CHAPTER IV. (Continued.)

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 268, 11 November 1895, Page 3

CHAPTER IV. (Continued.)

Maubikeck and I sab down in Nita's parlor and she and her leathery-skinned • maid' disappeared. In a few minutes, however, she reappeared, this time clad in some Boft> clinging stuff thab seb off her figure to perfection. Ib seemed as if every change she made mado her more beautiful.

She stopped rather wearily, I thought, and sank into a chair between Maubikeck and ma, resting her head in her hands, as if she folt pain in her temples. I had taken my card from my card-case and handed it to her. ■

1 Signorina,1 I said, ' I have become interoated in the myatory thab seems to surround you and beg you will allow me to asaißt you and Maubikeck in your efforts to unravel it. Thab will tell you who I am.'

* Well, Signor Wilberton.'ehosaid, twirliug the card in her band, ' I sincerly thank you. I bid greatly unnerved by what has occurred, and cannob understand ib. I cannob understand it. I cannot assist you or Maubikeck in any way that I can think of, yot I am willing to do anything that) Maubikeck suggest*, or answer any questionß thab you may aak me. My Hfe is in danger, and alono 1 ana unable to combat my unknown enemy.1 1 You must bo told, Signor Wilborton,' said Maubikeck, ' that this is nob the first attempt that has been made on Signorina Bailotti's life. Only laso night eotne miscreant cub one of the lopee of the trapezo nearly through, co that the weight of the eignorina would break it and precipitate her to certain death. The severed rope waa discovered by one of my own attendants, and ho ruahed to me with the newß, knowing thab I had the Bignorina's welfare at heart. I secretly sent word to her, explaining the circumstance, and, as ib was boo late to replace the rope with a new one, I advised Nita to plead illness and not go on. This she did, and Maligni made her excuses to the audience.'

' 1 know,' I rspliod. ' I was bhero. And did Maligni know what the brouble really was ?'

' Nob ab first,' replied Nitn. ' Bub ha stormed and cursed bo when ib seemed merely my own illness that prevented my appearing as usual, that I was obliged to tell him. Then, of course, he saw how imposeiblo it waß for me to act.' 1 Then it seems that Maligni, ab least, ia nob a party to the attempt on your life,' I said.

Tho girl blushed, and shot a look full of meaning ab Maubikeck.

' lie would nob kill the siprnorina,' said Maubikeck. ' Ho claims bo love her, and when ho has raado enough money m the show business he intends to marry tho aignorina and return to Italy to live.1 'Ah !' I said. 'And I takeib, from whab I see, that Signorina Nita objects to that domestic arrangement.'

' She loves me,' raid Maubikeck, simply, •and I love her.'

This was bo exactly a repetition of my own case that my heart wenb out to tlieao two mysterious people, and I plunged at onco into tho subject that had broutihb us there.

'Now, sco horo,' I said, assuming tho authority of a defective, *I saw something to night which will be of material interest and aid bo us in this matter, buf; togeb at it right, I must know all aboub your life ; tbab is, that) parb of ib bhab pertains to your father and his death —your education—your mother— Well, bell mo all you know, and lab ua see whore wo aband.'

My interest in bho case creably pleased both bho signorinaand Ma-übikeck. ' Yes,' said tho lion tamer. • Thab ia bho fii-sb step. Tell Signor Wilberbon about youreolf, that he may understand the circumstances in which you aye now placed, and the harsh fcyranny under which you live.'

Nita passed her hand over her brow, and, after a moment spent in thought, began : ' I rcmombor little about my mother,' ehe said, speaking dreamily and slowly, as if trying to recall the past. ' She was, us i can see her now, an ordinary woman—of course, an Italian. She died when I was ; perhaps, bo yon years of ape. I can recollect little of our home life, except thab we seomed to bo unsettled, moving about from one place to another—probably the same as tho family of any other circus peformer would do. My father waa very kind—more ao, I think, than my mother. I dimly recall now thab they frequently quarrelled, but, of course, I do not know now, and probably did not even at that time understand what the causes of their dissensions wore. When my mother died my father took mo to Madame De Long'a school, and placed me there as a regular boarding scholar. Madamo De Long's school ia in Albany. During the time I was ab Albany I saw but little of my fathor. He" camJo seldom to see me, and told mo not to tell any of the scholars that he was a circus performer. In later years, when his famo became ao grejit, of course they all knew it, and being fche daughter of Barlotti, the famous trapeze king, waa nob considered bliG disgrace that it would have been had he remained in obscurity. My life abMadame De Long's wan very pleasant.

