo
Don't trust Beltano. He is not going
away himself. He Is mad about Molta,
and he Is sending across to the Count for
MIN to send twenty or thirty men. The
boat that came yesterday brought an ur-
gent summons from him that Beltano
should cross at once"
And without waiting for me to reply
she turned and fed back
Masita looked at me in silence at this
and then laid her hand gently on my
arm: do you believe her. Beppo?''
Yes. 1t fits Beltano too we'll. I thought
there was devflment intended. But at
Wen go and watch the start OF the boat
and we went together up to the lookout
1 was surprised to find a fairly strong
wind had risen since I had been last on
the lookout at noon. and that. as 1t blew
from the mainland with every appearance
OF freshening. 1t would take a boat at
least two hours to make the crossing.
This meant that the help for which he
was sending would not arrive that night
The messenger would have to ind the
Count. the latter would then have to get
the men together. and. however quickly
the thing was done. some hours would be
required.
Beltano made every appearance OF keep
ing his word. He took pains to show
himself plainly. I could not see the
landing stage itself. but he stood at the
top of the path leading down to 1t as if
giving orders before his departure. and
had thus an opportunity OF ascertaininH
how many men there were.
counted five besides himself as they
MED down the path. one OF them having
his arm in sling.
could see three men on board. ono OF
whom kept his head and shoulders con.
cealed by the SAIL and presently three re.
turned up the path. -
She had also been counting. There were
only six. including Beltano, and three
were In the boat and the others have Just
come up the path"
I shook my head obviously. IF he had
been there. he would have taken the
tiller and shown himself plainly He
had man concealed by the landing
stage to fool us. But 1t won't matter.
He has only two sound men left with
him. and they won't be enough"
for Wb ~ CHI
you have a fresh plan?'
Yes. I mean to escape tonight He
has laid a trap and he shall catch him.
self in it,
You think it possible?" she cried, her
eyes bright with excitement.
think It's our only chance. We must
make 1t possible
Go Be Concluded Next Sunday