Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-02-27

not know where he is. Little Nita
is at Madame De Longs school In Al.
bany. in the Stat OF New York.
II swear by all the holy saints that
what l haf written is true.
"ANTONIO SIGMOTTA."
Here. indeed was valuable docu-
mcnt. My exultation was SO great
that I seemed TO have Ralph Grayis-
court completely routed. and Edith
Broughton's sweet face seemed to
smile encouragirfly at me from way
across the sea. But after a few min.
utes OF supreme qualification. the
thought flashed over me that the
statement OF Antonio Sigmotta, other
wise known as Bariotti. did not In any
way connect RaIpA Graylscourt with
the case. OF course. the photograph.
the PIN with the name Alice engraved
upon It and NIta Barlotti's striking
resemblance to the wife of Charles
Gravlscourt. were to my mind eonclu.
siye evidence. but would the evidence
hold In law? | knew IL would not.
took the locket from my pocket.
removed the picture and found a slip
OF white paper bearing n date. ex'
amined this. and my heart tlrobbed
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 GrayIscourt's
death. carefully replaced the paper
and the picture. and witt Wild dreams
OF what might occur IL ever escaped
] - a.
passed the remainder CT the night half
sleeping on n bread. 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 II | was con
ducted before the prete,to. The elder
MallgnI looked nt me with n venom.
Gus glance. and saw In the faces OF
the crowd OF men around him not one
s.nnce OF fricndllncsE.
Among the spectators was n rascal.
ly.looking fellow who was called by
the prefctto ''Pordlno." and rs he
seemed to have the friendship OF the
powerful Maiisni. at once idcnti.
fed him as the Count dI Pordino. the
uncle of Hcnry rhorians. spoken OF
by MuttcrcllI.
Sita was not brought into the room
during the trial. and did no, seem to
be nn Important factor. There was
no, friendly voice raised In my be-
half. I made I'm attempt TO speak.
but WIS ordered to be quiet.
When the testimony was NIL In. the
prcfe,to turned to me. and said:
Young man. ! haye listened to thS
evidence against you. and ind that
you are guilty OF the murder of my
brother. From TO-DAY. you are the
ynmc Us dead. The Eentcnco which I
shall impoEc upon YOU Is that you he
put In the cagiiari prison and work
Ior the state during the remainder OF
your life. That Is all I have to say
to you
Butt" cried. springing TO my feet.
= am not guilty. ! swear to you. pre-
fctto. that | do ret know who killed
your brother! had no cause to hate
him OF TO wish him dead! But other
had! An attempt Mt his life was
made In New lorE. saw Il. hut
had rothlrE TO do with It. Your
brother had cnc;aics wio have
tracked him here. =
"Erough! You we're seen yesterday
In company with aro;hcr. examining
my villa ard grounds. Al night my
brother Is murccrcd and you are
found on my property. carrying OF
my brothers promised wife. 1t Is
enough"
iren tIrrlrg 20 the guard. he N.
tered command. and | was, conduct.
a .Aa A.H -
on.
As entered the great iron gates OF
the priron yard. ard heard them clanE
behind me. | rclt the deepest despair.
My clothes were taken from me.
and was clad in the bl.colorcd pris
ON suits with which Sardinia clothes
its prisoners.
These suits are made of stuff very
similar to that In use for the same
purpose In the United States. but the
colors. instead of running in stripes.
are divided In the middle. one.half
measuring from lire drawn from the
nose downward. is dark and the other
light. When had been thus clothed
| had one arm. leg and the right side
OF my body black. and the left arm.
leg and half of my body n dirty gray.
My watch. the gold locket and pin
that I had taken from Mallgni were
taken from me. but the letter OF An.
ionic Sigmotta was returned TO me
with shrug OF the keepers should
ers. rs II to say that II the possession
Of piece OF paper would make me
any happier. might have 1t. for all
lac cared to the contrary.
This done. ! was conducted with
scant ceremony to dungeon cell
My cell was perhaps twenty feet
square. high up in the tower. and
| overlooked the north.
The floor was OF stone.and the walls
| of some kind OF cement. The fur.
niture consisted of an iron bedstead.
an old chair. and n small tble. Tae
light came through a small grated
window which was above my head.
For time. after | reached my cell,
was greatly worked up, the excite.
ment of the day and of the previous
night having a trying effect on my
nerves. But as the hours wore OH.
the fct that | had slept little began
| to tell on me- and | grew drowsy.