Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-02

known. 1t was not the fear OF death. It
was something far worse. For the mo-
ment II seemed to him inevitable that
Margherita Ginini should at last learn
the truth concerning him. should see him
as he was that night at Terranova. Swift
upon the heels OF his long-deferred dec
laration OF love would come the proof
tnat ne was craven. Then he thought
or her danger. realizing that this man
was quite capable in his fury OF killing
her, too, and he stiffened in every fiber.
His cowardice fell away from him like
rotten garment and he stood erect
Maruffi. 1t seemed. had not heard his
last words. or else his mind was still
Then shall not see her face grow
black with my fingers-not yet. God,
How l RAM" He cursed again. But
shall not fare so badly after ALL" He
stirred. and with his movement Blake
flew to action. Swiftly. with one sweep
OF his right hand. he brought the silken
cushions up before his breast and lunged
at his enemy. AT the same instant Ma
ruff fired
In the closed room the defamation was
deafening; ii ratified the windows. it
seemed to bulge the very walls Blake
felt heavy blow. which drove the floss
filled pillows against his body with the
force of a giant hammer. 1t tore them
from his grip it crushed the breath from
his lungs and spun him half around. See
ing that he did not fall. Marufi cooked
and fired a second time without aiming,
but his victim was upon him like a tiger.
and together they crashed back against
the wall, locked i'm each others arms.
Blake's will propelled him splendidly.
All that indecision with which fear works
upon the mind had left him. but the old
contraction of his nerves still hampered
his action. The blaze from Marufn's sec
ond shot half blinded him, and it's breath
smote him like a blow.
Two: he counted. wonderingly. A
pain in his left side, due to that first
sedge-hammer impact, was spreading
slowly, but he had crossed the room
under the belching muzzie Of the re-
volver and was practically unframed.
The phenomenon filled him with q mild
wonder
There began a struggle-the more ter
rible since 1t was unequal-in which the
weaker man had to drive his body at the
cost Of tremendous effort Blake was
like a leader commanding troops which
had begun to retreat. But more power
came to him under the spur Of action
and the pressing realization that he must
give Marguerite chance to get safely
away. II he could not wrest the weapon
from Marufi's hands he knew that he
must receive those four remaining bullets
in his own body. He rather doubted that
he could take that weight of lead.
wrestled for possession of the gun. He
had flung his right arm about his adj
versary's body his other hand gripped
his wrist; his head was pressed against
Maruffi's chest. The weapon described
swift circles. jerking parabolas and fig
ures as the men strained to wrest II from
each other Maruffl strove violently to
free his imprisoned hand, and In doing
SO he discharged the revolver a third
time. The bullet brought shower Of
ed. with fierce exultation-
Three"
He gasped his warning to the woman
again. then twined his leg about his an
tagonist's in wrestler's hold. striving
nightly to bear Marufn against the wall.
But Caesar was like an oak tree. Fall
ing to move him. Blake suddenly flung
himself backward with all his weight.
lifting at the same instant in the hope
of a fall. In this he was all but success
full. The two reeled out into the ROOM
tripped. went to their knees. then rose.
still intertwined in that desperate en-
brace. The odd. stiff feeling In Blake's
side had increased rapidly: 1t began to
His eyes were singing with sweat and
smoke; his ears were roaring. As they
swayed and turned he saw that Mar
gherita had made no effort to escape.
and he was seized by an extraordinary
rage, which for brief time renewed his
strength.
She was at the front window crying for
help.
Jump. For-God's sake. jump he
shouted, but she did not obey. Instead
she ran toward the combatants and seized
Maruff1's free arm. in measure check
ing his effort to break the other mans
hold. Her choseness to danger agonized
Blake. the more as he felt his own
strength ebbing under that stabbing pain
in his side. He centered his force in the
grip Of his left hand. clinging doggedly
while the Sicilian flung his two assail-
ants here and there. as dog worries a
scarf
Blake fancied he heard a stamping of
feet in the hall outside and the sound OF
voices, of heavy bodies crashing against
the door Maruffi heard 1t, too for with
a below of fury he redoubled his exer-
lions. A sweep of his arm flung the girl
aside: with mighty wrench of his body
he carried Blake half across the room,
loosening his hold. Then he seized him
by the throat and forced his head back.
The shouting outside was increasing:
the pounding was growing louder. Blake's
breath was cut off and his strength went
swiftly: his death grip on the Sicilian's
body slackened. AS he tore at the nm
gers which were throttling him his left
hand slipped, chung to Maruffi's sleeve.
and finally began clawing blindly for the
weapon. The next moment he was
hurled aside so violently that he fell. his
feet entangled in the cushions with which
he had defended himself against the first
shot.
He rose and renewed his attack. hear
ing Margherita cry out in horror. This
time Maruffi took deliberate aim. and
when he fired the figure lurching toward
him was halted as if by some giant fist.
Four Blake counted. He was hit.
he knew, but he still had strength: there
were but two more shots to come. Then
he was dazed to find himself upon his
knees. AS If through film he saw the
Italian turn away and raise his weapon
toward the girl, who was wrenching at
the door,
'Maruffi." he shouted. "Oh, Godv
Then he closed his eyes to shut out
what followed. But he heard nothing.
for he slipped forward. face down. and
felt himself falling. falling. into silence
and oblivion.
TO be continued tomorroMl