Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-17

it dazedly. his eyes glazed with horror
and surprise.
AS the crimson splotch widened, his
heart took up its hating labors, then
began to race, faster and faster, until
he felt himself smothering; his frame
| was swept with tremors. Then the rau-
COS voices coming louder and louder
mounting into roar, as if he were
coming out from a swoon, and all the
see no other color; it blurred the room
and the quarreling gamblers, it STEPPED
the very air. He was still deathly sick
as only those men are whose blood sours
whose bones and muscles disntegrate al
the touch of fear.
He did not remember leaving the place
but found the cool night air tanning
fresh upon his face as he lurched blind
ly down the dark street, within his eyes
the picture of a scowling( ck-browed
! visage, in his ears that hoarse, unforget-
table command
"Silenzlor'
a single word burdened with rage and
venom had carried him back over years
to a certain moment and certain spot
on a Sicilian mountainside. The pecu-
liar arrogance, the harsh vibrations of
that voice permitted no mistake. He
/
with fearful shadows and at his feet
two silent twisted bodies. dimly outlined
against the dust. A match flared and
Ricardo Ferara grinned up into the
night beneath his grizzled mustache
Narcone, the butcher his hands still
wet, was whining for the blood of the
American. He heard Martel Savigno
call. heard the young counts voice rise
and break in shrek, heard thunder
Il -
Sicilian men were peering into his face,
talking excitedly; through their chatter
came that same voice, imperative, furi-
GUS filled with rage. and it cried
''Silenzio!
There was no mistaking it. The veil
was ripped at last
Blake recalled the dim outlines of that
4 burly, bull-necked figure as it had leap
ed into brief silhouette against the
glare of the blazing match. that night
so long ago, and then he cried out aloud
in the empty street as he realized how
complete was the Identification. He re-
membered Donnelly's vague prediction
five minutes before he was stricken;
"If what 1 suspect is true, it will
cause a sensation"
! A sensation indeed! The surprise,
! the dim realization of consequences
was too overpowering to permit coherent
thought. The Maruffi, or Cardi, or what
ever he might prove to be, was tremen-
dous. No wonder he had been hard to
uncover No wonder his power was alb
solute. He had the genius of a great
general a great politician, and a great
criminal, all in one, and he was as pitt
/ less as a panther, more deadly than a
moccasin. What influence had pervert-
ed such intellect into weapon of iniqui-
ty? What evil of the blood, what lesion
of the brain had distorted his instincts
so monstrously?
/ Caesar Marufl, rich, respected, hon
oredl 1t was unbelievable.
Blake halted after a time and took
note of the surroundings into which his
feet had led him. He was deep into
the foreign quarter and found, with a
start that he had been heading for Wit
toria Fabrizfs dwelling as if guided by
some extraneous power. BY a streng ex-
ercise of will power he Gained himself.
What he needed above all things was
counsel, some one with whom he could
share this amazing discovery. Perhaps
/ his presence here was sign; at any rate
he decided to follow his first impulse,
SO FASTENED onward.
Inside the house his brain cleared in
measure, as he waited, but his agi-
tation must have left plain traces, for
no sooner had Vittoria appeared than
she exclaimed:
my friend! Something has happened"
He rose and met her half way. YES.
Something tremendous. something ter
rible."
ut was unwise for you to come here
you may be followed. Tell me quick
lily what has made you so indiscreet?"
Il have found Belisario Cardi."
She paled; her eyes famed.
"Yes-its Incredible" His voice
shook. 81 know the man well, that's
the marvel Of it. I've trusted MIN,
I've rubbed shoulders with him. 1 went
/ to him tonight to enlist his aid lie
paused. realizing for the first time
that the mystery of those letters was
now deeper than ever. If Maruffi had
not written them, who then? Hes
4 the best and the richest Italian in he
city. God The thing is appalling"
HE must go to justice" said Vito
ria quietly. His Manner
Caesar Maruffi!'
The girls eager look faded into
blank dismay.
NO" she said strangely, mo-"
do you know him?"
In daze she nodded, then cast a
hurried, frightened look over her
| shoulder.
Madonna mial Caesar Maruffi.
Disbelief and horror leaped into her
eyes. You are mad! Not Caesar.
do not believe it."
Caesar, Caesar!" he cried, why do
you call him that? Why do you doubt?
| What is he to your
She drew away with a look that
brought him to his senses.
There is no mistake" he mumbleo,
''he is Cardi. 1 know. l."
Wait, wait, don't tell me-" She
went cropping uncertainty to the door.
Don't tell me yet"
A moment later he heard her call:
"Oliveta Come quickly, sorella mia.
A friend. Quickly!"
Oliveta-recognizably the same girl
that he had known in Sicily-entered
with her black brows lifted in anxious
inquiry, her dark eyes wide with app9e-
hension.
Some evil has befallen, tell meP'
she said, wasting no time in greeting.
mo. Nothing evil" Blake assured
her.
"Our friend has made terribly lis
covery," said Vittoria in faint voice.
II cannot believe-I-want you to hear,
Carino." She motioned to Norvin.
Il have been seeking our enemy, Be
lisario Cardi, and-I have found him"
Oliveta cried out in fierce triumph:
God be praised! He lives, that is
enough. I feared he had cheated rs"
LISTEN exclaimed Vittoria in such
a tone that the peasant girl started.
you don't understand"
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