1 took considerable interest in my lessons,

and advanced rapidly. True, I was not there long enough to acquire a very brilliant education, bub what I did learn

formed a foundation, to which I have endeavoured to add since by constant reading and study in the houra of leisure allowed mo. When I was fourteen, I was suddenly called from Madame Da _ Long's to a hotel in Utica. I remember it wall. It stood near the railroad, aad I bolievo they called it Baggs Hotel. Barnum was in Utica on that day, and, aa you know, my father was Barnum's principal trapezo performer. Now, let mo explain one point in the relations of my father to Barnum, and you will then understand my own position bettor. My tather was nob hired directly by Barnum himself. Be was under a ions? contract to Maligni—the sarno Pacho Maligni who was shob to-nighs. Maligni in turn contracted with Barnuin for my father's continued appearance in his circus, and, of the two, Maligni pocketed the most money. ' On this day, my father had grown dizzy and had fallen from his trapeze, and had sustained injuries which the surgeon in attendance saiii must cause his death. Thu« it was* that I was sent) for, and wa3 placet! on the train at Albany, in charge of Lhe conductor, who, when we arrived at Übica, took me to the horel, only n few steps away, and I was taken at once to my father's room. 1 reached there just one hour before he died. Ma-ligni was wilh him when I arrived, and my father signified a desire for us to approach together. I had seen Maligni only ones before, and waa instinctively afraid of him.' But my tears were nothing as compared to the terror I have felt since. My father epo>ke to Maligni in a tongue I did nob understand. I spoke and understood pure Italian, but the language ueed at my father's bed&ide was a harsher one—yer, the same. I have heard the same language since, bub cannot recall enough of what was said at that) time to translate or to understand. Bub I saw Maligni'a eyes open in astonishmonfc, and he seamed to be more affected by what) my laities was saying than

ho wftK jver tho prospect of his death. . :ien ;irj itithes put my hand in Maligni'a and told ; a i.i our own language thab be wa3 !•-:■"/>'' ijo die, v,r.i that henceforth 1 was Maligni .-, Maiigr.i would take his place and would taho care ol me. I remember that I sobbed

'. ,';';:!::. di?al and kissed my father, and thab i. urgvda came and other men, and then my

i-r "■'.•: died. Maligni attended to every- : nc. ;td had my father's body taken to k r burial. He took me there also, i never went back bo Mdme. Do Long's. We came from Utica right to New York, and sailed for Italy one or two days after. And, what a wretched miserable life I have led

ever since ! Maligni informed me that under the terms of the contract by which

he took me. I was bo fill tho place of my father, and become an actress on tha trapeze. Oh, the shame of it nearly killed me. 1 wept and pleaded with him, but all to no purpose. lie was nab to be moved by my teara or my prayers, and in the hou?e at) which we lived lie had one room fibfeed np aa a training-room. Here I was compelled to go through the severest kind of physical training to perfect mysolf for tho trapeze, At first I refused to wear the tights, and' was severely floggod. M&ligni ia a cruel man, and would kill rather than be thwarted. Well, you do not need to be told the detaila of my hard life. Suffice to say thab after nearly four yeara of severe training, I am before the public in a role that I hate and despise. Bub, what can I do ? Maligni is my absolute master. If I ran away from him, he would capture me and bring me back to my degrading life. What can Ido ? And now some one wants to murder mo. I cannot imagine why. I hare not, so far aa 1 know, an enemy in this world, unless it be Maligni himself, and I know whafe Aw plans are too well to think he ia the one.' Nita paused here, as if she was weary. I had taken a small note-book from my pockeb, and was jotting down, as well as I could with burned fingers thab were bsgin-

ning to give me greab pain, all the important points of her story. Sisill, there was nothing in ib thab shed the slightest ray of light; on bhe mystery in hand. 'Now, aignorina,' I said, 'we have gob down to the present day—let me askyou a question : Your trapeze is always in the care of the same person, is id nob?' 'Not one, bub two,'she replied. 'The two attendants are called Sancho and Dambo. They wore not brought! from Italy, but were employed here by Maligni.'

' Deecribe Saneho,' I said

'He is a thin man, with black, piercing; oyes, and long, black hair. He usually wears a velvet coat.'

'And Dambo?' Icoadnued

•Dambo is much snouber, and has curly hair. His eyes aro small liko a snake's and gleam and ylitl6r all the time. His hair fs not long, but his moustache is very long and hue straight waxed ends.'

'Ha!' I said., ' Dambo is the man we want. Ho ia the fellow who set tiro to the

ropes.' 'Dambo!' exclaimed Manbikeck,

.' Dambo ! also exclaimed Nita. ' I have scarcely spoken to Dambo, He could have no reason to hate me and try to kill me.' 'But if he is a snakp he could be hired by some one who hae,' I replied: ' Dambo ! sho murmured. ' I can hardly believe it. Did you see him do it, Signor Wilberton ?'

' I saw him fire the second rope, after ! which he disappeared in bho crowd and I could nob catch him. Wo will see to Mr Dumbo later. Where did you live in Italy. Signorina?' •In several places,' she replied. ' Malign* spent some time in Naples, Rome, and Genoa, butr most of the time we spent in Sardinia. I did nob know much about my surroundings, not being allowed to go out much: But I know that we left Genoa in a steamer, and landed at Gagliari. The houeo we lived in was a large one, and stood in a beautiful country place near Cagliari. Ib was the property of Maligni's brother, who seemed to be a man of greab importance in Cagliari.' ' Cagliari ia the southern porb ot fc>ardinia,~said Manbikeck. 'There is also a province of the same name. ' You made no enemies there?' I asked.

