The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-04-09
YKE FIVE NUMBERS.

- SSS>~~ANe3
track Pietro Malasso for a peculiarly
atrocious and mercenary murder COM
mitted in one OF the upper wards Of
New York City several months prevl-
Gus, and who was known to have re-
turned to his native Italy only few
months thereafter, probably to re-
sumo the life Of brigandage in which he
was said to have engaged before his
brief migration to America.
After several days spent in diligent
but unsuccessful search, was stand
ing one afternoon at thecourt entrance
OF my modest hotel in the strada
Nuova, gazing upon curious scene.
The crowds in the street, on the
neighboring quays, and even in the
court corridors behind me, were great
ly excited over the next drawing of
the italian National Lottery, to take
place two days hence.
This is a periodical frenzy with the
Italians Every device is resorted to,
every superstition ransacked, for the
lucky numbers. Dream-books are in
demand, nonsensical signs consulted,
and astrologers reap their harvest.
The Neapolitans are especially in
sane on the subject, and among other
idiocies, as I was subse quently to
learn, are fully convinced that the gift
OF prophesy IS vested in certain per-
sons-the Franciscan friars in partic-
ular, as being benevolent, and having
,s"the lucky eye."
While thus occupied, I CHANGED to
be making mental computation of
the distances from city to city that I
might be eventually compelled to COW
er in pursuit ofmy fugitive, and doubt
less fell to muttering some of the nu-
merals aloud.
Presently felt a tug at my clothing
and turned to perceive a handsome
young woman, with her fat baby in
her arm, kneeling at my feet, while
several of her companions were group
ed near by, gazing at me in rapt ex-
pectance.
,a "Ah," she exclaimed, imploringly,
"the lucky, numbers-give them to me,
for the love of Heaven! See! even nv
little Anatole herereaches out beceech-
ing hands to thee, infant that he is, he
knows that thou canst make us rich.
The numbers, father, the numbers!"
n "Nonsense!" I exclaimed, half angri-
.ly. II know nothing of luck or i'll
luck, Away, or shall be seriously
displeased! Stay, then, Here-a bless
ing on thy little Antole!" -...
And touching the child's forehead, I
sought to make my escape back into
the hotel. .':-s .-- .-'..s -..
But SO persistent were they all, this
was not affected without difficulty;
and in the meantime I cursorily noted
among my tormenters another and
yet handsOmer women standing grave
ly apart from the rest, and observing
me with quiet earnestness.
: 1 heard her addressed by some one
as Mia, and had only time to remark
that there was something of the GYPSY
or rustic in her dress and bearing,
when I at last succeeded in beating nv
retreat. ~. ~. E.. -
= eyes, sir; it must have been extreme
ly annoying to YOU" sympathizingly
observed my landlord, when I told
him all about it. go.
And he eyed me with faint smile
and a growing wildness of the eyes.
"Well, what is it?' I demanded be-
ing impatient for an hour of quiet in
my pleasant balconied chamber over
looking the blue waters OF the peerless
bay. IF you are anxious about my
bill, make it out at once, and"-- -
mo, no, no!'' he exclaimed, grasp
ing me by the arm, his eager black
eyes fairly boring into my head
"Peste enjoy my poor accommoda-
tions at your pleasure; it is nothing.
But"-his voice sinking to confiden-
tial whisper-ssif you could favor me
with the lucky numbers of the next
drawing-ah, what slavish service
might you not exact at my hands!''
| broke away from him Indignantly,
and retired to my room without
vouchsafing him word, lest my an
ger should betray me.
After supper that evening waiter
brought me word that distressed
young woman was in the outer court
anxiously waiting a few words with
Fra Ambrogio-my assumed name.
Iwen down and found, to my sur
prise, that the person awaiting me
was the gravely handsome young
peasant woman whom l had heard
addressed as Nita.
Her. story, told with tears in her
eyes, was a brief and pathetic one:
Her brother, Guiseppi, was lying at
home fatally stabbed it was feared,
and | must go with her to him at
once, inasmnch as she was quite sure
that | might keep off the destroyer's
approach.
I accompanied her at once.
1t was after nightfall as 1 followed
her unsuspiciously into an old, dreary-
looking building, where, in q large,
squalid chamber, up one flight of stairs,
she indicated a pallet, on which lay a
large, bearded man, apparently near
his last gasp, the figure motionless, the
pale, set face upturned to.the rays Of
an iron lamp hanging from the centre
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