Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-01-16
e.,,rss. iss,. ,, RO-..r Bo.s.s's s0sa
CHAPTER II.

controlled, and that evening ! again
occupied box in Madison Square
Garden.
But was doomed TO a dlsappoint'
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,looisins Italian, who had
led the tfapeze queen away on the
night OF her successful debut. THIS
creature bowed low TO the audience
that had poured their silver into MS
Golfers and In thick voice said;
Ladies' and shcntiemcns: II hat be
come my sad duty to inform you dat
you VIII be disappointed great dis efen'
Ing. DE bright star. de Won shining
jewel. OF dis great assresauone OF
mammoth nttrnetiones, Will not be
able TO appear before you dis efenin..
Signorina Barlo;ti haf 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
doctaire. until she haf fully recovered.
But II she Is better tomorrow efenin..
uht " Hot uo "'s NAF sss.'ss
den. maybe. I viii allow her TO come
once more and sif you pleasure. My
friends. I thank you"
Bowling again. the Italian disap-
pcarcd.
did not tnrry long. With feeling
of keen disappointment left the Gar
den and went to my hotel. As was
going up the stairs To my room ! met
Major Simmons coming down.
The major accompanied me back TO
my rooms. and turned on the light.
rang for a night waiter and ordered
some cigars OF n brand that I knew
the major liked. and also some wine.
These comforts OF a bachelors life
having appeared. the major lighted n
cigar and cnSconcci himself comfort
ably In n large armchair. resting his
head on the high back. and throwing
one leg over tac other. settled lrio n
lazy position.
Now go on he said. Tell me
what you have been doing and where
you have been hidin. ali day"
thcrcupon told him NIL that had
done. leaving out no detail.
While I was speaking the major
looked Mt me gravciy. and when ! had
finished he merely blew his cigar
smoke into the nj. aad said nothing.
II couldn't help IT. said In apol.
ogy. That story OF yours about the
lucky uncle and the remarkable SImI.
lnrlty In tnc faces left nm impression
that I could not shake OF. Nor could
resist the impulse to investigate"
Nor L.
Your" jumped from my chair In
excitement. "Youl"
"Ycs. When Graviscourt held that
photograph In his hand detected cyl.
dcnccs OF agitation In his manner.
The impression the whole thing gave
me was very like yours-thc impulse
the same. This morning I rose carly
and visited Trinity Cemetery. In the
afternoon l visited 3O1 Mott street.
the Bureau OF Vital Statistics.
Il saw just what you saw went on
the major: land had IL rot been for n
chance meeting. | would have reached
the same conclusion that you have"
My breath was coming hard from
me now.
"Well?" | gasped.
when I left 3Ol Mott street saw
Graviscourt'8 carriage. Thinking 1t 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
dirty-lookinr drug store. Over the
door was tle sign. Il. Tortoni.' I
saw Graviscourt get out of the car
riage and enter the drug store. |
hurried past. hoping to get look into
the window. | was not disappointed.
] saw the proprietor greet Gravis-
court as an acquaintance. and they
went into a back room. When I re-
turned the carriage was still there.
and woman was in attendance at
the store. The conference between
and Tortoni was long
one.
III ! am not mistaken-I may be,
because dissipation changes faces
hut II / am rot mistaken l.. Tortoni
is no other than DIR. Charles Sigmotta,
Graviscourt's old friend"
SlBmottd. ehcIaiHneu. Inc man
who signed the death certificate of
the Graviscourt child?"
THE same"
This news was so overwhelming
that | sat silently smoking for sew
eral minutes. In fact, but little more
was said by either of us. After few
the major reached over,
poured himself out some wine, drank
1t, and took his hat as IL to go.
saw him to the door. and promising
to meet him at the Lotus Club the
following day. returned to my room,
where / threw myself down on the
couch in the alcove, utterly lost in the
bewildering sensations that the ma
jor's story had aroused.
According to my promise, met
Major Simmons at the Lotus Club at
four O'Clock on tle following after
noon. Dilkins was there, and upon
my invitation we agreed to spend the
evening at Madison Square Garden.
Thus it was that at eight o'clock we
were in our seats at the circus, watch
ing the incoming crowd. which
seemed to me greater than usual.
The intervening acts passed and
Barlotu came. saw Maubikeck
standing near the ropes of the trap
eze, and as the girl passed him, | saw
trIonpa I'm into bic fnca with n