Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-10-17

and restless, gestlculating figure E
the center of this swaying, NUT
crowd was occupied by y comI Is;
band Of mounted gendarmes hi
drawn swords flashing In the palA NVs
ming light-both horse and men nSG F1y
as motionless rs though cast III bs01 \.
They were stationed opposite thel
headquarters of the Carabinieri, Wke6H;
the chief officer Of the party han M.
mounted to make his formal rep6rt
respecting the details of the cart
before proceeding further. BetWAen;
these armed and watchful kuafds.
with his legs strapped to as sturdy
mule, his arms tied fast behind hln,,
and his hands heavily ma WaS
the notorious Ncri, as dark and ilS9ce
as a mountain thunderstorm. fiss
head was uncovered, his thick Aair,
long and unkempt, hung lii mated
locks upon his shoulders, his haaSyl
moustachios and beard were eos hl6ck
and bushy that they almost once0led
his coarse and forb:dding features.
though could see the tiger-like Slit-
ter of his sharp white teeth az ia BIT
and gnawed his under lip In impOtent
fury and dispair,-and his eyes He
leaping flames, blazed with q Wr1khtUl;
feroc'ty from under his shaggy brnWs.;
He was huge, heavy man, broad and
muscular, his two great hands Cle1ch-!
ed, tied and manacled behind Rim,
looked like formidable hammers CaDa-l
BILE of striking a mar down deadsA
one bow. his whole aspect was reDuls.l
I've and terrible-there was 70 redeem
Ing point about Eim-fOr even tie an
parent fortitude he assumed WIS mere
bravado-meretricio courage. which
the first week of the galleys would
crush out of him as easily as one
brushes the juice out of ripe grape
He wore nOndescript costume sOf
varl-colored linen. arranged lii folds,
that would have been the admiration
of an artist. 1t was gathered about
him by means of brilliant scarlet
sash negligently tied. Ills brawnyi
arms were bare. to the shoulder. his
vest was open and displayed his
strong brown throat and chest sheaY-
ing with the pent-up anger ana fear
that ragged within him. His dirk.
grim figure was set on by
curious effect of color rs il
the sky-a long white band Sc
crimson cloud, as though the sunrod
had thrown down goblet OF ruby
wine and left it to trickle along the
smooth, blue fairness Of his palace
hoor. a deep after-glow, which bnsa ned
redly on the olive-tinted eager faces
of the multitude that were everywhere,
upturned in wonder and in-judged all.
mratlon to the irregular black face OF
the notorious murderer and thief.
whose name had for years been the
terror of Sicily. I pressed through the
crowd to obtain nearer view, andSas
did so a sudden savage movement
of Neri's bound body caused the gend-
armes to cross their swords in front of
his eyes with a warning clash. The
brigand laughed hoarsely.
"Corpo di Christow he muttered.
"think you a man tied hand and foot
can run like deer? am trapped:
know it. But tell him. and he inli-
Gated some person in the throng Nv a
nod of his head, .tell him to come
hither, l have a message for him.
The gendarmes looked at one an
other and then at the swaying crowd
about them in perplexity; they dfdsnot
understand.
uiMcAO. W1luOuI WASTING my more
words upon them, raised himsele aA.
uprightly as he could in his sd a7ned
and bound position and called aloud !:
Luigi Biscardi! Capitano! OF, he
you thought that could not see you!
Dio! I should know you in hell! Come
near, I have parting word for you."
At the sound of his strong, harsh,
voice silence half of terror, half OF
awe, fell upon the chattering multi
tude. There was sudden stir 10 the
people made way for young man to
pass through their ra1.s, q slight, tall,
rather handsome fellow, with g pale
face and cold sneering eyes. He was
dressed with fastidious care and neat
ness in the uniform of the Bersaglieri,
and he elbowed his way along with
the easy audacity Of a privileged
dandy. He came close up to the brig
and and spoke carelessly, with
slightly mocking smile playing round
the corners of his mouth.
'Ebbenew he said, you are caught
at last, Carmelo. You called me- here
1 am. What do you want with me,
rascal?" fs