MAUBIKECK, THE LION-TAMER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 266, 7 November 1895, Page 6

MAUBIKECK, THE LION-TAMER.

BY SEWARD W. EOPKINS.

Author of ' Jack Robbins of America,' ' In bhe China Sea,' 'Two Gentlemen of Hawaii,' • On a False Charge,' Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER 11. 'Geaviscourt's genius for entertaining is indisputable,' said the major, on the following evening, as he, Dilkins and I sab together, among a score or more kindred spirits, all forming an appreciative audience at Graviscourts ' stag' entertainment

'True,' I replied, with a tinge of malice. • One almost forgets who his host is, with 'so much to amuse.' The programme was a sorb of vaudeville. There were songs, skirt dances, comic eketches by more or less famous artists in their line, and the time was so well filled and passed so pleasantly that the hours glided by almost imperceptibly. Midnight was the hour for supper, and a royal supper ib was: ib was understood that after supper cards would be in order. An interval of half an hour waa allowed for chat. During this interlude, the £ue3ts sauntsered to and fro in the elegant parlours crony meeting crony and together admiring the paintings, bric-a-brac and sculpture, in the gathering of which Graviscourb was a master. Dilkins with his usual curiosity and push, was rummaging around in some cabinets he had succeeded in opening, and he suddenly electrified us all by exclaiming : •By Jove ! Dick ! Major ! Look at this!1 The major, Graviscourt and I reacned him ab the same moment. •By Heaven ! That face !' he cried, thrusting a photograph into the major's band. 1 That is a likeness of Alice Graviscourb, my brother's wife, taken some fonr years before she died,' said our host, calmly. 'la it?' almost shouted Dilkins. 'If ib isn't the Queen of the Flying Trapeze, I'm a Dutchman.' Even the major's face was a little pale. I looked over his shoulder. Sure enough, the face in the picture was very like the face of Nica Barlotti, but lacked the sadness that characterised the beautiful countenance of the circus i»irl. • Whab do you mean ?' asked Graviacourb. And bhe major told him about Nifca and Maligni's circus. ' Probably more a fancied resemblance than a brue one,' he said calmly, gs he took the photograph and replaced it in the cabineb from which Dilkins had removed ib. Nothing more was said thab nighb about the occurrence, but it had produced in my mind an impression that couldnob be shaken oil.. Aba late hour I lefb, pondering deeply over the striking features in tha photograph end their resemblance to fehe face of Nita Barlotti. ©n the following day when I awoke the first thoughts that came to mo were of Gravieconrb'a picture ot the dead woman. Having eaben my breakfasb and taken a Btroll, I found that no effort of my will could efface from my mind the horrid suspicion tbab had lodged there. I was in the grasp of an impulse, and could nob shako it off. Having fought ib to no purpose, I resolved to give it full rein—to give myself up to the work of explaining, if explanation could, be found, tho resemblance between bhe wife of Charles Graviscourb and Nita Barlotti. With some wild fancy that 1 was furthering my own affairs and helping myself by seeking to overthrow Graviscourb, I was led by the extravagant phantom of my brain to Trinity Cemetery. Having arrived there, I soughb and found tho family plot of the Graviscourta, in which a marble monument reared its bead over three graves. Three sides of the monument were carved. On ona 1 read : SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES GRAVISUOURT, Born. Feb. 18, 18—. Died. June 10, 18-. On another I "read : ALICE. BELOVED WIFE OF CHARLES GRAYISCOUBT. Born, April 6, 18—. Died, July 21, 18—, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.' She has joined her Saviour. On tho third : ALICE, INFANT DAUGIITER OF CHARLES AND ALICE GRAVISCOURT. Died, Oct. 4th. 18—. Aged 2 years. 1 What a fool I am !' I muttered, as I tvrned away. The air seemed bo have grown chilly since I had come there, and I drew my coab close around me and returned to my carriage. Like all meddlers, having been disappointed, I waa determined to try again, and my nexb visit was to the Bureau of Vibal Statistics, ab 301 Mobb-atreat. Upon making my errand known, some little wonder was apparent among the clerks, but I was readily accommodated, and wan goon looking over the death records of sixteen years before, the year in which occurred, according to the marble ehafb in Trinity, Hie deabh of Alice, daughter of Charles and Alice Graviscourb. Ab laafe I found whab I was looking far. I held hi my hand the certificate of death of tho child whose ulbimely removal had made P>alph Graviscourb a millionaire. Nothing was wrong aboub bho certificate. Every form of law had been complied with. The cause of death was small-pox. The signature of the physician attached was •C. SigmobU, M.D.' ' Well, I am an infernal fool,' I said to my self, as I again started homeward, foiled in my attempt to stir up a tragedy. 1 Really, I causb learn to mind my own business. I have wasted an entire day trying to stir up ghosbs that won't be stirred. Bub having gone so far, I am going bo take ono step more end find oub who "C. Sigmotta " was. I never heard Cff bom, but ib musb be all righb or the certificate would nob have been accepted.' Docror Dinsmoro, the Secretary of bhe New York Medical Society, was a friend of long standing. I felb thab I could rely npoa him, and was soon at his door. He greeted me cordially, and 1 had no difficulty in telling him what I wanted to know. He smiled, and proceeded to look over some old folios be had taken from a recess in his bookcase. After a few minutes spent thus, he said : •I find here the name of Charles Sigmotta as a member of our society fourteen —fifteen — even twenty years ago. He does nob seem to have been prominent, bub little mention being made of him, excepb the fnr>l" ihab he attended meebings. I barely recall the name and do nob recoliecb the man. Bub thero is no doubb be was a phvoici'n in good standing. He is nob a member now. Wait. Ah, here ib is ! Ho renisjtir:i thirteen years ago. Where he is now, I do not know.' 'It U nob important,' I eaid. • Whab I want to know is this : Sixteen years ago documents—cay death certificates—signed by him would be above suspicion, would iJipv nob?' To the best of my knowledge and belief they would,1 replied Doctor Dinsmore. ' I know of nothing that indicates to the coni rary.' Having once naoro had my suspicions laid tn tho ground I thanked the doctor and Lurried homo. I hii'J finished with Graviacourb, bub nob with Nitn Barlotti. The imDulee to soe her

