The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-11

will be on the son Of your excellency.
"iSigned) GIUSEPPE"
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 will have sent him to his
death!'
Her daughters. Honorables Agatha.
Ondine and Clovis, added their agon-
ized entreaties; indeed. so carried
away were they by their feelings that
they actually offered to 60 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 n lesser sum would he ac-
cepted. and while negotiations were in
progress and there was chance Of
the ransom being ultimately paid, he
| 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 curt refusal. and q post
script added in Robert Spenceley's
handwriting was: -a-
| 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
five hundred pounds sterling.
The day came when Giuseppes re-
ply was due, but it did pot 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 d small parcel the handwrit-
ing of the address Of which was I'M
mediately recognized. With trembling
! fingers Lord Methwick tore open the
package. and there lay disclosed the
bold brigand's staggering reply-a
cardboard box containing n mans ear
packed in sawdust, and inside the lid
these words We're scrawled: ..
mo 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 lordship's memory What
with his wifes continual fainting
fits his three daughters in consecu
tive Mysteries their conscious intervals
being employed in upbraiding him i'll
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
t future head of his house would never
be able to hear both sides; the horrit
s possibility of getting the wandere
: back for nothing-a piece at time
$ and the fear itha at that moment fur
t ther tortures might be in course of in
i fliction-he often marveled, not onl.
: that he survived it, but that reason
e did not altogether forsake her tottel
Y ing throne. . }-,- rsr..r
S And the climax was reached wher
Y in the softening shades of twilight
=. Lady Methwick and her three daugl
ters. dressed in black, went in solem
d procession to distant part of tn
o grounds, where, beside "ripplin
e, stream and beneath a spreading tre'
% the gardener had already dug grav'
/. There. with fresh bursts of tears IN
Sc passionate sobs, the box Of sawdu!
Is with its precious freight was solemnl
il buried, and a ruil.n built over an
se about it's resting place ;4F-efs. H.
vi 4 The outgoing evening mail carrie
ut two letters. one 10 the brigand
r. agreeing to their terms. the other to
til friend OF tic family. Who happened
~ be Il consul in the neighborhood. e
~ closing Il draft. for four thousal
. ! pounds, and begging him to put 'hil
n. t,self jill Instant Gomnrnnieat wi
We Giuseppessand obtain the seaptives l
ce lease. 81 # Ell -
N. The consul did as he was desire
lst and in compliance with instructio
as from the robber band, who were e
,ss IDENTIFY taking every precaution ag;lil
lid being trapped. proceeded alone o
as evening. carrying a parcel of fo
e, thousand Sovereigns to an indlcat
Of spot on the outskirts OF a. forest.s II,
,or he was met sby Il sunbusut,. bla,
ity bearded giant. pictuesquely attii
ess in his native dress. who carried a ri
ell while a couple of revolvers and pc
.es, ard adorned his sash. Motioning
ex the consul to follow him. Ire proceed
of but a few PAGES into the forest, II
hat halted, and blew 4 long, low, pecul
whistle on his fingers.
icb Approaching footsteps were iml
nd dintely heard. and there emerI