The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-04-16

EelOre nlm. he CLOSED MS SLdn1
earlier than usual that evening and
hurried to his lodgings. From the re-
! cess of a venerable trunk he dug up
a black tin box which contained
grease-paints and powders such as are
used by the theatrical profession. He
+, unearthed also a trick dagger, the
blade of which telescoped when a
blow was struck with it, the hilt
fastening itself to the clothing, look
! ing as though the knife had entered
the body
Of these things Finneran had be-
come possessed in his his more youth
full days when vaudeville had held out
to him its lure, but until tonight he
had neither seen or thought of them
| for years. Now the very definite man.
!, ner in which he resurrected them and
| packed them together in a parcel
| showed that they were to play part
in the nights work which very evi-
IDENTIFY he had mapped out
Looking once more at the scrawled
name and address gon the envelope
which contained the red-ink Black
| Hand letter, he tucked his package
| Under his arm and sailed forth.
Finneran mounted boldly the five
| fights of the dismal tenement desig-
| mated by the address on the envelope,
and knocked boldly on the door which
below stairs, he had learned was the
entrance to the abode of the people he
scught-the Cantarellis.
| His knock was at first unanswered,
but hearing sounds of whispering
within he raped again. This time a
soft, feminine voice replied in Italian,
and although he did not understand
what was said he announced with all
| the assurance of having uttered an
open sesame" TITS Finneran."
| Then from the other side Of the door
came in English, "Are you police
MANI"
ooh, no, better than that-fm
newspaper mani"
Again there was whispered con-
yersation, and the door was opened
In the dim light of solitary oil lamp
Finneran beheld strikingly pretty
| young woman. Her glossy, black hair,
| tastefully arranged crowned an oval
intelligent face which, with her we'll
fitting simple black dress and white
collar, seemed strangely out of keep
ing with the surroundings.
A look, half inquiring, BALI fearful,
was in her dark, wide-set eyes as she
invited Finneran to enter. As he did
SO and the door closed behind him,
the gray haired man of the avenue
cafe, sprang from the shadow and
eagerly greeted him.
''Ah, signor what did he say?"
HE said, Mr. Cantarelli, that you
are a boob not to have handed his
letters to the police in the first place
4 that he knew he had you right and
!. that he is coming here tonight to col
ltct little piece of change from you,
not to mention other things which
don't make no never-mind Do you get
me, amiko myo?" (The two last
words are spelled as Finneran spoke
them)
The Italian nodded.
"Oh please tell me what it is all
about" pleaded the girl, with a suppli-
eating move in Finneran's direction
~ suppose it's some more of those
miserable letters, but, of course, do
not know, as my father no longer con-
fiGes in me-"
''It's a good thing that neither of you
know what's in this letter." thought
Finneran, at the same time marveling
at the girls correct speech and lack Of
| accent. Then he said aloud, Pardon
me a second-Mr. Cantarelli, have
come here to meet this man, you leave
it all to me?"
The old Italian did not seem to grasp
what had been said to him, and the
daughter quickly translated to him.
1t brought forth hopeless Struggling
of shoulders and mumbled, "All right
but it is no good"
Ffnneran grinned agingly
and taking the chair offered him by
Miss Cantarelli he explained briefly to
her why he was there, relating his
experience of the night before and
how he came to have in his possession
the letter. but telling no more of its
contents than he had already told.
During the recital Cantarelli walked
up and down the room, the clenching
and unclenching of his hairy gnarled
fists being punctuated with fervently
muttered prayers.
"If you and your father will leave
| this matter to me and do just as
say" concluded F'inneran cheerful, 81
| think we can fix it all up as easy as
PET"
"You are very kind. indeed, Mr..
Finneran," said the girl, "but what are
we to do?" Finneran consulted his
watch.
at is now S25," he said, land our
caller will be here at 900. Now, 1
want your father to go out and get
away from the neighborhood-he can
return at $50"
| To her father the young woman re-
peated this in Italian. and when she
had finished he tremblingly took up