The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1905-07-21
M0QDikeCk, The Lion 1Qngr.
sBv SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author Of Jack Robbins 81 America" I'm the
China Sea-" 1.-TWO Gentlemen Of
Hawaii" On a False
Charge" Etc.

CHAPTER III.

not with Nita Barlott. The impulse
to see her again was too strong to be
controlled, and that evening | again
occupied box in Madison Square
Garden.
But | 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, meanlooking Italian, who had
led the trapeZe queen away on the
night of Ter 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 i'll, and my regard for dis young
lady is so great dat hat insisted dat
she remain quiet under de care of
doctaire, until she haf fully recovered.
But II 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, l thank you"
Bowling again, the Italian dsap,
peared.
I did not tarry long. With feeling
of keen disappointment l left the Gar
den and went to my hotel AS was
going up the stairs to my room | met
Major Simmons coming down.
The major accompanied me back to
my rooms, and turned on the light,
rang for night waiter and ordered
some cigars of brand that | 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 a 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"
| thereupon told him all that had
done, leaving out no detail.
While l 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" 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
resist the impulse to investigate"
Nor L."
"You?" jumped from my chair in
excitement. "You!"
Eyes. 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 I rose early
and visited Trinity Cemetery. In the
afternoon visited 3O1 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?" I gasped.
when left 301 Mott street I 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, T.. Tortoni.'
saw Graviscourt get out of the car
riage and enter the drug store. I
hurried past, hoping to get look into
the window. was not disappointed.
! saw the proprietor greet Gravis-
court as an acquaintance, and they
went into back room. When l 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.
\ Al Oil uOI luASldhCu@x uldy U0,
! because dissipation changes faces
4 but II am not mistaken L. Tortoni
4 is no other than DR.. Charles Sigmotta,
! Graviscourt's old friend"
"Sigmotta!" exclaimed. "The man
who signed the death certificate of
the Graviscourt child?"
The same"
This news was so overwhelming
that 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
1t. and took his hat as IL to co. l
saw him to the door, and promising
to meet him at the Lotus Club the
following day, returned to my room,
where threw myself down on the
couch in the alcove, utterly lost in the
bewildering sensations that the ma.
jor's story had aroused.
According to my promise. met
Major Simmons at the Lotus Club at
four o'clock on the following after.
noon. Dilkins was there. and upon
my invitation we agreed to spend the