Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-18
CHAPTER Xu.-Continued.

proof positive that the whole affair was
no more than a weak attempt to frighten
him. Unfortunately the postal author
tiles could not determine where the letter
had been mailed, and OConnell reported
that the paper on which 1t was written
was of q variety in common use. There
seemed to be little hope Of tracing the
matter back to its source. SO Donnelly
dismissed the whole affair from his mind
and went about his duties undisturbed.
Norvin Blake. however, could not bring
himself to take the same view. AS usuai,
he attributed his fears to imagination,
yet they preyed upon him so constantly
that he was forced to heed them. HIS
one frightful experience with La Mana
had marked him, 1t seemed, like some
prenatal influence, and now the more ne
dwelt upon the subject the more his ap-
prehension quickened. He was ashamed
to confess to Donnelly. and at the same
time he was loath to allow the cnieI 10
expose himself unnecessarily Therefore
he made 1t point to be with MIN as
volved q considerable risk to himself
and he recalled with misgiving what Cae-
sar Marufh had said that night in the
Red Wing Club. Donnelly alone had
been warned. but that did not argue that
vengeance would be confined to him.
October had come: the lazy heat OF
summer had passed and New Orleans
was awakening under Its magic winter
climate. The piny. breeze-swept gulf re-
sorts had emptied their summer colonies
edwards: the social season had begun.
The preparations for the great Fepru-
airy carnival were nearing complexion,
and Blake had the satisfaction OF know
ing that Myra Nell Warren was to rear
loan upon Bernie sufficient to meet the
requirements of any queen, and mad
spent several delightful evenings with
the girl herself, amused by her plans OF
royal conquest. $40
1t was like tonic to be with her.
Norvin invariably parted from her with
a feeling Of optimism and gayety quite
reasonless; he had no fears no apprenen-
sions: the universe was peopled with
sprites and fairies, the morrow was q
promise.
He was in precisely such mood one
drizzly Wednesday night after having
made an inexcusably long call upon her:
him In this agreeable humor, yet he went
homeward humming as blithely as
barefoot boy in springtime.
AS he neared the neighborhood IN
which Donnelly lived he decided to drop
in on him for a few moments and smoke
a cigar. Business had lately kept him
away from the chief and he felt Dit
guilty.
But Donnelly had either retired early
or else he had not returned from mead
quarters, for his windows were DARK
and Norvin retraced his steps, trifie
disappointed. In front Of cobblers
shop, across the street, several men were
talking, and as he glanced in their OIL
rection the door behind them opened. al
lowing a stream of light to pour forth
He recognized Larubio. the old Italian
shoemaker himself, and he was on the
point Of inquiring II Donnelly had come
home but thought better of it.
Larubio and his companions were idiine
which extended over the sidewalk. and
in the open doorway, briefly silhouetted
! against the yellow light. Blake noted a
man clad in shining rubber coat. Al
though the picture was fieeting, 1t caught
his attention.
The thought occurred to him that these
men were Italians, and therefore possible
Mafiosi, but his mood was too optimistic
to permit of silly suspicious. Tonight
the Malta seemed decidedly unreal and
He found himself smiling again at the
memory of an argument in which he
had been worsted by Myra Nell. He had
taken her a most elaborate box of choco-
| lates, and she had gleefully promised to
consume at least half of them that very
night after retiring. He had remon-
| strated at such an unhygienic procedure
Whereupon she had confessed to Sc
cret. ungovernable habit OF eating candy
| in bed He had argued that the per-
nicious practice was sure to wreck her
| digestion and ruin her teeth, but she
had COMPOUNDED him utterly by display
| ing twin rows as sound as pearls, as
white and regular as rice kernels. Her
digestion. he had to confess. was that OF
la Shetland pony. and he had been forced
to fall back upon the unconvincing proph-
| ecy of toothless and dyspepic OLD
age. He pictured her at this moment
1 IL nf
mahogany four-poster, all lace and ruff
| fies and ribbons. her Maynard hair IN
| adorable confusion about her face as
she paved over the sweets and breathed
ecstatic blessings upon his name.
| Near the corner he stumbled over boy
hiding in the shadows. Then, as he
turned north on Rampant street he ran
plump into Donnelly and O'Connell.
IT just came from your house." he
told Dan. II thought I'd drop In and
smoke one OF your bad cigars is there
anything new?"
mot much. I've had hard day and
there was a police board meeting to-
night. I'm tagged out.
l. "No more letters. eh?"
mo. But rye heard that ISABELLA is
safe in Sicily. That means his finish
I'll have something else to tell you In
day or so: something about your other
friend. Cardi."
IF what / suspect is true. it'll be q
sensation. I can't credit the thing my
self, that's why don't want to say any
thing just yet. I'm all up in the all
over it,
A moment later the three men had sep
arated, Donnelly and O'Connell turning
toward their respective homes. Blake
continuing his way toward the heart OF
the city.
WINS complacency. His line OF thought
| was changed and he found himself once
more dwelling upon the tragedy which
had left such mark upon his life. Mar
tel had been the finest, the cleanest lei.
low he had ever known; his life. so ful
Of promise, had just begun, and yet ne
had been ruthlessly stricken down. Nor
vim shuddered at the memory. He saw
the road to Martinello stretching out
ahead Of him like ghost-gray canyon
walled with gloom; he heard the creak-
ing Of saddles, the muffied thud of hoofs
in the dust Of the causeWay, the song OF
Blake halted suddenly, listening. From
somewhere not far away came the sound
again; it was a gunshot. deadened by the
blanket of mist and drizzle that shroud
cd the streets. He turned. 1t was re.
peated for a third time. and as he real
lied whence it came he cried out, at
frightedly: 49,
Then he began to run swiftly, as ht
had run that night five years before
with the lights of Terranova in the dis
lance, and in his heart was that same
sickening, horrible terror. But this time
he ran, not away from the sound, bu