The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-10
AT The GRAY CASTLE
BY CORA a. CLAUSSEN.

Marjorie leaned forward anXlOuSly.
1t was too dark to see the road. Only
the broadening pathway of light
thrown out by the cars lamps showed
ahead of them.
"Neri!" she called again, quickly.
What is it?"
From the side of the road came
Neri's voice, soothing and musical, in
his own Palermese dialect.
Some one has been hurt, signorita.
We very nearly ran over him, but L
stopped in time. He is half dead,
stabbed, little below the heart"
"Oh, Neri, and we're miles from a
town. Can you lift him in here with
me?"
"Signorita, he is very badly hurt.
There are lights on the mountain yon-
der. Let me go for help"
and perhaps find the very people
who stabbed him. mo-" shivered
Marjorie. 81 hate your Sicilian neigh
borliness. Lift him in, and I'll sit way
over on this side. How far is Aresti?
TOO far for tonight. He would not
live. There is a castle on the farther
side of this mountain. The Rassalioni
family live there. We might find some
help there. A village lies below 1T,
possibly a surgeon and a priest. He
will need both before morning"
"Oh, be cheerful, Neri, please. It's
quite dreadful enough without burying
him already. Can 1 help you?"
She leaned forward, but Neri had
lifted the man in his arms, and
brought him to the tonneau. He was
| back on the seat, Marjorie saw he was
| young, and no peasant type. The cal
rolled along at top speed, taking the
rise Of the road easily without jolting
'The castle, signorita," Neri called
back over his shoulder. Above them
| Marjorie saw a lonely mass of mason
ry, clustering piles around one huge
| tower.
Neri stopped before a postern door
| Above it hung a lantern lighted. Aft
| er repeated pulling at an iron ring
| fastened to a bell rope at the side the
| door opened, and an old Italian peered
| out anxiously. Neri spoke rapidly tc
| him, and he took down the lantern tt
| hold it before the unconscious face.
Santa Maria!" he gasped. where
| did you find him?"
Don't ask questions" Marjorie ex
claimed. Get some help. He ha:
been stabbed. Garry him in"
Marjorie waited, silent, restless
| figure swathed in gray silk motoring
coat and gray veil, while they bore
| the limp form into the shadowy court
| yard. She followed slowly, under al
| arched door into a dim old hall, low
ceiled and spacious. Here they lait
| him on a couch, and Neri talked il
low tones with the old man.
What is it, Neri?" asked his mis-
| tress impatiently. Does he know
| him?"
know him? Signorita, we have haC
! the fortune to rescue the Marchese
Rassalioni. He has been set upon b!
certain roaming banditti whom he haC
threatened. He would have died /
We had not happened by. The mar
chesa, his mother"
81 know all about her, Neri," Mar
| jorie smiled in a tantalizing fashion
all her own. Deliberately she went Il
the couch and looked down at the face
| there. She had been evading meeting
the marchesa for days. Lady Moore
| parke had talked of no one else.
He says it is dangerous for us t.
return tonight" continued Neri. per
haps if you would stay here with tn,
marchesa, signorita, l could make thu
trip, and relieve your fathers mind.
Il think will stay, Neri," she an
swered.
The following day Ira Bradshaw
conveyed by Lady Mooreparke, callec
at the old castle Marjorie was in tn,
garden.
Bradshaw stopped under the heav!
| Towering vines Of the pergola to lool
at her. She sat beside a couch, lean
ing forward and talking eagerly. He
lap was filed with roses. She haC
tucked a dark red one over her ca
like Sicilian girl, and another, IT
mate, lay on the marchese's breast.
You saved nv life last night" b,