The suburban citizen., 1900-12-08

RSASANNt Va 4 ~
Giuseppe! The most noted and
bloodthirsty brigand of modern times,
about whose cruelties and tortures so
many narrowing tales were told by
travellers, and upon whose head a
heavy price had been set long ago.
Lady Methwick piteously besought
her husband to send the money at
once.
"They will kill my darling boy, and
you-you win have sent him to his
deathw
Her daughters, Honorables Agatha,
Ondlne and Clovis, added their agon.
lied entreaties; indeed, so carried
away were they by their feelings that
they actually offered to go without
new hats and dresses for the next
twelve months, in order to contribute
to the ransom money. But his lOrdship
did not believe in giving way at once.
Doubtless a lesser sum would be ac-
cepted, and while negotiations were in
progress and there was a chance Of
the ransom being ultimately paid, lie
did not think his son would be in any
danger. So he sent an offer Of two
thousand pounds sterling. The reply
to this was a curt refusal, and post
script added in Robert Spenceley's
handwriting was:
Father, send soon; feel sure they
will not take less" But still Lord
Methwick would not give in without
effort to reduce the amount, and he
increased his offer to two thousand
Ave hundred pounds sterling.
The day came when Giuseppe's re-
ply was due, but it did not arrive, and
pent-up anxiety caused his lordship
two sleepless nights and two misera-
BILE, irritable days. On the third morn
ing, amongst the contents Of the post
bag was a small parcel, the handwrt-
ing of the address of which was i'm.
medlately recognized. With trembling
fingers Lord Methwick tore open the
package, and there lay disclosed the
bold brigNnd's staggering reply-a
cardboard box containing a mans ear
packed in sawdust, and inside the lid
these words were scrawled:
'No less than four thousand. Part
of his eXcellency is sent free that he
may hear you decide which was final"
In after years that day always re-
mained impressed with startling vivid
ness on his lordships memory. What
with his wlfe's continual fainting
fits, his three daughters in consecu-
tive Mysteries, their conscious intervals
being employed in upbraiding him in
such severe terms that one would have
thought that the poor man had him
self cut his sons ear off; his own men
tai anguish as he remembered that the
future head of his house would never
be able to hear both sides; the horrid
possibility Of getting the wanderer
back for nothing-a piece at a time,
and the fear that at that moment fur
ther tortures might be in course Of in
hiction-he often marveled, not only
that he survived it, but that reason
did not altogether forsake her totter-
ing throne.
And the climax was reached when
in the softening shades of twilight
Lady Methwick and her three daugh.
ters, dressed in black, went in solemn
procession to a distant part of the
grounds, where, beside a ripping
stream and beneath a spreading tree
the gardener had already dug a grave
There, with fresh bursts of tears and
passionate sobs, the box Of sawdust
with it's precious freight was solemnly
buried, and a cairn built over and
about its resting place.
The outgoing evening mail carried
two letters one to the brigands
agreeing to their terms, the other to 9
friend Of the family, who happened t.
be consul in the neighborhood, en-
closing a draft for four thousand
pounds and begging him to put him
self in instant communication will
Giuseppe and obtain the captive's re
lease.
The consul did as he was desired
and in compliance with Instruction.
from the robber band, who were evi
IDENTIFY taking every precauton agains
being trapped proceeded alone on
evening, carrying a parcel Of fou
thousand soyerelgns to I'm indicated
spot on the outskirts Of a forest. Her
he was met by sunburnt, black
bearded giant plcturesquely attire,
in his native dress, who carried a rife
while couple Of revolvers and a poin
ard adorned his sash. Motlonlng t
the consul to follow him, he proceede,
but a few PAGES into the forest. thel
halted, and blew long, low, peculia
whistle on his fingers.
Approaching footsteps were immc
dlately heard, and there emerge