The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-06-06

'Be not uneasy" grinningly remark
ed a brawny tatterdemalion, who
seemed to be in chief authority. mo
harm shall come to you il you are
| docile."
He then waved his hand, and was
carried away, after being blindfolded.
felt myself being borne down stairs,
and then thrust into some sortof con-
veyance. Word was given, there was
n scramble of houfs. and then / was
being jolted alongover the rough lava
pavements OF the narrow, steep and
sinuous streets peculiar to the quar-
ter.
After awhilethe way grew smoother,
but still steep now up, now down.
and from the increased GOODNESS of the
air 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
have been dissipated by the CONVEX
sation 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 APP
preaching lottery drawing
And, after little reflection, / resell
we'd tomake the best ofmy unique pre-
dicament, in the faint hope that it
might 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, i'm the glare oftorch-
es and surrounded by adozen or more
o! the MISUNDERSTANDING fair but
treacherous Nita-the greater number
OF whom must have made their way
thither on foot.
not only protested that had no
revelations to make, but Indignantly
berated them for the disrespect to my
person.
They laughed or cursed my responses
to scorn, while the muscular scoundrel
who seemed to be their leader, and
whom they addressed as 'signor,'
shrugged his shoulders philosophically
"T'ime enough" he said. "Iou can
think over our modest request during
the night
My bonds We're then partly loosen
ed, and j was thrown into n dirty
little dungcon-like cave, where, with
such sleep as | could obtain, / was
kept under guard until daylight.
They then hauled me out, placed me
in their midst, and, while they RECALLED
themselves 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."
Having already studied their faces
severally without discovering one that
might belong to my fugitive, of whose
personal appearance was provided
with a pretty thorough description, /
again insisted that had nothing to
reveal.
My bonds were frightened afresh, and
| was once more cast into the dungeon.
Similar treatment was repeated at
noon, and persisted in holding out
against it, though by this time really
faint from hunger.
"Time flies, and is therefore prec-
ious," observed the leader, frowning
angrily, and ut the same time picking
his teeth with n 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
He twirled the stiletto in one hand,
while significantly scratching one of
his ears with the other, whereupon his
subordinate ruflians burst into
savage laugh.
at is only just cried Mia. ITO
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 a 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 a thump or kick or two at
parting.
When was again dragged forth by
my tormentors at sunset, ] was very
faint, and so hungry that might have
eaten n side of beef, but my heart
gave n secret leap of joy.
Pietro Malasso was now among
them. recognized him from the de-
scription in an instant; and from the
intimate relations that seemed to
exist between them, | doubted not
that he was Nita's husband.
| still persisted in my ignorance,
however, not only with the tempting
food and wine again under my nose,
bnt until they had thrown me down,
and the leaders sharp stiletto was al
ready tickling my left ear as n begin
ming towards the contamination of
his threat.
Then made n great pretence OF
weakening at last.
Hold on, signor!" cried. "Give
me sustenance, and will try to salts
fy you"
!.lstantly I wasunbound, even cares
sed, and with the best that they could
offer before me, handsome Nita especi-
ally exerting herself to make amends
\