The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-05-10

ger the more excitement. I have longed for some
thing stirring all my life, and this is my chance.
Let US get together your daring comrades, and make
our plans at once"
every WELL" said the artist eve viii go to our
meeting place, which is the restaurant kept by the
woman Maria, for there we will surely find some
of them; so pack up your things and follow me-"
In narrow street of the little city of Trojano
stood dilapidated house, and in its basement was
the restaurant of Maria, known by the sign of 4
black cat the door Here at all hours to be
found poor artists, onghaired, paint-bedaubed and
merry, while the walls were covered with sketches
made by them while waiting for dinner to be served
They were men of all nations Just the same as the
pirates of the past were, but while many of them
appeared to be ugly and bloOdthirsty as Old-time
buccaneers they were mostly tame and harmless.
But among them were to be found some who poor
and desperate hesitated at nothing to secure a
meal, and, these were the men who had conceived
the plan to abduct the Princess and paint her por
traits.
At first they were not inclined to discuss their
plot in the presence of the stranger, but ImpecunO
soon convinced them that the Prince quite
desperate as the worst of them, and then they
folded the plan. The Princess gided coach was to
be suddenly surrounded by the artists all armed
with all sorts of weapons from their studios, old
swords, guns and battle-axes, and when her guard of
cavalry had been overcome she to be seized and
carried off to ancient half-ruined castle In the
forest of Umbragia, several leagues away.
The leader of the desperadoes was named
Georgia Luks, small but fierce and hungry painter
who seemed ready and willing to eat all the cavalry
that should come with the Princess, and when he
learned that there still time to prepare he fairly
leaped with JOY He loudly demanded that he be the
first to attack the troopers, and showed a great
horse pistol which had belonged to Captain Kidd.
When the Prince suggested that he might be kidding
them he frothed at the mouth and wanted to fight
duel with him at once but this was prevented by
Antonio and Caultout, two of the artists
In order that all should be sure and certain the
road was watched each day by two of the men, and
all passers-by were questioned as to what they had
heard about the Princess progress, and some of
them were her own couriers bringing news they
were kept well posted
1t was finally learned that she was to pass on
the next afternoon, and long before she was ex-
pected the gang of kidnappers hidden in the
shrubbery beside the lonely road but as the time
approached for her cavalcade to appear it was no
ticed that Georgia Luks began to be very nervous.
He spoke about the danger, asked several if they
not alarmed, and suggested that the guard
might be too strong for them The Prince soon saw
that their boastful leader was almost frightened to
death, and said:
ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCESS
IT think you are feeling faint Captain Luks.
A quaff from your flask of Chianti might give you
strength. There is yet time"
"There's time for US to give up this silly
scheme" replied the now trembling leader, Tor
methinks / see a cloud of dust down the road and
believe it's the cavalry"
"But that's what awaiting" said the
Prince. Il believe you are afraid"
"No, only apprehensive of failure" said Luks
perhaps we have not men enough
"You are not man enough, that is quite plain >"
shouted Impeeunio. "You are shaking ike a dice
boxp
The indignant artists saw that the whole plot
might fail because the leader had lost courage The
Prince suddenly said:
Il have plan that viii suit our brave captain
and relieve bis mind Let US divide into two par
ties, each side of the road, and hide until the
troop approaches. Then let Georgia dash ont af
them, but when the cavalry charges upon his party
let him retreat at full speed into the forest for
the cavalry viii certainly give chase them. Then
the other party rush out, seize the Princess and
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