The Holly chieftain., 1903-02-27


want to marry her. She was . sooa
girl and her name was Nita-
Late in the night l. took the child.
and when my brother was asleep I
stole from his hosse and carried the
child to Nita- told her ali about
my brother. and she promised not to
say one word. for ! knew my 0rother
would kill me II he knew. was then
intend to find out who the child was.
and If she mad parents who lsve her.
give her back. But I must go with
Maligni in the circus, and l leave the
little girl with Nita till l come home.
When come home my brother
Charles was gone. and I never saw
him again. Nita was married to me
and she called the little girl Nita. after
herself. For a few year my wife
Nita and little Nita travel with me in
the circus. but my wife Nita take sick
and die. Then l haf little Nita put in
q big school in Albany. and she is
there now.
II haf pin and locket and
chain wich little Nita wore. wich
haf kept. They will be in the box
with this letter. On the pin is the
name Alice The locket haf picture
of a beautiful lady. took this pic
ture out and put little slip Of paper
under 1t with the date on 1t when.
found the child.
.'This is all know. love little Nita
like she was my own. My brothers
name is Charles Sigmotta, but do
not know where he is. Little Nita
bany, in the Stat of New York.
II swear by all the holy saints that
what hat written is true.
ANTONIO SIGMoTTA."
Here. indeed, was a valuable docu-
ment. My exultation was SO great
that seemed to have Ralph Gravis-
court completely routed. and Edith
Broughton's sweet face seemed to
smile encouragingly at me from way
across the sea. But after few min
utes Of supreme qualification, the
thought flashed over me that the
statement Of Antonio Sigmotta, other
wise known as Barlotti, did not in any
way connect Ralph Graviscourt with
the case. OF course. the photograph.
the pin with the name Alice engraved
upon 1t and Nita Barlotti's striking
resemblance to the wife Of Charles
Graviscourt. were to my mind conclu-
sive evidence. but would the evidence
hold in law? 1 knew 1t would not.
took the locket from my pocket.
removed the picture and found . slip
OF white paper bearing a date. ex-
amined this. and my heart throbbed
with excitement when saw that the
date of Doctor Sigmotta's attempted
murder of Nita Rarlotti was the same
as that inscribed upon the tomb.
stone In Trinity cemetery, New York,
as the date of little Alice Graviscourt's q
death. carefully replaced the paper
| and the picture, and with wild dreams
OF what might occur II ever escaped
from the clutches Of the prefetto, |
passed the remainder of the night hall
sleeping on a broad, low couch that
stood In one corner OF the guard room.
In the morning was served with
substantial breakfast and soon
after had disposed of 1t was con-
Quoted before the prefetto The elder
Maligni looked at me with a venom
GUS glance. and saw in the faces of
the crowd of men around him not one
g.ance of fr;endliness.
Amo-g the spectators was q rascal.
Unlocking fellow who was called by
the prefetto "Pordino," and as he
seemed to have the friendship of the
powerful Maligni, at once identi-
fed him as the Count di Pordino, the
uncle of Henry chorlans, spoken of
by Mutterelli. ut
Nita was not brought into the room
during the trial. and did not seem to
be an important factor. There was
not . friendly voice. raised in my be.
half. l made en- attempt to speak,
but was ordered to be quiet. :.
When the testimony was. all in, the
prefetto turned to me, and said:
Young man. have listened to the
evidence against you, and hnd that
you are guilty of the murder Of my
brother. From to-day. you are the
same as dead. The sentence which l
shall impose upon you is that you be
put In the Cagliari prison and work
Tor the state during the remainder of
your life. That IL ali I have to say
to you" as es
Butt" cried. springfng to my feet,
Il am not guilty. swear to you, pre-
fetto. that do not know who killed
your brother! had no cause to hate