Part 4 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE MARIONETTE THEATRE]

After the show, as Tony was putting away the marionettes, a gentleman and a little girl came to the back of the stage. They approached Guido.

Tony heard angry talk between the two men. However, it did not interest him until he heard the girl say, ”I know it is my dog! I want my dog.”

Tony listened now. He heard Guido laugh nervously.

”That is absurd,” said Guido. ”The little lady is mistaken. Tina is my dog. She belongs to my show.”

The gentleman raised his voice. ”My daughter is not mistaken,” he said.

”That is her dog!”

”It was stolen from us,” added the little girl.

”We searched for it all over Naples but could not find it,” continued her father.

”I want Niki!” pleaded the child.

”You have stolen my daughter's pet,” said the gentleman. ”I demand it back!”

Now Tony entered the scene. He held Tina close. The little girl put out her arms and cried, ”Niki! Niki! I want my Niki!”

”Her name is Tina,” said Tony. ”She belongs to Guido--and me.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BAY OF NAPLES AND VESUVIUS]

”That is not true,” said the gentleman. ”This Guido, your father, has stolen our dog. If he does not give it back at once, I shall call the police!”

Guido looked afraid and Tony noticed it. He must think of a way to save Tina! With a broad grin the young beggar stepped up to the little girl.

”It is true that Guido stole your dog, Niki,” he said. ”But this is not Niki. You see, that was a long time ago and Niki died. Ah, poor thing!”

He wiped away a false tear and stroked Tina's head fondly.

”This is our own Tina,” he added.

”Oh, Papa!” wailed the poor little girl. ”Niki is dead!”

But the father was not so easily deceived. ”Give me the dog,” he said.

”I wish to see it more closely.”

Tony started to draw back with Tina, but the man s.n.a.t.c.hed her out of his arms.

”What you have told me is a lie,” he declared. ”This is indeed my daughter's dog. I recognize her by the peculiar marking under her chin.”

He glared angrily at Tony.

”You are a lying little scamp as your father is a thief!” he said.