The Lamar register., 1903-01-21
THE two attendants are called San

are small like snakes, and CLEAN
and glitter all the time. His hair is
not ong, but his mustache is very long
and has straight waxed ends
Hal" l said. "Dambo is the man
we want. He is the fellow who set
fire to the ropes"
"Dambo!" Nita murmured, Il can
hardly believe it. Did you see him do
it, Signor Wilberton?"
81 saw him fire the second rope
after which he disappeared in the
crowd and could not catch him. We
will see to Mr.. Dambo later. "Signor-
ina, now think hard for few minutes.
| am going to ask you strange ques-
tion."
She looked at me with a patient
smile on her weary countenance.
You may ask it," she said.
Has anything that you can recall
in your life-any incident. any word,
any look, any act, seemed to indicate
that you were not Barlotti's daugh-
ter?"
"Signor Wilberton!" she gasped.
"Maubikeck!" The cry was like that
of frightened child, and Maubikeck
drew nearer to her, and placed one
of his giant arms around her.
You understand" l continued.
that l don't suggest this as being
true, but simply ask the question. You
have none of the characteristic fea-
lures of the Italian race. I should
| judge you to be either English or
American. Now. can you think of any
incident at the bedside of your
| father"
STAY" she cried. Let me think.
| At my fathers bedside-ro. / was SO
confused and frightened and sorrow
full that l scarcely saw. No. there
could be nothing. My father gave me
to Maligni. and the box"
"Box!" | said, interrupting her.
You said nothing about a box be-
| FORE"
SIT was a red tin box" she said.
locked with a little brass paddock.
My father gave it to Maligni.. and said
something in the tongue have since
learned was Sandman. l asked Mali
| gni once what the box contained. and
he said it contained the contract be-
| tween him and my father"
81 would give much to gain posses
sion of that box" | said. DO you
know where Maligni keeps it?"
mo. l have never seen it since the
day my father died.
Just then there was n great tramp
| ing of feet in the hall, which stopped
at the door opposite. I opened the
door of Nita's room and peeped out.
| There were three men there-Maligni,
with his face all hidden in bandages.
my old friend, Doctor Dinsmore. and
Major Simmons. The doctor and the
major went inside witl Maligni, but
remained only few minutes. When
| heard them come out. said:
"Sigrorina, you have already had
too m,O excitement tonight. and you
need rest. The first thing to be done
is to find Dambo. which l shall set
about as soon as | have my burned
hands attended to-
"Oh. you are too generous and
kind" she said. "You are suffering
on my account. 1t is too bad
1T is nothing" said. Now we will
see the doctor and have our burns
dressed. Come. Maubikeck."
He followed me out and hurried
after my friends. | caugnt them at
the door of the hotel.
"Ah; Wilberton!" exclaimed Major
Simmons, when hailed him and Doc
tor Dinsmore. II have been looRing
for you! How is the girl?"
"Nita is all right" replied. "How
is Maligni?"
"Maligni is more frightened than
hurt" said Doctor Dinsmore. THE
bullet was evidently intended for his
brain, but missed its marx. He will
be well in few days"
Here l presented the l!on-tamer to
my two friends.
You are not through your work for
tonight. DOCTOR l said. "Maubi
keck's hands are badly burned, and
mine in less degree. They must be
attended to-"
We got into the carriage that Mau
bikeck had used to bring us to the
hotel, and Doctor Dinsmore, at Maubi
keck's request. gave the coachman the
address of his office. We were soon
there.
Maubikeck, being more severely
burned than l, was. of course, first
taken care of by the physicians
While they were busy sat Gown near
the major.
WELL" he said, in low voice that
Maubikeck could not hear. what do
you think of 1t all, anyway"
II am more than ever convinced
that our original suspicious were cor
rect" I replied. 1T appears that Just
before Barlotti died. he gave the girl
to Maligni, and also gave him red
tin box which was locked with brass
paddock. At the same time he spoke
to Maligni in the Sardinian dialect,