Show REX BY BEACH THE T H E NET N E T Copyright REX By BEACH 1912 XI Continued CHAPTER Despite esp t bis agitation bo be ate atey I much a condemned y dinner dinDor as our devours hi his hi ln t meal meal but but t D hC Jd n i d not sleep All MI b be b te teJ J tossed In bis t bed od or paced bi bh l his features fe Dl 15 1 body shivering II nO br 1 mover cr with ith an apparent app tit fit at rc delighted bis colored c servant rant an anthe nud the clock struck truck 9 II he be walked int into nto office smoking a cigar ich be did not taste H I I 1 haven't heard beard anything further m Corto Corte 60 bO well we'll go o down to tb the k Ic the chief informed himOn him ham On Oa 0 the WRY way to tho river rier front J Blak Tak t tb to smoke eMoke silently giving a 1 ireful car to Donnelly's Donnellys fI 1 dire dire- jn on u- u When they thoy reached their d ti OU ti a 11 be he waited while Dan won went board the ship in earch carch of the cap cap- in i. i Along jon tb the tho levee stretched eh d roi rows o of toft L ft from every ory port big IJ black baek ocean tr era barques and fruit tamers learners from the tho tropics and a tr flotilla of oC flat hat nosed river with their huge bue tows tos o or of The Tho cavernous sheds that lined line be e C embankment echoed to a thunder er erf f rumbling tru trucks of ot clanking of stamping hoofs boob while trough and above aboe it all came me the cries crie nes iod ud S songs DC'S of oC a multitude of roustabouts roustabout md d deck baud Down Do tho gangway an thin if t the Philadelphia a ius us line lino of dusky was wae wa g. g A growing chaos of ef trunks anc and nd bat baggage j o on the jock flock indicated b list t her ber pa en cr list was 3 hea heavy eay y Blako Blake watched the shifting scene seen ith little litlo now noV and then cut cut- IJ ng n an unseeing eye over the ramparts if cotton bales balc near by but it although b 0 was outwardly calm his bit palms were and aDd wet wot and his mind was Tras working work work- ing n with a panicky swiftness t Donnelly appeared with with the tho R assurance uran o bat all aU was 8 arranged rJ with the ships ship's 8 easier uter and taking their stand whore hey bc could observe what what went wont on they tiled themselves to wait WRIt ain tho the moments dragged cd Again A aln lako Ik fought his hiB usual a weary weary battle Jo To J Donnelly lila liis utter t ly for officer betrayed no o more feeling eling than if ho bo wore standing rod rod I I i iii n hand waiting for a n. n fish to strike An hour passed bringing lD no sign n of their although alt although hou b a stream of era was filing filin aboard and the piles o of S 3 0 diminishing Norvin struggled d with ith desiro desire to to voice his misgivings in which h were taking th the tho form lot lor f hopes Donnelly chewed tobacco and nd occasionally spat accurately at a not hol hole His companion watched him bim curiously Then without warning the tho bief id stirred and there in the crowd rvin suddenly taw the tall tan figure of Gian with another man man man-evi- evi- evi a n Sicilian Sicilian beside beside him e s Corte Donnelly said Mid c quietly airily two watchers atcher mingled with mth tho the frond gradually drawing closer to their quarry But It t seemed that refused to go 0 o aboard with ith his friendt friend friend- at t any any rato rate ho mado no move in that t direction on The Philadelphia Phila blew a warning blast blant the remaining en passengers r quickened their movements there wn was but little baJ baggage a e loft now upon the d deck k and the tho two Italians stood talking volubly Donnelly waited stol stol- ty near b by never r glancing at at his ran man Blake hold held himself with an iron rip p although h his heart hart throbs were t him hint It U was plain that Corto Corlo also IO was was' beginning p to feel the tho strain drain and ad Non Norvin b began an to fear that Donnelly delav delay too long lon At last Jast be Pinkerton roan man stooped ind Irid raised bl hip bip valise then extended hi Ins Ii hand to to tho Mafioso Donnelly Donnell r closer Blake know knew that the moment for a ac- ac lion had bad come como and found that without E. E aD any exorcise of will power PO bo ho too was wa closing in His Hi mind was working at r. r such uch hi high h speed that time seemed to bait b Jt and wait Donnelly was wan within jams jam's len length th of before hei ho he i poke then be ho said quietly rf- rf Going Goin to leave tho the city Sabella fit fitt t Eh f The Sicilian started bi his eyes lea leaped d to the tho speaker and the tho smile died from his heavy features R Recognizing o the tho tho officer however he ho pulled Dulled at the tho visor isor of or his ea cap and said aid t fr brokenly No no si signore nore My friend goes oes Come now tho the chief said eaid grimly I I want you to tell teU me something about tb boy bor recoiled colliding with Blake who instantly locked hi his arm within his own Simultaneously ly Don Don- nelly neily seized his other wrist repeating ou know who stole the little Domen Domen- r The tension which bad had leaped into tn th he giant nt muscles died away Nar- Nar i tone shrugged d bis his shoulders crying cx- cx c c in in his native nativo tongue Before God you wron wrong me I II I It was wg tho instant for which his cap