The Elbert County tribune., 1903-01-22
MQubikeCk, me HOfT0lleT.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS.
Author Of slack Robbins Of America" IN chs
chIna Sea-" Two oentiemen Of
Hawaii -on q PAiss
Charge" Etc
o.,,risa,. isss, BY non.rr Bor.-.'. so..,
CHAPTER M.

Maubfkeck, when we had started
from the Garden, had directed the
driver to a certain well-known hotel
much frequented by show people, and
knew where we were being taken
"But what is this Maligni's hold on
the signorina?" asked. Where does
he get his authority over herr
Nita shuddered and crouched closer
to the staIwart frame of Maubilxeck.
He is my master by my fathers
will" she sad in voice that was
touching in its plalntive sweetness.
"And your father was performer
like yourself. was he not. signorina?"
said.
Yes 1 will tell you about his
death when we reach my rooms"
One thing was certain: No matter
how severe. harsh or tyrannical
Maligni might be, he certainly was
not niggardly in regard to Nita's com
fort Number 112 was but the first
of suite of four rooms. one of which
was parlor. one cozy 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 wearily, |
thought, and sank into a chair be-
tween Maubikecl and me. resting her
head in her hands, as II she felt pain
in the temples.
had taken my card from my card
case and handed IL to her.
"Signorina," l said, 81 have become
interested in the mystery that seems
to surround you, and beg you will
fvf Mnuhf1Farlx
in your efforts to unravel 1t. That will
tell you who am"
well, Signor Wilberton,' she said,
twirling the card in her hand, Il sin
cerely thank you. | am greatly un-
nerved by what has occurred. and can
not understand 1t. My life is in dan
ger, and alone am unable to combat
my unknown enemy"
Nov, see here" said. assuming
the authority of detective, Il saw
something tonight which will be of
material interest and aid to us In this
matter. but to get at it right, must
know all about your life"
Nita passed her hand over her brow,
and, after a moment spent in thought,
began: / remember little about my
mother. She was, as | can see her
now, an ordinary woman-of 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 as
regular boardingscholar Madame De
Longs school is in Albany. My life
there was very pleasant. | took con-
siderable interest in my lessons, and
advanced rapidly. When | was four
teen, l was suddenly called from Ma
dame De Longs to hotel in Utica.
remember 1t well. 1t stood near the
railroad. and | believe they called it
Baggs Hotel. Barnum was in Utica
on that day, and, as you know. my
father was Barnum's principal trapeze
performer.
"On this day. my father had grown
dizzy and had fallen from his trapeze,
and had sustained injuries which, the
surgeon in attendance said. must
cause his death. / was taken at once
to my fathers room. / reached there
just one hour before he died. Maligni
was with him when / arrived. and
my father signifed a desire for us
" dppiOd'h hot,tAhtts -HJ AaNAFi
spoke to Maligni in tongue l did
not understand. ! have heard the
same language since, but cannot recall
enough of what was said at that time
to translate or to understand. Then
my father put my hand In Maligni's
and told me in our own language that
he was going to die. and henceforth
was Maligni's. Maligni would take
his place and would take care of me.
remember that sobbed great deal
and kissed my father, and that a sur
geon came and other men, and then
my father died. Maligni attended to
everything, and had my fathers body
taken to Italy for burial. He took me
there also. l never went back to
Madame De Longs. Maligni informed
me that under the terms of the con-
tract by which he took me, was to
fill the place of my father and become
an actress on the trapeze. Oh, the
shame of 1t nearly killed mel l wept
and pleaded with him, but all to no
purpose. He 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 as a training-room.
Here l was compelled to go through
the severest kind of physical training
to perfect myself for the trapeze. At
first refused to wear the tights, and
was severely fogged. Maligni is a
cruel man, and would kill rather than
be thwarted. Well, you do not need
TO be told the details OF my hard life.
Sunce to say that after nearly four
years of severe training, I am before
the public in a role that hate and
desplse. But what can do? Maligni
is my absolute master. II ran away