Evening star., 1909-03-14

two entered the cellar after McGraW
81 had introduced them to the proprietor
III She pointed out where the child had
N last been seen and then went on with
her work
!. The front of the basement was used
4 for one of the small wood and coal
I depots common in the poorer districts
: of New York Partitioned off with
rough boarding was a little chamber
where the Italian who sold fuel lived
Behind this was the laundry where two
bare armed, were washing. Two of them lifted
sket OF wet linen and went out into the yard
it while Astro and Valeska watched.
each of these rooms Astro spent considerable
letting his eyes rove in every direction search
very foot of the walls. ceiling, and floor After
survey he gave nod to Valeska and passed
The laundry itself occupied more time He
he'd the girls at work and their going and COM
ttentively. Then he went back to the wood
and knelt down the rough floor crawling
and there watching smelling lingering, every
in the vicinity. The track he pursued led
to the little room where the Italian slept
e he spent more time, searching carefully. When
ose and busted his clothes, he handed Valeska
At safety pin.
Keep that SAFE, he said Il think that little
has been playing under the Italians cot bed 4"
ardly had he spoken the words than the stair
was darkened, and man bearing loaded
ct came down the steps. He put down his load
seeing strangers, demanded roughly:
What you doin' here. what"
"Oh, looking about said Astro
coolly: I've lost something, and
came here to find it, -
The Italian stared What YOU "a
lost, WHAT"
Astro kept his eyes on him I've
lost large opal he said calmly
The man began to tremble "Opal!
What's that!'
I'll show you Astro walked into
the mans little room and lifted the
mattress Between If and the canvas
cover of the cot appeared a small
box On its cover was printed, Heintz
& Co, Ell Paso, Texas"
= Il no gotta eet, l no gotta eeti
? Sure! De littla babee she stole eet
away" The man watched Astro's
- face apprehensively.
- Where did you get it, anyway
asked the seer.
My uncle in Italy he give it to me, 3"
the man protested.
ASTRO talked for ten minutes; but
the man persisted in this story
Giving up the attempt, he was about
to return to the laundry, when his
eyes fell on the basket the man
had been carrying He stopped and
took off few pieces of kindling,
then, after quick look at the Italian,
took something from under the pieces
of wood 1t was human skull
Perhaps you'll tell me where you
got this" Astro demanded sternly.
The Italian face frightened oh
littla boy he geeve eet to me for
ten cents" he said simply.
Astro turned to EaeSka with a
baff'ed expression, In Heavens
name what kind of place are we in
Is where babies play with dead hands
and human skulls, to say nothing of
giant opals hid in cots?"
l. Yes. yes. lttla boy, on Washing
/ ton Square sure." the man repeated.
j Astro placed the skull on a shelf and
regarded it attentively. For some
moments he said nothing then, shrug-
ging his shoulders. he passed into the
-. laundry. Valeska followed him.
iI>: The man is lying, of course, she
'F said But what a barefaced false
hood! Would anything be more inn
probable?"
He's lying, it's true" said Astro;