The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-07-21
|M1l1lHt, hE | II Nj 81
BY SEWARD W. hopkins. /
Author Of "Jack Robbins Of Ansfses.' ,;'la tn
China Sea- Two 0eatlemen NofS y 7
Hawaii ''On . Palss
HidYt, Charge" Etc.
Copyright, 1895. by Ronxnr Boss..'. sous.

not with Nita Barlotti The impulse
to see her again was too strong to be
controlled. and that evening | 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 small
| balcony near the bandstand. the same
greasy, mean-loolsing 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 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 i'll, and my regard for dis young
lady is so great dat l hat insisted dat
she remain quiet under de care of a
doctaire. until she hat fully recovered.
But IL she is better tomorrow efening,
SO dat it will not do her any harm.
den. maybe. will allow her to come
once more and gif you pleasure. My
friends, thank you"
Bowling again, the Italian disap-
peared. t,t.. IN -sars,s.
l did not tarry long. With feeling
of keen disappointment left the Gar
den and went to my hotel. AS was
Major Simmons coming down.
The major accompanied me back to
my rooms. and l turned on the light
rang for night waiter and ordered
some cigars of brand that l knew
the major liked, and also some wine.
having appeared. the major lighted a
cigar and eEsconced 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.
A>o" 81 Oh ne odiu Gil uic
what you have been doing and where
you have been hiding all day"
l thereupon told him all that had
done, leaving out no detail.
While I was speaking the major
looked at me gravely, and when had
finished he merely blew his cigar
smoke into the air and said nothing
Il couldn't help it," I 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
resist the impulse to investigate"
Nor L.
Your l jumped from my chair in
excitement. YOU"
Yes. When Graviscourt held that
photograph in his hand l 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 1 rose early
and visited Trinity Cemetery In the
afternoon l visited 301 Mott street,
the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Il 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?" I gasped.
when left 3O1 Mott street saw
Graviscourts carriage. Thinking it a
strange coincidence that he should be
in the vicinity, l 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.
rage and enter the drug store !
hurried past, hoping to get a look into
the window. was not disappointed
4 saw the lpropfietoH greet Gravis
court ssasa an acanaihtanee., and they
went into back room. When I re-
turned the carriage, was still there
and "a woman Maslfin attendance al
the store. The conference between
Gravisaourt and .Tortoni was a lonns
one.
IF am not Mistaken may be
because, dissipation changes, faces
| but if I am not mistaken L. Torton
i@is,no7 other than. Dr. Charles Sigmotta
GTaviscourt's old friend"
"sigmotta:'I exclaimed. 'The mar
who signed the death certificate 20
the GrayiscourtAchild?1
The same" \. !,
hlss@newsy7was so-Toverwhelmias
that sat silently smoking for sey
erals minutes. II, fact, but little NOR,
was said,by either Of, us. Il After a few
minutes the major reached over
\ poured himself sout ssome wine, dranl
|sit, and. took his .hat.as,iffto go.:;..
saw him to the. door, and promisin.
to meet him at the Lotus Club ahi
following day; ~ ereturnedsteemy room
where l threw myself down on I'll
h c1Aeain the aic0ve, 3itterlyg1Qstsin tn
beN Herring sensatiohs TIT he ma
n ioSs 4fory had aroused. us
II. !, VI ( pfo q - I hse
/ MAJOR Simmons at the LOtuS CiubH6