Evening star., 1912-10-03
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.

Az O'Connell made his way toward st.
Philip street he nursed a growing re-
sentiment at the news Norvin Blake had
given him. His feeling toward Caesar
Maruff1 had all the fierceness OF private
hatred calling for revenge, and he con-
sidered himself ill-used in that he mad
not even been permitted to witness the
arrest He knew Maruffi's countrymen
would be likely to make demonstration.
and he was grimy desirous of being
present when this occurred.
AS he neared the heart Of the Italian
section he saw a blue-coated officer run
ming toward him.
What's up?' he cried. Have the
dagoes started something?''
"Marufh was pinched, but he got
away" the other answered. johnson Is
hurt and
OConnell lost the remaining words, Tor
he had broken into a run.
A crowd had gathered in front of lit
tie shop where the wounded policeman
had been carried to await the arrival OF
an ambulance. and even before OConneii
had heard the full story of the escape
Acting Chief ONeil drove up behind a
lathered horse. He leaped from his mud
stained buggy. demanding, hoarsely:
where Is he-Maruffi?'
Officer Dean, Johnson's companion, met
him at the door of the shop.
He made his break while l was phon-
ing you." he answered.
Hell! Didn't YOU frisk him. roared
the chief.
"Sure! But we missed his gun
Caesar carries it on a cord around his
neck-nigger fashion, briefly explained
OConnell.
Dean was running on excitedly. II
heard Johnson holler. but before / could
get out into the street Maruffi had shot
him twice and was into that alley yon-
der. l tried to follow. but lost him. so
came back and sent In the alarm
The acting chief cursed under his
breath, and with a few sharp orders hur-
ried of the few officers who had reached
the scene. Then. as an ambulance ap-
peared, he passed into the room where
johnson lay. AS he emerged a moment
later O'Connell drew him aside.
"Maruff won't try to leave town till it's
good and dark. be said. Hes got a
girl and I've an idea he'll ask her to
hide him out
"It was his girl who turned him up
O'Connell cried sharply: wait! Does
he know she did that? If he does, he'll
make for her, sure
That may be. Those two women are
all alone. and I'd feel better II they were
safely out Of the way. I'll leave you
there on the way back
An instant later they were Gathering
over the uneven flags. while their vehicle
rocked and bounded in a way that
threatened to hurl them out.
Even before they reached their destina-
ton they saw people running through the
dusk toward the house in which the two
girls lived and heard a shot, muffied be-
bind walls. O'Neil refined the horse to
his launches as the shril cry of won-
an rang out above them. and the next
moment he and OConnell were inside.
rushing up tine stairs with headlong haste
They were brought to a stop before a
holted door. from behind which came the
sounds OF q furious struggle.
Blake! Norvin Blake:'' shouted
O'Connell
Break it down. oNeil ordered. He
set his back against the opposite wall,
then launched himself like a catapult
The patrolman followed suit. but al
though the panels strained and split the
heavy door held.
by God. he's in there!' the chief cried.
as he set his shoulder to the barrier for
q second time. "Once more! Togetheri"
Through a crevice which had opened in
of the dimly lighted room. What they
saw made them struggle like madmen.
Another shot sounded. and O'Neil in
desperation inserted his fingers in the
opening and tore at 1t: Through the
aperture OConnell saw Marufi run to an
open window at the rear. then pause long
enough to snatch the taper from it's
sconce at the foot Of the little shrine.
and. STOPPING touch its flame to the long
lace curtains. Iney promptly flashed
into blaze. Parting them. he bestrode
the sill. lowered himself outside and dis
appeared. 1t was an old but effective
ruse to delay pursuit
Quick. He's set fire to the place."
OConnell gasped, and dashed down the
hall.
A tremendous final heave Of O'Neils
body cleared his way. a few strides and
he was at the window. ripping the blaz-
ing hangings down and fling1ng them
into the court below. When he turned it
was to behold in the dim twilight Wit
toria Fabrizi kneeling beside Bake. Her
arms were about him. her yellow hair
entwined his figure.
"A light. Somebody get light"' the
chief roared to those who had followed
him up the stairs, then seeing a lamp
nearby. he lit it hurredly. revealing the
full disorder of the room. He kneit be-
side Vittoria. who drew the fallen man
closer to her. moaning something in Ital-
ian which ONeil could not understand
But. her look told him enough and. ris-
Ing. he ordered some one to run for a
doctor Strangers. white-faced and hor-
rhied: were crowding in: the sound Of
other feet came from the stairs outside,
questions and explanations were noisily
exchanged. O'Neil swore roundly at the
crowd and dove it ahead of him down
into the street. where he set man to
guard the door. Then he returned and
helped the girl examine her lovers
wounds. Her fingers We're steady and
sure. but I'm her face was such an aban-
donment OF grief as he had never seen.
and her voice was little more than a
rasping whisper. They were still work.
Ing when the doctor came. followed a
moment later by q disheveled. stricken
hgure OF tragedy which O'Neil recognized
as Oliveta-
At sight Of her foster-sister the peasant
girl broke into passion OF weeping. but
vittoria checked her with an imperious
word. meanwhile keeping her tortured
eyes upon the physician. She waited
upon him. forestalling his every thought
and need with "a mechanical devterity
that bore witness to her training, but all
the while her eyes held a pitiful en-
treaty. Not until she heard ONeil call
for an ambulance did she rouse herself
to connected speech. Then she eXclaim-
ed. with hysterical insistence:
You shall not take him away. l am
nurse: he shall stay here. Who better
than / could attend to him.
He can stay here il you have a place
for him." said the doctor.
O'Neil drew him aside. inquiring. 'Will
he iivec"
The doctor indicated vittoria with a
movement Of his head I'm sure Of It,
That girl won't let him die
The news Of that combat travelled fast
and far. and II came to Myra Nell War
rem among the first Despite the dread
full false position in which Bernie had
placed her with respect to Norvin the
girl had but one thought. and that was to
60 to her friend She could not endure
the sight OF blood. and her somewhat
childlike imagination conjured up q CORY
spectacle. She was afraid that II she
tried to act as nurse she would faint or
run away when most needed. But she
was determined to go to him and to as
In oh YA