The Lamar register., 1903-02-18

making but little progress, but gradu'
ally becoming boluer and stepping
along at a livelier rate.
At last | was under the balcony.
There, where my foot was cure to
strike it. was a ladder. Selling it,
braced one end of it against my foot
and placed the upper end carefully
against the balcony. Fortunately, /
made no noise. l crept up the ladder.
and. stepping onto the balcony.
crawled along until | reached that
window that Mutterelli had pointed
out to me as Nita's. l peeped in. My
heart beat faster. The girl l sought
was before me.
l tapped gently on the window.
Nita was clad in white. At my sig
nal she turned toward the window. l
stood where the light streamed full
upon me. Quickly stepping to the
window, she opened it.
"Ah! 1t is you. signor?" she said.
Yes, it is l." | replied, surprised
at her calmness. You expected me?"
81 expected-some one. One of my
masters servants secretly told me
that at nine o'clock man would
come to speak to me. l thought 1t
would be Maubikeck. Where is he?"
Listen signorina," l said, speaking
quickly, in a low tone; 'the lion
tanner and | started from New York
on the same steamer. In mid-ocean
we had an accident. The ship was
sunk. By Maubikeck's heroism l was
put aboard a small boat and saved. He
placed upon me the dur of rescuing
you from Maigni. l have not seen
Maubikeck since. He may be on his
way to you. He may be"
Dead"
She stood before me with her hands
pressed to her painting bosom, he
eyes fixed upon me in horror.
Il do not say so, signoriEa." I re-
piled. 1T is possible that he was
saved. l will tell you all when we
are safe from Malignis clutch. To
morrow is your wedding day."
Yes. tomorrow" she said. "Oh,
will go! l must go! Maubikeck is
not dead! He cannot be dead. He
is too noble to die like that! Oh. it
is terrible! Signor Wilberton, tell
me. do you think he IS dead?"
'Nita," | said, Il cannot say. !
fear and hope. Yet the chances are
that Maubikeck went down with the
ship"
She fell back. half fainting. but
recovered herself
.MaubikecK! My love! My love!"
she murmured. Dead! Oh, it is too
bitter!"
You must be brave. signorina."
said. I'VE must make haste.'
Yes, yes" she SAID. 81 will so.
Anything is better than to De Ma
ligni's wife"
II will return" said, my heart
full of pity for the girl. who was now
sobbing and weeping bitterly. II will
return soon. Be ready"
Leaving her. l stepped softly to the
other window.
In a large room, at q desk or table,
sat Pacho Maligni. Near him was
lamp. by the light of which he was
reauing some manuscript.
At his hand. on the table. stood a
red tin box. My heart leaped and
dashed against my ribs. Near the
box lay golden trinket-a locket and
chain. A short distance away lay
pima baby's clasp-pin.
He must have heard something. He
raised his head and sat in a listening
attitude. Then, laying the paper he
had been reading down upon the
table, he arose from his chair and
stepped hurriedly from the room.
Here was my opportunity. Deity
felt the window. 1t was not fasten-
ed. Quickly | pushed it open and
trf tha
locket lay open. face up. Glancing at
it, l saw that 1t contained picture.
Selling 1t, l looked at it closely. My
brain seemed on fire. 1t was a minia-
ture facsimile of the photograph
which Dilltins had found in the rooms
of Ralph Graviscourt. In other words,
it might be the likeness of Charles
Graviscourt's wife as she was many
years ago. or of Nita Barlotti as she
was at the very moment. The pin
had the name Alice" engraved upon
it. Quickly Selling these and the
paper. | thrust the locket and pin in
my trousers pocket and the paper in
the pocket of my coat.
Rushing from the room, I met. at
her window, Nita, pale-faced and tear
stained, but nerved to the effort oil
making her escape. She was envcl-
oped in n cloak.
Selzing her hand. l led her to the
ladder and helped her down. When
| reached the ground l drew the lad
der away.
"Come!" l said. And, without a
word, she followed me.
Suddenly there was a cry.
Great heaven!" exclaimed. MA
lignr has returned and discovered