Rex Beach

The Net

Warsaw 2022

Contents

Chapter 1. The Train From Palermo

Chapter 2. A Confession And A Promise

Chapter 3. The Golden Girl

Chapter 4. The Feast At Terranova

Chapter 5. What Waited At The Roadside

Chapter 6. A New Resolve

Chapter 7. The Search Begins

Chapter 8. Old Trails

Chapter 9. “One Who Knows”

Chapter 10. Myra Nell Warren

Chapter 11. The Kidnapping

Chapter 12. La Mafia

Chapter 13. The Blood Of His Ancestors

Chapter 14. The Net Tightens

Chapter 15. The End Of The Quest

Chapter 16. Quarantine

Chapter 17. An Obligation Is Met

Chapter 18. Belisario Cardi

Chapter 19. Felicite

Chapter 20. The Man In The Shadows

Chapter 21. Under Fire

Chapter 22. A Misunderstanding

Chapter 23. The Trial And The Verdict

Chapter 24. At The Feet Of The Statue

Chapter 25. The Appeal

Chapter 26. At The Dusk

Chapter 1. The Train From Palermo

The train from Palermo was late. Already long, shadowy fingers were reaching down the valleys across which the railroad track meandered. Far to the left, out of an opalescent sea, rose the fairy-like Lipari Islands, and in the farthest distance Stromboli lifted its smoking cone above the horizon. On the landward side of the train, as it reeled and squealed along its tortuous course, were gray and gold Sicilian villages perched high against the hills or drowsing among fields of artichoke and sumac and prickly pear.

To one familiar with modern Sicilian railway trains the journey eastward from Palermo promises no considerable discomfort, but twenty-five years ago it was not to be lightly undertaken–not to be undertaken at all, in fact, without an unusual equipment of patience and a resignation entirely lacking in the average Anglo-Saxon. It was not surprising, therefore, that Norvin Blake, as the hours dragged along, should remark less and less upon the beauties of the island and more and more upon the medieval condition of the rickety railroad coach in which he was shaken and buffeted about. He shifted himself to an easier position upon the seat and lighted a cheroot; for although this was his first glimpse of Sicily, he had watched the same villages come and go all through a long, hot afternoon, had seen the same groves of orange and lemon and dust-green olive-trees, the same fields of Barbary figs, the same rose-grown garden spots, until he was heartily tired of them all. He felt at liberty to smoke, for the only other occupant of the compartment was a young priest in flowing mantle and silk beaver hat.

Finding that Blake spoke Italian remarkably well for a foreigner, the priest had shown an earnest desire for closer acquaintance and now plied him eagerly with questions, hanging upon his answers with a childlike intensity of gaze which at first had been amusing.

“And so the Signore has traveled all the way from Paris to attend the wedding at Terranova. Veramente! That is a great journey. Many wonderful adventures befell you, perhaps. Eh?” The priest’s little eyes gleamed from his full cheeks, and he edged forward until his knees crowded Blake’s. It was evident that he anticipated a thrilling tale and did not intend to be disappointed.

“It was very tiresome, that’s all, and the beggars at Naples nearly tore me asunder.”

“Incredible! You will tell me about it?”

“There’s nothing to tell. These European trains cannot compare with ours.”

Evidently discouraged at this lack of response, the questioner tried a new line of approach.

“The Signore is perhaps related to our young Conte?” he suggested. “And yet that can scarcely be, for you are Inglese–”

“Americano.”

“Indeed?”

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