The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-04-25

At last | was under the balcony.
There, where my foot was sure to
strike it, was ladder. SEEKING it,
/ braced one end of it against my foot
and placed the upper end carefully
against the balcony Fortunately,
made no noise. crept up the ladder
and, stepping onto the balcony
crawled along until reached that
window that Mutterelli had pointed
out to me as Nitas | peeped in. My
heart beat faster. The girl | sought
was before me.
| tapped gently on the window.
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.
"Yes, It is l." | replied, surprised
at her calmness. you expected me?"
Il expected-some one. One Of my
masters servants secretly told me
that at nine o'clock a man would
come to speak to me. | thought it
would be Maubikeck. Where is he?"
Listen, signorina," | said, speaking
quickly in a 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 Maubikeck's heroism ! was
put aboard a small boat and saved. He
placed upon me the dut.' 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, he-
eyes fixed upon me in horror.
q do not say so, signorina," re-
piled. 1T is possible that he was
saved. | viii tell you all when we
are safe from Maligni's clutch. To
morrow is your wedding day"
"Yes. tomorrow" she said. "Oh,
/ will go! l 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." said, Il cannot say.
fear and hope. Yet the chances are
that Maubikeck went down with the
ship"
She fell back, half fainting, but
recovered herself
"Maubikeck My lovel My loye!"
she murmured. Dead! oh. it is too
bitterl"
You must be brave signorina,"
said. I'VE must make haste"
"Yes, yes she SAID. q will so
Anything is better than to be Ma.
ligni's wife"
Il will return" l said, my heart
full of pity for the girl, who was now
sobbing and weeping bitterly. Il will
return soon. Be ready"
Leaving her, stepped softly to TIE
other window.
In a large room, at a desk or table
sat Pacho Maligni Near him was q
lamp, by the light Of which he was
reading some manuscript.
At his hand, on the table, stood Z
red tin box. Ny heart leaped ant
dashed against my ribs. Near ths
box lay a golden trinket-a locket ant
chain. A short distance away lay {
pin-a baby's clasp-pin,
He must have heard something. HI
raised his head and sat in listening
attitude. Then. laying the paper hs
had been reading down upon tn,
table, he pr0se from his chair ant
stepped hurriedly from the room.
Here was my opportunity. Deftly
felt the window. 1t was not fasten
cd Quickly pushed it open ant
stepped into the room. The golC
locket lay open. face up. Glancing a
1t. | saw that 1t contained a picture
Selling 1t, looked at it closely. M.
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
Graviscourt's wifc as she was man,
years ago, or of Nita Barlotti as shi
was at the very moment The PHI
had the name alice" engraved upol
it. Quickly seizing these and tn
paper, | thrust the locket and pin il
my trousers pocket and the paper ii
the pocket of my coat
Rushing from the room, met, a
her window, Nita pale-faced and tear
stained but nerved to the effort 0
making her escape. She was envel
oped in a cloak.
Selzing her hand, led her to tn
ladder and helped her down. Whei
! reached the Ground | drew the lad
der away.
"Come." | said And. without
word, she followed me.
Suddenly there was a cry.
Great heaveni" | exclaimed. MA
ligni has returned and discovers
your escaped"
"You will be killed, signor,' SAT-
Nita.
"And your"
4 will be married. That is still
worse"
Let us hurry. They may not !.
able to catch us before we reach tn