•None,' replied the girl. 'I made neither enemies nor friends. Maligni kept mo close.' • I think that our researches must be confined to this city,' I said. ' There eeems to bo no reason to believe you have enemies from Sardinia. Your enemies are here, and I think we can find them.' I fancied I saw a look of relief on the fnce of Maubikeck. It was aa if he was gratified at my having dropped Sardinia. Bub I was so interested in the girl's story that i paid no atfeontiou to this. ' Signorina,' I said, ' now think hard for a few minutes. I am going to ask you a strange question.' She looked at me with a patient emile on her weary countenance. ' You may ask it,' she said. 'Has anything that you can recall 5n your life—any incident, any word, any look, onv act, seemed to indicate that you were not Barlotti's daughter?' • Sit;nor Wilberton V she gasperi. ' Maubikeck V The cry was like that of a frightened child, and Maubikeck drew nearer to her, and placed one of hia giant arms around her. ' You understand, I continued, • that I don't suggest this ac being true, bub simply ask the question. You have none of the characteristic features ot the Italian race. I should judge you to be either Eogliahor American. Now, can you think of any incident at the bedside of your father—' 'Stay! she cried. 'Lob me think. Oh, bhis terrible thought has never come to me before. Not B?a-lotti's daughter? Nob Italian ? Then who am 1?' ' Now be calm, signorina,' I said. 'Just think of the past). What 1 am trying to get at is, haa any incident ever occurred that would lead you to think that any unknown person folt or should feel an interest in you ?' ' Oh, wait !' she cried. 'At my father s bedside — no. I was so confused and frightened and sorrowful that I scarcely saw. No, there coul«i be nobhing. My father gave me to Maligni, and the box—' • Box !' I said, interrupting her. ' You said nothing about a box before.' 'It was a red tin box,' she said, ' locked with a little brass padlock. My father gave it to Maligni, and said something in the tongue I have since learned was Sardinian. 1 asked Maligai once wbab the box contained, and he said it contained the contract between him and my father.'

' A contract !' I eaid. ' Would your father curry a contract* in a tin box locked with a padlock ?' 'Ho might. I never knew much aboub my father's habits.1 ' How largo a box was ie V I asked. 'Aboub so long and to wide,' eho answered, indicating with her hands a loot in length and thieo or four iuchos. in width. 'I would give much to gain possession of that box,' I said. ' Do you know where Maligni keeps it V 'No. I have never eeen it since the day my father died.' 'No doubt it contained more than the contract!,' I said. 'And we must obtain possession of it without M&ligni's suspecting that wo wanb it. The box without: itß contents would bo valueless, and if he suspected us, ho would remove the contentß and leave us the box.1 'But Maligni may be dead,' said Nita, almost hopefully. 1 Yes, he may,1 I answered. 'If he is, then it will bo easy to geb the box.' Just then there was a great tramping of feet in the hall, which stopped at the door opposite. They were, I thought, bringing Maligni home. I opened the door of Nita's room and peeped out. There were threo men there—Maligni, with hia face all hidden in bandages, my old friend, Doctor Dinsmore, and Major Simmons, Maligni was

walking alone, and did nob seem to bo greatly distressed by his wound. The doctor and the major went inside with him, btjj) remained only few minutes. When I heard them come oub, I said : ' Signorina, you have already had too much excitement to-night, and you need rest. I see that the physician who atbended Maligni is a friend of mine. Maligni is nob seriously wounded. We havo, I think, gob all the facts thab you can give us in relation to your peculiar caae. The firsb thing to be done is to find Dambo, which I shall seb aboub as soon as I have my burned bands attended to.' ' Oh, you are too generous and kind,' she said. ' You are suffering on tny accounb. Ib i 3 boo bad.'

'It is nothing to Maubikeck's,' I said. 'Look ab hia hands.'

She looked ab the burned and blistered hands of the lion-tamer, and the eighb was jusb what waa needed to finish the work of the exciting nighb.

'Maubikeck, my love! My love!' ebs cried, and throwing her arms around him, she wept over him and kissed him. And the lion-tamer smiled and kissed her, when I knew thab his hands were burned tea times more than mino, and if bhe pain was ten times greater, it waa awful torture. Yeb he loved her so that he forgob his pain, and returned her kiss and smiled sb if hia bands were not torturing him. Nita fondled his leonine bead a few minutes, and grew more excited. ' Come,' I said, ' this will nob do. Signorina, you musb hare rest. We will come to you "to-morrow. Now we will Bee the doctor and have our burns dressed. Come, Maubikeck.'

He followed me out, and I hurried after my friends. I caughb them at the door of the hotel.

(To be Continued.)