The Yale expositor., 1902-08-15

ly. I am in some persons way. anu
unless the secret Is discovered.
shall. no doubt. be murdered, II you
can help me. you will win my graft.
tude."
Thus prettlly asked. walked be-
side them. and the old woman came
ambling after. mutterlng TO herself
things could not understand, but In
which | frequently heard the name
Maligni
Now. there was more than one rea-
son why II seemed perfectly proper
for me to accompany Mia and Maui
bikeck. ard lend what assistance
could in this time OF need. To begin
with | was much interested In the
girl ersonally-because OF
her grand beauty. and the romantic
interest always attached TO a beautiful
girl in her position.
Secondly / was interested in Nita
Barlotti. as has been shown hereto
fore. because she closely resembled
tho photograph OF Charles Gravis-
courts wife. and because In that re-
semblance there had seemed TO DO
some shadowy hint that Grayiscourt
was rot all that he seemed TO be be-
fore tie world. And in striking at
Grnyscourt. was striking a blow
for my own love. and this Is n motive
that viii always stir the heart OF
man whose love is withhold from him
b. arother's will
Thirdly. | was interested In the
llon-tameT. He impressed me as be-
ing no ordinary lndiyidual-ycry diff.
ferent from the average circus at.
tache as was Barlotti herself. and
In the evidences of love that | had
seen pass between these two. had
seemed 10 see n reflection of my
own. and this claimed my interest.
II nothing else.
Fourthly. had seen the act OF the
man who had set fire TO the trapeze
rope. and was. no doubt. the only hu.
man being. save himself who had
seen a. Il became me. therefore. 10
aid Maubikeck and Mia by using the
knowledge I possessed. and by iden-
tifying tho mlscreant who had fired
the rope. ascertain through him his
motive. or. II be had been employed
TO do the thing. tae name OF bis
cowardly employer.
One OF the facts that I learned by
this adventure vas that the stars OF
n circus lived. when away from the
glare and tlnsel OF their profession.
much like other people with plenty
OF money to spend.
Leaving the Garden by means Of
one OF the private entrances. Maubi-
kcck hailed n carriage. 10 was
good one. and was drawn by n team
OF well.fed. sleek-looking horses. and
I thought II was probably the one he
used every night for hts own convey
ance. and we all got into II. Maubi-
keck and Nita sat together. and tho
old bag sat with me. with our backs
toward the driver. She was not a
pleasant carriage companion. and I
would gladly have exchanged places
with Maubikcck. The old woman
swayed back and forth. moaned.
wrung her hands. and spoke fercely
TO Maublkeck. who told her with un.
mistakable emphasis to hold her
tongue.
Il viii explain this woman's We
hemeGce. Slgnor Wllherton." said tho
llon.tamer. "Pacho Maligni Is hard
master and n jealous man. He allows
no one but himself and those hired
for the purpose 10 come near Mia
Barlotti. Believe me- this is the first
time since we opened in Madison
Square Garden that have accom-
panied the signor.na 10 her hotel. Ma
lignl keeps her constantly under his
care, and this woman Is employed by
him TO prevent others-principally
mysclf-from coming into the pres
ence OF the signorina. That we arc
enabled TO be with her now Is due
solely to the mlshap which has be-
fallen MalIgni. lie may be dead at
this moment or seriously wounded.
That he Is wounded Is certain. or no
would have been on hand as usual
to take Mia TO the hotel"
And where does Maligni llvc?" I
asked.
al the same hotel"
ITO be continued)