The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1896-04-25

/
Can you not guess TINT II broke my
heart? could not stay in Naples,
came to London. Only once since hel
marriage have 1 seen Angela. met
her in Piccadilly one day last August
We walked in the Green park. 1t was
the happiest hour have known since
the old time in Naples.
SAT first she declared that she was
happy. but do you not think 1 could
read her face? | told her that did
not believe her. She wept, and con-
fessed that she was leading a miserable
life And how happy ! might have
made her! Failed on the stage? Yes,
but not only that. Her husband, who
was now professional entertainer,
was cruel to her. He had struck her
yes, struck her!
Il said: 4 will avenge you'll
"'No, no. she cried. for my sake
do not raise a hand against him. Prom
Use NE. Promise me. francesca.
what could do? I promised her
that while she lived would not touch
him. And | have kept my word. But,
by heaven
Astarita did not finish the sentence.
He was livid with emotion, and trem-
bling from head to foot / urged him
to be calm.
YES, l must be calm" he said.
What IS going on on the stage?"
1 stepped forward.
"a troupe Of acrobats-No. s."
He leaned back in his chair and wiped
his forehead. | glanced around at the
audience and Immediately felt a grip
on my shoulders, while Francesca As
tarita whispered, almost Kissed. into
my ear:
"She IS ieadl"
l turned aud looked him in the face.
''Then try to forget it ALL" said.
LET the past be buried"
The curtain had descended.
'Give me the programmed" he said,
quickly.
He held it in front of me with the
loEg thumbnail of his right hand cut
ting through a point in the middle of
the page.
Look therei The next item-Mr.
Christopher Quincy, ventriloquist'
That is the stage name of the scoun-
drel, Herbert Ross!"
let us no away" I urged. you are
excited ard unwell 1t will do you no
good to see hira. Come away"
NO. no; not yet" he answered.
presently"
The bell rang and the curtainsr rose,
a row of grotesque and
grinniRg figures waiting TO receive ami
nation from the magic powers Of the
ventriIoquist. Christopher Quincy ap-
peared and made his bow. Taking his
stand in the midst of the puppets he
began his entertainment. His dia-
Iogues and jcsts were bright and up
TO date" and pcals of laughter were
frequent from the audience.
l looked around at Astarita. He was
standing behind me, leaning against
the side of the box, half concealed by
a long curtain. l could not sec his
face, and noticed a wild madness in his
eyes.
|'ShaH we go?" 1 said. again.
presently" was all the reply.
The ventriloquist was now making
one of MS figures sing a comic song.
It was accompanied by the band. and
had a refrain that I have never forgot
ten, and that never comes into my head
without bringing back that night at
the Jollity.
The song came to an end and loud
applause rang through the building.
IN the midst of the clamor the per-
'ormer bowed his head. and, to the
DARN of everybody, fell face down
ward in front of the footlights. There
&c lay, motionless, with his row of I'M
amy puppets grinning down upon
lin,
Attendants now rushed on from the
wings. and as they liftedthe inanimate |
,ody / saw a red stream flowing from |
lis head and a dark stain on the foor
# the stage. The curtain was imme-
lately rung down and the audience
vas stunned by the terrible scene they
lad witnessed.
I turned instinctively to Astarita. He
vas pale and excited.
"This did It'll" he said.
lie held in his hand an air gun, which
i'll now he had concealed from my
ight. l was transfixed with horror at
is crime. l sat like one dazed, looking
lto space. and just conscious that Some
ne was standing before the curtain
the audience. Then awolle
, a fun sense of my position and de-
to secure the criminal. lrose
, do so.
BE had gone!
I went out into the noisy streets.
here was a fine drizzle and the roads
nd ravements were slippery. but |
alked along like one in dream.
There ! went 1 cannot remember, but
know that l did not enter my cham
ers until nearly two o'clocl; in the
ornirg. l was wet through and COW