The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-07-27

ly, I am in some persons way, ana
unless the secret is discovered, I
shall, no doubt, be murdered. If you
can help me, you will win my graft,
tude."
Thus p~rettily asked, I walked be.
side them, and the old woman cam
ambling after, muttering to herself
things I could not understand, but in.
which l frequently heard the name
Maligni.
Now, there was more than one rea.
son why it seemed perfectly proper
for me to accompany Nita and Maui
bikeck, ard lend what assistance I
could in this time of need. To begin
with, l was much interested in the
girl herself-personally-because of
her grand beauty, and the romantic
interest always attached to a beautiful
girl in her position.
Secondly, 1 was interested in Mia
Barlotti, as has been shown hereto
fore, because she closely resembled
the photograph of Charles; Gravis.
courts wife, and because in that re.
semblance there had seemed to be
some shadowy hint that Graviscourt
was not all that he seemed to be be-
fore the world. And in striking at
Graviscourt, l was striking a blow
for my own love, and this is a motive
that will always stir the heart of a
man whose love is withheld from him
by another's will.
Thirdly, l was interested in the
lion-tamer. He impressed me as be-
ing no ordinary individual-very diff
ferent from the average circus at
tache, as was Barlotti herself, and
in the evidences of love that 1 had
seen pass between these two, I had
seemed to e a reflection of my
own, and this claimed my interest.
if nothing else.
Fourthly, I had seen the act Of the
nan who had set fire to the trapeze
rope, and was, no doubt, the only hui
man being, save himself, who had
seen it. 1t became me, therefore, to
aid Maubikeck and Nita by using the
knowledge I possessed, and by iden.
tifying the miscreant who had fired
the rope, ascertain through him his
motive, or, if he had been employed
to do the thing, the name of his
cowardly employer.
One of the facts that I learned BY
this adventure was that the stars Of
a circus lived, when away from the
glare and tinsel of their profession,
much like other people with plenty
Of money to spend.
Leaving the Garden by means OF
one of the private entrances, Maubi-
keck hailed a carriage. 1t was a
good one, and was drawn by a team
of well-fed, sleek-looking horses, and
l thought it was probably the one he
used every night for his own convey
ance, and we all got into it. Maubi.
keck and Nita sat together, and the
old bag sat with me, with our backs
toward the driver. She was not a
pleasant carriage companion, and I
would gladly have exchanged places
with Maubikeck. The old woman
sTayed back and forth, moaned,
wrung her hands, and spoke fercely
to M%aubikeck, who told her with I'M.
mistakable emphasis to hold he,
tongue.
81 will explain this woman's We
hemence, Signor Wilberton," said the
lion-tamer. "Pacho Maligni is a hard
master and a jealous man. He allows
no one but himself and those hired
for the purpose to come near Nita
Barlotti. Believe me, this is the first
time since we opened in Madison
Square Garden that I have accom-.
panied the signorina to her hotel. Ma.
ligni keeps her constantly under his
care, and this woman is employed by
him to prevent others-principally
myself-from coming into the pres.
ence of the signorina. That we are
enabled to be with her now is due
solely to the mishap which has be.
fallen Maligni. He may be dead at
this moment or seriously wounded.
That he is wounded is certain, or he
would have been on hand as usual
to take Nita to the hotel" Il
"And where does Maligni live?" I
asked.
cat the same hotel"
ITO be c%Ontinued.o