cap- for for tor bad had planned the ruse had worked there Inere was a 3 deft movement mo on Don Don- V. V part something snapped metal metal- J elly and tho the manacles of the tho law were upon the tho murderer of ot Martel Sa Sa- SaI I pit it It hud had all aU been accomplished quietly oven those standing near bv OV noticed it it and those thosa who di were una unaware arc of the significance of the tho I arrest But onCe his bis man was safely io ironed ed tho the chiefs chief's manner manDer changed and ana inthe Luthe the next instant the tho prisoner eau caught ht perhaps pr from tho the eye oe of ot Corte Corto the stool stoof Pigeon some fleeting hint that he be had bad hade J been e n betrayed Following that came the suspicion that he be had hJ been becu seized bt for ort complicity in the affair i but for something far more sig Dh With a furious snarling cry en JJ he o himself backward and rais raised d hi nu his manacled hands bands to strike h 4 4 But it was too late for effective re- re They took him bim across the c. c an screaming struggling bitin biting l like J e a 8 maddened animal while hile curious p rushed to the rails above and stared at them and another crowd l H anti hooted booted derisively el from tho the Poc O f. f ff K f A n later the they were in Cortes Corte's Stateroom t panting pantin grim rim triumphant It ith th their prisoners prisoner's back a against the wall aU and aud their work was donot done dono So You You- that t rf realized the t lion that bad had been practiced him upon L be DC began be an to curso cur his hi betrayer with ith inlo in in- h lo violence and fluency As yet b c had bad id no DO idea whither be he was being taken j. j nor for which of his bis crimes C Che he had bad b been many c cn apprehended But it seemed d as s 8 u if ra rage o would strangle lo him bim With l t the e unrestraint nt of ot a lifetime of lawless lawless- S B D. D ho Poured out bi his passion in In a n terP tera ter- ter t P a n V rush rUB ot of vilification anathema t Ho lip hurled himself n against din t walls walla of the tho stateroom 11 as if to toI tosi I si hi nis is noa way out and ancl they the were forced o clamp irons Upon upun upon him When IU l. l bad rc regained his bis breath no bo a commanded the fellow to beI bo be I silent hut but nut only shifted tod bis his L fury furr from his betrayer yer to the chief of police To l o the tho Pinkerton operative operate e Donnelly I said sad gratefully II That Tb t was good work Corte Cone Wire me mo from Now New York Vork Well We'll Lave have ae to go o now for the ship is cle clearing rin Wait said gid Blake then pushing himself forward forn-ard ho he addressed tho the captive cap cap- p- p tive the in in Italian Where is C f Tho The question came like a gunshot silencing t tho outlaw as if it with rith a gag Ills His bloodshot eyes searched his questioners questioner's ques face his hiB lip wet with saliva a wore snarling like those of oC a dog doZ but he said aid nothing Whore Card Cardi It is ill came camo the tho question for a A. time I l do not Dot know him said Rid t ti Sicilian Sicilian Si Si- cilian I Vito I sullenly am an honest man man man- You You are Gian Gan the but butcher her of San said aid Blake You are going back to Sicily to b be hanged for tho the murder of Martel Savigno count of and his man o. o Ban Bali cried the prisoner loudly Iam Iam I Iam am not net this of whom you ou sp speak ak I d I I II I i. i I Er lL l L 1 0 Look closel closely Have you ever seen Ien me before Chapter Chapter XII I do not Dot know him I am Vito Sabella a poor man I swear it by the body boly of Christ I have tt never seen this Cardi God od will rill punish those who persecute me Blake Blako leaned forward until his face bce was close clone to Look closely he said II Hare He you ever vcr teen seen me before They stared at each other eye to eye and nd the tho Sicilian nodded You were drinking chianti in tho the cafe afe on Royal Roal street but I swear to you ou I am an innocent man and I curso curse those lose who betray me Think Do you recall a ni night ht five fh-e years a ago agol o You wore waiting wailing u beside the tho 10 road above Terranova There Thereas was as a feast of all tho the country people at t the castello astello and finally three throe men mon came amo riding ridin upward through the dark- dark ness ess On One of them was sin singing ing for it was the eve ee of his marria marriage e and you knew enow him bv by his bis voice oice as tho the count of Do tim vou u remember what hap hap- thou then T Think You wore called callea the butcher and you ou boasted loudly of your our skill with the as you ou dried ried your hands bands upon a wisp of grass rasa You loft two men in the tho road that ni night ht but tho the third returned to I Terranova I 1 ask you again aJain if it you have ever seen m my face faco I The effect of th sc words wOlds was ox- ox x- x Tho fury Cury died from tho the eyes hi his coarse lips Ups fell feU part apart the blood receded from his hiB purle pur pur- pIe le checks ho bo shrank and shivered loosely In the silence they could bear hear the jo breath wheezing hoarsely in bi his throat Blake made mado a final appeal They will take you vou back to Sicily to o Colonel Neri and his carabineers and and andou you ou will ban