Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-01-30
o.,,r,sh,, 1876, by nonrHr Bossr.'. Boz.
CHAPTER ~.

-
for me TO relate In detail the manner
In which we passed the days imme-
diately following the disappearance OF
Maligni and Nita Barlotti. But the
skill of the pursued was greater than
that OF the pursuers. Maligni, Nita,
Dambo and Tortoni were gonc-cvap-
orated-vanished-a completely as
though they had never existed In New
York at all. We communicated freely
and constantly with other cities. and
did every thing that could be done
to prevent their departure from the
United States without detection.
One day. two weeks after Malisni
had disappeared. !. nervous and fret
full. sat In the Office OF the Board OF
Park Commissioners. OF which Major
Simmons was now president. pouring
out TO him my bitterness OF spirit over
the failure to trace Maligni.
While was there. heavy footstep
was heard outside. and we both look
cd up knowingly. The door opened
and the llon.tamer entered.
II was at once evident from the eS'
preston of his face that he had
learned something.
well. lIontamer." said the major.
what Is new today"
The hunt Ii ended. so far as this
continent Is concerned" WAS the reply
OF Manbikcck. ns he quietly sat down
near us.
Ended" I exclaimed. eScltcdiy.
Have you found thcmI''
ssNa has 4 A.ra sr.n.b than, 4" hA
said. with n grim sort OF satisfaction
In his tones. "Mnligni and Nita are
on board the steamship La Gascosnc.
which sailed from this port three days
ago. OF course. they are en- route TO
Italy. or. more particularly speaking.
io the Island OF Sardinia. where Ma
iigni Intends to make Nita his wife.
Il have Just left police neadauar-
tcrs." the iion'tamcr went on. The
superintendent was about To send for
you and mo when I arrived there.
The police explain their failure 10 md
Maiisni while he vas In New York
by saying that he was aided by his
fcllow.countrymcn here 10 outwit all
purRucrz. Even when he sailed he did
20 under the ramc OF Luigi nariioti.
The record OF passengers. 30 the Hu'
pcrintcndcnt says. shows the names
Luigi Bartlett and his daughter. Sis.
norma pariioti. and Mariana. tho at
'trndant Of tho KiEnorinA. From Sari'
Gus descriptions gathered by the po'
lice OF these people from t:ir company.
they concluded at once tia; ,acy were
the persons sought. And ! attn Inclined
TO agree with them
True cHoush.- I said. The search
IL ended. Sow the chase begins. OF
course you Wiii follow them
MIR. wiibcrtnn." saId Aianhikcck.
extending his right arm as long as
,hcr- il one drop Of blood ioUiaE
through my scins. Il nows for Sita
Bariotti. Thcrc IL an Erm that has
before been raised 10 her behalf. and
which ~iil ec again. ami there is
another like u. equally quick TO
strike: and these two arms. wording
together. will tear limb from limb that
man who injuries Nita Bariotu. OF
marfics her against her ~ili. b. he
in America. Italy. or at the corners
OF the earth. shall follow
-Gooi'- I said. we can get Away
at once. when shall NC ssiiT-
Msubikcck looked at me In surprise.
Tho major wheeled his chair around
and faced me.
"wc, Wei" he calculated. Are
you going TO Iisiy7-
4 am sn'rE wherever MaiiEni
goes I rcpii 4. ''Hc has something
that I want ss much as Maubikcck
49,
~ together. iion.tamcT. and hunt the
scoundrcl down.
Think well over this. Mr.. wtibcr.
ton said Maubikcck. before you dc.
eide finally TO go. Hunting a man In
Sardinia. where MaiiEni Is certainly
going, is very different form hunting
him In New York. where you have the
assistance of a great police force.
There are dangers to he met with
there that cannot he imagined. Once
In Sardinia. MAiiggi can kiu the man
Who follows him. and will not suffer
for the crime. n anything happens
TO me. you would be at the mercy
Of the most dangerous lot Of briEsnds
In the world"
I laughed at this.
"BriEands there may be Maubikcck,
hut all Sardinia Ia not given over to
the industry Of briEandAEc. am de.
turmined to follow MaliEni and obtain
that red box. or wiring from him the
secrets IL contained when he got It
from Barlptti'
Then I will say no more said the
lIontamer. III you insist upon going.
then go with me. I thought only Of
your own safety. Personally. I shall
be glad to have you for companion
So It was settled. and. after a little
more talk, the lion.tamer and started
uptown.
It was with fcvcrish haste and
impatience that made my final ar.
rangements to leave New York.
Our program was laid down by Mau.
bikcck. who naturally assumed the
leadership OF our expedition. And. as
he had said in the presence Of the
major and once since that he knew
something Of Sardinia. the place Of
leader seemed rightfuliy to belong to
him.
OF course the purpose Of our journey
was known to no one but the major
Maubikecl;, Diliins and myself. And
even Dilkins had not been let into the