The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-08-10
Copyright, 1895. by ROBERT Bossrs's Sons.
CHAPTER ~.

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
thai of the pursuers. Maligni, Nita,
Dambo and Tortoni we're gone-evap-
Observation-Disclosures 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 Maligni
had disappeared. l. 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 l was there, a heavy footstep
was heard outside, and we both look
ed up knowingly. The door opened
and the lion-tamer entered.
1t was at once evident from the ex-
preston of his face that he had
learned something.
well, lion-tamer." said the major,
what is new today"
The hunt is ended, so far as this
continent is concerned" was the reply
of Maubikeck, as he quietly sat down
near us.
Ended" I exclaimed, excitedly.
Have you found them?"
mo. But l have traced Them" he
said, with a grim sort of satisfaction
in his tones. "Maligni and Nita are
on board the steamship La Gascogne,
which sailed from this port three days
ago. OF course. they are en- route to
Italy. or, more particularly speaking,
to the Island of Sardinia, where Ma
ligni intends to make Nita his wife.
Il have just left police neadquar-
ters," the lion-tamer went on. The
superintendent was about to send for
you and me when l arrived there.
The police explain their failure to find
Maligni while he was in New York
by saying that he was aided by his
fellow-countrymen here to outwit all
pursuers. Even when he sailed he did
so under the name of Luigi Bariloti.
record of passengers. so the SUI
p~erintendent says. shows the names
Luigi Bartlett and his daughter, Sig
norma Bartlett, and Mariana, the at
tendant of the s%ignorina. From vari-
GUS descriptions gathered by the po-
1jnn 0f those nnNn1o frnr, t.,n oor- ,,o-,r
they concluded at once that they were
the persons sought. And l am inclined
to agree with them"
"True enough" l said. 'The search
is ended. Now the chase begins. OF
course you will follow them"
"Mr. Wilberton,' said Maubikeck,
extending his right arm" as long as
there is n drop of blood flowing
through my veins, it flows for Nita
Barlotti. There is an arm that has
before been raised in her behalf, and
which will be again, and there is
another like it, equally quick to
strike; and these two arms, wording
together, will tear limb from limb that
nan who Injuries Nita Bariott1, or
marries her against her will, be he
in America. Italy, or at the
Of the earth. l shall follow"
"Good!" l said. 1--WE can get away
at once. When shall we sail?"
Maubikeck looked at me in surprise.
The major wheeled his chair around
and faced me.
1--WE! Wei" he calculated. care
you going to Italy?"
Il am going wherever Maligni
goes" l replied. HE has something
that l want as much as Maubikeck
wants Nita. The red Rx. We will
go together. lion-tamer, and hunt the
%scoundrel down"
think well over this, Mr.. WiIber-
tor," said Maubikeck, "before you de-.
eide finally to go. Hunting a mar in
Sardinia. where Maligni 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 be met with
there that cannot be imagined. Once
in Sardinia, Maligni can kill the man
who follows him, and will 1ot suffer
for the crime. If anything happens
to me. you would be at the mercy
of the most dangerous lot of brigands
in the world"
l laughed al this.
"Brigands there may be, Maubikeck,
but all Sardinia is not given over to
the industry OF brigandage. I am de-
termined to follow Maligni and obtain
that red box, or wiring from him the
secrets it contained when he got it
from Barlotti."
Then | will say no more" said the
lion-tamer. eff you insist upon going,
then go with me. l thought only of
your own safety. Personally, l shall
be glad to have you for a companion"
So it was settled, and, after a little
more talk, the lion-tamer and | started
uptown.
1t was with a feverish haste and
impotence that l made my final ar
engagements to leave New York.
Our program was laid down by Maui
bikeck, 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.