Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-02-07
CONSCIENCE MONEY.

During my residence at the Villa
Medicis-from 1871 to 1S74-wo were
constantly hearing Of highway robbery,
and even Of downright brigandage, ont
ON the Campagna and up in the noun
tains. Sometimes rumor would bring
the marauders Il the very gates Of the
city, and at last tho bandits were re-
ported to have ventured into the town
itself. The report did not exaggerate the
reality.
Happily none Of our party fell q vic
tim to these attempts save one. who
was stopped in open day by the side Of
Santa Maria Maggiore, forced back to
the wall and "held up" with half a
dozen knives cleaning in q semicirole
around his throat.
He was relieved Of his watch and
gave up his purse, but beyond the loss
of these articles suffered no injury. The
watch he subsequently recovered, and
the purse contained only a few francs.
Simon Backer always was n lucky dog.
There was at this time, in the noun
tains near Cervara, a bandit whose nc
tivity and audacity had made him a ter
ror to the district for several months
past. Emboldened by the smiles with
which fortune favored him, he grew
daily more daring. He had ventured in
to Subiaco and carried of prisoners I'M
der the walls Of Tivoli. The peasants
v failed to cross themselves when
they spoke of Fontana. He was said to
be not more than 20 ut most, of a strik-
ingly handsome presence, and to q cour-
age that was indomitable he added the
strength of a Hercules.
For nearly half a year this follow and
his band Of cutthroats hold possession
Of the Campagna. The attempts made
from time to time to take him always
came to nothing. Now it would DO the
royal and now the pontifcal gendar-
merle that would go after him, but the
carbineers seemed never to arrive in
time. There was always something to
delay their departure or obstruct their
march.
The Campagna is q veritablo land Of
Goshen for a brigand who knows his
business. Everywhere there are grottoes,
caverps, grass grown ruins, abandoned
quarries and broad belts of forest, I'M
trodden for generations. A few villages,
lost in these solitudes, are united to the
outer world by q track which is I'M
worthy the name OF road and bound to-
gether by footpaths only recognizable by
those accustomed to use them.
The child trotting from one to the
other with a cheese for the grandmother,
or returning with water from the dis
tant fountain, would frequently fall il
with the wolf"
This "wolf" was FontanA disguised
With some cheap trinkets, perhaps
necklace of beads or q silver bracelet
he would entice tho child - chatter
wheedling out Of her who sold hi
beasts or disposed of his crop; inquir
ing If this one had received the beques
expected or that other been paid tn
legacy left him. And how could tn
frightened child refuse TO answer whei
the "'wolf" suddenly transformed him
self into a handsome gentleman, wit
soft manner and hands filled sit
pretty things?
In one Of these villages lived a ma
named Beppo Guerra. 1t was he him
self who told me this story. He file
tho triple Office Of notary, apothecar
and mayor.
At the close Of the winter fairs hel
in Rome and the neighborhood Guerr
had committed the great impudence c
bringing back with him a large sum c
money-several thousand francs. For
tana got wind Of this.
One evening, when everybody in tn
village was asleep and Beppo was IN
ishing his pipe down stairs, some shot
were fired at the door. No warning ha
been given no noise had been heard
Before Beppo could recover himself
ball crashed through tho window an
tore a long splinter from tho collin
joist, the door was burst open, and For
tana entered, followed by several mem
beers Of his band.
Terrified by the noise, Nine. Guerr
rushed 10 the room to save her husband
and the children ran to seek protectio
near their mother.
Unmoyed by the entreaties of th
wife, the rufiars leveled their pistol
at the heads Of she affrighted family.
Twenty tn rsand francs is what W
want of you, " shouted Fontana. Come
there's no time to waste. l don't wan
any blubbering, and I'm not going I
listen 10 any tale pitching. Hand it owe
quickly. I'll give you five minutes t
make up your mind.
Resistance was useless. 70 call 70
help was 20 seek sudden death an
bring down vengeance ON the heads q
little ones. Beppo understood the stu
alton exactly.
II have not such a sum, " said no cold
ly.
''Then give us what you have. tn