The Woods County News. (Carmen, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, October 24, 1902 Page: 3 of 8
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By SEWARD W. HOPKINS.
. T«t O—ti—— •!
Hawaii." «• a Falsa
Charge," Efc.
«W right. 1M. by Boint Bonn * I
CHAPTER XI.
"Let us go to the prefeito," said the
nook, "and give him warning of the
«vil work that is planned against him
to-night. The prefetto is our master.
We must protect him. for he is the
representative of the king. What is
your name, son?"
"I am called Dambo, father."
"Come with me to the prefetto.
> Come, traveler; I will need your evi-
dence as well."
Wondering what desperate game the
monk was about to play, I followed
him. The monk spoke a few words
to the guard. A servant was sum-
moned. and we were led into the pres-
ence of the master of all Cagllarl.
"Your excellency'." said the monk,
by way of salutation.
"Yes, Brother Michael," responded
the prefetto. "You have news of Im-
portance to convey. So said the serv-
ant 1 am ready to listen."
"Your excellency," said the monk,
-it Is my good fortune that I have
become possessed of Important knowl-
edge that concerns your safety and
that of the fair Slgnorlna Barlotti, who
Is under your roof."
The prefetto started.
"That cursed American?" he said.
"No. This time it is one of your
trusted friends who Is plotting against
you, snd who would, but for our
friends here, murder you this nlgat
and carry away the slgnorlna for his
own."
"Sacre!" exclaimed the prefetto,
turning pale and looking at Dambo
and me with staring eyes. "Is this
true? Have I a friend so false? His
name! His -name! I demand his
name!"
"Slow, your excellency. Do not be-
■come excited," said the monk, calmly.
"'It is the Count dl Pordino who thus
plots against you."
"Pordino? Impossible! He was
here to-day and drank wine with me,
and we spoke of'his approaching mar-
riage to the ward of my. poor brother.
He! Is he so bad as that? Let him
enter here and my own hand shall
slay him!"
And as the enraged prefetto uttered
kls threat against the count I thought
•f the words carved in the wall of the
cell in the Torre dell Elefante and in
the marble of the grotto, "Henry Thor-
lane. I will avenge."
The prefetto called the officer of
<the guard and told him the facts. The
count was expected about midnight,
anu it was nearly that now.
"Remember," said the prefetto, as
Bis captain was leaving. "Kill all the
•thers, but leave the count to me!"
The bells of the monastery were
ringing the hour of midnight, and the
darkness of a cloudy night was over
everything, when we, who stood in a
waiting attitude on the front porch of
the prefetto's villa, were startled by
m yell that came from a coppice to the
right. A shot was llred, evidently by
one of the prefetto's guards, and the
Jlash of his rifle lighted up the grounds
for an instant. And In that Instant
-we saw the forms of men running to-
ward the villa.
buddenly some one placed lights In
the windows of the villa, which threw
a glare out Into the night, and by this
light the guards of the prefetto saw
the attacking party, and formed to
meet them.
The villa became the scene of inde-
scribable excitement and activity. The
screams of frightened women, the
servants of the household, pierced the
air, and rang out In unison with the
hocrse shouts of the soldiers and the
cries of the attacking party.
The leader of the attacking ctowd
-was but thinly disguised. The Count
dl Pordino was a tall man, and bore
himself with a carriage that was too
marked in character to be easily over-
looked. He was not wounded in the
charge, and In the glare of the lights
fn the windows he could be seen urg
ing his men on.
The prefetto, with a muttered curse,
•prang forward, evidently to meet the
count face to face. As he leaped from
the porch, the Jesuit slid after him. I
■was about to follow, when I missed
Dambo, who had been standing be-
hind me. A rush of fear came over
me. Dambo had had another purpose
In coming to the villa than to warn
the prefetto. He had before attempt-
ed Nlta BariotU's lire—he would do It
again.
Dropping my peddler's pack I bound-
ed through the halls and up the stairs
toward Nita's room.
In the excitement the door of Bar-
lottl's room had been opened. I reach-
ed the upper hall Just in time to see
Dambo, knife In hand, enter her door.
Then a scream, In a voice which I
recognized as Nita's, told me the vil-
lain was at his work. Panting. I
plunged on, and reached the room, to
Ktemho. with a knife upraised In
his right hand, while his left clutched
the fngl tened girl by the throat.
Raising my club, 1 uttered a prayer
for muscular strength. It must have
been answered. Tne club descended
upon the skull of Dambo, and he fell
back, half stunned, the hand that bad
been at Nita's throat relaxed lis hold,
ana the knife fell from the other to '
the floor.
"Nlta!" 1 cried, seizing the half
fainting girl, and seeking to reassure
her. "You are safe! You know me!
1 am Wilberton, your friend!"
"Signor Wilberton!" she gasped.
"What does it mean? And what means
all the noise, the shots and the cries?
Are we attacked? Are they friends
or foes? Is the pretettos house in
danger?''
1 threw aside my wig and beard to
assure her of my identity.
"The villa is attacked by the Count
dl Pordino," I said, "who seeks to take
you away by force. But the warning
was brought in time, and the soldiers
of the prefetto are flghtiug off the
forces of the count."
