Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-12-12
.M0uhIkSk, NE UIufIQIle|.
o,s,r.sl. ~. y so...r sesu,.'. se.>

Charge" Bic.
osVy.asAs. IN. ~ Rosssr BoSxna's sozA
CHAPTER I'M.
My reflections, as the long hours
dragged themselves along toward
morning. were anything but refresh,
ing.
The dominant thought, OF course,
was that had got myself in bad
scrape and would probably lose my
life. For one moment the thought
did come to me: "There is the United
States minister" dismissed the
idea as holding out no hope. had 20
means Of communicating with our rep.
resentative. In fact, was entirely
cut of from all communication with
the world. My friends would prob.
ably never know what became Of me.
My only hope was Mutterelli. And
where, through all of this, was Nut.
terellf?
Calling to my assistance all the
nerve possessed, I resolved to put
on as good a face in the matter as
possible, and not allow the prefetto or
his guards to see any signs Of weak
ness in my demeanor.
The room in which I was held was
well lighted by large lamp which
hung from the ceiling. drew q
chair under the lamp. and with the
same nonchalance which would have
characterized me had I been IN my
favorite corner at the Lotus Club with
the major and Dilkins around me in.
stead Of the black-looking Sardinians,
! pulled from my pocket and began to
read the paper had taken from the
table in Pacho Maligni's room. It
read as follows: 9.
New York City, in the Stat New
York, In the United Stats Of Amer
lea, May Is, 1S-. e
ITO the person who. when I am
dead, shall obtain this paper, I salute.
It is that am at every day in the
great danger Of being killed by an
accident of my profeshun that leave
in this form the story of Nita Bar
lotti, that perhaps in some long day
to become she may be restor to those
where she belong and who hat lost
her. And I, who am known to the
world as Barlotti the Trapeze King,
pray to that person who reads these
words to do what he can and what l
cannot to the good end that Nita Bar
lotti may know who she really is,
and may come into her own if she is,
as I belief, the daughter of a rich
person.
1T viii be surprise to the person
who find this to know that my name it
is not Barlotti, but Sigmctta. Yes,
I am Antonio Sigmotta, and Barlotti
is the name hat take in the circus to
please my brother; who was very rich
and a physician in New York.
when I came this country was
poor-very poor. went to my
brother, and ne was angry to me in
words, but he did some kindness to
me that he let me live in hi. house
till ! hat money to keep myself.
make contract with Malignf to- go in
the circus as trapeze actor, and my
brother max me change my name, SO
not to disgrace him.
Zone day I went into my brothers
private room for something. It was a
workshop cell laboratoria or some
like that. It was at the nj hit, and
was very dark. My brother was in
his bedroom.
II lighted the gas in the laboratoria,
and found what was looking for
some medicine he gave me when had
the aching. Of the lead.
"As I was about to turn back the
gas to 60 out, saw a bundle on the
floor. 1t seemed to me that it move.
Then l stood stlli, and hear little
cry like child. rush to the door.
l listen for my brother, but he not
to be heard. l open the bundle 1t
was sack, with strings, in the end.
It had in it little child-a girl. l
drew it out. The child breath and
moan, but do not seem to know, and
then know my brother had given it
4 drug.
Then hurry, trembling much, and
i took some cloths and other things
and make rag baby just the size of
the child took from the sack. put
the rag baby in the sack and made it
tight like. it was before opened
IL. Then quick carry the live child
to my room and hide it In my bed.
Then l watch. Pretty soon my brother
come and go to the laboratoria.
keep quiet SO he do not hear me, and
follow him. He take the sack and my
rag baby and steal from his own
house like he was thief, and know
he was worse. Still, follow him.
my brother went into dark street
and went to the docks on the East
river. l saw him take stone and
tie cord to it and around the sack.
Then he throw all into the water.
When he saw it sink he turn round
and sneak home.
Il had in New York, near my
brothers house, a sweetheart. I met
her at q concert hall, and I often went
to see her at her house. She was q
great singer, and I love her., SO l
want to marry her. She was goou
girl and her name was Nita. &
Late in the night took the child,
and when my brother was asleep I
stole from his house and carried the
child to Nita. told her all >bout
my brother, and she promised not to
say one word, for knew my brother
would kill me If he knew. was then
intend to find out who the child was,
and II she had parents who love her,
Give her hack Rut Yoircf on With