The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-02-22
VOL. XIII.
IN THE HANDS OF THE MAFIA,

.
IN the winter season of 1894, changed
nv opinion on the subject once and
for ell.
had at that time business COM
mission in the larger towns of Italy,
and from Verona l was going on to
Venice. In my compartment was a
Young Italian-a rather nasty looking
fellow, clad IN curious green travel
ans cloak. We did not speak to one
another, and as it was very cold, |
curled myself up in my corner and
went to sleep, wishing inwardly that
I had had the forethought to bring
uice warm overcoat with me like that
Of my companion.
When I awoke we were apparently
nearing Venice, and l was the only
occupant of the carriage. Where the
Italian had got out did not know.
but curiously enough, he had left
his cloak behind him. It was a new
garment, warmly linea, and l slipped
It over my shoulders. intending to
behd It over to the officials at Venice.
Ten minutes later the train steamed
into the station, and tumbied out to
look after my luggage. There were
good many people in the train, and in
wJ eagerness quite forgot that was
wearing a cloak which did not belong
to me, and which ought to hand over
forthwith to the lost property Office.
Outside tho station there were the
usual crowds of persuasive gondoliers
plying for hire, and the whole scene
was one of hustle and confusion. It
was now late at night, and the lights
OF the station, reflected in the inlly
black water, had a weirdly pictur-
esque effect. Presently a gondolier
came toward me, gave me a searching
! glance which took me in from head
to foot, and then inquired. with a
courtly bow, If he might have the
honor of taking the signor to his
hotel. I signifled my assent, and in
- few moments my few belongings
and myself were more or less snugly
slowed away. With a few strokes
my gondolier drew clear Of the crowd
ct the station, and we we're presently
gliding down the broad bosom OF the
Grand Canal.
The night was cold, and there was
. kind of damp freshness in the bit
Ing wind which sighed across the Ia
geoa. Instinctively 1 drew my cloak
closely round me, and then realibzed
with jerk that had quite forgotten
q deliver it to the railway officials.
"How forgetful of me-" thought.
"But, never mind! will send a mes
tehser from the hotel with 1t to-
morrow morning"
The ancient palazzo. now turned in
b Z plebeian hotel, 1T which
/ had engaged rooms, was
tltuaIed on & side canal some
&ttls distance from the Grand
Canal, and We were presently thread.
lAH . maze Of narrow waterways.
lit only by twinklins lamps which
threw struggling lines of light across
the inky water. Everything was abb
solutely quiet, for Venice is indeed
. silent city when night falls on the
scene. Occasionally, but very rarely,
= eondola would cross our path. and
every now and then there came the
monotonous chant Of my gondolier, as
we neared point where the canal
branched off. "Sa sta!" he would
chant, as we turned to the right; "sa
premi!" AZ we dived into some devious
waterway to the left; while If we were
keeping straight on, "lungo eh!"
rolled across the water from his lips.
It seemed to me that we were
taking rather long time to reach the
hotel, but as not been in Venice be-
fore, I did not like to say anything.
Presently, however, the gondola ran
,alongside a sort Of decayed stone
quay, above which lowered a closely
shuttered house, evidently OF con-
siderable antiquity.
''Surely this is not the Hotel -?"
! cried, in surprise; 1T looks more
like q dungeon"
= Tho gondolier bowed low. 1T Is
not, signor," he said; the hotel Is
down the passage on the left, and
will do myself the pleasure of con-
Quoting your excellency thither."
=. He stepped of tho gondola, tossed
loop of rope over stone projec-
tlon, and led me toward narrow pas
mge,i which I had not noticed. At
the far end Of this alley l saw a
twink1ing oil lamp, which my guide
assured me was the light Of the Hotel
Inwardly I cursed the friendly
Italian merchant at Verona who had
fecommended me to such q miserable
bhee.
" Suddenly, without the slightest
warning. l felt something slipped over
my head. heard few muttered
commands, and then I felt myself
being carried by strong arms.
could not see, I could hardly
breathe; but I realized at once that
was the victim of an outrage. And
the memory Of all the crimes which
have occurred in this vast network
Ct Silent waterways and ancient
houses surged into my brain until
felt sick with terror.
PrAnantlv I vas laid .dnwn none