Nlta was now beside herself with
grief, passion and fear. Stooping, Bhe
picked up the knife that Dambo had
dropped.
"I will do It, Signor Wilberton," she
said. "I am no longer weak. 1 am a
woman, but I can tight. 1 have been
a circus performer, and can take my
own part. Let them come. 1 will kill
the prefetto and I will kill the count.
iiut if they conquer me and I fall to
kill them, I will plunge this knife into
my own heart rather than become
the bride, the slave, of the Count dl
Pordino."
Her eyes flashed as she spoke, her
bosom rose snd fell In an excess of
emotion, and the delicate but muscu-
lar little flngters grasped the handle
of the knife In a most determined way.
Now Dambo, who had been motion-
less under the effects of the" merciless
blow I had given him, began to crawl
away from me. Springing to the win-
dow, which was shaded with heavy
lace curtains, held in festoons by cord,
I tore the cord sway, and seising the
Italian, bound him strongly and se-
curely, and warning him not to make
any further attempt to escape, left
him in a heap on the floor.
The din in and around the villa was
now something awful. Sounds of rifle
shots, cries, shrieks, moans and curses
reached us through the doors and win-
dows, and I rushed out on the balcony
to get a peep at the scenes of war be-
low.
More lights had been brought. Lan
terns flashed all over the villa grounds.
The monastery bells were clanging the
midnight alarm. The battle had be-
come a hand-to-hand struggle, the
forces of the prefetto essaying not
only to defend the villa from attack,
but to drive the Invaders from the
place, and the horde of cutthroats un
der the Count dl Pordino still hot in
the hunt for Nlta Barlotti, and what-
ever else of plunder they could lay
their hands to.
Backward and forward the clashing
groups ran, shouting, shooting, stab-
bing, blinded by rage and passion, in-
flamed by the blood already spilled, de-
stroying life where they could, fearing
not death themselves.
To my eye It seemed as if the
Count dl Pordino's bandits frere gain-
ing. - And If the military failed to
arrive from Cagllarl. all would aoou
be up with Nlta Barlotti and me.
Apart from the other struggling
combatants, two stalwart men swayed
to and fro In. a light to the death.
One had wqm a mask, and It had fall-
en oil, disclosing the features of the
Count dl Pordino. The other was
Mallgni, the prefttto of Cagllarl.
They were armed with -knives, and
as they writhed and twisted in each
other's grasp, the kntves were
plunged first Into one and then Into
the other, until it seemed as if they
surely must drop dead from their
wounds.
Near these two struggling princl
pals In the affray stood Brother Mich-
ael. the Jesuit, and so silent and cold
was he, amid the boiling and seething
of the caldron around him, that his
calmness thrilled me as In another
some great deed of valor might do.
And Nlta saw him, and watched the
silent figure a moment In wonder, so
distinct and apart from the entire
scene did he seem to be.
'Signor!" she whispered. "See
that silent monk. Is he not grandly
calm amid all the horrors around
him! He Is different from the others.
See how noble and still he Is.
'Yes," I replied. In a whisper.
••That is Brother Michael—a Jesuit.
He saved from the soldiers and
prison guards when I ran away, and
he saved my life from a wound they
gave me. I have my suspicion that
Brother Mlchsel Is one whom the pre-
fetto tninks la doing servile penance
In the monastery. Perhaps you have
heard of Henry Thcrlane. I think
that Brother Michael Is none other
than he in the "
"Henry Thorlane!"
The cry rang out from Nita's lips
with a wildness that frightened me,
and caused the silent monk to look
toward us.
"Henry Thorlane!" she cried again
"No, no; It cannot be Henry Thor
lane. Henry Thorlane Is deau! He
died when "
She reeled. Her hands went up to
her head With a gasp and moan, she
sank into my arms and lost all con-
sciousness. I ourriedly carried her
into the room and placed her on the
bed. Water was handy, and I bathed
her fare with it When the flgbt
should be over. 1 would call for liquor
and give it to her.
I stepped out on the balcony again
to see how the flght was progressing.
Suddenly the prefetto and his murder
oub foe. Pordino, relaxed their hold
and fell together.
Bncouraired by this, the bandits re-
newed 'heir attack. Th*- villa must
certainly fall Into their hands.
Just then, by a sudden movement,
the silent monk drew from his bosom
a peculiar symbol and held it a^oft-
He spoke a few words, and I heard
exclamations' of surprise ejaculated
among the crowd of Pordino's hire-
lings. They swarmed around the
Jesuit, who spoke to them again. It
seemed in a commanding way.
Then the attacking party turned,
and Just when they seemed to have
everything- in their grasp, they filed
silently out of the place, leaving the
defeated soldiers of the prefetto dum-
founded at this new turn that affairs
had taken.
Bending" over the fallen chiefs, the
monk felt their breasts ss if to learn
whether they were alive or dead. The
investigation evidently satisfied him.
for he turned snd signaled for some
of the house servants and soldiers to
carry the prefetto and the count Into
the house.
