The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1905-07-28
MQuDikeCk, The Lion Toner.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author OF Jack Robbins Of America "In the
China Sea-" 1.-TWO Gentlemen Of
Hawaii" "On False
Charge" Etc.
CHAPTER IN.

driver to a certain weliknoWn hotel
much frequented by show people, and
! knew where we were being taken.
But what is this Maligni's hold on
the signorina?" / asked. Where does
he get his authority over her?'
Nita shuddered and crouched closer
to the stalwart frame of Maubikeck.
Gle is my master by my fathers
will" she sad in voice that was
touching in it's plaintive sweetness.
And your father was performer
like yourself, was he not, signorina?
said.
Yes | will tell you about his
death when we reach my rooms.'
One thing was certain: No matter
how severe, harsh or tyrannical
Maligni might be, he certainly was
not niggardly in regard to Nita's COM
fort Number 112 was but the first
of suite of four rooms, one of which
was parlor, one a cozy little dress
ing-room, and the other two, bed
rooms, one for Nita and one for the
old bag who served her.
She stepped rather YEARLY. l
thought, and sank into a chair be-
tween Maubikeck and me, resting her
head in her hands. as if she felt pain
in the temples.
had taken my card from my card
case and handed it to her.
"Signorina," said, 81 have become
interested in the mystery that seems
to surround you. and beg you will
allow me to assist you and Maubikeck
In your efforts to unravel it. That will
tell you who am"
"Well, Signor Wilberton," she said,
twirling the card in her hand, II sin
cerely thank you. l am greatly un-
nerved by what has occurred, and can
not understand it. My life is in dan
ger, and alone am unable to combat
my unknown enemy"
Now, see here" said, assuming
the authority of detective, II saw
something tonight which will be of
material interest and aid to us in this
matter, but to get at it right, | must
know all about your life
Nita passed her hand over her brow,
and, after a moment spent in thought,
began: remember little about my
mother She was, as l can see her
now, an ordinary woman-of course
an Italian. She died when l was,
perhaps, seven years of age. Then my
father took me to Madame De Longs
school, and placed me there as a
regular boarding-scholar Madame De
Longs school is in Albany. My life
there was very pleasant, took con-
siderable interest in my lessons, and
advanced rapidly. When l was four
teen, was suddenly called from Ma
dame De Longs to hotel in Utica.
i remember it well. 1t stood near the
railroad, and believe they called it
Baggs Hotel. Barnum was in Utica
on that day. and, as you know, my
father was Barnum's principal trapeze
performer.
ION this day. my father had grown
dizzy and had fallen from his trapeze,
and had sustained injuries which, the
cause his death. was taken at once
to my fathers room. l reached there
just one hour before he died. Maligni
was with him when arrived, and
my father signif1ed desire for us
to approach together. My father
spoke to Maligni in tongue did
not understand. have heard the
same language since. but cannot recall
enough of what was said at that time
to translate or to understand. Then
my father put my hand in Mal1gnis
and told me in our own language that
he was going to die, and henceforth
was Maligni's. Maligni would take
his place and would take care of me.
l remember that sobbed a great deal
and kissed my father, and that sur
geon came and other men, and then
my father died. Maligni attended to
everything. and had my fathers body
taken to Italy for burial. He took me
Madame De Longs. Maligni informed
me that under the terms of the con-
tract by which he took me, was to
fill the place of my father and become
an actress on the trapeze. Oh, the
shame of it nearly killed me! 1 wept
and pleaded with him. but all to no
purpose. He was not to be moved
by my tears or my prayers, and in
the house at which we lived he had
one room fitted up as training-room.
Here was compelled to go through
the severest kind of physical training
to perfect myself for the trapeze. At
first I refused to wear the tights, and
was severely flogged. Maligni is a
cruel man, and would kill rather than
be thwarted. Well, you do not need
to be told the details Of my hard life.
Suffice to say that after nearly four
years of severe training, l am before
the public in role that hate and
despise. But what can do? Maligni
is my absolute master. If ran away
from him, he would capture me and
bring me back to my degrading life.
What can ]. do?''
Nita paused here. as If she was
weary. had taken a small notebook
Rom my pocket, and was jotting down
all the important points of her story.
Still, there was nothing in 1t that shed
the slightest ray Of light on the mys-
terry in hand.