The Washington times., 1911-11-05
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
The Scarlet Scarab
By Albert Paon Thun ss s sss.. r.: % Ss..s ~
tcopyrisht. The Frank A. Munssy Co,

way way to,,9s to bein. I'm, merciful Pete. get up!
obeyed, for the old barroom device
work.
sebaste. at the first inrease OF the
heels sharp pressure. had loosened his
grip on me.
AS scrambled to by feet Gregg
somewhat reluctantly lifted his foot
from the Italians neck, and the half
strangled man sat up. gurgling and
II guess that bit of refined yodyyeel
amt got to Italy VET" observed Billy
You see, son. in America we're so slow
we amt onto you folks cunning, little
stiietto stunts, SO we have to fake up
an the boot. You'll feel whole lot
less like a hanged man In a few min
utes if you set still an don't try TO put
up line of repartee.'
saw that Doris. though leaning weakly
against the wall, was unhurt. Then my
gaze strayed about this queer haven of
ste.uge strs into which her call had SO
IL was q two-room hovel, such as
had seen by the hundred dottine the
Vesuvius slopes; such hovel as olive
pickers or. yine-tenders occupy. From
the low ceiling hung single olive-oil
lamp. The windows were shuttered
sitting ashes.
We were IN the larger OF the two little
rooms. In the apartment behind us, as
could see through the half-open slat
door, was an old peasant woman, star.
ing at. us In senile terror.
But before had completed my quick
examination Doris had recovered and
hurried across to me.
your" she cried.
I'm all right" replied ungraciousiy
for no normal man likes to have a
woman see him in a fight he has not
won). But how did you get bere?"
left you-perhaps you can gues
why. No. please don't scold me-! 1t
was the only thing to do. / felt yo.,
and hadn't taken a dozen steps when
FOUND myself at the corner of this
house. knew we would be safe here
from the rain Of ashes. and called to
outer wall till found the door, with a
deep ash-drift in front of il. I discovered
the latch and lifted II. The door opened
inWasd' nas,a and there was light inside.
threshold: Just then some one covered
my mouth and"
y fear I owe you most humble apol-
ogy. signorina," interposed Sebaste.
He had risen. and though disheveIed
and dusty, had recovered his wonted
calm assurance OF manner.
was obliged to act as / did," he
added. "These-gentlemen will under
It needed no further EXPLANATION. Sc
baste. hearing my name called, had hit
on this desperate means of preventing
me from reaching safety. BY closing
DORIS lips and slamming shut the door
or the hovel he had doubtless hoped to
ceprive me of the sound and light that
might lead me to safety.
And In the latter instance he had al
most succeeded. for SO heavy was the
faii OF ashes that even at the distance
OF few yards the light had at best
BEEN but a mere yellow blur against the
universal darkness.
Miss suggested Billy, .1f YOU don't
mind steppin' into the next room min
ute or two to jolly along that old ladv
who's gain so coquettish-like at us.
think Pete and me has few friendly
remarks to exchange with this count
person."
Doris. without hesitating, did AZ he
requested. As the door closed, behind
her, Sebaste turned to me and said:
is II rudeness to ask II all Ameri.
cans are as great fools as yourself?'
The majority share my peculiar line
OF folly. I imagine returned with a
coolness that ! sought vainly to render
equal to his own sublime poise. And
when l reflect on the fate to which
their wisdom has led a score or more
OF your fellow-scoundrels Of the Broth
erhood OF Vienna am inclined to thank
God for my folly
a Continuation of This story VIII
he FOnnd In TOmorrOw's