The Washington times., 1911-10-23
CHAPTER TX.
I Perform q Miracle.
. OR the pseudo -frescoe. painted
Il in the center Of wreath Of
genuine antiquity, represented
no fruit, but q big, sprawling

ASAAoAAAA y AsAAoSAC.
~ OR the space Of perhaps Ave Sec
- onds after the falling match left
us In darkness we stood there
without word, without motion
I and the man whose face / had SO
dimly descerned by the last flicker of
vestalight. a-a..
while had been studying over the
comparison between my scarab pin and
the painted beetle on the wall, he had
crept up without sound. through the
water, and had been at my side before
l was aware. of his approach.
Who he might be l could not guess,
nor what his stealthy errand. I had
barely discerned the outlines and eyes
OF human face ere the light had died.
So, through the tiny space OF time
that seemed immeasurable, we stood-I,
awaiting the decisive moment to come
to grip with at least one OF my foes.
He, breathless motionIess, seemingly
frozen into inaction. as though by some
fright. % .-
The silence ended. And in his first
awed, frightened syllable. l recognized
the slurring Sicilian patois of my guide.
.'Eccelcnza.' he gasped. And again:
"Eccelenza!"
Vastly different from his former sneer-
ing address; but ! was too excited to
note the change. For, as his words
broke the spell, / had sprung forward
in the dark. with outthrown arms. and
grappled with him.
and together we crashed down on the
steps, close to the waters edge.
a swift-pianned idea had come to me
II l could overpower and disarm this
rrtfian might by thrsHts sat- or even ply
Doris Todd: or. at least. to the outer
world. whence I could readily obtain
rescue for her.
chest. nv fingers his rough. unshav-
en- throat: the rae Of battle swelled
within me.
Then. collecting my wits. I slackened
hs on z daen To @
was no battle. Or: II 1t was. It was I
who had done all the fighting.
For he had made no move to defend
himself: had not struggled. nor sought
was he paraiyzed with fright? Or
was this nonresistance some ruse whose
climax would be q knife-thrust in my
ribs? Suspicious though I was Of the
Sicilian character. vet I inclined to the
/ recalled the awe-struck exclamation
Of "Eccelenza" (Your ExcellencyD a
term not lightly lavished in Italy on
l slackened again my grip on his
threat and he spoke.
MY life is yours. eccelenza. 1t is for
felt Yet how was l to know: There
Nv head grew dizzy. Here. for the
nth tina in twenty-four hours. a total
stranger was addressing me as though
l were a Kin King. co,,. ouou ~
self, that duke and bandit ALIKE should
do me reverence? And why, in the lat
ter instance. had the reverence been de-
ferred until now?
/ still doubted.
Your knife?" demanded. Where
is it?"
found and drew out the ugly, curved
little peawon.
IT am to die. Them" he asked quietly,
misunderstanding my action.
What other weapon do you carry7"
None"
Are you lying?'
"Eccelenza knows / cannot lie to
him: but he may Search
Still holding the knife, rose, keeping
a tight hold Of the fellows arm.
Get up" l said.
He obeyed submissively.
"Where Is your torch?"
Somewhere on the lowest step. Shall
I search?"
light?"
He did SO. showing me my guides
now familiar features, but paler than
when had last seen them, ana stamped
with a mute respect, In place OF their
former sly insolence.
set the candle there. on the coping.
So. Now, take three steps backward.
Farther backl Agaiist the rear wall.
Now, stand there while you answer my
questions"
had no room to dash past me. I had
proved myself the stronger man, and
held, In addition, his knife.
80 he could not escape. even II he
chose to, which, from his slavish obedi-
ence tony every command. looked un-
likely. -
over him. What 1t was ] did not know
But had no notion of losing 1t by be-
traying my ignorance. Certainly not as
long as the fact might aid me in rescu-
Ing Doris Todd.
FLOW are you called2" ! began my
catechism.
"Jacopo Murena. eccelenza, of Casada
in the Sicilies."
why did you lSidnap the lady and
myselff'