Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-29
CHAPTER X.

| All the next day the wind was in our
| favor. and we arrived at Palermo an
hour before sunset. We had scarcely
run into harbOr when a small party of
officers and gendarmes, heavily laden
with pistols and carbines, came on
boards and showed a document author
iZing them to search the brig for Car
melo Neri. | was somewhat anxious
| for the safety of my good friend the
captain-but he was in nowise dis
mayed; he smiled and welcomed the
armed emissaries of the government as
though they were his dearest friends.
ITO give you my opinion frankly"
he said to them, as he opened a flask
of fine Chianti for their behoof, Il be-
lieve the villain Carmelo is somewhere
about Gaeta. I would not tell you a
| lie-why should [? Is there not re-
ward offered, and am not I poor?
Look you, would do my best to as
sist you!"
One of the men looked at him du-
biously.
I'VE received information be said,
in precise, business-like tones, that
Neri escaped from Gaeta two months
since, and was aided and abetted in
| his escape by one Andrae Luziani,
owner of the coasting brig Laura,
| jCurneying for purposes of trade be-
| tween Naples and Palermo. You are
Andrae LuZiani, and this is the brig
| 'Laura-We are right in this: is it not
SOP
"As if you could ever be wrong,
carol" cried the captain with undimin-
ished gayety, clapping him on the
shoulder. NAY, if ST. Peter should
have had the bad taste TO shut you out
! of heaven, you would be cunning
enough to find another and better en-
trance! All, Die! l believe it Yes,
you are right about my name and the
name of my brig but in the other
things"-here he shook his fingers with
an expressive sign of denial-"you are
wrong-wrOng-all wrong!" He broke
into a gay laugh. yes, wrong-but
we will not quarrel about it, Have
some more Chant, Searching for
brigands is thirsty work. Fill your
glasses, amiCi-spare not the flask
there are twenty more below stairs!"
The officers smiled in spite of them
selves, as they drank the proffereG
wine, and the youngest-looking of the
PARTY, brisk, handsome fellow, en-
tered into the spirit Ct the captain with
ardor, though he evidently thought hi
should trap him into d confession I'M
awares, by the apparent careiessnes:
and bonhonie of his manner.
Bravo, Andrae!" he cried, merrily
"Soi let us all be friends together
Besides, what harm is there in takinE
brigand for passenger-no doubt h.
would pay you better than most car
goes"
5 But Andrea was not to be so caught
: On the contrary; he raised his hand
= and eyes with an admirably feigne,
} expression of shocked alarm.
= Our Lady and the saints forgiv
. you!" he exclaimed, piously, 10
: thinking that I, an honest marinarC
l would accept one baiocco from an &C
low me ever afteri Nay. nay-theT
Y has been a mistake; know nothing c
t Carmelo Neri, and | hope the saint
: will grant that l may never meet him.
n He spoke with so much apparent sir
a cerity that the officers in ccmman
If were evidently puzzled, though tn
IS fact Of their being so did rot dete
e them from searching the brig thol
o CIghly. Disappointed in their eXpet
.e tations, they questioned all on boar,
Y including myself, but were of cours
lie unable to obtain any satisfactory r.
S. plies. Fortunately they accepted n
ID costume as a sign of my trade, ar
ID though they glanced curiously at n
De white hair, they seemed to think thel
,e was nothing suspicious about me- Aft,