The Huttig news., 1914-12-26
AT THE GRAY CASTLE
By CORA A. CLAUSSEN.

Why don't we go on?'
 Marjorie leaned forward anxiously. It 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?"
 Neri's voice, soothing and musical, in his own Palermese dialect.
 Some one has been hurt, signorita. We very nearly ran over him, but 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. No shivered Marjorie q 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 castle on the farther side of this mountain. The Rassaltoni family live there. We might find some help there. A village lies below it, possibly surgeon and priest. He will need both before morning"
 "Oh, be cheerful, Ner, please. It's quite dreadful enough without burying him already. Can I help you?"
 She leaned forward, but Neri had lifted the man in his arms, and brought him to the tonneau. He was unconscious. As Neri propped him back on the seat, Marjorie saw he was young. and no peasant type. The car 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 lonely mass of mason ry, clustering piles around one huge tower.
 Neri stopped before postern door. Above it hung lantern lighted. Aft CT repeated pulling at an iron ring fastened to bell rope at the side the door opened. and an old Italian peered out anxiously. Neri spoke rapidly to him, and he took down the lantern to hold it before the unconscious face.
 Santa Maria!" he gas ped. Where did you find him?"
 Don't ask questions" Marjorie ex- claimed. Get some help. He has been stabbed. Carry 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 an arched door into dim old hall, low cefIed and spacious. Here they laid him on a couch. and NeH talked in low tones with the old man.
 What Is 1t, Neri?" asked his mis- tress impatiently. Does he know him?"
 Know him? Signorita, we have had the fortune to rescue the Marchese al Rassalioni. He has been set upon by certain roaming banditti whom he had
 
 threatened. He would have died If we had not happened by. The mar chesa, his mother"
 .I know all about her. Neri," Mar jorie smiled in tantalizing fashion all her own. Deliberately she went to the couch and looked down at the face there. She had been evading meeting the marchesa for days. Lady Moore payke had talked of no one else.
 .iJe says 1t is dangerous for us to return tonight" continued Neri. Per haps If you would stay here with the marchesa, signorita. could make the trip, and relieve your fathers mind =
 q think I will stay, Neri." she an swered.
 The following day Ira Bradshaw;