The Net

g the fact that he had retired at a late hour, somewhat worn by his journey, he awoke earlier than usual. Still lacking an adequate ide

with a clanging which would have awakened any one except Martel, letting him out upon a well-kept t

t entirely faded, and rosy tints still lingered in the valleys and against the Calabrian coast in the distance. An odor of myrtle and jessamine came from a garden

es of Paris. The Count was amply able to live where he chose, and it was no love for art which had kept him in France these many years. On the contrary, they had bo

s. It is not the front of any residence which shows its real character, any more than a woman's true nature is displayed by her Sunday attire. Norvin made friends with a s

n answer to his cheerful greeting she began

twenty in caring for the padrone? No! Is it not the devil's task to prepare the many outlandish delicacies he learned to eat in his travels? Yes! Ha! What of that! She must also perform the duties of

as if she did not in the least comprehend his words. Although her burden was enough

e the bundle swayed precariously. "It is a bad business, Si'or. The padrone is mad to resist. You may tell him he is quite mad. Mark me, Ricardo knows that no good will come of it, but he is like a bull when he is angry. He lowers his head and sees bloo

stride a horse, came clattering into the courtyard and dis

unslinging a gun from his shoulder, leaned it against the wall. Blake was surprised to find it a la

ago," Norvin volunteered. "

"One cannot be in ten places unless he is in ten pi

u roasted by some f

horse's head by the bridle rein, through w

I believe she said

disappeared into the stable; he

s close to something mysterious,

oad early,"

no mood for conversat

ore, quit

up. Although his clothes were poor, he wore them with a

see any

as one of quick suspicion. "

do talking. You have been away, among th

are r

or outlaws whom you watch? I

o at that moment appeared around the corner of

merican and departed, h

ith an idea, was not easily satisfied. But Ricardo would give him no in

ppolito is a

in the old fellow's eye

nothing, I

ere, as elsewhere. Sometimes i

La Mafia last night," Blake persisted. "I see you all go armed. I am

d Ricardo, gruffly. "Th

fi

e Mafia, or whatever you choose to call it. There is a big Italian population there, you know, and they are causing our po

a Camorra. But this is Si

you say something about

insi

is not a man, not a society, as you say. It is-" He made

I do

peak of it. Would the Sign

k you

urther about Sicilian brigandage. Nor did Martel show any willingness to enlighten him when he tentati

f my life," he declared. "Be pre

ured

you will not

k before your wedding? Really, if she is all you c

er that," said t

ds. They seem to enjoy them tremendously, until one or the oth

and her aunt, the Donna Teresa. Ah, Norvin mine, seven days separate me from Paradise. You can judge of my ecstasy. The hours creep, the moments are leaden. Each night when I retir

g to think you

not seen her. We are to

will insure y

not occur every day. It wil

I won't be in the

. This morning, however, you will amuse yourself-will you not?-for I must ri

y. Don't

ed an instant,

siness. One of my far

d! Wha

ng. He killed a

by an armed guard, I hear talk of Mafiosi, men ride out at night with r

, into danger?" Savigno's lips were smiling, but he awaited an answer with so

n your mind. And it must be of considerable imp

iscover it. I might have known. But I suppose it is better to make a clean brea

s beauty, eh? Well! It is not remar

r approaching marriage has roused them to make a de

his morning.

ver seen him. Now, however, he seems real enough, and I learn that the carabinieri believe in his existence." Martel pushed back the breakfast dishes and, leaning his elbows upon the table, continued, after a pau

eaceful, restful

." At Norvin's exclamation of astonishment, he nodded. "There's a long story behind it which you could not appreciate without knowing my father and the character of our Sicilian people, for, after all, Sicilian characte

e Mafia, but with us it is a mysterious organization o

may dominate your American

is not; it terrorizes a whole island and yet you say it is no more t

ike Belisario Cardi. Every landholder, every man of property, contributes to its support. You still do not understand, but you will as I go along. As an instance of its workings, all fruit-growers hereabouts are obliged to maintain watchmen, in addition to their regular employees. Otherwise their groves will be robbed. These guards are Mafiosi. Let us say that one of us opposes this monopoly. What happens? He loses his crop in a night; his trees are cut down. Should he appeal to the law for protection, he is regarded as a weakling, a man of no spirit. This is but one small example of the workings of La Mafia; as a matter of fact, it permeates the political, the business, a

I begin to

. I was too young to take his place, but now that I am a man I intend to play

st interest, noting the grave determination that had settled upon his friend; yet he could scarcely bring himself to

ready been killed,

e to desist in this mad policy of independence. A week ago one of my campieri, Paolo-he who is now in prison-surprised a fellow hacking down my orange-trees and shot him. The miscreant proved to be a certain Galli, whom I had discharged. He left a family, I regret to say, bu

s bogey-man enter-t

d a letter

all

nieri, hence this journey of my f

d the le

een from Narcone, for instance, I would have paid no attention to it, for he is no more than a cattle-thief. But Belisario Cardi! My boy, you do

ing abruptly from his chair. "You

the Count reassured his

. It is merely a name t

nt, that is perhaps the

ortunate as t

s is the year 1886? Such things are not poss

Savigno. "We are a century behind the time

, n

to frighten me and profit by the dreaded name of Cardi? I am a stranger here in my own birthplace. When I become better known, there will be no more feeble attempts a

, too, when you are married and sa

t you should think I had no right

n utter idi

ng at things. Of course, if anything should happen-i

e faintest possibility, you ought to go away, a

o be married a week hence. Wild

ne it-explain it

e. Margherita has relatives, to be sure, but they are-well, I have no confidence in them. In the remote

urse y

mething pleasanter. We won'

now I would do anything for you or yours, so

rdo is waiting to go to San Sebastiano, so you must amuse yourself for an hour or two. I have had the billiard-table rec

e American, fervently, wh

erderci!" He seized his hat