Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-07-04

bN pSStttAetAAg bb1libCO upon HIS nSSli
the holier the better"
"Ahln cried the leader, with gusto,
II rather think am the man."
And he barred his brawny arm to
the shoulder, displaying thereon an
inscription in India-ink tattoo.
Not so fast, captainl" exclaimed
another. 81 can beat that, fancy
Aud stripping his own arm, he re
vealed villainously designed tattoo
mark in different colors.
There was an eager barring of arms
and bosoms all around, this custom
OF tatooing being a f,Ivorite one
among the mountaineers.
l shook my head dissatisfedly, and
then fixed my eyes on Pietro Malasso
with what intended for amysterious
and prophetic look the man having
hung back from the others, notwith-
standing that Mia was apparently
urging him to a similar display in a
low voice.
At last, apparently yielding with
much reluctance, he tore open his
shirt, revealing a very creditable de
sign done in sepia and pink tints on
his breast-the very distinguishing
mark by which would be enabled to
identity him as the fugitive murderer
And closing my eyes in a rapt at
titude, | called out at haphazard,
though jerkingly, and with an appear
ance OF occult prompting, these five
numbers: -, IS, "a, 26, 73.n
A shout of jubilation arose from the
miscreants, who evidently regarded
the lottery prizes already won.
Malasso was regarded as a particu-
larry favored individual; and / at
once set forth on my return to Naples
under their leaders special escort, as
had been promised.
But apart from the particular re-
suit | was aiming for, wholly unex-
pected and most remarkable develop
ment was destined to evolve out OF
this strange adventure.
The National Lottery of Italy is
based on the old game OF '.lots. F"
There are ninety numbers, and one
can stake on one, two, three, four, or
five OF them, any sum, from one franc
to thousand, being paid pro rata OF
the numbers coming out.
Once safe in my hotel apartment,
discarded my franciscan garb for my
proper habiliments, and at once COM
municated the result OF my adventure
to the chief OF the Neapolitan police,
with whom | had previously made
myself and my mission acquainted,
and who cheerfully promised me his
cooperation.
Then, on my way back to the hotel,
a sudden impulse seized me, and stop
ping at one OF the lottery offices,
| staked ten francs on each OF the num-
bers | had given to the brigands.
At the drawing OF the following day,
| to my utter astonishment, the five
numbers actually did come out, and
| / was just ten thousand francs richer.
But at an early stage of the an
nouncements, had already marked
Malasso and Nita side by side in the
were scattered here and there. They
had all doubtless staked heavily on
the combination, and were wild with
| Joy in consequence.
/ signalled the chief OF police and
several Of his subordinates, who Were
on the alert, and then laid my hand
roughly on my mans shoulder, declar.
ing him my prisoner.
His stiletto was in his hand in a
flash, and he turned on me like a tiger
but had him down and handouts on
him before he could strike blow
Nita, no less desperate than he, was
quickly taken in charge while in this
act of clapping pistol to my head.
i then pointed out to the chief oil
police several of the brigands, includ
ing Lazanetto, but the official only
shrugged his shoulders, and declined
to make any arrest on his own &C
count.
''Peste! What is the use2" he said
in his easy going way. "You car
make no criminal charge against then
my friend. Ais fair in a lottery, al
in love and war, and the kidnapping
OF q bogus Franciscan or two is o.
very little account"
But | had secured my murderer
and subsequently got him back to
New York, where in due course o.
time he was indicted. tried, convicted
and hanged for his crime; and / was
moreover, just as much richer as has
been indicated in the foregoing
Nita was left behind, as matter o
course, and ! have understood that
she afterwards became the wife o.
LIazanetto.
The brigands were in clover, fol
none others could have played the
combination so strangely forced out
of me save by the purest chance; anC
have heard that the Government
had to pay ten millions Of francs OF
that one day drawing. But as ther'
was no Fra Ambrogio to give IT,,
fortunate clue thereafter, and as there
was o great run on the lottery thu
following week, with very different
result, the State was enabled to re
coup itself Altogether it was tn,
strangest adventure in all my detec
tive experience.