Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-11-07
I'IluhkHk, Ddt|QllG|.


cAiaa sea- .Tws 0entiemss =
Hawaii" .sOs Falss
Chasss." Etc.
ospyrssAs, isss. By RossRr BoHsss's SOFA.
CHAPTER ~.
Maubikeck, when we had started
from the Garden, had directed the
driver to certain well-known hotei
much frequented by show people. ana
knew where we were being taken.
"But what is this Malignis hold on
the signorina?" I asked. Where does
he get his authority over herr"
Nita shuddered and crouched closer
to the stalwart frame of Mauoikeck'
.He is my master by my fatner 3
will" she sad in voice that was
touching in its plaintive sweetness.
"And your father was performer
like yourself, was he not, signorina !!
said.
yes will tell you about his
death when we reach my rooms"
One thing was certain: NO matter
how severe, harsh or tyrannlcai
Maligni might be, he certainly was
not niggardly in regard to Nita's com
fort. Number liz was but the nrst
of suite Of four rooms, one OF which
was parlor, one coy little dress
ing-room, and the other two, bed
rooms, one for Nita and one tor the
old bag who served her.
She stepped rather YEARLY,
thought. and sank into chair be-
tween Maubikeck and me, resting her
head in her hands, as If she felt PAIN
In the temples.
had taken my card from my card
case and handed it to her.
"Signorina," said, II have become
interested in the mystery that seems
to surround you. and beg you Will
allow me to assist you and Maubikeck
in your efforts to unravel it. That Wal
tell you who am"
"Well, Signor Wilberton," she said
twirling the card in her hand, i SIN
cerely thank you. am greatly un
nerved by what has occurred, and can
not understand it. My life is IN dan
ger, and alone am unable to comDa'
my unknown enemy"
"Now, see here" said. assuming
the authority of detective, Il saw
| something tonight which will be Of
material interest and aid to us in this
matter, but to get at it right, mus
1~oo-, III ohoy,f vnr,r life " .
Nita passed her hand over her brow
and, after moment spent in thought
began: remember little about my
| mother. She was, as can see hel
now, an ordinary woman-of course
an Italian. She died when l was
perhaps, seven years of age. Then my
| father took me to Madame De Longs
school, and placed me there as
regular Neutrality-suspicious.. Madame d.
Longs school is in Albany. My life
there was very pleasant, took con
| siderable interest in my lessons, ant
advanced rapidly. When l was four
teen, l was suddenly called from Ma
dame De Longs to hotel In Utica
I remember it well. 1t stood near thu
railroad, and believe they called ]
Bags Hotel. Barnum was In Utic'
on that day, and, as you know, m!
father was Barnum's principal trapez'
performer.
ION this day, my father had grown
dizzy and had fallen from his trapeze
! and had sustained injuries which, thu
surgeon in attendance said, mus
cause his death. was taken at ono
| to my fathers room. reached Their
Just one hour before he died. Malign
was with him when arrived, AM
my father signif1ed desire for u
to approach together. My fathe
spoke to Maligni in tongue di'
not understand. I have heard tn
same language since, but cannot recall
enough of what was said at that tim
to translate or to understand. The
my father put my hand in Maligni'
and told me in our own language tina
he was going to die, and hencefortl
| was Maligni's. Maligni would TAX
his place and would take care of me
I remember that sobbed great dea
and kissed my father, and that q SUI
geon came and other men, and thel
my father died. Maligni attended t
everything, and had my fathers bod
taken to Italy for burial. He took m
there also. l never went back t
Madame De Longs. Maligni informe
me that under the terms of the con
tract by which he took me, I was t
fill the place of my father and becom
an actress on the trapeze. Oh, tn
shame Of it nearly killed me! wep
and pleaded with him. but all to n
purpose. He was not to be move
by my tears or my prayers, and Il
the house at which we lived he ha
one room fitted up as training-room
Here was compelled to go througl
the severest kind of physical trainin
to perfect myself for the trapeze. A
first refused to wear the tights, an,
was severely fogged. Maligni is
cruel man, and would kill rather thai
be thwarted. Well, you do not nee
to be told the details of my hard life
Suffice to say that after nearly fou
years of severe training, am befor
the public in role that hate an,
despise. But what can do? Malign
is my absolute master. If ran ava
from him, he would capture me an,
bring me back to my degrading life
What can do?"
1 = Nita paused here, as il she wa
weary. had taken a small notebool
from my pocket, and was jotting dow
all the important points Of her story