Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-30

struggle IN his soul between cOVetOusnpgg
and the respect due to hospitality. His
naked breast heayed violently, and he
seemed Authenticated. However, the
watch continued 10 turn and twist about.
and sometimes struck the end OF his nose.
Finally little by little, his right hand rose
slowly toward the watch, the ends of his
fingers touched 1t, aud he felt its weight
before the adjutant dropped the end Of
the chain. The dial-plate was sky-blue,
the case newly polished, and, in the sun,
il shone Ike fire. The temptation was too
strOngl
Fortunate raised his left hand slowly.
and pointed with his thumb, over his left
shoulder, at the heap Of straw The adiu-
tant instantly understood his gesture. lie
let go the end of the chain, and Fortunate
felt himself sole possessor Of the watch
He arose with the agility Of deer and
ran q few steps from the heap of hay.
which the soldiers Immediately began to
overturn. 1t was not long before a man
covered with blood, poniard in hand.
crawled out; but, as he tried TO rise to his
feet, his wounded thigh did not allow him
to stand erect He fell, and the adiutaut
threw Himself upon him and seized his
stiletto, and he was soon securely tied, de-
spite his struggles. Lying on the ground,
and bound up like a fagJot, GiannettO
turned his head toward Fortunate, and
Missed, "Son OF a dog Tho child tossed
back the five franc piece Gpuuetto had
given him. feeling that he hau ceased TO
deserve it; but the outlaw paid no attention
to this movement He said coOlly to the
adjutaut:
MY dear GAMBIA, I cannot walk; you
will be forced TO carry me to the town"
you ran quicker than Il squirrel awhile
ago." replied the cruel couqueror; "but be
easy; am SO glad TO have caught you that
could carry you for a league on my back
without fatigue. AS for the rest, comrade,
we viii make you litter out of some
branches and your cloak, and at Crespole's
farm we shall dnd horses.
"All right" said the prisoner, put also
little straw on the litter, that I may lie
easier"
While the soldiers were co1ploved. some
in making kind of litter out OF branches,
and the others in dressing Giannetto's
wound, Mateo Falcone aud his wife sud-
denly appeared at the turn of path which
led to the maqus The woman walked
slowly, bending painfully under the weight
of nm enormous sack of chestuuts, while
her husband sroled by her side, carrying
only his two guns, one in his hand, the
other in his shoulder-belt for To is I'M
worthy of "a Corsican to carry any burden
but his arms.
AS he caught sight of the soldiers his
fiIsJ idea was that they came TO arrest him.
But why2 Had Mateo any trouble with
the law No; hc enjoyed a good reputa-
ton, but he was also q Cor7ican and q
mountaineer, and there are few such who,
In searching their memory, cannot recall
some peccadilloes, such as guu-shots, dag
ger thrusts. and other like trihes. Mateo,
more than most men, had clear con-
science in this respect for more that ten
years he had aimed his gun ut no man.
But he was, however prudent, and he took
a position to make brave defence, if ne
cessary.
"Wife, said he to Giuseppe, put down
your sack and be ready"
She obcyed Immediately He gave her
the gun from his shouldcr-belt. which
might cramp his movements He then
loaded the one he held, and advanced
slowly toward his house, skirting the
trees, which bordered the road, ready, Mt
the least hostile demonstration Of the sol
dcrs, to throw himself behind the largest
trunk, when he could fire under shelter.
His wife followed in his tracks, hiding the
spare gun and its cartridge box the busi-
ness OF Il good housewife is TO load her
husbands gun i'm case Of a combat
On the other side of the field, the adiu-
tant was much troubled at seeing Mateo
advance in this manner, with measured
steps, gun In hand. and his finger on the