Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-07-26

you. Doa't you touch that big stone
there over the cistern, and If you hear
any 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 understand"
Without pausirg in their work, they
replied: Yes, that's all right" These
words revealed the situation. The per
son, whose cry / had heard was, dead
or alive, under the ponderous stone
which covered an old unused cistern.
I understood my peril clearly. 1 was
In the den of desperate criminal, sur
rounded by his confederates. But of
course had not entered the place
without being we'll armed. Luckily I
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 1 said:
Now, MIR. Calisteo, you drop that knife
to the floor or 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 1 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
filed thereon. All was still. Hooked
down into the mouldy cistern, and there,
in state of semi-consciousness was q
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 a hos
pital.
The remainder of my story is short.
When consciousness returned to the
!
son had been temporarily deranged By
the fearful strain which had been laid
upon it. I 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
clean breast of it, in order to mitigate
his punishment. In early life, in Italy,
he had been associated with band of
brigands. Opportune discretion had en-
abled him to escape pursuit of officers,
and land in this country. But old
instincts and memories of large rewards
were upon him. He found that til
young girl, who visited the tenement IL
works of charity and mercy, was the
only child of wealthy capitalist. He
lured her into his apartments, and
there captured her, with the intention
of securing a reward for her deliverance.
But her loss completely Frustrated the
father, who died after brief illness of
brain fever.
He determined to release her, on her
solemn oath never to reveal him, under
the pains of being hunted and muir
dered by alleged accomplices. He
chose the very hour of my passing to
inform her of his decision. But as he
raised the great stone, she gave the
piercing scream for help which had
reached my ears. The stone was
dropped over her again and a sponge,
saturated with chloroform, forced into
her living grave.
The remainder of my story you
know; for 1 hardly need to tell you that
the beautiful, gentle young woman who
surrounded my life with more than a
lovers devotion is she whose voice I
heard yes, heard across all the miles
of desolate prairie and above the rumble
of the train that eventful night.