11] 
where her body lies, or happier thought, that 
she is yet alive and where, and how circum- 
stanced. Is it a compact my dear Fritz? Will 
you even at this late day accept my full confi- 
dence and give me your devoted aid in this 
holy mission? Speak, my Fritz.” 
“ Ah, my dear Count, you need ask of me no 
such pledge. I give it veluntarily, happy in- 
deed to be able to perform in the exercise of 
my best talents, whatever les in my power 
toward the permanent, final settlement and ex- 
planation of this depressing mystery. Here is 
my hand and with it my heart. Death alene 
shall loose this compact.” 
“Bless you my Fritz. I gladly accept your 
kind offer and time only can prove my estima- 
tion of your sympathy and true friendship. 
Now to the work. I have already told you all 
the facts relative to the disappearance of my 
child so far as I possess them. From the time 
my sweet Anita left my stricken home I have 
learned nothing of her except the story of her 
abduction and her departure for the new world. 
I carefully traced these facts and substantiated 
them, but I have not been able to learn one 
single little truth relative to her since her de- 
parture from Messina. Whether she ever 
reached New York City or landed at some oth- 
er port, I cannot tell. Let me show to you a 
little trinket that I value nearly as my life; it 
is the surest clew to her identity that I possess. 
I keep it always here over my heart, and I 
