Daily camera., 1901-05-13


Beppo. with horde of other ear
ringed Italian emigrants, had landed
in New Orleans, but already he had
prospered beyond his widest dreams
of avarice. His fruit stall, built fiat.
cupboard fashion against the wall
of big Office building. was always
luscious with strange Central Amer
lean fruits with queer exotic fiavors,
and golden with oranges and purple
with grapes, and all day long he and
Tessa were busy with the customers
who rained harvest of small coin
into their till. Tessa herself was
not the least of the attractions. She
was in the frs; flush of her young
beauty. and with her dusky hair and
ewes and scarlet cheeks looked hal!
sister 10 the sunkissed nectarines in
the boxes behind her.
So at least thought Arthur Gray. rs
he leaned against the wall. watching
the quick. bird-like motions OF her lit
tie head. and her Geft hands, as he priced
her wares with provoking slowness just
for the pleasure Of listening TO her
soft, broken English. A bad spell OF
pneumonia had sent him south 10 re-
cuperate under sunny skies. He was
very Idle and tribe bored, and-well,
since he had discovered Tessa he had
developed an enormous appetite for
fruit. and every morning for q month
the same little comedy had been en-
acted.
Tessa would see the talk athletic hg-
ure coming down the street, and mo
ment later it would stop at the stall.
How much?" he would ask, pric-
ing this and that. and the girl, who was
coquette to her finger tips, would
smile and ask:
"You lik'a da orang's an da grap'a
verr'a mooch'a?"
II like-something else very much"
the man would answer. with a
look that sent the quick blood flaming
up into the girls cheeks, and she would
say. as she dropped bit Of extra fruit
into the bag:
VI S'k hoA-
"For lagniappe?" he had asked, the
first time. and then she had explainedto
him the quaint old custom handed down
in New Orleans from the old Spanish
days. OF throwing in something for
good measure with every purchase,
and without WHICH gratuity no child or
servant considers a transaction com
plete.
With Arthur Gray his admiration for
Tessa was the idlest OF passing fancies,
was serious enough. That was Gius-
seppe, who loved the girl with all the
ardor OF his passionate soul, and to
whom Beppo had promised her hand in
marriage Just as soon as he could save
up enough money to buy the horse and
cart with which he peddled charcoal
about the streets, and which, in his and
Beppo's eyes, represented the equiva-
lent Of an ample fortune. Giuseppe
had been happy enough and his stri-
dent voice calling: Charcoal char
c-o-o-oal," early and late, had thrilled
with love and hope, as If every intona-
ton brought him closer to Tessa and
the little home for which he was work
ing.
Blu. since the coming OF the stranger
who mad noticed Tessa so much every
thing was changed. The girl had
grown cold, and the little home seemed
a long way off. 1t takes long time,
when one must save money BY the
penny, and he grew discouraged.
Worst of all, he had seen Tessa flush
with pleasure when the American bent
over her one day, and the mere remem-
brance set his jealous soul on fire.
The climax had come one night
when, moody and sullen, he had re-
preached Tessa with being in love with
the handsome stranger and had de-
manded to know where she had gotten
little trinket she wore.
The girl turned on him with sudden
fury.
"Mother of God" she cried, in Ital-
ian, "but you are not my master yet"
"Bah," he retorted, you are but q
woman to be bought like all other
women with gewgaws," and then he
had flung himself out OF the house.
Giuseppe knew nothing of law, and
cared less. His one thought was to
find the man who had stolen his sweet
hearts love and settle the affair, man
to man, and, as he made his way along
the street, he touched the dirk hidden
in the broad belt about his waist. Tessa
had said that Gray was staying at the
hotel around the corner from the fruit
stall and he made his way to it, hot
murder in his heart.
How to f.:d Gray he knew not, but
instinctive.y he crouched down in the
shadow Of the door and waited for him.