Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-11

YOU. Don't you touch that big stone
there over the c%istern, and if you hear
m sound which that American devil
notices, you just say it's the baby. If
YOU do that I'll double your wages; and
if you don't, you'll never draw a cent Of
his money. Do you understands"
Without pausing in their work, they
replied: "Yes, that's all right" These
words revealed the situation. The per-
son, whose cry I had heard was, dead
or alive, under the ponderous stone
which covered All old unused c%istern.
I understood my peril %clearly y. l was
in the den of a desperate criminal, sur
rounded by his confederates. But Of
course / had not entered the place
without being we'll armed. Luckily
had placed my revolvers in the side
pocket OF my overcoat, instead of in my
hip pockets, thereby enabling me to get
hold of them without exciting suspicion
and drawing attack.
In an instant | covered Calisteo with
one weapon and the laborers with the
other. Speaking in Italian I said
Now, MI. Calisteo, you drop that knife
to the floor or 1 will drop you; and you
two traitors, if you stir or peep I'll drop
YOU" The knife was dropped, and
Calisteo further obeyed me by kicking
it across the floor where l could place
my foot upon it. The two cowardly
dogs were completely under my con-
troll, securely bound their friend Calls
teo, hand and foot, as directed, not
neglecting to effectually gag him.
Then, under cover of my revolvers,
they took their crow-bars and raised the
big stone. The odor of chloroform
filled the room. All was still. Hooked
down into the mouldy %cistern, and there,
in a state of semi-consciousness wa a
beautiful girl. The dogs lifted her out.
One of them took her in his arms and
carried her into the street, followed by
the other, who dragged the ignominious
Calisteo.
The police patrol wagon was quickly
summoned, and hurried Calisteo to the
remote station, and the girl to q hos
pital.
The remainder OF my story is short.
When consciousness returned to the
young woman it was seen that her rea.
son had been temporarily deranged by
the fearful strain which had been laid
upon it. / procured the best medical
skill in the country, and, when she was
sufficiently restored, provided her with
the pleasures of travel and the superior
treatment abroad.
How great had been the terrors
which had caused the temporary over
throw OF reason may be understood
from the facts brought out in the con.
fession Of the brutal Calisteo. He made
a clean breast of it, in order to mitigate
his punishment. In early life, in Italy.
he had been associated with q band O.
brigands. Opportune discretion had en-
abled him to escape pursuit of officers
and land in this country. But ole
instincts and memories of large reward:
We're upon him. He found that the
young girl, who visited the tenement il
works of charity and mercy. was the
only child Of a wealthy capitalist. HI
thene captured her, with the intention
of securing a reward for her deliverance
But her loss completely Frustrated tn,
father, who died after o brief illness o
brain fever.
He determined to release her, on he
solemn oath never to reveal him, unde
the pains Of being hunted and muir
dered by alleged a~ccomplices. H,
chose the very hour of my passing te
inform her of his decision. But as he
raised the great stone, she gave the
piercing scream for help which hae
reached my ears. The stone wa'
dropped over her again and q sponge
saturated with chloroform. forced int
her living grave.
The remainder of my story you
know; for l hardly need to tell you tina
the beautiful, gentle young woman who
surrounded my life with more than
lovers devotion is she whose voice
heard; yes, heard across all the mile:
Of desolate prairie and above the rumbl,
Of the train that eventful night.