Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-15
CHAPTER xiv.
BANDITS OVER THE BORDER.


AS Guardiola and his troopers enter
the Piazza at Gathering gallop, the
citizens there assembled take alarm
and rush to and fro helter-skelter.
They fancy they are being charged up
on for having shown hospitality to the
bandits, and for this behavior about
to receive chastisement.
Fortunately a false alarm. as they
soon perceive, the captain command
ing: Halt! Dismomtl" Orders obey
ed by the men slipping leisurely out of
their saddles and quietly entering upon
preparations for at least one nights
stay in the town.
Directing his orderly sergeant to look
up quarters for the soldiers. with stab
ling for their horses. the captain and
subalterns take up their abode in the
osteria.
Soon as under its roof he calls for a
bottle of the best wine, and gulps down
glassful as a soother to his wounded
vanity. Then ordering sumptuous
supper to be prepared, he sends for the
Chief Magistrate of the town to appear
before him.
To this authoritative summons, Fran
cesco Torreani-who was absent. but
has in ire meantime returned home
makes answer by presenting himself at
the inn.
"Signor Sindicoi" says the officer,
cas- you've no doubt been told, were in
pursuit of robbers-a regular band Of
brigands-who have just paid visit
to the Campagna, and returning from
it left behind them an empty house in
the vicinity of Tivoli. The owner of
the stripped domicile is noble gentle
mani may add one of my own &C.
quaintances. We've traced the thieves
thus far. and wish to find where they
are now. Can you inform u.s."
I'm sorry to say l cannot" answers
Sindico. by ill-luck l was away when
they passed through and the people in
their scare, being only too glad to be
rid of such lawless visitors, took no
note of the way they went. Since,
however, we've heard that they made
direct for the Regno; and. If SC, IN ~
have crossed the frontier lodg ere
this"
I'D nhcort-ac tho Of
fcer, putting on an air of vexation he
is far from feeling. I'm very anxious
to catch those rascals and ehastise
them-indeed, doubly so; as well from
a sense of duty as because of its being
friend who has suffered by their ras-
cality."
There's a third reason, capitano;
which should be, and l doubt not, is
equally urgent upon you"
what, Signor Sindico?"
1.-THE recovery of their captive"
Captive! l was not aware Of their
having such a thing among their
other stolen commodities. Is it SOP"
Indeed, yes; I regret to say"
what sort of parsonage might the
unfortunate individual be-man or
woman"
"a young mana forestiere-suppos-
ed to be an Englishman'
"Ah! that's strange; some of those
stupid tourists, l suppose, who go ram
bling about the Campagna as if they
were strolling through one Of their
London parks. They put us to no end
Of trouble taking care of them. This
one-what was he like-a gentiluomo?"
Il should say so, certainly; though
not having seen him myself, can
only judge by what my daughter has
told me- She. with another young girl,
CHANGED to be in the Ioggia balcony as
they passed through. For some reason
on other they left their prisoner in my
porch. with two men to take care Of
him-the rest coming on here to the
osteria, where they entered upon a
carousal, drinking. dancing and such
like. Lucetta-my daughters name,
Signor Capitano-and the young girl OF
whom | speak, took it into their heads
to set the poor fellow free. BY their
directions my maid-seryant invited his
guards to step into the house and have
some refreshment, which they did.
While they were inside, my daughter
from above threw knife down to him,
telling him TO use it for cutting the
cords that bound him. But before he
could do SO, the bandits, having been
warned by some one that soldiers were
coming after them-yourself and men.
Signor Capitano-eaught the alarm and
went hurriediy away-of course. taking
their prisoner along with them"
what q pity" rejoins the officer in
a cool way, as though 1t were some
common occurrence which had but
slightly interested him. Indeed, the
detailed narrative OF the Sindieo does
no m0re-Oaly the portion Of 1t relat-
s E