The Washington times., 1911-11-06

/ likewise have to explain to 'em those
little thefts of chapter funds that you
was aludtir to few minutes back.
We've set your mouth closed up
permanent for repairs by that same
drookedness with the funds So, in spite
of your heavy villyun talk, you're really
a pretty poor kind Of four-nusher an
into the ash-heap. like any other
garbage"
A look of utter terror replaced Sc
baste's former sneertng composure. In
stinctiyely he turned to me In appeal
but before 1 could raise a hand to in
terfere Gregg was upon him.
"Rllly! shouted, jumping forward
death to be exposed to that inferno"
But spoke to the winds. With a
lightning gesture Billy had lodged a
stool which the Neepolitan had snatch
ed up, had whirled Sebaste about with
the other, had disappeared with him
into the binding black ash storm.
.sprang to the door in pursuit, but
eoqd not see ad my hand IN s before my fsos
Bring him back! tits"
Gregg reappeared before the thresh.
old, fioundering bear-like through the
He pushed past me Into the hut. slam.
Kind O. neat. wasn't it?'., he grinned
II learned that trick when I was
the sowePy Gyh %anSs tse SoogS Boo SAss Salon OF
I've run out like that before he knew
| what had struck him, an before his
mates could not butt In and do rescue
twenty yards an deposits him headfirsi
In a ash drift, an then ] follered the
light back again. BY the time he finds
his feet, now that the doors shut, he'll
where's he's at. I. Pete! Cut it out
can't you? You're always spoilin' my
fun"
For had flung open the door, in the
might yet penetrate to sebaste and
guide him back from sure doom.
It's death you've dragged him TO-
you brute!" I shouted. resisting Billy's
efforts to close The door again.
The ashes swlrlod in, dimming the
lamp and strangling us.
nDeath-nothin'!" sputtered Gregg
That's just Matteucci's property storm
Mrs. Toornoog put me wise to the whole
fake. i haven't any yearnin' to xii
sebaste-though the Lord knows he has
It comm to him-but 1 wanted TO gel
won't come to harm. but he won't bt
likely to butt In on us again"
1t was futile to argue with the
| thickhead, to try to make him realize
the terrible thing he had done. the
horror that encompassed us all. That
| foolish little French woman's idle jest
mad taken root in his mind and could
not, would not, be dslodged.
Too ignorant to account for the vol
| cano and its phenomena. too suspi-
cious TO accept such phenomena as
actual facts he adhered with sublime
| idiocy TO the explanation that the
whole thing was mammoth hoax.
The ashes had already piled high on
the huts earthen floor They would
| oVerwhelm US If the door We're left
| open. Sebaste, doubtless confused
| and blinded. had been unable to re-
trace his steps. To venture forth in
search of him, would be to throw
! away a decent mans life on hope
less quest to save a scoundrels.
Clearing away the ashes as best !
back into the room. sick at heart.
Billy, his good humor quite restored.
awaited my return with a broad grin
on his ugly face, cheerfully and alb
solutely oblivious that he had just
thrown a fellow being to his death.
For two interminable days we abode
in that wretched little hut We three
and the old peasant woman, breath
ing the sitting atmosphere with diff
Guilty, subsisting on the scanty store
of black bread. onions and sour wine
wherewith the novels larder was fur
( nished. outside. darkness and ashes
sttll ruled the world. And, strange to
say. all without was as silent as the
very grave.
J avoided Doris Todd so far as !
might. Now that the first brunt OF the
peril which had drawn us together had
abated, memory rushed back on me
and the vision of the scarlet scarab
that had cleaned so balefullv on her
! breast that night in Naples was ever
before me.
] fought back the love that clamored