The Yale expositor., 1902-08-15
MQubIkeCk, Ile 0fIQIlGT.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author Of Jack Robbins Of America" In this
China Sea-" Two oentiomen Of
Hawaii" "on a Paise
Charge" Etc.
o.vyrirh,. 1898. By Ronrur BOssrr's uOSa.
CHAPTER II.

I had finished with Graviscourt. but
not with Nita Barlotti. The impulse
10 see her again was too strong To be
controlled. and that evening again
occupied box in Madison Square
Garden.
But was doomed TO a disappoint'
ment that was keen In the same meas
ure as my former eagerness. Instead
OF Barlotti there appeared on small
balcony, near the bandstand. the same
greasy. mean-looling Italian. who had
led the trapeze queen away on the
night OF her successful debut. This
creature bowed low to the audience
that had poured their silver into hts
Golfers and I'm n thick voice said
Ladies and Shentlemens: Il haf be-
come my sad duty 20 inform you dat
you viii be disappointed great dis efen-
ing. De bright star. de Won shining
jewel. of dis great aggregati-one OF
mammoth attractiones. will not be
able To appear before YOU dis efening.
Signorina Barlotti hat been suddenly
taken III. and my regard for dis young
lady is so great dat / haf insisted dat
she remain quiet under de care OF a
doctaIre, until she haf fully recovered.
But II she Is better tomorrow efening,
so dat IL viii not do her any harm,
den. maybe. / will allow her to come
once more and gif you pleasure. My
fricrds. thank YOU"
Bowling again. the Italian disap.
peared.
did not tarry long. With a feeling
OF keen disappointment left the Gar.
den and went 10 my hotel. AS | was
going up the stairs to my room | met
Major Simmons coming down.
The major accompanied me back 20
my rooms. and | turned on the light.
rang for q night waiter and ordered
some cigars OF brand that | knew
the major liked. and also some wine.
These comforts Of n bachelors life
having appeared. the major lighted a
cigar and ensconced hlnself comfort.
ably in n large armcht.., resting his
head on the high back. and throwing
one leg over the other. settled into n
lazy position.
Now go on" he said. Tell me
what you have been doing and where
you have been hiding all day"
| thereupon told him all that had
done leaving out no detail.
While | was speaking the major
looked at me gravely. and when had
finished he merely blew his cigar
smoke into the air and said nothing.
Il couldn't help e." said In apol.
ogy. THAT story OF yours about the
lucky uncle and the remarkable SINH
larity In the faces left an impression
that | could not shake on. Nor could
resist the impulse TO investigate"
"Nor l."
your" jumped from my chair IN
excitement. "You."
Eyes. When Grayiscourt held that
photograph in his hand detected evi.
dences OF agitation In his manner.
The impression the whole thing gave
me was very like yours-the impulse
the same. This morning I rose early
and visited Trinity Cemetery. In the
afternoon l visited sol Mott street,
the Bureau OF Vital Statistics.
II saw Just what you saw went on
the major; land had II not been for n
chance meeting. | would have reached
the same conclusion that you have"
by breath was coming hard from
mo now.
"well?" / gasped.
when I left 30l Mott street saw
Graviscourt's carriage. Thinking II n
strange coincidence that he should be
in the vicinity. followed II. II stopped
before one OF the most miserable
places in the Italian quarter In the
lower portion OF the building was a
dirty-looking drug store. over the
door was the sign. l.. Tortoni'
saw Graviscourt get out OF the car.
rlage and enter the drug store.
hurried past. hoping to get n look into
the window. / was not disappointed.
saw tho proprietor greet Gravis.
court as an acquaintance. and they
went into back room. When l re-
turned the carriage was still there.
and n woman was in attendance at
the store. The conference between
Grayiscourt and Tor;oni was a long
one.
IF I am not mistaken--G may be.
because dissipation changes faces
but IL am not mistaken l.. Tortoni
is no other than DR. Charles Slgmotta.
Graviscourt's old friend"
"sigmottal" exclaimed The man
who signed the death certificate OF
the Graviscourt child7"
The same"
This news was so overwhelming
that I sat silently smoking for sew
eral minutes. In fact. but little more
was said by either OF US. After a few
minutes the major reached over.
poured himself out some wine. drank
Il. and took HIS hat as II TO go.
saw him TO the door. and promising
90 meet him at the Lotus Club tho
following day. returned TO my room.
where | threw myself down on the
couch In the alcove. utterly lost In tho
bewildering sensations that the ma
jor's story had aroused.