to　the　stage…door　of　the　Academy；　she
  appeared　more　fascinating　than　ever　before。
  She　was　sitting　in　his　dressing…room
  waiting　for　him　when　he　arrived。　He
  had　aged　years　in　a　day。　His　step　was
  uncertain；　his　eyes　were　sunken　and　his
  hand　trembled。　His　face　brightened　as
  she　arose；　and　Mildred　met　him　in　the
  center　of　the　room。　He　lifted　her　hand
  and　pressed　a　kiss　upon　it。
  ‘‘Angelo；　dear；''　she　said　in　repentant　tone；
  ‘‘I　am　sorry　I　pained　you　this　afternoon；
  but　I　am　jealous；　so　jealous　of　you。''
  ‘‘Jealous？''　he　said　smilingly；　‘‘there
  is　no　need　of　jealousy　in　our　lives；　we
  love　each　other　truly　and　only。''
  ‘‘That　is　just　what　I　think；　we　will
  never　doubt　each　other　again；　will　we？''
  ‘‘Never！''　he　said　solemnly。
  He　had　placed　his　violin　case　on　the
  table　in　the　room。　She　went　to　it　and
  tapped　the　top　playfully；　then　suddenly
  said：　‘‘I　am　going　to　look　at　your　violin；
  Angelo；''　and　before　he　could　interfere；
  she　had　taken　the　silken　coverlet　off　and
  was　examining　the　instrument　closely。
  ‘‘Sure　enough；　it　has　five　strings；　the
  middle　one　stands　higher　than　the　rest
  and　is　of　glossy　blackness。　Uncle　Sanders
  was　right；　it　is　a　woman's　hair！
  ‘‘Why　is　that　string　made　of　hair？''
  she　asked；　controlling　her　emotion。
  ‘‘Only　a　fancy；''　he　said；　feigning
  indifference。
  ‘‘Though　you　would　not　remove　it　at　my　wish
  this　afternoon；　Angelo；　I　know　you　will　not
  refuse　to　play　on　it　for　me　now。''
  He　raised　his　hands　in　supplication。
  ‘‘Mildred！　Mildred！　Stop！　do　not　ask　it！''
  ‘‘You　refuse　after　I　have　come
  repentant；　and　confessing　my　doubts　and
  fears？　Uncle　Sanders　said　you　would
  not　play　upon　it　for　me；　he　told　me　it
  was　wrapped　with　a　woman's　hair；　the
  hair　of　the　woman　you　love。''
  ‘‘I　swear　to　you；　Mildred；　that　I　love　but　you！''
  ‘‘Love　me？　Bah！　And　another　woman's
  tresses　sacred　to　you？　Another
  woman's　pledge　sacred　to　you？　I　asked
  you　to　remove　the　string；　you　refused。
  I　ask　you　now　to　play　upon　it；　you　re…
  fuse；''　and　she　paced　the　room　like　a
  caged　tigress。
  ‘‘I　will　watch　to…night　when　you
  play；''　she　flashed。　‘‘If　you　do　not　use
  that　string　we　part　forever。''
  He　stood　before　her　and　attempted　to
  take　her　hand；　she　repulsed　him　savagely。
  Sadly　then　he　asked：　‘‘And　if　I　do
  play　upon　it？''
  ‘‘I　am　yours　foreveryours　through
  lifethrough　eternity；''　she　cried
  passionately。
  The　call…boy　announced　Diotti's　turn；
  the　violinist　led　Mildred　to　a　seat　at　the
  entrance　of　the　stage。　His　appearance
  was　the　signal　for　prolonged　and　enthusiastic
  greeting　from　the　enormous　audience
  present。　He　clearly　was　the　idol
  of　the　metropolis。
  The　lights　were　lowered；　a　single
  calcium　playing　with　its　soft　and　silvery
  rays　upon　his　face　and　shoulders。　The
  expectant　audience　scarcely　breathed　as
  he　began　his　theme。　It　was　pitypity
  molded　into　a　concord　of　beautiful
  sounds；　and　when　he　began　the　second
