The Holly chieftain., 1903-01-23

toct, repl5o4. n o0nAaxp TIT 3ogg
before BarlokH ~. = Enxs ~. nj I
to Halisnl. anA also s1ye In asrsd
tin box which vas locked yith q brass
paddock At the same time be spoke
to Mallgni n the eardin;an tltslecL
which Nita aid not undegstanal. nd
Maligni was apparently ysey nuchs u
cited and surprised IT What he said.
Later. Nita asked Natlgni wha,:. vas
In tho box, and he told her II con-
tanned the contract under whicl,. her
father had worked"
Then explained the system rndef
which the trapeze acrobat had worked.
and repeated Nita's story for the ma
jor's benefit.
Il agree with you" he said. that
the contents Of that red box are I'm.
portant. But how to get it?" 4
Our conversation was interrupted g.
this point
The major and walked to my hotel.
where he left me. 1t was two O'Clock
in the morning when reached my
room. WEAKNESS soon overcame me,
and retired. It seemed 70 me that
had scarcely slept At all wien was
startled from my siumber by a terrific
banging at my door. 'e7s''s'
who is there?" shouted.
ut Ia I-Maubikeck!" was the re-
ply; and the voice in which 1t was
uttered was SO full of excitement that,
unmindful of my scant attire. I spraRg
to the door to admit my visitor. His
face was working with passion, and
with stride he was in my room.
They've gone!" he roared. "Gone!r
Comet" l echoed. who's gomez"
"signorina Barlotti. Maligni, the old
woman, Dambo, and all the rest!" he
said, painting with excitement. 81 went
to their hotel while ago. and the
clerk told me that Maligni and his
people-that meant Nita and the hag
left before daylight, and left no in
formation as to where they were go
ing. They've gone-they've gone!
That devil Maligni has taken her
away-her-my love-my Nita!"
As he calculated these words, the
lion-tamer strobe back and forth in
my room. There was pathos in his
grief and rage that touched me even
more than my own disappointment
did.
But" l said. reassuringly. "they
cannot escape US. We will go to
Byrnes, Superintendent Of Police. and
he will catch them for US. Maligni
cannot leave New York without heing
detected"
"Maligni cant" replied Maubikeck.
"Maligni could wriggle out of hell,
and Satan himself could not prevent
him"
hastily, dressed, and Maubikeck
and made our way a. quickly as pos
sible to, police headquarters and told
our story. Superintendent Byrnes at
once sent out orders to his men to
make thorough search Tor the party.
Leaving the superintendent, q sud.
den thought rushed upon me-a recol-
lection of what the major told me
about the druggist Tortoni. hastily
told something Of this to Maubikeck,
and knowing about where the store
was located. we hurried there. We
found 1t easily, and rushed in. A
woman stood behind the counter.
II want to see the druggist, Tortoni,
at once" said. imperatively.
'He Is gone away. she said In
broken English. "He is gone to Eu-
rope
When did he go?" asked in am.
azement.
Yesterday he sailed" was the re.
ply.
Believing this to be lie, turned
to Maubikeck and said: sf3F
ut is thicker than we supposed.
There are many engaged In the
Affair.""
From Tortoni's drug store we went
to the hotel where Maligni and Mia
had been stopping.
There they told me just what they
had told Maubikeck.
Have you any objection. 70 open.
ing the rooms!" I asked. A
The clerk smiled.
NO" he replied. Here is the key
to Ill. and this to liz. You may go
up II you want to-"
We mounted the stairs and entered
number 112. 1t was bare Of every.
thing save the hotel furniture. Just
AZ We were leaving. happened to
see bit of folded paper on the floor.
i picked 1t up. Reading 1t. I handed
1t to Maubikeck.. As he read 1t, his
face grew pale and he uttered q fierce
curse under his breath. This is what
uyps xurtffor ~, tho nopar ~ a ,,rott,,