The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-18
Issw:sa ali. This evil looking fisherman

Isew 70 all This evil looking fisherman
was a member of the dread secret order.
she Camorra, whose adherents are to be
found all over Italy, and whose power.
though now on the wane, is still felt in
some parts of the country, particularly in
Naples Composed of thieves braves, brig
auds 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
few fish, the aims of mendicant, or the
winnings of a gamester, it is held in a sort
of revereutial dread by its victims and its
claims are seldom disputed. Its members,
pledged TO allegiance by terrible oaths in a
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 a crime of
that nature.
Pietro, representing the society, was de-
handing from Marcella 1.-THE of her win
nings from me.
l was an American and had not that SUI
perstitious respect for the Camorra with
which the peasantry of Naples are imbued.
/ therefore asked Pietro, in by no means
gentle voice, what he wanted.
"Do not say anything, signor," put in
Marcella, appealingly. II will pay. Pietro
is right" as with trembling fingers she
counted out half the silver she had won
from me and placed it in the fsherman's
hand.
He did not speak 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 I determined that the next time
I met Pietro | would make him disgorge
in spite of his stiletto l struck match
to light my cigar and caught hasty
glimpse of two dark figures spring from
doorway. Then pair of arms were thrown
around my neck from behind, handker-
chief was tied over my eyes, and Pietro's
voice said: keep quiet and you will not
be hurt. / want to introduce you to my
friends"
| was grasped on each side and led
knew not whittier. In few minutes we
stopped and entered house that smelled
like a wine shop. We went up flight of
stairs. l heard door shut and locked,
and the bandage was removed from my
eyes.
was in low ceiled, dirty walled room,
and was surrounded by about a dozen as
villainous appearing fellows as ever / saw
in my life. At my side stood Pietro, care
lessly lingering the hilt of his knife in his
broad red sash. The rest of the company
were evidently thieves and cutthroats of
the lowest character. A man of perhaps
fifty sat at the head of the table in the
middle of the room, regarding me from be-
meath his grizzled 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 he
eyes. He has been heard to express con-
tempt for the society several times, and to-
night when l was collecting for game Of
mora. he interfered to try and cheat the
Camorra of its just dues" said Pietro.
every well, Pietro. You will deal with
him in the usual way"
Without another word, three of the most
savage looking men in the room seized me,
while two others emptied my pockets and
placed the contents on the table. was
then hustled throughe a doorway into
another room and locked in.
1t was pitch dark. Not sound could be
heard from the next room, where l had
left Pietro and his amiable friends, and
supposed they had dispersed after making
me secure.
This is a pretty fix for a law abiding
American citizen. l will make somebody
suffer for this" thought Indignantly.
Ali what was that2 Surely, a ray of
light Yes; the floor opened almost at my
! feet and candle in the hand of a 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 trapdoor and stood
sacing me. I seized her hand impulsively
"Hush, signori The Camorral They
will kill your
what for?"
at matters not. You have offended
them. 1t is all through Pietro. He was
jealous of you. But, ahl signor, you are SO
handsome"
81 cannot help Pietro's being jealous"
I said; ''but why should the Camorra mix
itself up in his personal atfairsY'
They are bound by oath to help one an
other. Besides, you interfered with him
when he was collecting money for the So
ciety"
"Well, butt
huSHk mere Is no GlUlo W lOSc' III
half an hour Pietro will return. He will
give you a knife and tell you to defend
yourself Then. before you have time to
put yourself on guard, he will drive his
stiletto into your heart. Your body will
be at once taken across the bay, and before
you are missed the crater of Vesuvius will
have swallowed it and no one will know.
The Camorra guards its secrets we'll"
1.-The bloodthirsty villains!" calculated
as an irrepressible shudder passed over
me.
II am here to save you," continued Mar
celia, putting one of her pretty little brown
hands on my breast. "Listenl You must
! leave Naples to-night-at once. Give me a
letter to your landlord, so that he will let
me have your trunks, and will send them
after you. You know you told me you had
| 10000 francs in one of them when did not
want to take the money had won from
| you. | have brought piece of paper and
pencil"
/ The little rascall She had good mem
ory aud took more notice of my careless re-
marks than had thought. No wonder
| felt battered. Iwrote the note, as directed,
! telling my apathetic Italian landlord that
! had been suddenly summoned to Rome
1 on important business, and directed him
/ to let the bearer have my trunks. / had
/ paid him a months rent in advance that
| very morning, and he would be only too
/ pleased TO get rid of me on those terms.
| Now" said Marcella, when she had
| carefully deposited the note in her bosom,
Gin ten minutes will be back. Then you
/ must come quietly with me, without say