The Washington times., 1911-10-26
5.e.e THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY 1tssf
THE SCARLET SCARAB
BY Albert Payson Tehune %Ss .sn

less at once s1ave been made the mark
for score of stilettos.
However," went on Sebaste, there
are only few. such scarabs made; only
one for each legate. And whenever
legate dies his scarab 10 returned at
once to Headquarters and conferred on
his successor.
I'VE may not meet publicly, we
Bre,men Oi the Vienna Order. There
fore there are, in or near each large
city, one or more secret meeting places
where, at signal, we gather for Inn
portant business. Each or these places
bears the painted image Of the scarlet
scarab. l have tho honor to be chief
officer of the Brotherhood In Naples,
And my second In command Ii the
Duke Of Ferata: Both Of us are under
the orders OF Mr.. D'Auban.
II think. SIR" he continued, turning
to me, that l have explained fully. yet
as briefly as possible. Mr. Gregg, hav-
Ing previously taken the oath Of Implicit
opeoience under pain Of death. now un-
derstands all that a private member Of
the brotherhood may know"
Whether he did or not, l. at least.
understood all except the bandit-guide
Murena's share in the matter. Surely
2 low fellow Of that type could scarcely
I drew out. my cigarette case before
answering, fumbled, aud dropped It.
Say growled Billy. breaking the
to the signal. what's that dago geezer
out there at Solfatara got to do with
this shootin' match OF yours? That.
Murena guy. Where does he come in?'
oh, he Ia not one of us, But we
find it mutually convenient to affiliate
With certain of the more ambitious sort
OF banditt.. Murena IL leader of band
of men who eke out a living as guides,
their various real trades. He 10 bound
hy oath to obey our legate In certain
matters. In return for legal protection
and similar favors. He and others"
"By the way. SIR" he said. address
ing me In Italian, lis II indiscreet to
repeat a rumor which has gained cre-
'dence I'm the Naples branch OF the
WithoLt awaiting a reply, he added:
Il hear the council have derided to
send legate to Amertca-in fact. have
already conferred the scarab on one.
ss,d,.ths and that 4 is q q woman who mas been
Il am net at liberty either to confirm
or deny the report" l replied stiffly--
just as l had been wont to address
my factory to inquire concerning the
prospects of a strike. adding, in mem-
ory of what he had recently said: The
appointment of such legate would, of
American branch" .-s
Offended, he bowed curtly and left
the room. And, ass that l was II was
only then / remembered that had said
not a word about Ferara or sought to
learn what he might have been COM
manded to do in Case No. ]. Nor. in
deed, what Case No: l might be.
Still, I had learned enough to set any
Peter observed Billy, breaking in
on my thoughts. Il promised to set here
and look like a boiled sheepshead and
mot m9ye sys my face sda TIL yS ySI save me the
time up?'
You have, and it is" answered.
Before ] could say more he was out
, of his chair and halfway across the
What the matter? Where are you
going?'s called.
I'm going to light on that sebast.
nickel. an I'm goin' to encore the re-
fined speciality by wipin UP Naples
| with Ferata. An then every other mr. n
my hooks into. Lemme go. Quit grab.
For. mad seized him at the very
threshold Of the room and despite his
ing him from his insane purpose.
&C ome back. you IDIOT I ordered.
DO you want to wreck everything
Il sure do" he painted. An, what s
more. I'm soin' to do it. Lemme go,
, can't you''
Mild measures were absurd. in his
present mood. l ripped him, and rs
he sprawled on the floor 1 calmly sat
on his chest.
Now" I said. 'you'n listen to rea-
son." - b
oh what a dirty game to put up on
white mani he snarled still strug-
Cling, Pete. l didn't think II of your
Its to keep you from running into a
worse game" I retorted. You want to
rush out and rough-house two men be-
cause they happen to be scoundrels
uynt ntv,c vnl,sA exfx
| away your own band and get us both
assassinated within twenty-four hours.
And you'd do nothing toward breaking
up the Vienna Brotherhood.
baste says 1t numbers over thou
sa' members. Suppose YOU licked two