Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-08-21


ear
She drew back with a start, the color fad
ing from her check.
"Pietro!"
"Guick | come from the society" was
his response Us he held out his open hand.
But Pietro'-
"Pdyi' he missed.
saw it all This evil looking fisherman
was member Of the dread secret order
the Camorra, whose adherents are to be
found all over Italy, and whose power
though now on the waue, is still felt in
some parts of the country, particularly in
Naples. Composed of thieves, braves, brig
ands and desperadoes generally, laughing
at constitutional laws, and demanding its
1.-THE OF every money transaction among
the lower classes, whether it be the sale of
n few fish, the aims Of n mendlcAut. or the
winnings Of "A pamestcr, il j. held in sort
of reverential dread 10y its victims and its
claims are seldom disputed. It's members
pledged TO allegiance by terrible oaths in
cup of human blood, are ever ready with
the stiletto when ordered to use it by the
secret tribunal, and though many foul
murders are traced to the Camorra, it is
seldom that punishment follows IA crime Of
that nature.
pietro, representing tue society, was de-
manding from Marcella a tthc of her win
nings from me.
was an American and had not TINT su-
pcretitious respect for the Camorra with
which the peaaautry of Naples are imbuel.
| therefore asked pictro, in a by no means
gentle voice, what he wanted.
DO not say anything, siguor," put IN
Marcella appealnsiy II viii puy. Petro
IS right" rs with trembling fingers she
counted out half the silver she had won
from me and placed it IN va fisherman's
hand.
lie dii not speak a word to me, but, as
he turned short around on his heel, his
right hand stole to his sash, and saw his
fingers close on the hilt of his stiletto.
| was full of indignation as | walked
home, and | determined thGtthe next time
met Pietro | would make him disgorge
in spite of his stiletto ! struck a match
to light my cigar and CAUGHT hasty
glimpse of two dark figures spring from
doorway Then pair oi arms were thrown
around my neck from behind, Il handker-
chief was tied over my eyes, and Pietros
voice saiI Keep quiet and you will not
be hurt | want to Introduce you to my
friends"
| was graspod on each side and led l
knew not whittier. In few minutes We
stopped and entered a house that smellcd
Ike Il wine shop. We went up n flight of
stairs heard door shut and locked,
end the bandaGe was removed from my
eyes.
was in & low celed, dirty walled room,
aud was surrounded by about dozen as
yillainous appearing fellows a ever l saw
in my life. At my side stood Pietro, care
iess,y lingering the hi!t of lis knife In his
broad red sash. The rest of the company
were evidently thieves and cutthroats Of
the lowest character. y man Of perhaps
fifty sat at the head Of the table in tho
middle of the room, regarding me from be-
meath his grzzled eyebrows as he passed
his hand thoughtfully over his brown face,
which was a network of wrinkles and
scars.
so this is the man, is it, pietro!"
said be.
yes He has been heard TO express con.
tempt for the society several times, and to-
night when l was collecting for n game Of
mora, ne interfered to try and cheat the
Camorru Of its just dues said Pietro.
VERY well, Pietro. You will deal with
linn in the usual way"
Without another word, three OF the most
savage looking men in the room seized me,
while two others empted my pockets and
placed the contents on the table. was
then hustled through a doorway into
another room and locked in.
1t was pitch dark. Not sound could DO
heard from the next room, where had
left pletro and his amiable friends, and
supposed they had dispersed after making
me secure.
This s pretty fix for law abiding
American citizen. will make somebody
suffer for this, thought Indignantly.
All what was that? Surely, n ray Of
light Yes; the floor opened almost at my
feet and q candle in the hand of woman
came up the trap The woman WAS Mar
cellal She held up her finger for silence,
and stepping up the ladder, which led from
"A lower room, shut the trapdopr and stood
sacing me. seized her hand impulsively
"Hush, signorl The Camorral They
will kill your
What forf"
them. IL Is all through Pietro. He wa,
Jealous Of you, But, ah! signor, you are sc
handsome"
81 cannot help Pietro's being Jealous y
said; but why should the Camorra miA
itself up in his personal utIairsW
''They are bound Ly oath TO help one nn
other. Besides, you interfered with HIN
when he was collecting money for the 50
Getty"
well, butt
"Hushl There is no time to lose Il
talf an hour Pietro will return. lie W.
give You a knife and tell you TO defcu,
yourself Then, before you have time 1,
pat yourself on guard, be will drive Ai
otiietto into your heart. Your body vii
lie at once taken across tn bay, ana tef0r
you are missed the CRATER Nc-uyIuz vii
have swallowed it and no one will know
The Camorra guards its secrets we'll "
The bloO2thirsty villains." | eiat ilateC
as IN irrepressible sAuddcr passed owe
. me.
Il am here 10 save YOU" continued Mar
celia, putting one Of her pretty little brown
hands on my breast. "Iisten! You mus
leave Naples isht-at once, Give Inc
letter TO your landlord, SO that he viii lc
me have your trunks, and | will send then
after you. You know you told Inc you har
10000 francs in one of them when | did no
Kaut to take the money had won from
You. have brought piece Of paper an,