Thoroughly bewildered now, I made
sure that Dam bo's cords were secure,
dragged him out of Nita's room and
into that in which Pacho Mallgni had
been killed, and, locking both doors,
put the keys in my pocket and went
down to meet Brother Michael.
On the stairs I met Mutterelll. who
was sauntering carelessly along smok-
ing s cigarette.
You here?" I cried. "I did not see
you in the flght."
'No. Etgnor," he said. "A man who
has prospects of fifty thousand lire
never risks his life in a fight with
bandits. I was looking for you. 1
have something for you."
From under his Jacket he took a
box—the red tin box thst had been
taken from Pacho Mallgni.
"Where did you get that?" I asked.
'In Dam bo's quarters." he said. "It
seems to connect him with the murder
of Mallgni "
'It does, it does!" I ssld. "And
Dambo is this minute lying bound in
Ps ho Mallgni's room. And In the
next lies Nlta Barlotti in a dead faint.
I was going after some cognac for
her. The doors sre locked."
'Give me the keys." he said. "I
have a flask. I will bring the slg-
norlna round. You go below—Broth-
er Michael may wish to see you."
I felt that I could trust Muterelll,
and handed him the keys. Then I
went down Into the library, where the
prefetto and the Count dl Pordino
had been carried.
Two broad, low couches had been
hurriedly drawn out Into the center^of
the library. Upon one lay the pre-
fetto, and upon the other the Count
dl Pordino. It was evident, even to
my unpractlced eyes, that both these
men were dying.
Physicians who had hurried to the
villa, aroused by the alarm bells of
the monastery, were working over
them, and by the side of each stood
a monk, holding a crucifix In his hand.
"That Is all we can do," said one.
"The wounds are fatal. Neither the
prefetto'nor the Count dl Pordino will
live till daylight."
The grounded men looked .abodf
them. They were conscious, and
hesrd their doom as pronounced by
the physician.
Brother Michael stepped nearer to
tnem, nnd said: i
'Sons, you have heard the sad
words of the physician. Make your
peace with God, for you will soon
stand before him to be Judged for
your deeds on earth, and if they have
been evil, for the degree of repen-
tance and reparation you have given.
Have you. Count di Pordino, any sin
or secret on your soul whjch you
wish to confess and receive absolu-
tion and forgiveness before you go
before the final and the Almighty
Judge?"
The count looked at the monk fee-
bly a moment and slowly shook his
head.
'Is there nothing? Think, count,
of your past life. Is there nothing?
Have you ever borne false witness
agslnst another?'
A frightened look came Into the
count's eyes.
Ah!" softly said Brother Michael.
'There Is something, is It about
Henry Thorlane?"
The count made a sign of assent.
'The crime with which he was
charged, and for which he was sen
tenced to a servile penance for twen-
ty years, snd for which his estate was
confiscated and turned over to your
hands—did he commit that crime?
Was he an enemy of the prefetto?
The Hps of the dying count formed
the word "No."
The monk then turned to the pre-
fetto.
(To be continued.)
SUFFERED SEVEN YEARS
With Catarrhal Derangements of the
Pelvic Organs.
Hundreds of Dollars
Spent in Vain« Pe*
ru-na Cured.
Miss Kate Brown..
Miss Kate Brown, Recording Secre-
tary of the L. C. B. Association of Kan-
sas. in a letter from 005 N. Seventh st,
Kansas City, Kansas, says:
"Per seven years I have not known
what It warn to apemd a well day.
I caught a severe oold which I neglected.
It was at the time of menstruation and
inflammation set in and prostrated me.
Catarrh of the kidneys and bladder fol-
lowed, mv digestive organs gave way.
In fact the cold disarranged my whole
system.
"/ spent hundred* of dollar* with
doctors mad medicine,■ hut derived but
little benefit until f began treatment
with Peruaa. I kept taking it for nearly
nine months before I was completely
oured, but I kept growing better gradu-
ally so that I felt enoouraged to continue
taking Peruna until my nealth was re-
stored. I send my thanks and blessings
to you for Peruna."—Miss Kate Brown.
A neglected cold is frequently the
cause of dc^th.
It is more often, however, the cause
of some chronic disesse.
There is not an organ in the body but
what is liable to become seriously de-
ranged by a neglected cold. Diseases of
the kidneys, bladder and digestive or-
gans are all frequently the result of a
neglected cold.
Hundreds of dollars are spent ondoc-
torsand medicines trying to cure these
diseases, but until the true cause of
them is discovered, there will be no
use in using medicine.
Dyspepsia medicine, diarrhma medi-
cine and constipation medicine is of no
good whatever when catarrh Is the
cause. The catarrh must be treated.
The cause being removed, the derange-
ments will disappear.
Peruna cures catarrh of the digestive,
organs, the urinary organs or any of'
the Internal organs.
If you do not derive prompt and satis-
factory results from the use of Peruna
write at once to Dr. Hartman, giving a,
full statement of your case, and he will,
be pleased to give yon hla valuable ad-
•l<Ad$ress* Dr. Hartman, President of
The Hartman Sanitarium, Columbus,Q.
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The Woods County News. (Carmen, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, October 24, 1902, newspaper, October 24, 1902; Carmen, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc236006/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.