again was too strong to be controlled, and that) evening I again occupied a box in Madison Square Garden. Tho programme was exactly the Bame as ib had been before, but I felt no interest in the opening act. Even the lion tamer failed to amuse, though I could not help being charmed by the massive beauty of the man. But I was thero to see Nita Barlotti, and I Bf\n impatiently until it) came her turn to appear. But now I was doomed to a disappointment that was keen in the same measure as my former eagerness. Instead of Barlobti, tbere appeared on a small balcony, near tho bandstand, the same greasy, mean-looking Italian who had led the trapeze queen away on tho night) ot hor successful debut. He was flashly dressed, this Italian, in the style of a man fond of display and devoid of eocd taste. H!b clothes were loud and flaunting. He wore diamonds of prodigious size. He was hiß own Ideal of a successful circus owner. Of that there could be no doubt. This creature bowed low to the audience that had poured their silver into his coffers, and in a thick voice said : Ladies and Shentlembns : Ib haf become my cad duty to inform you dab you vill be disappointed greab dis efening. Do brighb star, do yon shining jewel, of this greab aggregati-one of mammoth abtracliones, will vet be able to appear before you disefening. Signorinaßarliotti haf been suddenly taken ill, and my regard for dis young lady is so great dab I haf moisted dab Bhe remain quiet) under de care of a docbaire, until she baf fully recovered. I know, my dear friends, dab you will sympasize wiz our favourite trapeze queen, and will bear in good part dis great disappointment. And I vill assure you dab Signorina Barlotti is sad, and sends many regrets dat she is not able to attend dig efening. Bub if she is better bo-morrow efening, So dab ib vill nob do her any harm, don, maybe, I will allow her to come onco more and gif you pleasure. My friends, I thank you.' Bowing again, the Italian disappeared. I had been, perhaps, the mosb eager listener in thab vast audience, and was certainly bhe most disappointed. I had half risen in my place while Msligni was speaking, and was watching him through my glass. Standing near him, I saw Maubikeck, clad in ordinary garb, and a finer specimen of man I never saw. The liontamer stood firmly on both feet, his arms were toldad and hia head was benb a3 if listening to the speaker. On his haadsome face there was an intense look—his brow was stern, his eyes cfolrl and menacing, his lips slightly curved in a sneering smile. When Maligni had finished, Maabikeck shrugged hio shoulders and walked away. 'Me loves Barlotti,' I said to myself, 'and he loves her as few men love or have the power of loving. Some day, if Barlotti should return thab love, there will be a clash, a crash and somebody's blood will be spilled. And as between JVJaubikeck and Maligni, I iwould not give much for the latter gentleman's chances.' I did nob tarry long. With a feeling of keen disappointment I left the Garden and vvenb to my hotel. As I was going up tho stairs to my room I meb Major fcimnaons coming down. • Well, vre\\ !' he said, seizing mo and turning me round under the electric light. 'What the deuce has happened to you, boy? You are net given to sudden disappearances thab worry your friends. Explain why you have not been to the club. I came to see if you were ill.' ' I was touched by this evidence of friendship on the part of a man 80 many years my senior, and shook his hand gratefully. I 1 am well, major. Come back wibh me and smoke a cigar while I toll you all about

The resolve to unburden myßelf to my kind friend bad come to rou suddenly. Ib seemed to me thab 1 needed a confidant, and there were only bwo men in New York to whom I was close enough to talk about this matter, and of theao the major was surely tho safest and beab able to advise. Tho blundering Dilkina was nob the man bo be intrusted with a suspicion the mere breathing of which would undoubtedly causo a aocial Vesuvius thab would envelope the fashionable world of Mew York. The major accompanied me back to my rooms, and I turned on tbo light. I had comfortable quarters, even eleganb. I was nob a millionaire like Graviscourt, bub my income waa sufficient to enable me to occupy my present quarters, keep a team of horses, and dress in bhe prevailing fashion, leaving still a balance for travelling, books, or any expenditure for luxuries in which I mighb wish to indulge. I occupied two rooms —one a bed-room, and the obher a large handsome room in which I had placed the mosb comfortable furniturol could get. And the room was made iarger still by an alcove opening from ib, in which bhere was a well-filled bookcase, a huge lounge, and, in a good spob by tho window, a desk.

