The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-04-09

Z l.. 49, . S--'E- "
seemed to be in chief authority .sNo
docile." = = - :
He then waved his hand, and I was
carried ll away, after being blindfolded.
feit myself being borne down stairs,
and then thrust into some sortof con.
yeyance. Word was given, there was
a scramble OF houfs, and then was
being Jolted alongove the rough lava,
payements OF the narrow, steep and
slnuous streets peculiar to the quar-
ter. : ~ = \ o%@i
After awhile the way grew smoother.
put still steep nov up, now down
ana from the increased GOODNESS of the
air l realized that we were out of the
city, and even beyond the suburbs
among the wild mountain roads Of
the interior. = - - -
II | had been in any doubt as to the
OBJECT OF my abduction, it would soon
nave been dissipated by the CONVEX
satlon OF the rascals who were still
with me. ~ -
| was in the clutch of mountain bri-
gands, with the design of securing or
forcing from my supposed prophetic
lips the winning numbers OF the an.
preaching lottery drawing
And, after little reflection. T resell
we'd tomake the best ofmy UNIQUE pre-
dicament, in the faint hope that if
might. .i assist me upon my secret quest.
After three hours hard travelling we
reached the brigands' cave, were the
gag and hoodwink were removed, and
was at once questioned as to the
winning numbers, in the glare of torch
es and surrounded by dozen or more
OF the mlscreants-including fair but
treacherous Nita-the greater number
OF whom must have made their wa,v
thither on foot. :,
L not only protested that had no
revelations to make, but Indignantly
berated them for the disrespect to nv
person. a.
They laughed or cursed my responses
to scorn, while the muscular scoundrel
who seemed to be their leader, and
whom they addressed as ssignor.
shrugged his shoulders philosophically.
"I1me enough" he said. ''You can
thlnk over our modest request during
the night"
MY bonds were then partly loosen
ed, and | was thrown into a dirtv
little dungeon-like cave, where, with
such sleep as could obtain, I was
kept under guard until daylight.
They then hauled me out, placed me
IN IN their midst, and, while they RECALLED
themselve with bread and wine, asked
me, with mock solicitude, if was not
hungry. | replied in the affirmative.
+, "Good!" said their leader. "Impart
to us the winning figures, and you
shall share with us of the best; other
wise you starve." x
Having already, studied their faces
severally without discovering one that
might belong to my fugitive, of whose
personal appearance I was provided
with pretty thorough description,
again insisted that had nothing to
reveal
My bonds were frightened afresh, and
l was once more cast into the dungeon.
Similar treatment was repeated at
noon, and I persisted in holding out
against it, though by this time really
faint from hunger. @~-.'...... :
'"Time flies, and is therefore prec-
lous, !" observed the leader, frowning
angrily, and at the same time picking
his teeth with a stiletto "Look you,
now-we are very poor, and those
winning figures are indispensable to
us. One more chance will be afforded
you to reveal them through this
means" He pointed to the food and
wine they were again discussing among
them: "Should you still prove stub
born"-- -r..,.
He twirled the stiletto in one hand,
while significantly scratching one OF
his ears with the other, whereupon his
subordinate rufians burst into a
savage laugh.
1T is only just" cried Nita. ''To
be crop-eared will be no worse than to
be tongue-tied. If Pietro were here,
he would agree with me-"
The italicised words were new hope
to me as they once more thrust me in
to the Jagged rock cell, with their
curses and brutal laughs, not neglect
ing to add thump or kick or two at
parting. s@ ..a. y
When was again dragged forth by
my tOrmentOrs at sunset, was very
faint, and SO hungry that might have
eaten a side of beef, but my heart
gave a secret leap Of Joy.
Pietro Malasso was now among
them. I recognized him from the de-
scription in an instant; and from the
intimate relations that seemed to
exist between them, I doubted not
that he was Nita's husband.
I still persisted in my ignorance,
however, not, only with the tempting
food and wine again under my nose,
but until they had thrown me down,
and the leaders sharp stiletto was al
ready tickling my left ear as a begin
ming towards the consummation of
his threat. ~
Then made a great pretence of
weakening at last.
"Hold on, signor!" I cried "Give
me sustenance, and I will try to salts
fy YOU"
Instantly was unbound even cares
sed, and with tie best that they could
offer before me, handsome Nita especi-
ally eXerting herself to make amends
with her most brilliant smile and nu-
merous little womanly attentions.
My appetite was huge, and when I
had thoroughly satisfied it to the full.