Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-20
IF brooding over what might have

"Yes, fine Of him!" agreed Dagon.
'Paolo has often told us about his
wretched childhood, poor ..and
neglected by his parents. He's quite
frank-not q snobbish bone In his
bodyl He isn't sure that his father
wasn't actually mixed up with the
Camorra-that terrible secret society
in Naples which does every sort OF
crime. and sends the Black Hand 90
America"
you are right. Mrs. Payntor. it's
mighty romantic" said the detective,
delighted with the way that things
Were going.
cit would make . scenario plot
for one Of Mr.. Migrants screen
plays"
''wouldn't It! And all that came
after"
"What did come atter?" pagon
asked innocently. Il don't quite
know"
'weli, Palo used to sing in italian
cafes, and weird places like that to
get money for his training. When
he'd saved up something he began
to study for the operate stage. and
had glorious prospects, with his
looks and voice. But then he got i'll.
as told you. His voice was in
y
spair. thought of killing himself;
but Just then-and that was like a
play, where everything happens at
exactly the right time,--his cousin,
Rawdon Wells. came to Italy on
purpose to look him up. He--Don
Wells-had finished his course at
oxford and was free TO travel. He'd
always wanted to find Paolo since
his mother-when she was dying. l
fancy-told him the trick she'd
played on her sister Francesca.
age. Don insisted upon settling an
allowance on his cousin. and invited
him to come to England. They took
trip together to New York. too:
and that's where Paolo got his first
start In the moving pictures. What
pity we didn't meet them then.
But we were in the South, and Eve
was still child"
What an interesting story"
Dagon battered the little lady. I'm
quite thrilled. Truth is stranger
than fiction. Mr.. Magnani must
have made a fortune for himself as
! an actor"
mot a fortune, I'm afraid" sighed
Mrs. Payntor. Il expect poor Paolo
Is rather generous and extravagant.
"Why, for example, he's away
now. doing O picture in a wild part
OF Skye--has been there since Ewes
wedding day--started directly after
but look at these lovely roses. my
/, favorites! He has ordered three
dozen to come to me every day.
hate to have him spend the money,
! they're so expensive now! But what
can l do?"
What. indeed?" laughed Ddgon.
well. that settles one question for
me. what / meant to ask YOU"
What Qeustion," she inquired
I curiously.
You won't think me impudont II
tell you"
"Of course not! We're old friends.
! You did me a great favor once. Ask
any question you like
Il don't need to ask 1t now. was
| wondering-in my detective meter,
you know--if Mr.. Magnani had been
+, one Of Miss Carrolrs admirers be-
fore her marriage. But q man isn't
in love with one woman, and sending
| such flowers every day tn another"
"Oh. do you think that" breathed
Mrs. Payntor in ecstasy. well. I
used to fancy lie liked Eve. lie
came often with Don, when Don's
affair with her was In full blast.
| And he sometimes looked at her us
; f-but then. most mon looked at Eve.
l never saw girl more attractive IN
men. / had an idea IT was that
wonderful perfume of hers that adj
ded to her fascination. She never
| would tell even me what IL was
made of. But-well--I tried to con
sole Paolo when ! thought he was
| feeling down on his luck. And
! anyhow. he has seemed grateful"
Dagon thought hard for a minute
Eve was much richer as we'll rs
| much younger end prcttier than her
Aunt Jean; still, Mrs. Payntor
wouldn't make n bad second fiddle. "
She was hurrying on, however
with her history of Paolo. as though
she had read the detectives mind
| IF Rawdon died unmarried--.or
even now. If Eve doesn't come back
ana he never marries. Paolo will
be very rich man. so he doesn',
need to be a fortune hunter" she
said. "Rawdon has made n will
leaving everything. even Hidden
Hall Court, to Paolo IL he himself
dies bachelor. Gle can leave the
Court as he likes, you see, because
he's absolutely the last Of his line)
And ii he has no heir of his own
It's really quite fair he should wish
10 make up to Paolo for the past"
oh quite, quite" murmured Da.
gon. And where do you say Mr.
Magnani has been since the day Of
the wedding?"
in Skye"
You are quite certain he, beer
there ever since. and is there still?
Entirely certain" said Mrs
Payntor. with modest triumph, The.
cause he wires me every ddk with.
out fail"
Dagon did not answer. This repl,
oL hers had been a blow to his
theory. 1t was lettering. It Nigh
have to fall
That same night Dagon went bacl
to Essex with haste. and was eiycy
quarters at the Court. Every ont
there knew that he was n detective
put he had a way of tneratiotipe
himself with each member of ths
household, no matter how humble
making him or her believe that eyer,
one else was under suspicion.
his mission being frank and
ABOVE board. he could go where h.
Pleased. do what he pleased. and Ell
What questions he pleased witbo,,t
nrousing resentment.
1here were few old servants In
doors at the Court, since Mrs
jenkins, the late housekeeper. bad
peen obliged to leave, and Davis the
Dutier, had been replaced by Marianti
none or the new ones had saor
much, II anything, of Pandora IJa sta
put Mrs. Gillet and her daIJrht a,
Dotn remarked the likeness befween
the girl and the detective.
| Continued Temorrow)