The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-07-27
MQDbke(k, The LOnlQnG[.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author Of "Jack Robbins Of America" IN thu
China Sea-" 1.-TWO Gentlemen Of
Hawaii" 'On a False
Charge" Etc.
Copyright, 1895, by RonEnr Bossr.'s soss.
P II,

L
CHAPTER II.
l had finished with Graviscourt, but
not with Nita Bar!otti. The impulse
to see her again was too strong to be
controlled, and that evening 1 again
occupied q box in Madison Square
Garden.
But l was doomed to a %disappoint-
ment that was keen in the same meas
ure as my former eagerness. Instead
of Barlotti, there appeared on a small
balcony, near the bandstand, the same
greasy, mean-looking Italian, who had
led the trapeze queen away on the
night of her 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 haf 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 l hat insisted dat
she remain quiet under de care of a
doctaire, until she hat fully recovered.
But if she is better tomorrow efening,
so dat it will not do her any harm,
den, maybe, I will allow her to come
one more and gift you pleasure. My
friends, l thank YOU"
Bowling again, the Italian disap-
peared.
did not tarry long. With a feeling
of keen disappointment l left the Gar
den and went to my hotel. AS l was
going up the stairs to my room l met
Major Simmons coming down.
The major accompanied me back to
my rooms, and I turned on the light,
rang for a night waiter and ordered
some cigars of a brand that l 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.
Nov go on" he said. "Tell me
what you have been doing and where
you have been hiding all day."
I t%hereupon told him all that l had
done, leaving out no detail.
While l was speaking the major
looked at me gravely, and when l had
finished he merely blew his cigar
smoke into the air and said nothing.
81 couldn't help it," I said in apol-
ogy. THAT story of yours about the
lucky uncle and the remarkable SINH
larity in the faces left an impression
that l could not shake off. Nor could
[ resist the impulse to investigate"
Nor l."
'You?" l jumped from my chair in
excitement. "You!"
eyes. When Grayiscourt held that
photograph in his hand l 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 l rose early
and visited Trinity Cemetery. In the
afternoon l visited 301 Mott. street,
the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
81 saw just what you saw" went on
the major; land had it not been for a
chance meeting, I would have reached
the same conclusion that you have"
My breath was coming hard from
me now.
"Well?" 1 gasped.
when I left 301 Mott street I saw
G~raviscourt's carriage. Thinking it a
strange coincidence that he should be
in the vicinity, I followed it. 1t stopped
before M 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, Il. Tortoni.'
say Graviscourt get out of the car.
riage and enter. the drug store. ]
hurried past, hoping to get a look into
the window. l was not disappointed
l saw the proprietor greet Gravis
court as an acquaintance, and they
| went into a back room. When I re
turned the carriage was still there
and a woman was in attendance al
/ the store. The conference between
Graviscourt and Tortoni was a Ions
one.
IF l am not mistaken may be
because dissipation changes faces
but if | am not mistaken l.. Torton
is no other than DR.. Charles Sigmotta
Graviscourt's old friend"
"Sigmotta!" l exclaimed. "The MAJ
who signed the death certificate o
the Graviscourt child?"
"The same"
This news was so overwhelmin.
that l sat silently smoking for sew
eral minutes. In fact, but little NOR,
was said by either Of us. After a few
minutes the major reached over
poured himself out some wine, dranl
it, and took his hat as if to go.
saw him to the door. and promisin:
to meet him at the Lotus Club thu
following day, l returned to my room
where l threw myself down on tn,
couch in the alcove, utterly lost in tn,
b~ewildering sensations that the ma
ior's story had aroused.
According to my promise, I me
Major Simmons at the Lotus Club a
four o'clock on the following after