Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-01

+ THE NET !
: By REX BEACH. :
- Copyright, 1912, by Rex Beach.) 4
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Man in the Shadows.
Copyright. 1912, by Rex Beach.)

The Man in the Shadows.
Late one day, a fortnight after her
visit to Blakc's Office, Vittoria returned
from a call upon Myra Nell Warren to
find Oliveta in a high state of apprehen-
sion. The girl, who had evidently kept
watch for her. met her at the door and
| inquired, nervously:
What news? What have you heard?'
Nothing further, sorclla mia
"1mrossble. God in heaven! I am
dying. This SUSPENSE cannot endure 1t
J longer
Nittoria laid a comforting hand upon
| her.
"Courage.' she said. I'VE can only
| wait. l, too, am torn by a thousand
demons. Caesar has gone, but no one
| knows where
Oliveta shuddered. I'VE are ruined.
He suspects
$50 YOU have said before; but how
could he Suspect?"
81 don't know. yet judge Tor yourself.
l worm his secrets from him at the cost
of kisses and endearments; 1 hold him in
| my arms, and with smiles and caresses
lead him to betray himself. Then, sud
denly, without warning or farewell, he
vanishes. l tell you he knows. He has
the cunning of the tend and your friend,
Signore Blake, has Numbered in his
! work." Oliveta's face blanched with ter
ror. She chung to her companion weak
Iy, repeating over and over, He will
turn. God help us. he will return"
Even though he knows the truth truth;
scarcely dare to come here" Vittoria
said, striving with show of confidence
which she did not feel to calm her foster
sister.
you do not know him as 1 do. You
do not know the furies which goad him
in his anger"
In spite of herself Vittoria felt choked
again by those fears which during the
days since Maruffi's disappearance she
had with difficulty controlled. She knew
that the net had been spread for him in
all caution. yet he had slipped through it.
Whether he had been warned. or whether
mere chance had taken him from the city
at the last moment neither She nor
Blake nor the chief of police had been
able to learn. All had been done with
such secrecy that except bare half
dozen trusted officers no one knew him
to be even suspected of part in the
Mafia's affairs. Norvin had been quick
to sense the possible danger to the two
women, and had urged them to accept
his protection; but they had convinced
him that such a course had its own
dangers, for in case the Mafioso was
really unsuspicious the slightest indiscre-
ton on their part might brighten him.
Therefore they had insisted upon living
as usual until something more definite
was known.
HIS AFTERNOON SflIOIId Hdu IeCtlNeu d
message from Myra Nell requesting, or
rather demanding. her immediate at
tendance. She had gone gladly, hoping
to divert her mind from its present anX1-
cites, but the girl had talked of little ex
cept Norvin Blake and the effect had
not been calming.
Oliveta soon discovered that her sister
was in state to receive rather than give
consolation.
..Carssima, you are ill., she said, with
concern
Vittoria assented cit is my eyes-my
head. The heat is perhaps as much to
blame as our many Worries She re-
moved her hat and pressed slender fin
gers to her throbbing temples. while Oil
veta drew the curtains against the fierce
rays of westering SUM- Later, clad in
loose silken robe. Vittoria flung herself
upon the low couch. and her companion
let down her luxuriant masses of hair
until it enveoped her like cloud. She
lay back upon the cushions in grateful
relaxation, while Oliveta cOmbed and
brushed the braids. soothing her with
an occasional touch of cool palms or
straying fingers.
"How strange that both our lives
should have been blighted by this man."
the peasant girl said, at length.
''Sh-h. You must not think of him SO
INCREASINGLY Vittoria warned her.
'One's thoughts go where they will
when one is sick and wearied. 1 have
grown to hate everything about me-the
people. the life, the country
Sicily is calling you. perhaps?''
Oliveta answered. eagerly: Yes! You.
too, are unhappy, my dearest. Let us
go home. Homer She let her hands
fall idle and stared ahead of her. seeing
the purple hills behind Terranova, the
dusty. gray-green groves of olive trees
the brilliant fields of sumach, the arbors
bent beneath their weight of blushing
fruit II want to see the village people
again. my Gathers relatives. old Aliandro
and the notary's little boy
He must be well grown lad by now,
murmured Vittoria. "AliandrO, I fear, is
dead But it is long road to Terra
nova; we have-changed."
'Yes-everything has changed My
happiness has changed to misery, my
hope to despair. my love to hate"
poor sister, mine"' Vittoria sympa-
thized. BE patient No wound is too
deep for time to heal The scar will re-
main. but the pain will disappear. I
should know, for l have suffered
And do you suffer no longer? 1t has
been a long time since you mentioned
Martel.''
For a moment Vittoria remained silent,
her eyes closed. When she replied it was
not in answer to the question. II can
awaken nothing but distress in me. But
there is no reason why you should not
go if you wish. You have the means,
while all that l had has been given to
the sisters.
Oliveta cried out at this passionateIy.
Il have nothing. That which you gave
me I hold only for you. But / would
not go alone; shall never leave YOU
Some time you must, my dear. Our
parting is not far Off
Il. am not sure The peasant girl
hesitated. Deep in your heart do you
hope to find peace inside the walls of
that hospital?'
''Yes-peace. at least: perhaps content
ment and happiness also"
THAT is impossible said Oliveta. at
which Vittoria's hazel eyes flew open.
Eth? Why not?"
Because you love this Signore Blake!"
"Oliveta. You are losing your wits
Perhaps. But / have not lost my
eyes. AS for him, he loved you even in
Sicily
What them
He is fine man. I think You could
hear an echo to the love you cherished
for Martel If you but listened
Vittoria gaZed at her foster-sister with
look half tender and half stern. Her
voice had lost some of its languid in