  movement　it　was　but　a　continuation　of
  the　first；　his　fingers　sought　but　one
  string；　that　of　pity。　Again　he　played；
  and　once　more　pity　stole　from　the　violin。
  When　he　left　the　stage　Mildred　rushed
  So　him。　‘‘You　did　not　touch　that　string；
  you　refuse　my　wish？''　and　the　sounds
  of　mighty　applause　without　drowned　his
  pleading　voice。
  ‘‘I　told　you　if　you　refused　me　I　was
  lost　to　you　forever！　Do　you　understand？''
  Diotti　returned　slowly　to　the　center　of
  the　stage　and　remained　motionless　until
  the　audience　subsided。　Facing　Mildred；
  whose　color　was　heightened　by　the　in…
  tensity　of　her　emotion；　he　began　softly
  to　play。　His　fingers　sought　the　string
  of　Death。　The　audience　listened　with
  breathless　interest。　The　composition
  was　weirdly　and　strangely　fascinating。
  The　player　told　with　wondrous　power
  of　despair；of　hope；　of　faith；　sunshine
  crept　into　the　hearts　of　all　as　he　pictured
  the　promise　of　an　eternal　day；　higher
  and　higher；　softer　and　softer　grew　the
  theme　until　it　echoed　as　if　it　were　afar　in
  the　realms　of　light　and　floating　o'er　the
  waves　of　a　golden　sea。
  Suddenly　the　audience　was　startled　by
  the　snapping　of　a　string；　the　violin　and
  bow　dropped　from　the　nerveless　hands　of
  the　player。　He　fell　helpless　to　the　stage。
  Mildred　rushed　to　him；　crying；
  ‘‘Angelo；　Angelo；　what　is　it？　What　has
  happened？''　Bending　over　him　she
  gently　raised　his　head　and　showered　un…
  restrained　kisses　upon　his　lips；
  oblivious　of　all　save　her　lover。
  ‘‘Speak！　Speak！''　she　implored。
  A　faint　smile　illumined　his　face；　he
  gazed　with　ineffable　tenderness　into　her
  weeping　eyes；　then　slowly　closed　his　own
  as　if　in　slumber。
  The　Conspirators
  Arriving　opposite　the　Franklin
  house；　Tom　Foley　took　position　in　a
  near…by　alley；　where　he　could　keep　close
  watch　on　the　front　gate。　After　hours　of
  nervous　waiting；　little　Lillian　Franklin
  came　out；　and　Tom's　heart　gave　a　jump。
  She　was　alone；　and　began　to　roll　a　hoop；
  which　her　friend　Sandy　had　given　her
  that　morning。　Down　the　street　she
  tripped；　all　smiles　and　happiness。
  Tom　watched　her　until　she　had　turned
  a　corner；　then　he　rushed　up　the　alley
  to　intercept　her。　When　he　emerged　into
  the　street；　he　saw　her　resting　on　a　rustic
  bench；　and　hastened　to　join　her。　As　he
  came　up；　he　was　greeted　with：
  ‘‘Why；　Tom；　I　thought　you　went　fishing
  with　Gil；　and　papa；　and　Sandy；　and
  the　rest。''
  ‘‘No；　Lily。　I　felt　so　bad　'bout　my
  dad　being　arrested　yest'day　I　couldn't　git
  up　no　courage　to　go；''　answered　the　boy
  with　simulated　contrition。　What　d'yer
  say？　let's　s'prise　Gil；　and　go　down　to
  the　landin'　an'　meet　him　when　he　comes
  in　from　fishin'；''　suggested　Foley；　knowing
  the　intense　love　she　had　for　her　brother。
  ‘‘That'll　be　lovely；　won't　it？　And
  Gil　will　be　so　glad　if　I　come。''
  Lillian　whipped　the　hoop　rapidly；　and
  Tom　kept　pace　with　her。
  ‘‘Gil　will　be　surprised；　sure　enough；
