The delay may cost Signer Gallino a thousand dollars, possibly his life. Yes, you may show them in."
In another moment the officer appeared, leading by the sleeve a very badly frightened Italian. The moment the latter perceived the gorgeously picturesque figure of the palmist he rushed across the room and sank on the floor, clutching Astro by the knees.
"I no t'row-a da bomb!" he screamed. "I no t'row-a da bomb! Sacrament'! I spika da trut'! I no t'row-a bomb, signor! Gallino he give-a me da bounce, si! I shake-a-da fist in da face; bot I no t'row-a da bomb!" At that the tears streamed from his wild eyes.
Astro waved his hand impatiently, took up Antonio's hand, and began reading the palm, only to let it drop in a few moments.
"This young lady who roomed next to you," he said gently,—"you liked her, Antonio?"
The accused's eyes beamed. "Ah, si, signor! She the fine-a, nice-a girl. She speak-a to me, nice!"
"Very often?"
"Ah, no, signor! She lock herself in da room all-a da time. Some eve she come-a in, get-a da match. Da's all. Read-a da pape', maybe, sometime."
Astro cast a quick significant look at Valeska under his dark brows. "When did she come in and tear out a page from The Era, Tony?"
Antonio scratched his head, laboring to remember. "Sometime dees-a last-a wik, early. Si. One night she come in, she say, Tony, I like-a get-a da posish. You lemme take-a do pape'. I brink 'er back.' I say 'No, I wanta-da pape' for read-a to-night.' She say, 'All-a right; I tear off da one piece.'"
