The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1905-09-02

| There, where my foot was sure to
strike it, was a ladder. Selling it,
l braced one end of it against my foot
and placed the upper end carefully
against the balcony. Fortunately, |
made no noise. l crept up the ladder,
and, stepping onto the balcony,
crawled along until / reached that
| window that Mutterelli had pointed
| out to me as Nita's. l peeped in. MY
heart beat faster. The girl I sought
was before me.
Nita was clad in white. At my sig
nal she turned toward the window. |
stood where the light streamed full
upon me. Quickly stepping to the
window, she opened it.
"Ah! 1t is you, signor?" she said.
Eyes, it is l." I replied, surprised
at her calmness. "You expected me?'
81 expected-some one. One Of my
masters servants secretly told me
that at nine o'clock man would
come to speak to me. | thought it
would be Maubikeck. Where is her
Listen, signorina,' said, speaking
quickly, in low tone; "the lion
tanner and l started from New York
on the same steamer In mid-ocean
we had an accident The ship was
sunk. By Maubikecl's heroism l was
put aboard a small boat and saved. He
placed upon me the duty of rescuing
you from Maligni. / have not seen
Maubikeck since. He may be on his
way to you. He may be-"
"Dead!"
She stood before me with her hands
pressed to her painting bosom, her
eyes fixed upon me in horror.
81 do not say so, signorina," I re-
piled. 'It is possible that he was
saved. will tell you all when we
are safe from Maligni's clutch. To-
morrow is your wedding day."
Eyes, tomorrow" she said ooh,
will go! I must go! Maubikeck is
not dead! He cannot be dead! He
is too noble to die like that! Oh, it
is terrible! Signor Wilberton, tell
me, do you think he is dead?"
''Nita," I said, 81 cannot say I
fear and hope. Yet the chances are
that Maubikeck went down with the
ship"
She fell back, half fainting, but
recovered herself
''Maubikeck! My love! My love!"
she murmured. Dead! Oh, it is too
bitter!"
'You must be brave, signorina," l
said 1--WE must make haste
Eyes, yes" she SAID, Il will go.
Anything is better than to be Ma
lignis wife"
81 will return" I said, my heart
full of pity for the girl, who was now
sobbing and weeping bitterly. II will
return soon. Be ready"
Leaving her, / stepped softly to the
other window.
In a large room, at a desk or table,
sat Pacho Maligni. Near him was a
lamp, by the light of which he was
reauing some manuscript
At his hand, on the table, stood q
red tin box My heart leaped and
dashed against my ribs. Near the
box lay a golden trinket-a Iocket and
chain. A short distance away lay a
pima baby's clasp-pin.
He must have heard something. He
raised his head and sat in listening
attitude Then, laying the paper he
had been reading down upon the
table, he arose from his chair and
stepped hurriedly from the room.
Here was my opportunity. Deity
I felt the window. It was not fasten-
ed Quickly 1 pushed it open and
stepped into the room. The gold
locket lay open, face UP. CHANGING at
it, | saw that it contained a picture.
Selling it, looked at it closely. My
brain seemed on fire. 1t was a minia-
ture facsimile of the photograph
which Dilkins had found in the rooms
of Ralph Graviscourt. In other words,
it might be the likeness of Charles
years ago, or of Nita Barlotti as she
was at the very moment. The pin
had the name "Alice" engraved upon
it. Quickly Selling these and the
paper, l thrust the Iocket and pin in
my trousers pocket and the paper in
the pocket of my coat.
Rushing from the room, met, at
her window, Nita, pale-faced and tear
stained, but nerved to the effort OF
making her escape. She was envel-
oped in a cloak.
Selzing her hand, I led her to the
ladder and helped her down. When
l reached the ground drew the lad
der away.
~'Come!" l said. And, without a
word, she followed me.
Suddenly there was a cry.
Great heaven!" l exclaimed MA
ligni has returned and discovered
your escaped"
"You will be killed, signor," said
Nita
"And you?"
Il will be married! That is still
worse"
LET us hurry. They may not re
able to catch us before we reach the
carriage. We may yet escape"
Keeping as we'll in the shadow as
possible, led my beautiful companion
swiftly forward.
Suddenly there was a rushing sound