Ib was n-ofc my habib to keep a stock of cigars in my room, because I was seldom bhere when I wanted a emoko, and I found that tho last cigars in a box that) had dragged out its last days in my room were apb'to be dry and cracked, and tbo flavour greatly injured. I rang for a nighb waiter and ordered some cigars of a brand thab I knew the major liked, and also some wine. These comforts of a bachelor's life having appeared, the major lighted a cigar, and ensconced himself comfortably in a largo arm-chair, resting his head on the high back and throwing one leg over the other, settled into a lazy position. ' Now go on,' be said. • Tell me what you have been doing, and whoro you have bean hiding all day.1 ' I have turned ghoul,' I said, half laughing and half earnestly. ' I have become addicted to the very reprehensible habit of turning up graves.' The major looked at me gravely for a moment, pufiing energetically at his cigar, while I did bhe same at mine.

* Thab ia bad business,' he said, after the pause. 'In thta first place, ib is daneerous. You aro liable to be caught and eenb to prison, and another thing, you mighb contract disease.'

• Yes —small-pox, for instance,' I said

• Ah ! 1 did think you ware joking,' said the major, ' bub now I begin to see light. How many nights have you spent in your new enterprise of body-snatching,and whom have you snatched ?'

' None,' I replied. 'My ghoulish exploits are confined entirely to the houra of day.'

•You are reckless. Still, I musb say 1 admire your courage. Bub you have only answered parb of my quesbion.' ' Oh, 1 haven't snatched any body, really, 1 am in a sorb of resurrection business.'

' Don'b you think you mighb better leave thab to Gabriel ? Thoae things are managed bettor ab headquarters, you know.'

•Pshaw ! You know well enough what I mean. I won't beab aboub. the bush £ny longer ;' and I thereupon bold him all that I had done, leaving oub no detail.

While I was speaking,-the major looked ab me gravely, and when I had finished, he merely blew his cigar smoke into the air and said nothing.

11 could nob help it,' I eaid in apology. 1 That story of yours about the lucky uncle, and the remarkable similarity in the faces, lofb an impression that I could not shake off. Nor could I resist the impulse bo investigabe.1

' Nor I.'

•You! I jumped from my chair in exci'temenb. 'You? "• Yes. When Graviscowb hefd that photograph in his hand, I detected evidences of agitation in hia manner. The impression bhe whole thing gave me was very like yours—the impulse bhe same, This morning I rose early and visited Trinity Cemetery. In bhe afternoon I visited 301 Mott streeb, bhe Bureau of Vital Statistics.'

•And were disappointed—or—pleased—ab finding jusb whab I found,' I said; ' thab everything was all right. 1 'I saw jusb whab you saw,' said the major ; * and had ib nob been for a chance meeting, I would have reached the same conclusion that you have.' My breath waa coming hard from me now. • Well V I gasped. ' When I left 301 Motb - street, I saw Graviscourt's carriage. Thinking ib a strange coincidence that he should be in tho vicinity, I followed ib. Ib stopped before one of tho moat miserable places in the Italian quarter. In the lower portion of bhe building was a dirty-looking drug score. Over bhe door was the sign, "L. Tortoni." I raw Graviscourb got oub of the carriage and enter the drug store. I hurried past, hoping to geb a look inbo the window. I was not disappointed. I saw the proprietor greet Graviscourb as an acquaintance, and they wenb into a back room. When I returned the carriage was still there, and a woman was in attendance in the store. The conference between Graviscowrb and Tortoni was a long ono.' ' There is certainly something in the wind,' I exclaimed. • There is—there is—l am certain of it. Whab do you think ? Whab do you advise?' 4We musb move caubiously. Even yet there may be some hideous mistake, and a false move would pub us in an unpleasant position. But there is something. i have nob told you tho mosb important facb.' . ' What is it?1 Tasked. ' If I am nob mistaken —I may be, because dissipation changes faces—bub if I am nob mistaken, L. Torboni is no other than Doctor Charles Sigmobta, Graviscourt's old friend.' 1 Sigmobta 1' I exclaimed. • Tho man who signed the death certificate of the Graviscoarb child ?' • The same.' This news waa so overwhelming that I nab silently smoking for several minutes. In facb, but little more was eaid by either of us. After a few minutes the major reached over, poured himself out some wine, drank it, and took his hab as if to go. I saw him to the door, and promising to meet him at the Lotus Club the following day, I returned to my room, whore I threw myself down on the coach in bhe alcove, utterly losb in the bewildering sensations that the major's Rtory had aroused.

(To be Continued.)