Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-05

Luigi, 1t is true, was an organ grind.
er. but be it understood that the fra.
ternity OF street musicians, as well as
its lower and middle classes, has its
aristocracy.
Luigi was not one of those swarthy
sons of Italy who laboriousiy drag
street piano over the hot asphalt Of the
city's byways. Much less did he be-
long to the lesser lights who, with a
wheezy melodeon, huddle in corners
and mechanically grind out in the
Sweet BY and By or the 'Iiserere"
from "Il Trovatore" The first Luigi
scorned, the latter he despised. for was
he not the proprietor Of a horse out
fit?
Every morning except Sunday he
drove into the suburbs, his wagon gay
With red and gold. on which was
swung one of the largest and best of
the mechanical pianos. There was a
lad to turn the wheel. and all Luigi had
to do was to lead the white mule and
collect coins which showered upon the
outfit. For Lugfs white teeth flashed
beneath a mustache as black and flow
ing as any that ever graced the lips of
his brigand ancestors. and Lugi's smile
made him many friends. even among
the householders.
As for the servants, many a rural
policeman giowered upon him and en-
We'd his conquests, for Luigi. in his
smart Neapolitan costume, was good
to look upon. His red sash with its
gilded stiletto, his ruff1ed shirt and
rakish hat were all in keeping with
the swarthy complexion and flashing
eyes.
To be sure. the stiletto was but a
toy. hilt and scabbard without n
blade. In Difference to the absurd
prejudice of the police, who knew
nothing of more businesslike weapon
sheathed in the collar of Lugi's velvet
coat. and his clothing had been OBJ
tanned from theatrical costumer. but
he cut most romantic and pictur-
esque figure.
Sundays, when the law forbade his
plying his trade, Luigi sought the Ital-
ian quarter in enninently correct Amer
lean dress. His top hat and yellow
gloves were the establishment OF the
half naked "bambinos" playing on the
dirty sidewalks.
Their mothers turned mute in his
august presence as he picked his way
fastidiously toward the tenement
owned by Gaetano Camera. Presently
he would emerge. proudly escorting
Paulina of the house of Camera. than
whom there was no prettier gill in all
Little Italy.
For more than year Luigi had
wooed Paulina, but her father had in
property owner. A year must elapse,
figured the thrifty Camera. ere Luigi
might hope to wed.
And on his part Luigi did not tell
them Of the good luck that had be-
fallen him In the winter before, when
a servant I'm one of the great houses
offered him tips on the stock market
| that she had whcedled from the butler.
Great coups had been planned over
the dinner served by this particular
butler. as the rich forget that their
servants are human beings. and much
| valuable information had been drop.
ped. Luigi profited by the tips. but he
had not told the Cameras. 1t was
pleasant to spend the Sunday after
moons with Paulina. but. then, too
there was the Lady In White, and be
cause of her Luigi was silent.
He told no one of the dreams thai
burned in his busy brain. None guess
| ed the high hopes that he nursed. Blu
since early spring he had hurried the
piano cart along his route until he hat
come to the great house on the hill
Sometimes he found only the gardener
spraying the lawn or clipping thu
plants. then Luigi led away the mule