The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-02-06

mas Duhlnehh OF pluCklHB lne plboohh
returns him sufficient to pay for the
risk. Perhaps, again, at place on the
"outside edge" like La Vega, he thinks
to brave detection and to defy arrest.
At this junoture, my eye happening
to fall on the sullen-looking visages
Of the halfdrunken gauchos, for an
instant my heart stood still, Surely
he was not waiting for me! AT that
moment Manuelita passed through the
room on her way TO the kitchen, and
the man below started up, ran out, and
caught her by the wrist It was Gre
gorlo Stefanetti. He seemed trying
to persuade the girl to something; but
she slipped from his grasp, made n
rush for the door, and darted from the
room.
Stefanett came back laughing.
She's wild as a hawk now, Pete" I
heard him say; "but by-and-by she'll
come to my whistle"
| had mounted step higher, In my
eagerness to catch sight of the mans
face. The rung was rotten, and now
gave way beneath my weight, precipi-
tating me to the ground. Picking my
self up ran to the kitchen. Through
the window / saw Manuelita. Her
eyes looked as II she were crying.
tapped gently at the door and called
her softly by name.
who's there?" she asked in voice
that betrayed trepidation.
made myself known, and the next
minute / was in the room.
"Oh senor!" gasped the girl evil
IDENTIFY surprised at my appearance. 81
thought It was that jackal Emilio. He
thinks | have gone to dress for the
dance, and l was afraid he had fol-
lowed me. | hate him-I dol"
"Carrambo! Manuelita, my girl" ex-
claimed |, what's wrong with you?
Who is Emilio, and what is he doing
here?" Producing the little necklet,
| threw It in her lap. "A present
from Buenos Ayres," | said
For a moment her eyes lit up with
Joy.
How kind of you!" she exclaimed
as she fastened the beads about her
neck; but the next instant she burst
into tears.
Tell me what is the matter" said
l, dropping into chair who is this
man you call Emilio?"
Briefly, her story was this:
Emilio had known her father years
ago, when he kept little wine-shop
in the old town at Marseillos. She
was a child then, and did not remem-
ber him. He had been staying in the
house now for nearly a week-she
looked at me curiously as she said
this,-gambling every night with the
rancheros. The small men had soon
been cleaned out; but Ricardo, man
of wealth and substance, had been
winning down to last night when his
luck turned; and tonight he had lost
everything.
Emilio, / gathered, had been perse-
cutting Manuelita with his attentions
ever since he set foot in the place
There was something, she said, be-
tween her father and this man Emilio
He had asked for her hand in mar
riage, and Pete had promised it.;
Emilio undertaking to pay Pete fifty
pesos (ten pounds) on the day of the
betrothal, and to spend twenty for
"the good Of the house"
Emilio" said Manuelita, was re-
turning to Buenos Ayres Immediately"
Her father had settled 1t with the
padre, and she was to be married to-
morrow. "But"-with the fiery tenn
per of the glowing south blazed fierce
ly in the passionate words-"he shall
never have me. No, senior, hate
him-I do; and I'll kill myself first"
81 don't think there'll be any necess-
lty for you to kill yourself, Manueli-
h." | said. "I've a bone to pick with
this gentleman myself. I'll go off to
the guard house and bring up the
patrol"
AS | uttered the words ! laid hold
of the chair An exclamation Of pain
escaped me. For the first time | be-
came aware that my right hand had
been badly sprained by the fall from
the ladder. At the same instant the
door of the sala was opened; voices
and footsteps were heard in the pas
sage, coming towards the kitchen.
"Good-evening, Pete" said I, putting
on bold face and advancing towards
him. ANY room for me? What's the
occasion?"
/ thought the man looked chippy.
81 didn't 'spect to see you down
here, senor," he stammered, stealing
a glance at Stefanetti, "for a couple
of days yet"
II allow It," l said, coming farther
into the room. But introduce me-"
Pete turned half round, and then l
perceived Ricardo. He had his head
on the table, and was apparently
asleep. l kept my eyes on Stefanettl.
my friend, Senor Emilio Corentini,"
snufied Pete, following the direction
Of my eyes, acting for
THAT mans name is Stefanetti," I
broke in. l knew 1t must come, and
wished It over. 'T think you ought to
know that, Pete. He's wanted by the
French police for forgery and embez-
! saw Pete turn livid under his
olive skin.
81 challenge him to produce his
to use the name of the firm
he travels under. He's fraud and a
cheat. If he has won any mans mon
ey in your house, Pete, tell that man
not to part with a single centesimo.
Gregorio Stefanetti the man who sits
UpnHnp ,Yya1 Co,oIo