Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-26

stretch of Canal street that Blake felt
secure.
Little Gino Cressi was badly fright
ened. His wan, pinched face was ash
zen, and he shivered wretchedly. Yet
he strove to play the man, and his pitt
full attempt at self-control reused some
thing tender and protective in his cap
tor. Laying a reassuring hand upon
his shoulder, Blake said gently:
"Coraggio! No harm shall befall
you"
II do not wish to die excellency"
You will not die. Speak the truth,
hglio milo, and the police will be very
kind to you. I promise"
Il know nothing" quavered the child.
MY father is a good man. They told
me the chief was dead. but L did not
kill him. I only hid"
Who told you the chief was dead?"
do not remember"
who told you to hide?"
Il do not remember, sior." Gino's
eyes were like those of a hunted deer
and he trembled as if dreadfully cold.
1t was a wretched, stricken child
whom Blake led into O'Neil's office, and
for long time young Cressi's lips
were glued; but eventually he yielded
to the kind-faced men who were so pa
tient with him and his lies, and told
them all he knew.
On the following morning the papers
announced three new arrests in the
Donnelly case, resulting from a con-
fession by Gino Cressi. on the after
noon of the same day, the friendly and
influential Caesar Maruffi called upon
Blake with a protest
''Signore, my friend" he began, "you
and your committee are doing a great
injustice to the italians of this city"
'How SOP"
Already everybody hates us. We
can not walk upon your streets without
insult. Men curse us, children spit at
us. We are not Jews; we are Italians.
There are bad people among my coun-
trymen, of course, but, Signore, look
upon me. Do not think such men as
L"
ooh, you stand for all that is best
in your community, Mr.. Maruffi. I only
wish you'd help us clean house"
The sicilian shrugged. Help? How
can 1 help?"
Tell what you know of the Malta
turn we are thwarted by the secrecy
of your people,"
"They know what is good for them.
AS for me, my flesh will not turn the
point of a knife, Signore.
"Belisario Cardi? Bah! Few people
believe there is such a man."
You and L believe it."
Perhaps. But what if I could lay
hands upon him? Think you that ], or
any Sicilian, would dare? All the po-
lice of this city could never take Bel
sario Cardi. 1t is to make laugh! Our
friend Donnelly was unwise. he was
too jealous. NowAhe is but men,
ory He took a life, his life was taken
in return. The affair will mean more
deaths. Leave things as they are, my
friend, before you, too, are mourned."
Norvin eyed his caller curiously.
THAT sounds almost as much like
threat as a warning"
God forbid! 1 simply state the
truth for your own good and for the
gopdHof all of us. Wherever Sicilians
are found, there your laws will be ig-
nored. For my own part, naturally /
do not approve am an American
now-but the truth is what I tell you
I'm other words, you think we ought
to leave your countrymen alone?"
"Ah, / do not go so far. The laws
should be enforced, that is certain
But in trying to do what is impossible
you stir up race hatred, and make it
hard for us reputable Sicilians who
would help you so far as lies in our
power You can not stamp out the
Malta in a day, in a week; it is Sicil-
ian characters. Already you have done
enough to vindicate the law. If you
go on in a mad attempt to catch this
Cardi-whose existence even is doubt
ful-the consequence may be In every
way bad"
1--WE have five of the murderers now
and We'll have the other man soon
the fellow with the rubber coat. The
grand jury will indict them. But we
won't stop there. We're on trail that
leads higher up, to the man, >or men,
who directed Larubio and the others to
do their work"
Maruffi shook his head mournfully
"And the Cressi boy-it was you who
found him?"
cit was"
How did you do it?"
Norvin laughed eff you'd only enlist