Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-10

Nil
u.o ~ NJystery Draws It's Blinds


n,EREsA's fingers twisted the key in
Il Tho lock of the porch door that she
"a o,osed on Dave Henderson. There
mu a oueer, tight little smile quiver-
ipg on her lips.
'.Tbere was no other way she whls.
- to herself. "What could ! do?
What could say!
Pebind her, and at ono side of the
.,ss,0c was a small panel door, long
prt of use now. n relic OF those days
vI vhor Nicolo Capriano's dwelling had
W. n house of mystery. She had hid
p.s" ,bcre 10 let Dave Henderson pass
W.. Nv. shc closed it now, as she retraccd
stons slowly to her fathers room.
/ ~. In, bere on the threshold, she paused
anu moment: then reached in quietly
J. ~ ,iose tbe door, and retire again. Her
u',sor Inv hack on the bed. his eyes
Isaaod and his hands. outstretched on
.o'Vu, .us Vco,verlct. we're quiet, the long. slim
sn.ors sao motionlcss. He was asleep: 1t
uns uas not uncommon. lie often did that.
s,"on came at the oldest times with
he aid man, even il It did not last
WITT Wi,,ssriorresa-eh-what r are you doing,
y;colo Capriano's eyes half opened.
and fixed on his daughter. "Eh-what
are YOU doingT s, -
vi thought you were asleep father
'os aAsIecp! .I Bah. I have been asleep
Il. fftcen ycars-is that not long
.uorgbg Fifteen years. Ha, ha But
lam am awake now. Yes. yes. old Micoio
has had enough of dreams He Is
,~,ke now! Come here, Teresa. Come
Ssrs. and sit by the bed. Has our clever
Young friend gone?
.yes father" she told him, as she
,,ok tho chair at the bedside. .,
'OVS Nicolo Capriano jerked his head
,,onnG m his pillows. and studied her
%co for moment. through his black
sTss % with their smoldering. introspec-
live expression. seemed not at all con-
cerned with her. .,., e,; oL
"And what do you think of him-eh
-Tpresa, my little onc-what do you
think Of him. .h
She drew back in her chair with
little start. s.u.,,,
"Why-what do you mean. father!
she asked quickly. .,,o
"Bshr' There was a caustic chuckle
in the old bomb king S voice. I'VE 90
not sneak of love-l suppose 90
not expcct you to have fallen in love
lust because you have seen man tor
few minutcs--ch? Bah l mean
inst what say. called him clever.
You are a Capriano. and you are clever
YOU are the clevercst woman in san
Francisco. but you do not get 1t from
your mothcr-you arc Capriano. we'll
then, am right? He is cleVer--a 'er!
clever fellow: ,u
Her voice was suddenly dull.
"Yes." she said.
"Good - calculated Nicolo Capriano:
"He was caught five years ago, put IL
was not his fault, He was double
crossed. or he would never have seen
the inside of a penitenttary. so you
agree, then, that he is clever! "eu'
then, he has courage. too-.eh! lie was
modest about his fight ut Ntnetto Sen
Yon heard il all from Vinetto himself
when you went there this morning. Our
young friend was modest-ehE
Teresa's ewes widcncd slightly in n
puzzled way. She nodded her head.
YES" she said. =,
Good said Nicolo Cnpriano-and
| the long. slim fingers began to twinc
| themselves together, and to untwine,
and to twinc together again. Weil,
then, my little one. with his clever
ness and his courage. he should sue
Ceed-eh-in New York? Old Nicolo
| does not often make a miStake-eh? ?
Our young friend will find his money
again in New York--eh? y
She pushed back her chair impulsively
and stood up.
az hope not" she answered in a
low voice.
"Eb?" Nicolo Capriano jcrked him
sell sharply up on his pillows, and his
you say! What do you mean-you hope
mott"
ut is not his money now any more
than it was before he stole it." she said
10 a dead tone. "It is stolen money"
"Well, and what OF it?' demanded
Ncolo Capriano. "Am | fool that
90 not know that" Sudden irasci-
bIty showed in the old Italians face
and manner; flush swept his checks
Under the white beard, the black eyes
grew lustCrcsS and hard-and he
Coughed. "Wcll, am n fool?' he
shouted.
She looked at him in quick apprc-
Father, be careful" she admon-
eltY ' '
Bah" He flung out his hand in y
Violent gesture. Excite myself. Bah !,
Always it is-'do not excite yourself :.
Can you lind nothing else to say? Now.
you will explain ch?-you will OK
plain. What is it about this stolen
money that NicoIo Caprianos daughter
goes not like: You hcar-I call you
MColo Capriamo's daughter. -
1t was II moment before she an.
svered.
! do not like it--bccause 1t has
made my soul sick tonight" She
IIrned her head away, II hid behind