Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-12-06
CHAPTER Ky.

On reaching MariA Rose1li's house,
the number Of which had been given
him by Lorenzo. the inspector Knocked
loudly, and then inpatiently waited for
m answer None came, nor did
any sound of voice or movements
within the dwelling indicate that
il was tenantcd. He raped again
with like result and then stepped into
the street to view the dwelling. As he
did so, the high, narrow door from
which the paint had long since faded,
opened. and a woman's figure stood
framed in the portal.
Nlackworth, eagerly observing her,
saw she was tall and thin, her years
about sixty. her regular features wear
ing a hard expression, the dark eyes
cold and speculative, the face lined and
wrinkled, something masculine in bear
ing
Are you Maria Roselli?" he asked,
advancing toward her.
Yes" she replied, returning the gaze.
"Thcn want 10 speak 70 YOU"
"You can talk here she said in ex-
ccllcnt English.
1T is something don't wish to say
in the street"
She hesitated a moment, then drew
aside to let him pass into the hall,
closed the door, and ushcred him into
4 barely furnished, uncarpeted room.
rs Marco Mczza in the house ?
Mackworth began
Marco Mezza'" she repeated, with
ottt surprise being noticeable in her
voice or face mo"
"rhen where is hc?"
81 don't know" she replied, frigidly
But he has been here?"
ooh, yes"
When"
"Some time in September. I don't re-
member the date
Il want you to tell me all you know
about him"
"Why?" she asked, staring hard at
Mackworth.
q am police officer He may be
concerned in a very serious business; :;
you will see why | ask for him"
Macliworth saw she expressed neither
astonishment, interest nor anxiety. His
words left her perfectly indifferent to
their inference.
Il know very little of this Mezza He
came here some weeks ago, as | have
said"
"EIe was friend Of yours?"
Il had never seen him before A Nea-
politan living in Paris gave him my ad-
Dress" she answered
Glow long did he stay with you?'
"Three days. would keep him no
longer"
"Why?" asked the Inspector, anx-
iously.
"WelI, he was nearly always drunk,
and then he was ill; his coughing kept
my other dodgers awake at night. My
house was no place for him
"And so you got rid Of him."
81 told him he should go to the hos
pital"
"And he went?"
"TIe left here for the hospital, but
don't know if he ever went there she
answered, the same calm Indifference
noticeable in her manner.
What hospital?"
"The Italian; he spoke little English
and afterwards-did he return to
you?"
NO; he knew I would not take him. .
'Have you made no inquiries for
| him?'
NO; why should II" Maria Roselli
asked, in her hard voice. Il have to
| mind my business if | would live, and
I have had trouble enough in my own
| life without going in search of it among
| strangers"
Had he any friends to see him while
| he was here?"
Not one He slept all day. because
he was awake coughing all night. When
| he went out in the evening 1t was to
the public house"
(Which public house?"
"That | don't know"
| "And he returned alone"
! always"
| After this the woman moved towart
| the door, as if to indicate the inter
view must end. She had neither the
curiosity nor sympathy to inquire what
| it was Mezza had done to put the police
on his track
| Mackworth, seeing she could give nc
more information, became impatient tc
reach the Italian hospital, which he knew
was situated in Queens Square. There
no doubt, he would be able to learr
where Mezza had gone on being dis
charged, and perhaps to trace directly
to him the mad deed which, no doubt
his illness and want of opportunity hat
prevented him from committing during
the first days of his return to Eng
land.
Passing through the wide hall of th'
hospital, which had been the dwelling
Of people of fashion when Queen Ann'
reigned, Mackworth was shown into
reception room, and soon the doc
opened, and the superioress entered an'