hang Before it 1 is if too late tell me mo where is Cardi Cardi moistened his big livid lips and glared malignantly at his i inquisitors But Jut he be could not be prevailed upon to speak peak Well ell that was easy cas said Donelly Donnelly Don- Don nelly elly when the Philadelphia had bad castoff castoff cast off ff and the two friends were once more back ack in tho the rush and bustle of tho the waterfront Norvin a agreed reed And yet ret it s seemed a bit unfair he remarked There were three throe of us you know I If ho bo wore were not ot who he is Id I'd t feel somewhat shamed ashamed of oC my part in the tho affair Donnelly Donnen showed his bis contempt for such uch quixotic views b bj- bj an expressive grunt runt You can take taKo the next one handed single le if it YOU you prefer Perhaps it t ma may 1 bo be 0 your friend Cardi Perhaps said Norvin gravely If that bat should happen I should fe feel l that I had paid my debt in full Id like a chance to sweat Nar Nar- cone growled the chief regretfully ld id d find Cardi or Id I'd rd- rd Tic IIo heaved a sigh of relief Oh Ob well t w vc done a good days days das work as it is I hope the tho papers capers don't dont got et hold bold of it But did get hold of it and with an effect which neither man had bad nt Throughout the greater reater Part pare art of the City that ni night bt the tho kidnap in ng ing of Vito Sabella became the subject ot of f excited comment in tho the neighbor neighbor- hood of oC St. St Phillips Phillip street it was Tas re- re in in an ominous CHAPTER XII La Mafia The surprising case with w which ich the capture of bad been effected ratified gratified Norvin Non Blake immensely for it gave c a him himan an opportunity t to jeer it Jt ho tho weaker side of his bia nature lie told himself that the incident went to provo what his biA saner ncr jud judgment ment was forever saying that saying that fear tar depends largely upon the power of visualization that aan danger er eris is real only in so o far as the mind s sit bOb tb it it Moreover cr the admiration bis his conduct conduct con con- duct aroused was balm to hi his bis soul Hi His friends con congratulated him bim warmly agreeing that he be and Donnelly ba bad taken tho only practical means to rid the community of a menace In our southern and western states where here individual character r stands stand fo more than it does docs in tho the 0 liz d communities of the north and cast eat men mei are arc concerned not so eo much with ret red tapo tape as with effects and hence there was little disposition to criticise Blake was amazed to di discover er what a 1 strong public pubic sentiment the Italian outrages s had awakened New Now Orleans it seemed scorned or ed was not only indignant bu but aJ armed alarmed arm ed His Hi complacency ency re received a A. sudden shock hock howe however er whoa when Donnelly Donnon strolled into his office a few days lat later latr r am and without a word laid a letter upon his desk It ran as follows s Daniel Donnelly Chief of Police New Orleans La Dear Sir Sir God God be bo praised that Gian has bas gone sone to his punishment But you oa have bae incurred tho everlasting enmity of the Mala Vita or what you term terra La Mafia and it has bas boon been decided that your lifo life must pay for his You Jou are aro to bo ho killed next Thursday night at the Bed Red Win Wing club I cannot name mo those upon upon whom the choice has fallen for that Uron is veiled in secrecy I pray that von vou will not i ignore nore I this warning warning for if f you OU do your our blood I will rest upon I One Who Knows Know P S. S DesirO Destroy this letter I Tho The color had receded from Norvin's Nor I face when whon he ho looked up to meet tho smoke blue eyes oyes of his bis friend God r he be exclaimed This This looks looks bad bad- doesn't it t You think its it's on the level le Dont you 1 Donnelly shrugged Im Pm r m blessed sed if I know It may have ha come from the very vory gang Im I'm after It strikes me that they wanted to got et rid of but did didn't t know just how bow to go o about it so used mo me for an instrument Now tho thor they want to scare me off But But But-bo ho names the very vory place the vo very hour Sure Surer everything except the verv very dago who is i is to do the killing killingi 1 If b be knew where and when why wouldn't ho know how bow and who I that I that sounds reasonable and vet VAt you Jou you are not going oin to the tho Red Wink club any more are aro you OUT L NE Why not Ive I've got ot until Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs Thurs- I day and and t I like Uko their coffee Hero is the other ether letter by the way I produced the tho f first communication The paper was identical al and the type an at p red to bo ho the same saino Beyond this Norvin could make out nothing Well WeHl Dan exclaimed when hen thor thc had exhausted their con conjectures lectures c They Thc The have set their date dato and I reckon they thc won wont won't t it so Im I'm going to e eat t dinner tonight ht at the Red Wing Wine as usual just to soc see what happens After a brief bricf hesitation Norvin said enid Id I d liko like to join you if you dont don't mind Donnelly shook M his io p gray ay bead u doubt doubt- Ol 11 fully I I dot dont don't t think you'd better |