Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-04

murder. She stood before the door
she had just locked, pale and trem-
bling.
Are you going to kill them?" she
asked.
1--WE are going to execute them" an
swered the Oldest of the five men,
whose age could not have been much
beyond 80. What else? They are
spies, and worse" Then, having
quoted the girl-his young wife, per.
'haps-in her native tongue, he had
begun to speak again In his own Ian
guage to brothers, when Baria inter-
rupted, in Italian.
"You had better make sure first
that we are spies My friend can
speak only French and English. He
is an Englishman, from London; l,
half English, half Italian. His name
is Christopher Race; l am Lorenzo
Arnese, Marchese Baria, of Venice.
We came here as avengers, not as
spies. If you miss any friends of
yours from the cart you had better
question us. Then, If we see reason
to think you as innocent as we are, we
will answer And, meanwhile, If you
doubt our identity, we have papers as
well as an automobile to prove it.
q his w as NV
men consulted together, asked few
questions and got dramatic answers
with description of the meeting of
cart and car on the road, and what
had been found under the canvas
cover. As he finished Baria showed
the glove and ring and at the sight
of them the tide of angry suspicion
turned against him and his friend
again, until Christopher whipped out
the knife which had held the reins
fast. \
Tell them where we found 1t and
why we came here" he said to Baria,
for, though he could understand, he
could speak no more than enough
Italian for servants, an inn or ga
rage.
The men,, still guarding their pris-
oners, but no longer wholly antago-
nistic. looked at the knife, touching
1t and examining the blade and han
die with care
1T is Russian" commented the ED
est in low voice to his comrades.
Then he turned to Baria. you may
both show the papers you spoke of, to
prove your identity" he said.
That one word Russian" spoken
in Italian, was a clue instantly seized
by both Race and Baria The lam
guage which they had not been able
to comprehend was Russian. These
mems features were Russian-their
high cheek bones, their narrow gray
eyes and short noses
why did you come to us?" the
last speaker asked. in Italian, and
Baria. prompted now and then by
Christopher, explained with perfect
frankness. I'VE wanted to know who
had plotted the murder-if murder
has been done-and we thought the
quickest way to find out was to travel
with the cart But it seems that you
suspect us, as we suspected you
IF there has been murder, there is
not one of us who would not die to
avenge it." said the eldest of the
| young men.
I'VE should like to be with you in
that" said Baria.
But why, If it has nothing to dc
with you?"
| found the glove and the ring, and our
blood grows hot against those who
have injured woman
"If they have injured her, they shall
pay for It," exclaimed another of the
young men, IN ltallan. Iney sinai
pay sooner or later"
Say to them that, with our motor
we might help them to pay sooner,
cut in Christopher.
Baria said 1t. And the mems faces
| fiercely set a few moments ago, soft
ened to friendliness that was almost
guileless.
You are brave men. We are sorry
that we threatened you" he said tt
Baria.
"Who is called Ravelli here, if yor
are of Russian parentage?" Baria in
| quired.
I'VE are known as the brothers Ra'
velli, Our father married an Italian
woman of that name when our mother
died. soon after we came to. italy, ant
this place-now a farm. though it wa.
once a chateau-was her property. My
father took her name and became 6
farmer. We have followed in hi.