Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-20
Bv REX BEACH.
Copyright. 1912. by Rex Beach,

Siclian came forward and put his hand
into the strangers.
They told me Ia hide or the Ameri-
cans would kill me. Madonna mia. am
no Mafioso! IL wish Ia see my father"
Il will take You to him now
You will not harm me-
NO. You are perfectly safe.
But the boy still hung back, stanimer-
ing:
lam afraid. si'or. After all. YOU see,
know nothing. Perhaps 1 had better
wait here
But you will come To please me. will
YOU not? Then. when You find that the
policemen will not hurt you. You will tell
us all about il. ell. carino?''
He led his shrinking captive out through
the front of the house. whence the crone
had fled to spread the alarm. and lifted
him into the waiting cab. But Bernie
DreuN was loath to acknowledge such
tame conclusion i'm adventure upon
which he had built high hopes.
L-lets stick round, he shiyered. Its
just getting g-g-good
Come on. YOU IDIOT Blake fairly
dragged him and commanded the driver
to whip up. That old woman will rouse
the neigbborhood and We'll have mob
heaving bricks at us in another minute.
''That'H be fine. Dreux declared. his
pride revolving at what lie considered
cowardly retreat. He had come along i'm
the hope of doing deeds that would add
luster to his name and he did not intend
Gus muscular effort to keep him from
clambering out of the carriage.
II don't understand you at ALL. said
Norvin. with one hand firmly gripping
his coat collar, but / understand the
value of discretion at this moment. and
l don't intend to take any chances on
losing our little friend. Gino. before he
has turned states evidence"
DreuX sank back. Gloomily enough. con-
tinuing for the rest of the journey to de-
claim against the fate that had con-
demned him to a life of insipid peace:
but it was not until they had turned out
Of the narrow streets of the foreign quar-
ter into the wide. clean stretch of Canal
street that Blake felt secure.
Little Gino Cressi was badly frightened
His wan, pinched face was ashen. and
he shivered wretchedly. Yet he strove
to play the man, and his pitiful attempt
at self-control reused something tender
and protective I'm his captor. Laying a
reassuring hand upon his shoulder Blake
said. gently:
.'Coraggio. No harm shall befalI YOU"
lido not wish to die. excellency.'
You will not die. Speak the truth.
figio milo. and the police will be very
kind to you. l promise"
II know nothing. quavered the child
My father is good man. They told
me the chief was dead. but l did not kill
him. l only hid
who told you the chief was dead?''
lido not remember
Il do not remember. si'or." 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 a
long time young Cressi's lips We're glued:
but eventually he yielded To the kind
faced men who were SO patient with him
and his lies. and told them all he knew.
The following morning the papers an
nounced three new arrests in the Dom
nelly case. resulting from a confession
by Gino Cressi. The afternoon 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 in
justice to the Italians of this city"
How SOP"
ALREADY everybody hates US We cam
not walk upon your streets without in
suit. Men curse us. children spit at us.
We are not Jews: We are Italians. There
are bad people among my countrymen.
of course. but, signore. look upon me- Do
YOU think such men as =
"Oh, you stand for all that is best in
your community. Mr.. Maruffi. l only
wish you'd help us clean house"
The Sicilian shrugged. Help? How
can / help?"
Tell what you know of the Malta SO
that we can destroy it. At every 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. sisnore. Life is an enjoyable
affair and if / die l can never marry.
What would you have me tell?"
1.-The name OF the apo-Mafia, for in
stance
You think there is a Capo-Mafia?"
Il know it, What's more, / know who
he is
'Belisario Cardi? Bah, Few people
believe there is such man..
you and l believe it,
Perhaps. But what IL I could lay
hands upon him? Think you that l. or
any Sicilian. would dare? All the police
of this city could never take Belisario
Cardi. 1t is to make laugh, Our friend
Donnelly was unwise. he was too zeal
GUS. Now-he Is but memory. lie
took life, his life was taken i'm return.
This affair will mean more deaths. Leave
things as they are, my friend, before
you, too are mourned."
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