The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-23
AMERICAN COME-ONS IN ITALT.


AMERICAN COME-ON IN ITlLT.
Fate of -Four Innocent Tourists at the
Hands of the Modern Brigands.
There were four OF them. all young Ameri-
cans and burdened with hand baggage. They
hurried into the railway station at Naples
few minutes before tho express pulled out for
Rome. There was unusual crush at the
ticket office. but. nothing daunted. the largest
OF the four took his place In line and finally
came abreast Of the seller.
Four tickets to Rome: how much7" All
this was said In one breath. as though It had
been memorized for the occasion.
First. second or third CLASP" returned the
agent quickly. ewing his man keenly and with
a half sncer. Silence. Again the question
was put but the face OF the traveller was
blank: he was evidently at the end OF his
Italian.
-Four tickets to Rome: how much ?" he re-
peated. and the line behind him grew larger
and more impatient.
First. second. or third CLASP sbriodtepi!"
snapped the agent IN uttering something about
children without nurses. The shot was lost on
the child. though the natives seemed to enjoy
it hugely. In despair the agent held up first
one finger. then two. then three. A light
seemed to dawn on the embarrassed buyer.
He held up four fingersl then. pointing north.
said: Rome"
Since no one but royalty and fools travels
first class. the agent, convinced OF the mans
title to the latter description gave him four
stcass tickets and blandly asked for $50
lire. Where the extra lire went Is an open
question.
Out through the gateway the four made
their way until a burly facchino. the eech OF
Italian stations and hotels. stopped their wild
flight for the express
The baggage. signori; you must have 1t
checked" An old trick. but too often sue
cessful.
THE devil!" shouted the four In unison.
Then the smallest OF them. remem boring the
potency of money in Italy. put lire into the
mans hand Presto with bows and smiles
ana gratitude he carries the heaviest bag and
secs them safely in a third-class carriage For
ways that are dark the Neapolitan is not far
behind the Celestial trickster OF Bret Harte.
1t was quite dark when the miserable ex-
Here, the four dsmounted. A swarm Of hack
men buzzed around them. fighting Joyfully for
the prey. After helpless display Of gestures
they made bargain with one Of the men to
take them len, To IA ensione on the Via dsITritone
babe him drive on; and drive. on he did. For
ns4 fhere diver tosS hem at he s snS 3
no such place. but if the signori would
g give him lire he would od take then to an
and the four dismounted for further council
The usual crowd gathered to enjoy the ,quan-
German student. who spoke English. pushed
his way into the circle; and after few words
They we're within minutes walk OF the pen.
stone, Thither they were led and left in the
OF %od large
certainly Clean. comfortable. charming
Then. in burst Of enthusiasm and Italian
and and surely none more reasonable Fifteen
francs each, signoTi; surely worth twenty five
like ourselves. the French, The incident
was closed for the time being. the Frenchman
evidently having in view a fat revenue from
n the riazEza PoIli stands a small homelike
was dark-eyed Roman. 4 bill lard parIor
two fse SS9 and ny
IN" Th S"F "e' ss sass for trade
where they were staying and the terms Of their
accommodation. Before an hour was gone he
nnd TO aa ss Ses
wsre surely rps fee E the EepSh
iorter f@r it. There would be no difiicultyy"o
All he was glad of that. II they cared to see
their rooms, they would kindly follow him:
Certainly exceiied the pensone council Was
held and the largest American was sent to ac-
quaint tho FrcnGhmap with their change OF
pearances satisfied. must have been storing his
wrath for another hour, as proved to be the case.
chianti sat upon the, four like benediction.
they began their weekly correspondence home.
o sound. for after the ringing of the Ave the
Roman day Is practically ended. But the exte-
the that hoverd those our scrBe 80
The light Of four candles put to rout some OF
tie darkness and geSmsa With rich red
that evening idyl FLASHED the brazen motto OF
war The hallway, was filled with shouts and
denly ,ss,Wsrved into French and Eng;
this then, silence. Into the room burst
a, scared.l2oking comer,eTe begging the
to the master. In wonder and doubt they iol
lowed, At the foot Of the steps was the wreck
age OF war, chairs overturned. mats and rugs
upset, he swinging light gone into chaos, and
IN the doorway were two policemen aud a de-
tectye. In their grasp was the excited French
lay with cash across her forehead. which a
doctor was rapIIy binding with linen. The
EnglIShman quite calm with victory was
watching the process.
II was some time before the sequence OF
cause and enHrt became plain to the Ameri-
cans The Frenchman. who was only head
waiter IN, the pensionc. the proprietor being
away in fras"hti. was angry at the loss Of his
guests, To revenge himself on the English
inan he charged the four with having stolen
Nbnc candle and three towels He came in per-
son to examine their baggage. Entrance to
the rooms was denied him by the Englshman,
Then ensued battle In which the belligerent
Frenchman struck tho hostess. WoundinR her
badly. lie paid dearly for his TEN Gritty at the
hands, OF her husband. who drubbed him
soundly. At the subsequent arrival OF the
doctor and the officers the Americans vers
called for their testimony
An hour later the EnRlishmAn came TO the
ia uaa 1tpK
good humor "Gryte AIRY. but give IL TO i'm
that time. :" he remarked. -"
said one OF the four
"Oh, no" he answered quickly. "es in the
family. sir: e married my sister vs."
The devil u echoed the four In uniaon and
four hands reached through the oandleliEht Tor