Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-01
CHAPTER XxXv.
A BIT OF BURGLARY.

can only suppose that Corvinos i'll
humour is due to something which has
displeased him in the communication
received from Baritone and, as this
hirsute Mercury has gone off on a
fresh errand or enterprise, the chief is
anxious; for. from something he hears,
'Big Beard is expected back again.
While endeavoring to arrive at the
reason, he is once more honored with
the company of the bandit chief; who,
as If drawing cheerfulness from the
fire, now blazing brightly, has recov-
cred his habitual spirit of badinage.
Approaching, he says:
by this you'll be hungry, and no
doubt a little fatigued after your up
hill journey. Possibly you stand IN
need of rest more than food. I'd ask
you to stay to supper with us, but I'm
expecting company that mightn't be al
together congenial to you. They're
rather a rough set, and their converse
ton ill-beftting the ears of a gentll-
uomo. Therefore, you can retire at
once, and when those joints are roasted
III send you slice. You are to sleep
by yonder rock"-he pointed to a large
boulder, whose grey sides show con-
spicuous amidst the dark green of the
hollies-"a snug, sheltered spot, where
YOU may repose very comfortably. And
you shall have covering to keep OF
the cold. Here, Schiaccia! you and
Giacomo! Conduct the signor to his
sleeping apartment Give him sheep
skin. And, in case he shows ten
dency to somnambulism, see that ne
don't stray over the cliff"
With this droll double-entendre, the
bandit chief walks away, leaving his
prisoner to be cared for by Giacomo
and the Smasher.
One of the two, grasping his should
ers, leads him off, the other following
with some old skins stitched together.
On reaching the rock the fieecy wrap
is spread alongside and the prisoner
directed to lie down upon it, Schiaccla
facetiously telling him it is to be his
bed, blanket, and counterpane-all in
one Then adding:
"The capo seems to think your wor-
ship given to sleep-walking, and fears
your having an accident, getting tum-
BILE over the cliff. This will secure
against that
At which he takes a rawhide rope,
brought along with the sheepskin, and,
drawing out his knife, cuts it into two
pieces, one of which he hands to his
comrade, retaining the other himself
Then the two stoop over the prisoner,
and proceed to bind him-Giacomo
his ankles, the Smasher his wrists
carried around and crossed behind his
back.
When the fastenings is finished, the
Schiaccia, lige his chief, given to JUG
ularity, says:
Now, signor I think you can dis
pense with our further services as val
cts de chambre-for the present;
though we're not going to bid you
buono Note as yet. The capo said
something about supper. When that's
relay, we shall have the pleasure of
renewing attendance en- your Excellen-
cy."
Winding up with little laughing
duetto, the two jovial custcdians seat
themselves on the trunk of fallen
tree. at some PAGES distant from their
prisoner, but convenient for keeping
him in view; draw forth a fiascho of
wine brought up from the vineyards;
and proceed to make merry-leaving
the captive to his meditations, which it
needs not to say are anything but
sweet.
There is an interregnum of profound
silence, the only sounds being the
crackle of burning faggots, the squirt
sent forth by the roasting meat, With
now and then word exchanged by
The turnspits attending to it. The still
ness is at length broken by one of his
guards, who, starting to his feet, ex-
claims, 1.-THE Wolff"
The other, also rising, says: Eyes;
it is the wolf-our wolf"
For second they stand listening.
Their prisoner listens also. Presently
they hear, as he, the long-drawn whine,
ending in bark or bay
"Barbone's signal, sure!" says the
first one ON his feet. Hes got back
earlier than the capo expected him."
so much the better" rejoins the
other "Well get our supper the SOON
err. That young bull should be done
brown by this time, and I'm hungry
snuogh to eat it raw. 1 could manage
a wnole hind-quarter myself"
"Well, the capo won't let us touch it
till the rest arrive, which, no doubt,
they will soon. I hope they've sue
ceeded in their days sport, and are
bringing a good game-bag with them"
"Zittel" calculates the other, that's
Ii