Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-01-23
MQubkeCk, |he u01FIQHgT.
Nv SEWARD W. HOPKINS,
Author Of "Ja-k Robbins Of America" In th'
China Sea-" Two Gentlemen oi
Hawaii" On n False
Charge" Ets.
Copyright, isas, by EoHrsr Bossr.'. sOsa
CHAPTER III.

driver to a certain well-known hotel
much frequented by show people, and
knew where we were being taken.
But what IL this Malisni's hold on
the signorina?" | asked. Where does
he get his authority over herr"
NIta shuddered and crouchcd closer
to the stalwart frame OF Mnubikeck.
'Yie Is my master by my fathers
WILL" she sad In n voice that was
touching In It's plalntive sweetness
And your father was a performer
like yourself. was he not. slgnorina?
said.
Yes will tell you about his
death when we reach my rooms"
One thing was certain: No matter
how severe, harsh or tyrannical
Mallgrl might be. he certainly was
not nIggardly in regard to Aita's com
fort. Number li2 was but the hFst
OF a suite OF four rooms, one OF which
was a parIor. one n coy little dress
Ing.room, and the other two. bed
rooms. one for Nita and one for the
old hag who served her.
She stepped rather wearlly. l
thought. and sank into chair be-
tween Manbikeck and me. resting her
head In her hands. as II she felt pain
In the tompica.
had taken my card from my card
case and handed II to her.
'slgnorina." I said. Il have become
interested In the mystery that seems
to surround you. and beg you viii
allow me TO assist you and Maubikcck
la your Efforts to unrayel H. That VIII
tell you who am
well. slgnor wilbcrton." she said.
twirllng tho card In her hand, Il sin
ccrely thank you. am greatly un'
ncrvcd by wha; has occurred. and can
no, understand II. Ny life Is In dan
ger. and alone am unable to combat
my unknown enemy
Nov. hcc here" I said. assuming
the authority OF a detective. Il saw
something to-ulgat which win be OF
material interest and aid to ua In ,aia
matter. but to get at Il right. | must
know all abou, your life.
Nlta parsed her hand over hor brow.
and. after n moment spent In thought.
began; remember little about my
mother. She wan. aa can see her
now. an ordinary voman-ot course.
an Italian. She died when ! was.
perhaps. seven years OF age. Then my
father took me to Madame De Longs
school. and placed me there nS n
regular neutrality-suspicious.. Madame De
Longs school Ia In Albany. My iifc
there was very pleasant. took con
siderable interest IN my lessons. and
advanced rapidly. when I was four.
teen. was suddenly called from Ma
dam. De Longs to a hotel In Utica.
remember IL well. I; stood near the
railroad. and believe they called II
BaEga Hotel. Barnum was In Utica
ON that day. and. as you know. my
father was laTnum'u principal trapcEc
pcriorncr.
ION this day. my father had grown
dizzy and had fallen from his trapcEc.
and had Eus,aInci Injuries which. the
surgeon In attendance said. must
cause his death. was tnNcn nj once
to my fathers room. reached there
lust ono hour before he died. Maligni
was with him when arrived, and
my father Aignincd desire FOR ua
to approach together. My father
spoke TO MaiiEni In n tongue did
not understand. have heard the
same language since. bu, cannot recall
enough OF what was said nj that time
to translate or to understand. Then
my father pri my hand I'm Maligni's
and told me IN our own Language that
he was rni to die. and hcnccforth
was Maiirnis. Maligni would take
his place and would take care OF me.
remember that sobbcd great deal
and kissed my father. and that a sur.
gcon came and other men. and then
my father died. AniiEni attended TO
everything. and had my fathers body
taken 10 Italy for burial. He took me
there also never went back to
Madame Dc Longs. Maligni informed
mo that under the terms OF the con.
fll the place Of my father and become
an actress on tho trapczc. oh. the
shame of II nearly killed me! | wept
and pleaded with him. but all TO no
purpose lie was not TO be moved
by my tears or my prayers. and in
the house at which We lived he had
one room fitted up ns n traininEroom.
Here was compelled to go through
tho sovcrcst kind of physical training
to perfect myscif for the trnpczc. At
first refused to wear the tights. and
was severely noEEed. Maligni is a
cruel man. and would kill rather than
be thwartcd. Well. you do not need
to be told the details of my hard life.
Suffice to say that after nearly four
years Of severe training. I am before
,he public In a role that hate and
despisc. But what can do7 Maligni
ia my absolute master. II I ran away
from him. he would capture mo and
bring mo back TO my degrading life.
What can do?"
Nita paused here. as II she was
weary. had taken a small notebook
from my pocket, and was jottinE down
nll the Important points of her story.
Btill, there was rothing In IT that shed
The slightest ray OF light on the mys.
terry in hand.
Now, signorina." said. let me ask
you a question: Your trapezo is al.
ways In the care OF the same person.
is 1t not2"
Not one, hut two" she replied
"fThp Two attendants arn rnItnd San.