The Elbert County tribune., 1903-02-26
os.yrisA,. is1s, by norrrr Bossr.'. SON.
CHAPTER I'M.

lUR.
The dominant thought, of course,
was that l had got myself in a bad
scrape and would probably lose my
life. For one moment the thought
aid come to me: There is tire United
States minister 1 dismissed the
idea as holding out no hope. had 70
means of communicating with our rep
resentative. In fact, was entirely
cut off from all communication with
the world. My friends would prob
ably never know what became of me.
My only hope was Mutterelli. And
where. through all of this. was Nut
terelli?
Calling to my assistance all the
nerve | possessed. / resolyea to put
on as good a face in the matter as
possible. and not allow the prefetto or
his guards to see amy signs of weak
ness in my demeanor.
The room in which | was held was
well lighted by large lamp which
hung from the ceiling. drew
chair under the lamp. and with the
same nonchalance which would have
characterized me had | been m my
favorite corner at the Lotus Club with
the major and Dilkins around me in
stead of the black-lookinF sardinians,
l pulled from my pocket and began to
read the paper | had taken from the
table in Pacho Malignfs room. II
read as follows:
New York City, in the Stat New
York, in the United Stats of Amer
lea. May 16. IS.
TO the person who, when am
dead. shall obtain this paper. salute.
1t is that l am at every day in the
great danger of being killed by an
accident of my profeshun that leave
in this form the story of Nita Bar
lotti. that perhaps in ssome long day
TO become she may be restor to those
where she belong and who haf lost
her And I, who am known to the
world as Barlotti the Trapeze King,
pray to that person who reads these
words to do what he can and what
cannot to the good end tnat Nita Bar
lotti may know who she really is,
and may come into her own If she is,
as l belief, the daughter of a rich
person.
1T will be a surprise to the person
who find this to know that my name it
is mot Barlotti. but Sigmctta. Yes.
| am Antonio Sigmotta and Barlotti
is the name haf take in the circus to
please my brother, who was very rich
and physician in New York
When | came this country I was
poor-very poor. went to my
brother, and ne was angry to me in
words. but he did some kindness to
me that he let me live in hi house
till | haf money to keep myself. I
make contract with Maligni to go in
the circus as trapeze actor, and M
brother max me change my name, so
not to disgrace him.
"One day | went into my brothers
private room for something. 1t was a
workshop-he call laborator.a or some
like that. 1t was at the nj hit, and
was very dark. My brother was in
his bedroom.
Il lighted the gas in the laboratoria,
and found what | was looking for
some medicine he gave me when l had
the aching of the lead
AS | was about to turn back the
gas to go out, | saw bundle on the
floor. 1t seemed to me that it move.
Then | stood stIn, and | hear a hltIe
cry like a child. | rush to the door.
| listen for my brother, but he not
to be hearu- 1 open the bundle. II
was a sack. with stringJ, in the end.
1T had in it little child-a girl. |
drew 1t out. The child breath and
moan, but do not seem to know, and
then | know my brother had given 1t
a drug.
Then | hurry, trembling much, and
took some cloths and other things
and make rag baby just the size of
the child | took from the sack put
the rag baby in the sack and made 1t
tight like it was before opened
it. Then | quick Gerry the live child
to my room and hide it in my bed.
Then | watch. Pretty soon my brother
come and go to the laboratoria.
keep quiet SO he do not hear me, and
follow him. He take the sack and my
rag baby and steal from his own
house like he was thief. and know
he was worse. Still, | follow MIN.
My brother went into dark street
and went to the docks on the East
river. saw him take a stone and
tie a cord to it and around the sack
Then he throw all into the water
When he saw 1t sink he turn round
and sneak home.
Il had in New York. near my
brothers house. a sweetheart met
her at concert hall. and | oftcn went
to see her at her house. She was
great singer. and love her. so
want to marry her. She was a gooI
girl and her name was Nita.
Late in the night took the child.
and when my brother was asleep
stole from his house and carried the
child to Nita. | told her all about