The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-01-22
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'%Vll be on the son of your eXcellency.
NSlShcu) GIUSEPPE"
giuseppe! The most noted and
= Jloodthrsty brigand of modern times.
about whose cruelties and tortures so
many narrowing tales were told bv
| travellers and upon whose head
heavy price had been set long ago.
Lady Methwck piteously besought
her husband to send the money at
once
They will kill my darling boy. and
you-you VIII have sent him to his
deathm
Her daughters, Honorables Agatha.
| Ondine 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 ut once.
Doubtless a lesser sum would be ac-
cepted, and while negotiations were i'm
! progress and there was a chance of
the ransom being ultimately paid. he
did not think his son would be in any
danger SO lie sent an offer of two
thousand pounds sterling. The reply
TO this was curt refusal, and post
script added in Robert Spenceley's
handwriting was:
Father, send soon; feel sure they
VIII 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
five hundred pounds sterling.
The day came when Giuscppc's re-
ply was due, but it did not arrive. and
pent-up anxiety caused his lordship
two sleepless nights and two miscra-
bic, irritable days. On the third morn
ing, amongst the contents of the post
bag was small parcel, the handwrit-
ing of the address of which was i'm
mediately recognized. With trembling
fingers Lord Methwlck tore open the
package, and there lay disclosed the
bold brigands staggering rcply-a
cardboard box containing a mans ear
packed I'm 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-
malncd impressed with startling vivid
ness on his lordship's memory. What
with his wlfe's continual fainting
fits. his three daughters i'm consecu-
tive Mysteries, their conscious intervals
being employed in upbraiding him i'm
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 MS 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 time.
and the fear tina at that moment fur
Their fortunes might be I'm course of in
fictiOn-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.
i'm the softening shades of twilight.
Lady Methwck and her three dnugh-
ters dressed in black, went I'm 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 its precious freight was solemnly
buried aud cairn built over and
about It's resting place.
The outgoing evening mail carried
two letters. one to the brieands
agreeing to their terms. the other to n
| friend Of the family. who happened To
be a consul in the noighborhood. en-.
closing q draft for four thousand
pounds. and begging him to put him
/ self in instant communication with
/ Giuseppe and obtain the captve's re-.
lease
The consul did as be was desired.
and i'm compliance with instructions
from The robber band who were evil
IDENTIFY taking every precaution against
being trapped. proceeded alone one
I evening. carrying n parcel of four
thousand sovcrcigus to- an indicated
spot ON the outskirts of forest Here
hc was met 10y sunburnt. black
bearded giant picturcsqueIy nttircd
in DIS native dress who carried rife.
while couple OF reviewers ana % poin-
rd adorned his SASH Motionlng to
consul to follow him. hc proceeded
few PAGES into the forest. then
red, and blew n long. low. peculiar
istlc o. -his fingers
pproachng footsteps were imme
ely heard, and there emerged
among ihc trees The whnom pris
alone As be ranged up 70 The