Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-13
THE TALK OF THE TOWN.
SYNOPSIS.

SYNOPSIS.
Prof Piozzi, Young scientist who e about a,r TO
electrify the world with new sctentific dlscov-
cry is violently in love with Donna Marta :, ward ara
Nine Sara n ] S % b 5naf da ne IS M
becomes angry at the interference
Druce discovers that Nine Sara is obtaining S pat,
Pozzi's discovery An attempt Is made to poison
Piozzi.
ing to keep Piozzi from making known his dis
| covery at a certain scientific meeting, that she
may patent the process and obtain the prohts
| Meanwhile Donna Marta fingered near
me- / began to talk on Indifferent sub
jects, but she interrupted me abruptly.
You are friend of Prof. Piozzi's?" she
said in tentative voice. rs he not
present tonight"
NO" replied 1t occurred to me that
! would test her The professor cannot
be present, and 1 am sorry to have to
give grave reason for his absence. for
doubtless Lady Lauderdale expected him
to grace her reception"
She did; he was to be one of the lions"
she replied, bending her stately head,
with its mass of blue-black hair.
He is ill.," / continued raising my own
eyes now and fixing them on her face.
She gazed at me without alarm and
without confusion. Not the most remote
engaged to the man.
He was at deaths door," I went on,
almost savagely. but he is better. For
the present he is safe"
Il am sorry to hear of his Illness" she
answered then, softly. Il will acquaint
madame. She also will be grieved.''
The girl turned and glided away from
me. / watched her as she went The brief
moment when she fascinated me had come
to an end with that callous glance. But
who was she? What did it all mean?
In the course of the evening Donna Mar
ia came up to my side.
Mr. Druce," she said, abruptly, you are
Prof. PioZZi's friend?"
Certainly" l answered.
VIII you warn him from yourself-not
from me, not on any account from me-to
keep in the open Saturday week? You
must make the best of my words for
cannot explain them. Tell the professor,
whatever he does, to keep in the OPEN
Donna Marital" called Mime. Saras voice
The girl sprang away. Her face was like
death, but Nine. Sara's eyes met hers
noticed wave of crimson dye her face
and neck.
On my way home 1 told Vandeleur Of the
strange words used by Donna Marta. He
shrugged his shoulders
1T is my firm opinion" he said, that the
unfortunate girl moves and speaks in
state Of trance. Madame has mesmerized
her. have not a doubt of it,
You may be right 1 said eagerly And
the state of trance may have been removed
when she said those words to me. That
would make possible solution. But what
car she mean by asking the professor to
keep in the open?'
The girl evidently warns us against
Nine Sara he said briefly land circum-
| stances, all circumstances, seem to point to
the same deadly danger. Where madame
goes death walks abroad. What Is to be
done? But there, Druce." he added with
petulance, 1.-THE professors life is not my
affair. I must sleep or / shall lose my
senses. Good night, good night"
The next few days passed without Ivy
special occurrence of interest. / neither
saw nor heard anything of madame and
her strange young guest, neither did
hear of the professor nor did / see Van
deleur. / called on him once. but he was
out. and the servant informed me that his
master was particularly busy. and in con-
sequence was hardly ever at home.
At last the day dawned which was to
see Prof. Piozz in the moment of his glory.
1 had a line from Vandeleur by the first
post, telling me that he had secured tickets
for himself and for me for the lecture at
the Royal Institution that night. Soon aft
erward I found myself at Vandeleur's