Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-22
A TELLTALE
SHADOW
1t Warns a Man That He |.
In Danger
BY F. A. Mitchell
Copyrieht 1910. by American Press
BY F. A. Mitchell
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


surrounded by orange groves. The
place is built on crescent shaped
rock at the foot OF which Is the mar
gin OF the Mediterranean. A part OF
this margin laps n beach, and on this
beach are fishermen's boats, and there
also the women do the family wash
ing.
One morning Seymour Wilcox,
young American traveller, was looking
down over low stone wall built for
the protection OF persons on the cliff
above, when he saw young girl
washing clothes in the sea. Being
some 200 feet above her, he could not
sec what she was like, but distance
lends enchantment to the view." and
he could, even from that distance, de
tect a certain grace I'm her movements
He went down on to the beach for a
nearer view.
| He found n girl OF fifteen, though
Mt that age and even much younger
nm Italian girl is woman. She pos
sessed the dark hair and eyes Of her
people and good figure. Her arms,
| from exposure, We're brown, but they
were shapely Wilcox watched her for
time, then walked past her and
smiled at her. He not only smiled, but
| spoke TO her. for he knew something OF
the Italian language. He learned that
her name was Marie and her father
was fisherman. After brief chat
he returned to the town above.
But the next morning he looked
1 a nunr hn nnI nj
though he knew he would be playing
with edged tools, seeing Marie be-
low, he yielded TO temptation to go
down again and have a few words
with her. This time the girl met him
with n smile indicating that she was
very much pleased that he had come
again. On this visit he talked to her
longer than before.
Wilcox continued these visits. He
found wineshop down among these
| fishermcn's quarters and would 20 I'm
there for liter OF wine and to smoke.
Sometimes he would take Marie I'm to
have glass with him. There was
nothing unusual In this I'm Italy. The
Italian wines have very little alcohol
in them and are drunk by the women
sides, wineshop I'm Italy is very
different affair from n saloon I'm Amer
leu.
The landlord of the hotel where VIII
cox was stopping knew nothing of his
descents to the flshermen's quarters or
he would have warned him against
going there The young man mention
ed the matter to no one. He knew he
was taking risk, but not how much
or risk. Besides, he was fearless
fellow and at an age where man of
courage Is more apt to court than
avoid danger. Nevertheless he did not
sufficiently realize the position In
which he was placing himself 20 go
armed.
One night Wilcox went down to the
beach and. calling for Marie at her
fathers cottage, invited her to go for
n ride out on the water I'm her fathers
boat, the father to sail It. Marie trans
mitted the request TO her father, who
agreed to the plan. Indeed, no one
had manifested a desire TO interfere
with Wilcox's attentions TO the girl.
Whether those nearest her were ex.
pecting TO get money out OF the Amer
icano or whether they were permitting
her to lure him into a position where
they could rob him didn't matter to
him, bent as he was on enjoying her
society.
After couple Of hours sail the
party returned to the shore. and VIII
cox asked the father and daughter TO
20 into the wineshop for refreshment.
The father declined for both himself
and his daughter, saying 1t was late
and he must be up early in the morn
ing TO begin his days fishing. VIII
cox babe them good night and, as It
was early for him, went into the wine
shop alone for his tipple and his
smoke
There was no one In the place ex-
cept the woman, who set the wine be-
fore the American and left him. There
was a fireplace in the room, and, the
nights being chilly In Italy, Wilcox re-
called her and asked her TO bring I'm
few fagots and build a fire She
was surprised at the request, for fuel
Is enormously expensive I'm Italy; but,
knowing him 10 be an American,
which to these people means having
plenty Of money, she acceded TO his
! request. Wilcox sat down before the
| fire with the wine beside him and
drank and smoked and, without In
/ tending II, fell asleep.
| lie awoke with a start. What caused
him to feel that he was in danger he
! did not know II might have been n
blow that wns threatening him or II
might have been tho fact Of n sudden
| realization that he had been ever since
| he first saw Marie taking q frightful
| risk. In my event nc was conscious
/ that death was I'm the room. The
/ fagots had burned out There was q
bright light near the entrance. which