Evening star., 1912-09-15
THE NET.
Bv REX BEACH.

tcopyrigi.t, 1872, by Rex Beach,

upon his face. Norvin had known ne
would come. but hardly expected Myra
Nell to win her victory so easily. With
out waiting for the little man to speak
he began:
Il know what you're here for and
know Just what you're going to tell me.
do you think you acted very decent
ly?" Dreux inquired
MY dear Bernie, a crown was a.
| stake
"A crown of thorns for me. 1t means
bankruptcy.
"Then you have consented? Good. !
knew you would
"Of course you knew 1 would; that $
what makes your trick so abominable.
didn't think 1t of you. 1t would serve
you right If l accepted your loan and
never paid you back"
laid his hand upon his friends shoulder.
What's more, that is exactly what !
would do in your place. I'd borrow all !
could and give my sister her one SUI
preme hour. free from all disturbing
fears and embarrassment; then I'd tell
the impertinent meddler who was to
blame for my trouble to go whistle for
his satisfaction. OF course MISS Myra
Nell doesn't suspect"
'Oh, heaven Forbid piously exclaimed
Dreux.
Now, how much will you need?"
Il don't know; some fabulous sum:
there will be gowns. and luncheons, ana
carriages and entertaining. | Will nave
to figure it out"
DO, Then double It. And thanks aw-
fully for coming to your senses
That's just the point, 1 haven't come
to them: I'm perfectly insane to consider
1t. It's mighty decent of you. but un-
derstand consider nfondsa it aastardiy trick
well. as you are not one of the Mana,
I am not afraid
do you know said Bernie. Il have
been thinking about this Maf1a matter
interested. and lin beginning to feel
the dawning of civic spirit. Rema TX
able, eh? You know 1 haven't many in
terests. and I'd like TOTO take hand
in running down these miscreants. I've
always had an ambition. ever since
was a child. to be a-don't laugh now.
This is confession. I've always wanted
to be a-detective.' He looked very
grave, at the same time little shame
faced 40 you suppose Donnelly could
make me one?'
well. This is rather startling" said
Blake, with difficulty restraining de-
sire to laugh.
IL can wear disguises wonderfully
WELL" Bernie went on, wistfully. 4
learned when 1 was in college theatricals.
I was really very good. And you see I
might earn lot OF money that way; !
understand there are tremendous re-
wards offered for train robbers and that
sort of people. No one need know. OF
me of being a minion of the law
That's true enough. But I'm afraid
detectives In real life don't wear false
boards. It's q pretty mean occupation.
fancy. Do you seriously think you are
-er-fitted for it?''
"Heavens. I'm no good at anything
else, and I'm perfectly wonderful at
worming secrets out of people. This
Malta matter would give me great op-
portunity. think I'll try it."
"These Italians have no sense of hu-
NOR. you know. Something disagreeable
might happen il you went prowling
around them
"Oh. of course I'd quit IL they discov-
cred my intentions-my game When we
were talking of such things the other
day I said 1 was a coward. but really
I'm not. I've a frightful temper when
I'm roused-really fiendish. AS mat
ter of fact I've" he smiled sheepishly
and tapped his slender, high -arched foot
gun
Blake settled back in his chair without
a word.
I'm taking Italian lessons from Myra
Nelrs nurse. Miss Fabrizi. She's very
| superior woman, for a nurse, and she
knows all about the Malta. Quite an in
spiration, 1 call it, thinking of her. I'm
working her for informa-for clue" He
winked one eye graveiy and Norvin
gasped. He had never seen Bernie give
this particular facial demonstration be-
fore, and the effect was much as II some
benevolent old lady had winked brazenly.
"weH!' he exclaimed. Il don't know
what to say"
There is nothing to say" Mr.. Dreux
answered in a vastly self-satisfed tone.
I'm going to offer my services to Don
nelly-in confidence. of course. I'm glad
you introduced US, for otherwise I'd have
to arrange to meet him properly. Ii he
doesn't want me I'll proceed unaided."
When his caller had gone Blake gave
way to the hearty laughter he had been
smothering, dwelling with keen enjoy
ment upon the probable result Of Bernie s
interview with the chief. Dan, he was
sure. would not hurt the little mans 8
feelings, so he felt no obligation to in
terfere.
It was not until two weeks after their
nocturnal excursion to the Italian quar-
ter that Donnelly came to see him. He
brought unexpected news.
We've had a run of luck" he began.
'I've verified the information in that let
ter and found that those extradition pa
pers for Narcone are really IN New York.
What's more, there's an Italian detective
there on another matter. and he's ready
to take our man back to Sicily with
him.
Really!
''Narcone, it seems, was in New York
for a year before he came here: that's
why steps were taken to extradite him.
Then he evidently got suspicious and
came south. Anyhow. the plank IL all
creased, and II we land him in that city
he'll go back to Sicily
'I see All that's necessary is to in
vite him to run up there and be arrested.
It seems to me you're just where you
were two weeks ago, Dan. Unfortunate
ly this doesn't happen to be New York,
and you've still got to solve the impor-
tant problem of getting him there"
I'm going to kidnap him." said the
chief quietly.
what? You're joking
Not q bit Of IT.
but kidnapping 1T isn't done any
more! It's not even considered the thing
in police circles, I believe: you'll be steal
ing children next. like any Mafioso.''
Donnelly grinned. That's where got
the idea This Same Narcone Is mixed
up in the Domenchino case. The kid has
been gone nearly a month. now, but the
father won't help us. He made a roar at
and now he declares that the boy must
have strayed away to the river front and
been drowned. Well. 1t occurred to me
to treat that Quatrone gang to some Of
its own medicine by stealing their ring
leader"
There's poetic justice in this idea
that is, If Narcone was really connected
with the disappearance OF the child"
"Oh. he was connected with 1t all right!
for the outfit. SO they went after q good
ransom. Now that old Domenchino has
kicked up such a row they're afraid to
come through and have probably mur-
dered the child. That's what he fears, at
any rate, and that's why he won't help