The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-09-10


nal, when, to his intense astonishment,
he saw old Baldeli staggering from the
opposite room, half dragging, half carry
ing his niece. What could it mean I?
Was she i'll? Was it fresh air she re-
thought, for the window opened
outwardly by Baldelli, struck his hands
from their hold, and he had only time to
drop lightly into the waters beneath.
AS he came to the surface-great
Heaven! He could neither shout or
prevent 1.-THE slight form of his sweet
heart was hurled from the window into
the black water below; and the old man,
not daring to look upon his handiwork,
closed the window abruptly and disap-
peared. 1t was the work of moment
for the young sailor to reach the body of
his sweetheart, and to place her in his
boat under cover of a SAIL But what
was he now to do with his precious bur-
den which lay safe, but still unconscious,
before him? He might, indeed, place
her under the care of the ladies at the
villa; but then he feared the chatter of
servants, nor did he know what power
her uncle might have to claim her from
them, for Italian courts are slow to
recognize the interference of foreigners
in domestic difficulties. While he was
still in doubt he was joined by Lord
Ardley, to whom he related his adven-
ture. The nobleman listened to the
agitated voice of the lad and, making a
shrewd guess at their relations, he said
"Your sweetheart, ell, Lloyd?"
eyes. sir; no doubt of it.
"And you're going TO marry her?"
"Now more than ever, sir. All, my
lord, you don't know what difficulties
we've had to fight against, nor yet how
dear she is to me-" and then he told the
whole story of his attachment as they
rowed vigorously, each at an oar, toward
Santa Lucia, where Teresina was
placed on board the yacht.
On the following day Baldellia, bag
gard and anxious, at an early hour
presented himself at the banco iii
| lotto.
81 have come, as the guardian of
my niece Teresina, to claim the money
| she has gained In the lottery"
Every good, signore. And first the
ticket, if you please"
He eagerly presented it.
"All right and in ORDER" said the
clerk. "She presented herself here yes
terday."
"She did?"
which he began deliberately and without
haste to count.
"What stroke of fortune for one so
young !"
Baldelli nodded his head impatiently.
The clerk tied up the bundle of notes,
and began to whistle "Addio mia bella
Napoli.
"Well, WE'LL" said the gardener,
sharply. cam | to wait much longer %
"But, signore, you seem to be in q
greater hurry than the signorina.'
"What do you mean?"
"Why, we wait the arrival of Tere-
sina Baldelli, of course" ("Stupid
old imbecile!" muttered the clerk to
himself.
Baldelh looked aghast, and then blus-
tered out:
"Don't tell you she has told me to
get the money? Have you not got the
ticket? What more do you want? Am
[ not her guardian? Do you doubt
that %
"Not for a moment; but this money
will be paid in her presence alone
"But how can she come here? She
is i'll. The excitement was too much for
her."
"Ah, then we must wait till she has
recovered"
but this is too much. Am l not a
respectable citizen? Am / not"
"Basta! That will do signore."
| And the clerk replaced the notes in his
desk.
Old Baldelli fumed and swore, whined
and entreated, with no effect.
"Give me back the ticket, then. 1 will
report you to your superiors.
1.-The ticket? Certainly. Here it is. "
The clerk had seen good number of
strange things in his time, and was given
| to the observation of the couutenances
and emotions of his fellow men; so he
wrote a note to the chief Office, where, in
due time, Baldelli presented himself.
And the official at this place was alto
gether polite and amiable, and much re-
| GREETED that it was against the rules to
comply with Baldelli's request; but if
| the 81 gnOrina was unable TO attend, but
| still anxious for the settlement of her
claim, why he would accompany the gar
dener himself to the house for the pur-
pose, to which the gardener objected
strongly, and retired with face so worn
and anxious and frightened, that this
amiable official thought it as well to send
a detective officer to look after the old
man, and, if possible, to get to the bot
tom of the mystery-for queer things
often happen with these lotteries.
The result was that nobody had seen
or heard anything of TeresiGa, and old
| Baldelli was unable to account for her
! disappearance, and maintained logged
silence on the subject, for the dis
appointment to his hopes and the con-
seriousness of guilt had completely I'M
nerved him. All the circumstances
were so suspicious that the police felt
justified in connecting him with her dis
appearance, and accordingly he was
brought before the head of the police to
answer for himself
In the meantime Teresina, having re-
covered consciousness, was gradually
brought to by the assistance of the stew
ardess. On being questioned by Lord
Ardley, she gave a truthful account OF
the events of the previous night, but
said that, from the time she retired to
her room, her mind was a complete
blank. She related with some blushinp
and hesitation her conversation with hel
uncle about the lottery ticket, not for.
getting his unaccustomed liberality in
giving her wine to drink to her good
luck
"Pretty clear, my lord, I think
drugged," said Lloyd.