Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-15
THE NET"
Copyrighted, 1919, oy Rer Beach.


Wrong! What could be wrong now
that you are here?. No! All is quite
right. but 1 have been accursed with
Ionesomeness. Something was lacking
IL was YOU. caro- milo. Now, however
1 am the most contented of mortals
But you must be famished, so 1 will
show YOU TO your room at once. Fran
cesca has provided feast for us.
assure you"
He led his friend up the wide stair:
and left him to prepare for supper.
land so this ends * ALL" said Blake
as they lounged in the big, empty draw
ing room later that evening. They had
dined and gossiped, as only friends OF
their age can gossip. had relived theil
adventures Of the past three years, and
still were loath to part even for sleep
How so?" queried SavignO. you
Speak Of marriage as IL ii were dissolu'
ton"
1T might as well be, so far as I an
concerned"
Martel laughed at this.
Il have told the countess that she
must love you"
Then you have hung the Grape or
our future intimacy. for good and all
She will instruct your cook to put q
spider in my dumping, or do away
with me by some characteristic Stellar
method" Martel seemed puzzled by the
Americanism of this speech, but Norvir
merely smiled and changed to italian
do you really love her?f he asked.
"Of course! She is young, she Is
beautiful. she is-rich!" ,-.
I'm heavens name. don't use that
tone! begin to doubt you" .t
BAH You croak like a ravenn' de-
clared the Sicilian. What has soured
your" . o.,
Nothing. ! am a wise young man
that's all You see, happiness is all
itself So. when you are quite happy
with the new countess you will forget
your friends of unmarried days"
"It is plain, then, that you also must
marry. Is there no adorable American
LADY,"
ANY quantity of them. but 1 don't
care much for women, or perhaps
don't attract them. 1 might enjoy
falling in love if ii were not such a
tedious process"
1T is not necessarily tedious. One
may love with the suddenness of an ex-
plosion. have done so many times"
Il know you have, but you are. q
Sicilian-"
"Yesl We have blood in our veins
and lime in our bones. l have loved
many women TO distraction: there is
only one whom 1 would marry.
Ricardo entered at the moment, and
the count arose with a word OF apology
to his guest. He spoke earnestly with
his overseer. but as they were separat-
ed from Blake by the full width of the
great room, that young man overheard
TO more than a word now and then. Yet
he caught the mention of Ippolito, one
OF the armed men who had met him al
the station also of an orange grove
and the word "Mafioso." Then he heard
Martel say:
"The shells FOR the new rife-Ippolito
is a bad shotEtake plenty "IS1a a,.
When Ricardo had gone and the count
had returned to his seat Norvin fancied
he detected once more that grave look
he had surprised in his friends counte-
nance upon their arrival at the CASTILLO
What were you telling Ricardo about
rifles and cartridges?" he inquired.
''Eh? 1t was nothing. We are forced
to guard our oranges; there are thieves
about 1 hove been too long away
from Martinello."
Later, as Norvin Blake composed him
self to sleep, he wondered idly If Martel
had told him the whole truth. He re-
called again the faint. grave lines that
had gathered about the counts eyes
where there had never been aught but
wrinkles OF nferriment. and he recalled
also that word "Mafioso." It conjured
memories Of certain tales he had heard
Of Sicilian outlawry and brigandage and
Of that evil, shadowy society Of
Friends which he understood domi-
mated this island. There was a story
about the old counts death also, but
Martel had never told him much. Nor
win tried to remember what ii was, but
sleep was heavy upon him, and he soon
gave up.