  when　he　sees　me　coming；　won't　he？''
  ‘‘Yes；　he'll　be　s'prised；　you　bet！''　said
  the　boy；　taking　a　firmer　hold　of　her　hand。
  The　night　was　fast　approaching　and
  Foley　was　leading　the　child　through
  unfrequented　alleys　and　streets。
  ‘‘But　maybe　Gil　won't　come　back
  this　way；　and　it's　getting　awful　dark。''
  ‘‘Oh；　he'll　come　back　this　way；　all　right。''
  They　were　now　on　the　shore　of　the
  river；　dark　and　desolate　in　its　winter
  dress。　The　restless　splash　of　the　water
  sent　icy　sprays　over　the　child；　and；
  clinging　still　closer　to　her　treacherous
  companion；　she　stopped　him　for　a　second
  and　begged　him　to　return。
  ‘‘Don't　be　afear'd；　nuthin's　goin'　ter
  happen　to　yer；''　he　said；　jerking　her
  savagely；　and　almost　breaking　into　a　run
  at　the　same　time。
  ‘‘Oh；　Tom；　please　let's　go　back；''
  supplicated　the　child。
  They　were　now　at　the　old　wharf。　He
  gave　a　low　whistle；　and；　without　waiting
  for　an　answer；　pulled　the　helpless　child
  through　the　entrance。　Then；　groping　his
  way　over　the　slimy　stones　and　through
  the　oozing　mud；　he　dragged　the　affrighted
  little　one　after　him；　to　the　mouth　of　the
  cave；　and　called：
  ‘‘Dad；　I'm　here。''
  ‘‘Come　right　in；''　answered　a　voice。
  ‘‘I've　got　her；　an'　I　got　her　easy　as
  dirt；''　said　the　son；　pushing　the　terrified
  child　into　the　cave；　and　then　roughly
  into　the　arms　of　his　father。
  ‘‘Don't　yell；　yer　brat！''　said　the　older；
  clasping　his　hand　over　mouth；　and　drawing
  her　brutally　toward　him。　‘‘Shut
  up；　or　I'll　kill　yer。''
  Foley　now　called　Hildey；　who　was；
  asleep　in　the　corner；　and　said；　‘‘Cul；
  we've　got　to　git　out　er　this　place　jest　as
  quick　as　possible。　It's　too　near　the
  city；　an'　if　we're　tracked　here　we'll　stand
  no　more　chance　than　a　snowball　on
  Beelzebub's　gridiron。''
  ‘‘What's　yer　lay；　Dennis？''　questioned　Hildey。
  ‘‘Move　up　the　river；''　was　the　reply。
  ‘‘I　knows　jest　the　place　where　we　wouldn't
  be　found　in　a　thousand　years。''
  ‘‘When　d'yer　want　to　start？''　asked　Tom。
  In　ten　minutes　the　abductors；　with
  the　stolen　child；　were　slowly　winding
  their　way　along　the　deserted　beach。
  It　was　now　very　dark。　No　stars
  were　shining；　and　it　had　become　bitterly
  cold。　Suddenly　voices　were　heard；　and
  the　abductors　stopped　to　listen。　They
  were　in　a　ravine　near　the　magazine
  landing；　not　more　than　fifty　feet　from　the
  spot　where　the　Lillian　was　launched。
  Foley；　Tom；　and　Hildey　crouched　low；
  and　drew　the　little　girl　closer。
  The　steady　dip　of　oars　was　heard　up
  stream；　and　the　voices　grew　plainer。
  Out　of　the　mingled　sounds　was　heard；
  ‘‘I　agrees　with　Sandy；　he's　the　dirtiest
  coward　as　ever　went　unhung。''
  Lillian　started；　for　she　recognized　the
  voice　of　the　Jedge；　who　with　Colonel　Franklin；
  Sandy；　Dink；　Leander　and　Gilbert；
  were　returning　from　a　sail　up　the　river
  Foley　became　frightened；　and　bending
  over；　hissed　into　the　child's　ear：
  ‘‘Remember　what　I　tol'　yer：　if　yer