Evening star., 1912-01-14
Continued from page S

hind him as he advanced "He does, Cen
tlemen, every night He is one of our con-
slant patrons. For the money we have the
best"
Another one of the group waved pro-
testing hand. "There's five-dollar bill to
anyone who'll find him! Jove! the oppor-
tunity of his life! R. never did know how to
take care of himself. The doctors say it will
be week, perhaps fortnight"
al told him at rehearsal
"Just like child, the same as the rest
"Left him crying
@They say Acritell's voice is better than
ever He's been keeping blamed quiet
about it,"
"You can't wonder after"
The spokesman frowned them into silence.
as there anyone who has clue?"
Melani darted into the inner room and re-
turned, followed by another waiter. 1Here
is Angelo. He may know. He waits on him
and Mademoiselle every evening
"Mademoiselle!' four of the strangers
whistled simultaneously, while the remain
ing two cast uneasy glances at the clock dial.
"Mademoiselle is the clue?'
Angelo answered the question he did not
quite understand. The Signor had told him
that he would not be there this evening, and
that Mademoiselle would not be there either.
Oh, yes, he knew very well where Made
moiselle lived. One night when it had rained
he had borrowed an umbrella and had taken
her to her door. The Signors sweetheart?
Oh, no, he always said goodby to her at the
restaurant table, always.
Angelo led the way, the procession of six
following. At the door Melani restrained
the exuberance of employees and guests,
who would have added themselves in the in
terest of the occasion.
So he was the great tenor, the one who
lost his voice-and it had returned He was
to fill the place of R. and be paid thousand
dollars night! Every seat was sold and he
course he and the little gray lady were din
ing together elsewhere! Well, anyway,
there was no place where for the money they
could get such food and service as they had
at Melani's.
1t was too dark to follow the PROFESSIONS
final advance, and the crowd returned to
their places, laying wagers, impatient for
Angeles return, who would know some
thing, if not all. Melani picked up the wet
towel and flung it at the cook, whom he
drove into the basement. 1t had suddenly
occurred to him that Acritelli, popular
tenor, would mean the loss of nightly pa
tron, perhaps of two, and Mademoisclle did
not eat enough for bird, and never had he
DeeIl CO WIlLG lldlIie O1l llc SldIc
where the list of recreant debtors was shown
every month
MADEMOISELLE, dressed carefully in
A'A her best gown, the gray voile with
bit of blue about the neck, and another tied
round her hair, which showed under the
black velveteen toque made the night before
from a pair of old sleeves, ran lightly down
the three flights of stairs in the lodging
house, peering anxiously over the balusters,
fearful of the landlady's eyes, which she did
not care to meet. It is strange how guilty
the innocent can feel. She had her carfare,
her latchkey, and her only lace trimmed
handkerchief with its drop of perfume, in her
purse. She opened the outer door just as the
fingers of Angelo touched the old fashioned
bellpull. Trailing down the steps and along
side the sidewalk was queue of strange,
masculine figures.
Angelo, breathing with the excitement of
possessing new dollar bill, stammered hur-
riedly @Signor Acritelli, Mademoiselle, has
disappeared. These gentlemen
Disappeared! She caught at the smooth
surface of the door: then limp arm fell to
her side She controlled herself with difficulty.
The foreman took the word. "Not really
disappeared, Miss; but we want to find him
very much, and we were told that you might
hot