The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-25


 of scampering feet somewhere in m!
 rear.
 I gazed fxedly in the direction of the
 sound, but could see nothing whatever
 However, l thought it wisest to re
 trace my steps at once, and accordingly
 made for the nearest exit of the thea
 ter, which happened to be a long, mar
 row and, of course, absolutely dark pas sage, with break-neck steps here anc
 there in it.
 I confess that after my friends warn
 ings and the suspicious sounds 1 hac heard, I did not at all like the look oi this gloomy tunnel, but, putting b0le
 face on the matter l entered it, at the
 same time shifting my revolver to tmore convenient pocket and striking a
 wax vesta to light my grouping steps. I walked cautiously forward few
 steps holding the match above my head
 until it burnt my fingers, when I drop
 ped it, and was just about to light an
 ither, when I heard a sudden rush of
 feet; some one charged me out of the
 darkness, I was flung violently against
 the wall, and my assailant, dash1ng
 paet made for that end of the passage
 which opened toward the arena | I was so taken aback by the sudden shock that it was a moment or two be- ] fore I could collect my scattered wits, and then thought struck me-the brigand! I clapped my hand to my pocket, My watch was gone. It was a valuable one, and I should have been very loath to lose 1t under any circum- | stances, but, after my brag to the par son, I should have felt an awful fool | if had gone back without it. | I had faced an Irish mob armed with stones and blackthorns before now, and was not going to be covered by this gave chase at the best speed that the unevenness of the ground would permit. I found my antagonist waiting for me as soon as I emerged from the tunnel, but on catching sight of my revolver, he at once turned and fled, Then began a chase such as the old walls of the Coliseum had not reechoed since the days of the gladlatorial com bats. Never, considering the nature of the ground, did retiarius fly with more agility than the man I was pursuing, never did myrmillo follow more relent- lessly than l. But this chase was unique in the annals of the ampitheater, for its course was not round the level sand of the arena, but up and down. hither and thither over the long stone benches where the knights and. senators had sat- across the dais of the emperors. round the seats of the patrician, and plebian, through dark passages, down rr1o i0h htc nf cfp ct i've of us were panting and exhausted, but neither gaining yard upon the other.
 I could, of course have fired at my man and brought him down, but l re- fected that he might just as well have stuck his knife into me, when he only cannoned into my waistcoat, and I re- trained. Besides, rather prided my self. on my speed of foot and resolved that, if I could fairly run my man down, he might escape for all I cared
 Suddenly as we scudded along under the treacherous light of the moon, my victim missed his footing on broken flight of steps, and fell hopeless to the bottom.
 1 was on him in a moment, With my knee on his chest and my revolver point ed at his head. I had always imagined that brigands were big. ewarthy ruf1i- ans with shaggy eyebrows and bristling black boards, but this one was more of the type of that buccaneer who was "the mildest-mannered man that ever scuttled ship or cut a throat" As well as I could make out, this was slim, leggy youth, of not more than two or three and 20 summers, who looked up at me pathetically with his big fright ened eyes.
 It was sometime before could fetch my breath after my long run but when I succeeded I demanded the surrender of my watch with my best ferocious air, and in the best Italian I could mus ter.
 Without much demur he compiled with my very moderate request, but I had not done with him yet
 Now, you rascal" I said, there's not the slightest use in appealing to the | police in this country, so I'm going to give you something to remember me by. | Get up!"
 He did so very reluctantly, and pro- ceeded then and there to administer to | him about the very best kicking he ever lecelNSu III HIS lile. I1e TDdTeu iuStlly | for mercy while enduring his chastise- | nent; but, although he struggled wildly | to escape, made no effort to defend him. self, and, when released, darted off | again at full speed. and was soon lost to sight in the darkness.
 This shows what cowardly lot | these brigands are' I reflected com olacently, ''and what fools people are 70 allow themselves to be robbed by hem. If they are only boldly confront d they cave in at once and don't even ny to defend themselves What story shall have for the parson when I get )ack!"
 Full of these conceited thoughts, I eturned in high glee to the hotel, and ound my friends waiting for me, and rather uneasy at my non-ar- ival
 'Well?" they exclaimed in chorus, as
 entered the salon, radiant with tri- lmph. Did you meet the brigand?"
 "Oh, yes!" I replied exultantly, q nent him. but I was one too many for he fellow. He found more than his hatch when he tried to tackle me, can ell you.'
 then proceeded to relate my nocturn- l adventure, and, in conclusion tri- produced my watch that I