Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-01-26

calls winning manner. He could
talk well, played the violin and was an
amateur conjurer and ventriloquist.
The world loves montebank, and
there were plenty of fools in Naples
ready to welcome him as a guest. The
villain fascinated my Angela-instilled
into her desire to go on The stage.
He had influence with actors and man.
ayers everywhere, and, as her parents
were dead, and she was living with
friends, he had no difficulty In getting
her an engagement
She was mad. But l saw through
his scheme. He wanted to get her
away from me and persuade her to
marry him. Yes, he succeeded. Two
years later she was his wife-his wife
and lost to me forever.
The orchestra was playing loudly.
and | drew my chair farther back.
Can you not guess that it broke my
heart? l could not stay in Naples. I
came to London. Only once since her
marriage have 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 times in Naples.
At first she declared she was happy,
but do you not think l could read her
face? / told her that did not believe
her. She wept and confessed that she
was leading miserable life And how
happy | might have made her! Failed
on the stage? Yes, but not only that.
Her husband who was now a profess
sional entertainer was cruel to her He
had struck her-yes. struck her!
Il said, 4 will avenge you,'
No, no. she cried, for my sake do
not raise a hand against him. Prom
Use me, Francesca
What could l do? l promised her
that while she lived l would not touch
him. And l have kept my word. But,
by heaven"
Astarita did not finish the sentence
He was Nvid with emotion, and trem-
bling from head to foot. I urged him
to be calm.
Eyes, | must be calm" he said.
What is going on on the stage?"
l stepped forward
"a troupe of acrobats-No. s."
He leaned back in his chair and
wiped his forhead. l glanced around
at the audience, and Immediately felt
grip on my shoulders, while Fran
cesco Astarita whispered, almost
Kissed into my ear:
"She is deadl"
| turned and looked into his face.
"Then try to forget it ALL" ! said;
'let the past be buried
The curtain had descended.
Give me the program" he said,
quickly.
He held 1t in front of me with the
long thumbnail of his right hand
cutting through a portion in the mid
die of the page.
Look there. The next item-'Mr.
Christopher Quincy. ventriloquist.
That is the stage name of the scoun-
drel, Herbert Rossi"
LET us go away" l urged. you
are excited and unwell. 1t will do you
no good to see him. Come away"
mo, no; not yet" he answered.
Presently"
The bell rang and the curtain rose,
discovering row of grotesque and
grinning figures waiting to receive
animation from the magic power of
the ventriloquist. Christopher Quincy
appeared and made his bow. Taking
his stand in the midst of his puppets
he began his entertainment. His dia-
logues and jests were bright and "up
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 see his face
and noticed wild madness in his
eyes.
"Shall we go?" l asked again.
Presently" was all the reply.
The ventrlioquist was now making
one of his figures sing funny song.
1t was accompanied by the band, and
had a refrain that never comes into
my utdu WhIuOuI UTlHSlHS DdCh ludI
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-
former bowed his head, and to the
alarm of everybody, fell face down
ward in front of the footlights. There
he lay motionless, with his row of un-
canny puppets, grinning down upon
him.
Attendants now rushed on from the
wings, and, as they lifted the mani
mate body, | saw dark stain on the
floor of the stage. The curtain was
Immediately rung down, and the audi
ence was stunned by the terrible scene
they had witnessed.
l turned instinctively to Astarita.
He was pale and excited.
This did it!" he said.
he held in his hand an air gun,
which until now he had concealed
from my sight was transdxed with
horror at his crime. l sat like one
dazed, looking into space, and just
conscious that some one was standing
before the curtain addressing the