The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-04-16
every man, woman and child living
Too Fond of Women.

lOO OuQ OIL w OIIcA.
AS will be explained later, elaborate
measures are being taken to capture
him, and if he is not taken by the time
this letter is published it is practically
certain that he will be ensnared before
long. When it happens, you can be
sure that woman is behind it, for, al
though Varsalona is not a particularly
attractive personality, he is rich, is
quick witted, and sympathetic, and Is
surrounded with halo of romance and
daring that is well-nigh irresistible tC
the Sicilian woman Of his class. For
the moment he loves with great fervol
but, alas! his fancy cools as quickly as
it arises, and the fair lady is left la
menting.
In a country like Sicily, where ven
geance is alwsy personal matter CT
honor this is a dangerous game to play:
although, so far, fear has been his sal
walton. Once girl certain Rosa
Pinetti, whom he had abandoned, de-
termined to get revenge. Overhearins
an appointment for certain night, she
appeared on the scene and set the house
on fire, but, unfortunately waited tC
gloat over. her victims. Her rival per-
ished, but Varsalona, choked with
smoke, and well singed, managed to
find his way out He stumbled across
the hapless Rosa, guessed the situation,
took her in his arms, and in spite of
her struggles, threw her into the flames
and prevented those present from res
cuing her. When he was sure of her
death, he exclaimed: ''Thus perish all
those who fight Varsalona!"
Many are the anecdotes which illus
trate his presence of mind Once he
was in house in the country which
was suddenly surrounded by the police.
He ran to the second story, threw some
thing heavy among the bushes below,
so the carabineers thought he had
jumped, and all rushed to TIE spot to be
sure that he should not escape, leaving
the front door unguarded, out Of which
he TRANQUILITY walked
A Devout Bandit.
Of course, Varsalona wouldn't be up
to the standard of bandit romance if he
did not have in him a strong religious
streak. 1t speaks equally for his de-
voutness and daring, and for the inef-
fectiveness of the native carabineers,
that he persists in worshiping period
ically at a crude little wayside shrine
to the Virgin, near Castronovo. The
fact has been we'll known for some
time, and yet the authorities could not,
or would not, catch him there.
After one particularly atrocious muir
der he started for this shrine. Two car
bineers awaited him there Varsalona
and his latest lady-love halted out of
sight at little distance from the
shrine, and the girl went forward, cry
inc on6 xyY.ip cyir nor n aDdc Che wai1n6
to the doughty soldiers that the bandit
had wrecked her house and murdered
her mother While the representatives
Of the law were questioning her, Var
solina himself, disguised as shepherd,
dashed up in great excitement, That
villain Varsalona," he cried, lis down
there in the valley. He has stolen all
my sheep" One of the earbineers ran
off to give the alarm, and the other was
promptly bound and gagged, and stood
order that he might enjoy the sight of
| the kneeling bandit, calmly and rever-
emily going through his devotion.
The authorities at Rome have now
| started on big campaign against the
brigand. The campaign has begun by
| the arrest of no less than 600 Of the very
men who have been VarSalona's victims.
The charge against these men, whom he
had protected from lesser brigands in
return for tolls extracted, was that they
had given him information as to the
whereabouts of the carbineers. Most Of
them will be released after trial, it is
said, but few who have actively as
| sisted the bandit are likely to get heavy
sentences, for the authorities have at
last gone to work to put an end for good
and all to the brigandage which has for
years given Jelly such an evil sort of
picturesqueness.