The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-16
MY LOST SELF
.,y.h. .ses sy All right. reserved
By A. ". MARCHMONT

again for the same end--to prove my innocence. as. thank Heaven. I have proved 1t. But that does not touch you. and I repeat. you should not hay" come"
 Does not touch me?" she repeated quickly catching at my phrase.
 T mean 1t was no cause for you to venture this risk"
 Say rather it would nave been all the greater cause had known It. You have your former life to go back to and I--I should be glad to think l helped you. But I know now that you are right and that l should not have come. Not on account of the risk to me, but because in coming l have made matters so much worse for you. have thought of that in the night. Had not come, you would have got away sec that now" she said with a deep sigh.
 ''That Is the last thought would nave in your mind. We shall both get away. but you must leave the means to me. If Breva succeeds. we shall win that way; if not. the case Is not so black as 1t may seem. When Beltano comes, We will try your plan frst--the e ransom. If that fails. we'll try mine"
 Impulsively she thrust out her hand and smiled. You would not take my hand when last offered 1t. wishing to thank you"
 The obstacle is removed thank God" said as l pressed 1t. T can take it as a man innocent of the deed we both feared I had committed"
 Yes. that Is the right word--feared. not believed" she replied in low tone and with an earnestness equal to mine. And the rest of your story you will now tell ne that? Your name? I do not even know what to call you.''
 Tt is Beppo's name that have cleared and while am here. am Beppo. I am only what you see me--a man of the people; and what story Is behind my coming here. is as common place as that of any other no-account man."
 You would piaue my curioslty?"
 "No. I would only have you--" But at that moment Pepita came to say that Breva was asking for me. as he thought the sea was calm enough to start.
 Tt will get caimer every hour now and I want to have as slack tide as possible" he said when I went to him.
 The sooner the better" I replied readily. But you arc sure you can get across? How long will It take your
 T have done it in three or four  CT had not anything like so strong reason to hurry. Still. say four"
 It was now 3 o'clock. By S he should be across and by or latest by 8. he should be back. He was abso- lutely confident of success.
 As soon as he had started, I return cd and told Masita, and together we went up to the lookout and watched his progress. The speed at which, he slipped through the water sstonished me even more than 1t had done on the previous evening. He swam with a long sweeping overhead stroke, as graceful as 1t was powerful, which car ried him forward at a pace which to me, a clumsy swimmer ct the best, ap- peared little sho ort of marvellous.
 God grant that he will succeed" murmured Masita with a sigh.
 He himself has no shadow of doubt"
 He may be carrying our lives with him. she said scarcel" above her breath; and by. that knew that she realized more fully than had thought the peril of our position.
 There is only one fear now--that Beltano may get here first. Breva will be back In five or at most six hours"
 They will be hours of suspense Beppo."
 Hours of hope. rather"
 Yes. that Is better. Hours of hope I will try to be as confident as Breva himself; but can't you give me some thing to do? I uon't want to think"
 l found her something to do and set her to nelp in storing the provisions which Agapa had brought and in com pleting the preparations to be made in case Beltano should arrive first.
 How that afternoon Jagged! I stole up many a time to the lookout, scan- ming the sea with a nervous dread that I sh ould catch sight of Beltanos sail. But the hours passed and no sail showed: and each time nay hopes grew stronger that after al. we should get away before he returned (COntinued TomCrrowD