The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1920-04-15

y
Il WAS Ia imperial Rome that l had
Arat met Rafael Brose. / was then Of
| the artist community and his pleasant
wGys and love Of pictures had com
mended him to every member Of our
make the round Of the. studios, an en-
copEAGinG visitor and oftimes a pa
trap. Once or twice he brought with
| bin bis sister, Teresa. She WAS then
barely sixteen and the most beautiful
being had ever met. She and were
fast drifting from mutual friendship
Into something more fervent when sud
| denly both brother and sister disap-
peaped
II was an old native sculptor who
solved the mystery of their vanish
Inept. 1t seemed that the Broses were
tina inheritors Of deadly vendetta
which had pursued the family until
four Of its members fell victims to the
stffetto
The last living relative OF Rafael
ned to America to save his life five
yeoRD ago." explained my informant.
II heard that he had died there. Per-
haps he has left his fortune to Rafael
and his niece"
The memory Of the beauty and gen
tleness Of Teresa did not leave me,
even after l had returned to my home
In 4 Western city, but I learned moth
ing of their whereabouts until about
year later / had entered city res
ts0rARt one day and just as I seated
arose \ young man and 4 yelled lady.
The former wore a beard, the latter
cOlored glasses, but knew them at
once.
Rafael. my dear friend - / exuber-
ated. rushing up to him and seizing his
arm In a transport. In a flash he
turned, cast 4 sweeping glance over
the crowded room and said hurriedly:
mot that name in public. Follow
~ II casually until we get clear of
this place.
handed Rafael my card. Tonight"
he said La 4 low, cautious tone. And
it may be late"
AT any hour; shall be waiting up
for you" l replied, and they hurried
away, Teresa with a slight responsive
movement of her hand.
1t was after midnight when Brose
tapped at the Goor Of my studio. He
fingered at the threshold for a mo-
ment or two, peering sharply down the
street stairway as though fearful Of
being followed
1t was 4 strange story that Rafael
told me- For the sake Of his sister he
had ned from his native land TO eyade
the desperate menace Of the vendetta
that had been sworn against them. His
uncle had died, bequeathing all he
owned to them, but it was in shape
where slow liquidation would be nee
essary.
His dealings had been mainly with
large number Of foreigners. Rafael
had taken up his abode and that of his
sister in the poor quarter of the city
where his uncle had lived, assumed
new name and pretended TO be the at
torney for heirs abroad. Piece by
piece, but unostentatfously, he had
been selling OF the property.
About q month ago" he told me, Il
received q black hand letter demand
ing Q lares sum or death would follow.
Some opS Of my enemies abroad. or
local blaekmailer has guessed my true
identity. With fervent haste l am
closing up my business. then to seek
new home under less hazardous con-
ditions. hope within week to close
out all my business and then we can
welcome you as the esteemed friend
that you are
II was one evening, a month later,
when my landlady came rushing to
nv room In a state of frantic excite
men "Oh, sirr' she quavered, "a gen
tleman all blackened and burned is in
taxi below and a lady with him,
tainted or deadw ! ran down to the
street Rafael indeed looked as though
he had gone through some terrific ex-
periencA he bore bis sister in his
armA
Give ~ shelter" he spoke. "She
has only tainted from fright The
black hand dynamited our house, but
I escaped with few bruises"
Ny landlady took charge OF Teresa.
WhAn she had been carried TO her
room Rafael sat IN my apartment tell
ing Of the vdpdictiye efforts of his per
secutorS.
4 en- through with 1t all, however"
he said, almost gaIly, "as all the old
business has been settled and so we
sat A1AenasiAG or plans for pleasant
home On the coast, for renewal OF
our old Close friendship.
There was tap at the door. A gen.
tie voice spoke. II belonged to Teresa
May oone inr'
STOOD spellbound. There was my
old-time love, now veilless. There was
the old-tine beauty, unmarried 70
drive AWav rude and unWelcOme visit