Arizona republican., 1909-06-05
(Continued from Thurs6ay.}


 growled Merrihew "Sit down."
 Be still" said Hillard roughly.
 From gondola on the far side of the barge standing out of the press and just beyond the radiance of the lanterns, never powerful at best came another voice, a voice which had a soul in it, a voice which broke into song for the pure joy of 1t, spontaneously. Clear, thrilling, voice before which the world bows down. The prima donna in the barge was clever: she stopped The tenor went on. however, recognizing that he was playing opposite, as they say, to great singer. Hillards heart beat fast That voice! There could not be another like it. And she was here in Venicel
 "Achille," he said do you hear that voice over there in the dark?"
 "Yesf signore."
 Push round to it See. the singer is standing up now. Hurry"
 This sounded important, and Merri- hew scrambled to his feet. Yes, he, too, could see this unexpected canta- trfce In fact everybody was begin ming to stand up. All interest was eentered in this new voice. Then, as if conscious of this interest, the singer sat down. hut still kept to the melody Achille backed out of the jam, stole round the barge and craft fly approached the outstanding gon- doia. The two men still remained on their feet.
 +Quick. Achille!" For the far gon- dola was heading for the Grand Canal
 Merrihew understood now. He grasped Hillard's arm excitedly.
 Follow" commanded Hillard. Ten lire if you can come up alongside that gondoIa. Can you see the num- ber?"
 Tt is 152, signore; Pompeo. It will be a race" doubtfully.
 No matter, follow. It will be worth your while"
 And a race it became. Both gon- deliers were long past their youth, but each knew the exact weight and effort to be put upon the oar; no useless energy, no hurried work, no squirting, but long, deep swinging strokes. Up the Grand Canal, past the brilliant hotels. The runaway gondola had perhaps a hundred yards 1 the best of it. Achille rung on, 1 neither losing nor gaining a foot.
 Sit down, signori!" said Achille.
 Hillard and Merrihew tumbled back | upon the cushions.
 We shall not lose them this time, | Dan"
 Are we gaining?"
 Not yet. But wat till they turn into some small canal
 The first loop of the Grand Canal | was turned; still Pompeo made no effort to seek the smaller canals. Not till he passed under the Rialto, which afforded him a deep shadow. did he turn. Swiftly he bore into the canal which was filled with the postal gondolas. But not so soon that Achille did not perceive and fol- low. On and on, sOundless; now the pursuer had the advantage over the It was Pompeo who had to watch to call; Achille had only to hang on. And he was gaining A moment later less than ten yards in- tervened. O for some clumsy barge to bar the sway Round past the
 
 Marina, into a smaller canal again. Hillard now knew whither they were bound: the Campo Formosa.
 At each stroke Merrihew swung forward his body. The end of the race came sooner than any one eX- pected. A police barge nosed round an ell; by the time Pompeo was off again, the ferrule of the pursuing gOndola scraped past Pompeo's blade. Pompeo called and Achiile answer ed. There was a war of words, fig ure of a dog. name of pig. Achille was in the wrong, but ten lire were ten lire. And he knew that his gen tlemen meant no harm. Hflard caught the gondola by the rail and chung. The canal, lined with a dozen lime barges, became so mar row that Achille could scarce paddle, and Pompeo's oar was useless, be- ing partly under the opposing gon- 1ola. The race was over. "Signorina," said Pompeo, boiling with rage, shall I call the police?" No, Pompeo," said his solitary passenger. When Merrihew saw that she was alone, his heart became heavy, and the joy of the chase was gone. But not so with Hillard. At last, ''To the Campo, Pompeo. MT Hil- lard, will you kindly follow? I would speak to you alone, since there is no  Her tone chilled Hillard's ardor somewhat. But to speak to her again, and mayhap see her face,
 Doesn't want the police" whisper ed Merrihew q told you SO Look put for yourself" The gondolas became free present. y, and the way to the Campo For mosa was made without further ac- cident. She wishes to see me alone. Dan. You stay in the boat, I'll find out where Kitty is" The gondolas became mOored Hil- lard jumped out and went tn assist La Signorina, but she ignored his hand. This was not promising beginning.
 'To the church steps, MT. Hillard." she said.
 He followed her meekly Merrihew sulked among the cushions.
 The solitary electric lamp in the Campo made light enough: and when the two arrived at the steps the wo- man turned
 What is it Vou wish 2~ she asked l