Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-01-16

one that carried Baflotu eioft ana
brought her down again. was burning.
II had evidently been saturated with
oil. for IL burned fiereeiy. and the
flames licked upward as only the
flame OF burning oil can do.
And signorina Bariotti. when she
saw the flames coming toward her.
gasped and hung half fainting ON the
bar OF her trapeze.
had left my seat and had drawn
nearer to the ground inside the trap
eze. ! saw there was still a rope that
held this In its place. and down which
the siri might slide with safety. !
was about to call to her when saw
an attendant OF the cireus-evtdentiy
an italian-toueh q match to this rope
and the fame began its deadly work.
Apparently ! was the eniy one who
saw the act. and ! sprang forward to
seize the misereant. but he disap-
peared like u snake In the crowd.
Al that moment ! heard q dee?
voice near me calling:
''Nita. Mia, Hold fast to your bari
I. Maubikeck. will save you."
Turning. ! saw tse lion tanner al
the newly fired rope. and regardless
OF burned hands he was trying to
extinsuish the flames. ! stepped to
his side and helped him.
Together We fought the devilish
fame. my hands being severely
burned. until the lower part OF the
rope was free from fre.
Above there MAS stili flame. and II
was rapidly licking It's way toward
the trapexe.
Hold this rope Tight" shouted the
iion.tamcr in my ear.
Instinetiyeiy I seized II. and In m.
other moment the major was with me.
Together we pulled at the chnrred
rope. while MaubikecL climbed up.
ward. cstinsuishing the flames rs he
progressed.
Suddenly pistol sho, ranI out and
a cry Of horror swept over tn. pant.
IE.. excited crowd. looked upward.
expecting to zee either Maubikcck or
Bariotti fall dead.
To my surprise neither the lion.
tamcr nor Ni,a exhibited any signs
OF having been shot. Above the roar
OF the crowd heard his voice.
'Sita." he cried. -Nita. Leap
into my arms' DO not hesitate! !
can hold you."
The Girl. obedicnt to his command.
and confident OF his power. swun. the
burning trapcxc outward. then inward.
and releasing the bar icapcd squarciy
at Maubikcck through space. His out.
stretched hands seized her and held
her safe.
simultaneously with Nita's courage
ouu leap. came = cry from the crowd.
"Naiigni's shot" some oEc cried.
and the cry was taken mp and echoed
nil over the garden. The upronr In.
creased and the center OF excitement
moved away from us to that point
where tho wounded Snowman lay. In
few minutes Maubikcck had de.
sccndcd with his haiffainting burden.
and his bruised hands held her ton.
derby. while hask OF brandy that
some person handed to the major was
pressed 10 her lips.
Get her safely home" said the
major. "Dick. you stay and help the
lion.tamcr. ! am going to see what
has happened to the Italian
Can I be OF any hcip?" I asked
Manbikcck.
"who are your" he asked In reply.
"wiibcrton. OF the Lotus Club"
answered.
Come with u.s. he said. Perhaps
you may be able TO help me solve this
hellish mystery. The girl Is sur.
rounded by enemies. who are trying
to kill her. The reason we do not
know. Come with us to her hotel.
Maiigni will no, Interfere tonight"
Motioning for me to follow. the lion.
tamer led her away. and followed Mt
respectful distance. He took her
first to her dressing.room, where he
left her in charge OF an attendant.
Then he Joined me.
When Nita Is dressed" he said.
I'VE will go to her hotel. | am not
accustomed to New York. You may
be able to help us find her enemies"
Keeping the knowledge OF what I
had seen-the Italian firing the rope
for future divulgence. stood with
Maubikeck. awaiting the appearance
of the trapeze queen.
As Nita came from her dressing
room. she was accompanied by an
ugly Italian woman, who acted prob.
ably in the capacity Of maid and at.
tendant. but moe particularly.
learned later, as a sort of keeper or
watchdog for Maligni. Upon this
woman's face there was a look of
angry protest. as II she had held forth
against the departure of Nita with
Maubikeck and myself. But the girl
came forward and was met by the
lion-tamer. who placed her hand OH
his arm and led her through private
hall and exit to the street. had
hesitated about accompanying them,
but AIaubikeck had repeated his re-
quest that / should assist him, II pos
sible. to unravel the mystery Of the
murderous animosity with whicn the
girl was surrounded
When Maubikeck spoke Nita turned
turned toward me ard said:
You are the gentleman who as.
sisted in saving my life. thank
you, sir, for the great kindness. Sure
ly. am in some persons way: and
unless the secret is discovered,
shall. no doubt, be murdered. II you
can help me, you will win my grati
tude."