The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-07-20
MQuDIkeCk, HE Lion Toner.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author of Jack Robbins q America" in the
China Sea- 1.-TWO Gentlemen Of
Hawaii" "On q Palse
Charge" Etc,
Copyright, 1895, by ROBERT BoSNKl's SoHs.

| CHAPTER II.
had finished with Graviscourt, but
not with Nita Barlotti. The impulse
| to see her again was too strong to be
controlled, and that evening l again
occupied a box in Madison Square
Garden.
! But l was doomed to disappoint-
ment that Was keen in the same meas
ure as my former eagerness. Instead
of Barlotti,. there appeared on a small
| balcony, near the bandstand, the same
| greasy, mean-looking Italian, who had
led the trapeze queen away on the
! night of her successful debut. This
| creature bowed low to the audience
| that had poured their silver into his
| Golfers and in a thick voice said:
Ladies and Shentlemens: 1t hat be-
come my sad duty to inform you dat
| you will be disappointed great dis efen-
| ing. De bright star, de Won shining
| jewel, of dis great aggregati-one of
| mammoth attractiones, will not be
able to appear before you dis efening.
| Signorina Barlotti hat been suddenly
| taken ill., and my regard for dis young
| lady is so great dat hat insisted dat
| she remain quiet under de care of a
| doctaire, until she hat fully recovered.
| But if she is better tomorrow efening,
so dat it will not do her any harm,
| den, maybe, l will allow her to come
once more and gift you pleasure. My
friends, | thank YOU"
Bowling again, the Italian disap.
peared.
| | did not tarry long. With feeling
of keen disappointment left the Gar
! den and went to my hotel. AS | was
| going up the stairs to my room l met
! Major Simmons coming down.
The major accompanied me back to
my rooms, and l turned on the light,
rang for a night waiter and ordered
| some cigars of a brand that l knew
the major liked, and also some wine.
These comforts of a bachelors life
having appeared, the major lighted a
cigar and ensconced himself comfort
ably in large armchair, resting his
head on the high back, and throwing
/ one leg over the other, settled into a
lazy position.
Now go on" he said. TELL me
what you have been doing and where
you have been hiding all day."
l thereupon told him all that l had
done, leaving out no detail.
While | was speaking the major
! looked at me gravely, and when l had
finished he merely blew his cigar
| smoke into the air and said nothing.
Il couldn't help it," l said in apol-
ogy. That story of yours about the
| lucky uncle and the remarkable SINH
| larity in the faces left an impression
that could not shake off. Nor could
I resist the impulse to investigate"
Nor L.
"You?" I jumped from my chair in
! excitement. "You!"
| Yes. When Graviscourt held that
| photograph in his hand | detected evil
| dences of agitation in his manner.
! The impression the whole thing gave
me was very like yours-the impulse
the same. This morning l rose early
and visited Trinity Cemetery. In the
afternoon | visited 301 Mott street,
the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
II saw just what you saw" went on
the major; land had it not been for a
| chance meeting, would have reached
the same conclusion that you have"
My breath was coming hard from
me now.
"Well?" l gasped
when I left 3O1 Mott street saw
| Graviscourt's carriage. Thinking it a
strange coincidence that he should be
in the vicinity, followed it. 1t stopped
before one of the most miserable
places in the Italian quarter. In the
| lower portion of the building was a
| dirty-looking drug store. Over the
door was the sign, Il. Tortoni.'.
| saw Graviscourt get out Of the car
riage and enter the drug store. I
hurried past, hoping to get look into
! the window. l was not disappointed.
saw the proprietor greet Gravis.
court as an acquaintance, and they
| went into a back room. When | re-
| turned the carriage was still there,
and a woman was in attendance at
| the store. The conference between
! Graviscourt and Tortoni was a long
: one
IF 1 am not mistaken-I may be,
! because dissipation changes faces
, but if l am not mistaken L. Tortoni
/ is no other than DR.. Charles Sigmotta,
Graviscourt's old friend"
"Sigmotta!" exclaimed. 1.-THE man
who signed the death certificate of
the Graviscourt child?"
The same"
This news was so overwhelming
that l sat silently smoking for sew
| eral minutes. In fact, but little more
was said by either of us. After a few
minutes the major reached over.
poured himself out some wine, drank
it, and took his hat as IL to go. I
| saw him to the door, and promising
to meet him at the Lotus Club the
following day, I returned to my room,
where l threw myself down on the
To- H. IL