Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-01-05


wife. He came to Paris to watch
her"
Who was the man he suspected?"
asked Mackwortii.
can Englishman. Will not mention
his name.'' added Pietro after Sec
onds hesitation.
''Well?"
Il received Marco as friend; he
had no money and lent him some; he
stayed with me; and through my In.
nuence I got him place in the orches-
ira Of the Vaudeville" said PietrO with
an amusing air of patronage.
And he remained there?"
LAS long as was in Paris
When did YOU leave?" inquiries
Mackworth.
The first week in June"
why did you leave Paris?"
Pietro shrugged his shoulders and
looked shrewdly at his questiOner.
You see, had been there for years."
he answered, and had posed as q
model to all the great artists until
was tired of seeing myself for ever on
the walls of the Salon year after year
and in the picture shops. had been
Narcissus. and Romeo, and Mercury,
and David, and Icarus, and. Perseus,
and Leander and ST John, monk. e
d.yad, martyr, an Arab, a bandit, ev-
to myself / would try London. NY
friends, they told me artists did not
know how TO paint here but that they
paid models We'll. and so, as I knew
their language, l came here for q
! change"
Remembering the words Carlo had
| spoken, Mackworth doubted If this ex-
| PLANTATION of Pietro's departure from
Paris was correct: but. as at present
it seemed to have no bearing on the
case under investigation, the inspector
forebore to question him OH the point.
.l,s, H.,
Paris? 2"
Yes. Then through drink he lost,
the place l had got for him, and he
could get no other
Mas he in the habit of drinking?"
Yes, he had become a drunkard."
Now said Mackworth, rising slowly
from his chair and approaching the
| model, was it While you were in Paris
that Mezza, on attempting to draw his
knife, was knocked down in the Rue
Cajas by the man of whom he was
jealous 2"
Pietro's eyes met those of his aues-
TONER in a steady glare, but without
| expressing surprise or fear.
All" he said. Il thought you had
come to question me about him--the
Englishman who was killed" And he
nodded his head knowingly.
Il have"
And you will have noticed. signor,
have spoken to you openly"
You have not answered my last
| question:"
No; was not i'm Paris when it hap
pened; I was here. l can prove it to
| you, / can prove everything say"
$50 much the better" replied Mack
worth.
Then you are what is called"
"A detective; yes
After you had said you We're not an
artist | began to suspect you We're {:
| policeman in disguise, and l was right"
said Pietro, admiring his own shrewd-
| ness
Very we'll. You must now tell me
| everything you know about Mezza, and
be sure of your statements. for you will
| probably be called to repeat them at his
| trial.
You have but to ask, will tell you
| all l KNOW" answered Pietro.
What time did Mezza come here7"
1T was in July, toward the end.
| When one evening l had come back
from ST. Johns Wood, where I had
been posing all day, found him here
| waiting me-
Did you expect hiln?"
"No.'
why did he come to London?"
II will tell you" answered Pietro
! after a slight pause.
The TRUTH
Inc truth, SlSnOr. lie missed inc
| Englishman from Paris and he came
| here in search of him.
With the intention of killing him?"
| Il will not say so much; but the Eng
lishman he had struck Mezza and
Knocked him down, and Marco said he
would have revenge"
And he had suggested Mackworth.
That l don't know, signor" replied
lietro With a serious air.
He remained here with you while
he was i'm London
| He did,
Then you saw him the night David
| Dumbarton was killed.
NO, 10. no." answered Pietro ex-
citedly. "Mateo remained here but
| little while. He went away to Paris in
| August"
Are you sure?"
THAT | will swear"
And when did you see him again?'
II have not seen him since
| MaclSworth frowned and looked at
| the model searchingy.
DO You mean to say that MeZZa was
not here in September" he asked.
II do. You can ask my neighbors.
| they will say rs l have"
"ProbablN," replied Mackwortl, feel
ing assured that the whole Italian col
ony would back UP Pietros statements
! Then after moments reflection he
| continued, Look here, this is a serious
| business and if you wish to get out of
it safely, YOU had better tell me all you
! know"
Il have, replied Pietro, bis dark eyes
/ flashing under his contracted brows,
one hand raised in vehement gesticu-
laion.
Then if Mezza was not With you ON
| the night of the murder where was
| he?"
THAT ! can't tell don't know
| said to you l have not seen him since
August, the Italian replied in a loud
| voice.
but YOU know ii was he who muir
| dered Dumbarton?" Mackworth cen-
tured TO say.
NO, no. l don't know it was Mezza:
now could l when | did not see lim?'
said Pietro angrily You come here
and ask questions: answer all I know
| y''u want to make me say what 1 don't
| lsEow," and he turned away muttering
| maledictionS TO himself.
Very we'll. tell me where he Is now"
Il can't tell you. | don't know
did you not hear from him?''
No. Soon after his going away
from here l wrote asking him for some
of the money he owed me. but got no
answer. l know nothing more"
Had he any other friends in Lon
| dom"
"All the Italians here knew him, but
1 don't think he had any friends. Mar
| co was not a man to make friends:
he was silent. he never laughed, and
was often drunk. Other of our people
did not like him."
And you don't know where he IL
now" persisted the inspector.
Continued Next Weekly