El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-25
CARLINI'S PASS.

Assist is n small town in the duchy of
Spoleto. within the States of the Church
and situated ut the foot of the Apennines-
Among the inha bitants Of Assist was a
clothier named Andrea Carlini. who was
known to have accumulated much prop
erty. Early in the summer. after the
mountain torrents had subsidized. he had
occasion to go to Nocera. The distance
by the mountain route was not great.
but the way was beset by dangers. and
the good wife Marie begged that her hus-
band would take the longer and safer
route 10y way of the southern valley
NO. no." he said. That would cost
me Il four days Journey
But" urged Marie. think of the ter
rible death track on the wild mountain.
You will not go over the mountain. An
drea?'
you are overanxious. Marie. And he
took his way over the mountain despite
the entreaties OF his wife
Andrea set forth with six mules laden
with clothing. and. without harm, he
crossed the Apennines. reaching the city
of Noccra long. before night. where he
disposed OF his entire stock at excellent
prices. Besides the stuffs he had pur-
chased. be had over l 900 crowns in gold.
which he carefully secured in stout
leather bag beneath his vest
One thing Andrea particularly noticed
while trading. and that was the persist
ent presence OF two monks They seemed
to hang upon his steps and were near at
hand when he received money. At first
he wondered what this meant. but ere
long he was brought to the quieting as
surance that they only sought to beg.
Andrea felt grateful for the success of
bis mission. and he was thankful thus to
be convinced that the monks only sought
to beg: so he opened his vest and drew
from the leather belt piece of gold
worth q crowns. which he gave to the
supplicants. who in return muttered a
benediction and then went their way.
As early possible on the second day
the clothier started on his return home.
hoping to cross the mountain before
nightfall. Only one difficult passage re-
manned. and this was only difficult on
account of the wild tcrrors Of the place.
And this passage was known as the
Death Track Not over n month pre-
vious TO Andrea's passage 4 party of IL
merchants. on their way from Nocera to
Perugia. had fallen from this pass. The
bodies had been found in the vale. shock
ingly mangled-
Andrea had led one OF bis mules over
the shelf aud was on his way after the
other when two men. habited In black
frocks and hose. with black masks
drawn over their faces. sprang upon him
from behind a projecting mass of rock
and felled him to the earth. The blow
rendered him nearly powerless. but il
did not deprive him of his senses.
"Of with his money belt" said one.
No. no." responded the other: lets
rip Il open where il is. Give me your
knife"
The clothier knew those voices The
disguised robbers were the self same
seeming monks who had hung upon his
steps ut Nocera,
BE careful and not cut the hesh,'
commanded third speaker. who at that
moment came upon the scene with
dozen companions
Andrea carlini heard it aIl--hc heard
the voice of the Count Marco Pisani. and
he saw the counts face-but he made no
sign. He felt his money belt ripped open
and felt the weight Of gold taken from
him. and tEen he heard the order given
for throwing him over the precipicei
This caused him to start and struggle.
but ere he could offer effectual resistance
he was lifted from the rocky shelf and
hurled over into the deep chasm- \
sharp cry of horror burst from his lips
when he founJ himself suspended in mid
air. with the roaring. Missing torrent
dashing over its awful bed OF jagged
rocks far below him: but in a little while
he discovered that his body was held by
strong support. and he took courag &c
and hope and set about investigating
His stout raoney belt bad been not only
greatly loosencd by the abstraction of the
gold. but il had been pulled out by the
robbers into sort OF loop upon the left
side. and tits loop had caught upon the
stump OF stout limb or shrub. which
had probably been broken off by the fall
ing of some other victim.
At length he struggled. and. by follow
ing the shrubbery that found root in the
ascending assures. he finally reached the
level rock at the end OF the pass.
Andrea's mules were gone and his rich
merchandise. had been taken with them.
and he had also been robbed OF his gold.
yet he thanked God for his life. and the
thought or once more seeing his dear wife
gave him more joy than could have come
from recovered gold. He reached his
home in safety. where the joy OF Marie
was equal to his own upon beholding him
alive and we'll
The clothier made known the facts of
his discovery Ia the authorities. taking
care that n knowledge thereof was spread
among the people \ strong body OF sol
diers went to the castle and arrested the
wicked count and his associates and lodg-
ed them in prison. They were tried, con-
victed and executed.
Andrea Carlini not only regained the
money and the merchandise OF which he
had been robbed, but he received the
and blessings OF n grateful
people. The mountain passage so long
known as the Death Track ceased to he
a scene of terror to travellers, and new
name was bestowed upon it-a name
which il bears to this day-"Carlini's
York News.
CarneEie's First Investment.