The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-30
SPECTACULAR
PERFORMANCE.

To the execution, senior"
"And who is the poor devil to be
executed?"
There are many Of them, but none
Is Of Importance except II Passatore."
And who Is II Passatore?'
Have you never heard OF II Passa-
tore, the brigand7 All, be Is q brave
man. We have had daring men in
Italy, but none las ever done the bril-
liant work that be has done. Did you
never hear Of the entertainment he
gave us some time ago."
mo. Tell me about It,"
Thanks. senor," pocketing a coin.
1T was the last day of the carnival.
The streets were packed with people.
masked and in costume, throwing con-
fetti and making all manner Of noises.
The police were in the streets, where
the throngs were to be kept in order
and scattered through the deserted
parts of the town. for you know, Sc
nor, that when everybody Is masked
there are fine opportunities for pilfer-
ing.
"The theater OF Formlipopoli was
packed from the orchestra stalls to the
top gallery. AS soon as the doors were
opened people pushed In to get those
seats that were free to ALL Long be-
fore the hour for the commencement
Of the performance every chair was
occupied, and no more people were adj
mitted. At quarter Of an hour be-
fore the time for raising the curtain
the orchestra began to play. When
1t had finished one piece, the con-
ductor looked for the signal to begin
the music intended for the opening Of
the play. He waited some time, and,
not getting 1.-THE audience was be-
coming impatient--he tapped his music
rack with his baton for an extra piece.
'sThis piece finished, he waited again.
Still there was no signal The audi
ence pounded and stamped. and the
boys In the top gallery gave catcalIs
and whistles. Still there was no sig
nal. Again and again the orchestra
performed, but the curtain remained
where it was. only there seemed to be
motion behind 1t, for 1t swayed to and
fro as If moved by changes in the at
mosphere on the stage
Finally the signal came. Every one
could see that, for the conductor gave
q preliminary look to the right and left |
Of him at his orchestra, spread his
arms, his right hand holding up his
baton, and. looking once more at the
first violins, he gave the signal to be
GIN
Slowly the great curtain rolled up /
ward. Those familiar with the play \
we're surprised to see. instead of the
few feet and ankles Of the ordinary /
performers. forest of boots. AS the
curtain rolled higher the muzzles Of
rifles came into view pointing in every
direction from the parquet to the top
gallery There the full figures OF a
hundred men were exposed to the au-
dience.
what departure from the opening
of the play was this? Who were these
men, and why were their rides pointed
at the audience? The orchestra stop
ped playing. The conductor, his baton
half raised. was staring up at the men
on the stage. bewiIdered
"Then a man from among the rife
men on the stage stepped forward and
hat In hand. bowed profoundly to the
audience. Four words from him were
enough to send thrill of horror over
the assembly.
81 am II Passatore.'
"Then he told them that the theater
was surrounded by his men. that the
first man who attempted to resist or
escape would be shot and that be and
those with him on the stage would
proceed to collect their valuables.
"At the conclusion of this brief
speech. the audience sitting quiescent,
be descended with his men from the
stage and proceeded to collect from the
money and jewels valued at
100000. II Passatore then returned
to the stage and said:
My friends. please accept my heart
'elt thanks for the peaceful manner In
which you have accepted the inevitable.
Had any of you BY resistance COM
1elled us to discharge our rifles the /
loise would have been heard without !
This would have brought a crowd out
Tide, the guard there would have been {
and. as for me and my
lrave men. we would have been shut
ID here like rats In trap. assure
-ou we appreciate this kindly consid- !;
,ration in your not attracting any at +
ention from without while you have a
,een also laying us under obligations d
or your abundant contribution d
Having thus gracefully thanked his
audience for their double favor. Il Pas
atore told them to remain La their
eats while be and his band withdrew.
those bandits nearest the wings, their I
ifles still pointed into the theater. first !,
behind them, then those o
ext. until all had vanished. Then II 4
'assatore, throwing kiss to the audi p
nee from the tips Of his fingers. also /
,assed out The robbers had a free
lassage to the stage door. through
which all OF them went out into the \
pen street and got away with their
aunder before single person in the
give the alarm Indeed.
hose first leaving the theater were 8
bliged to do so by the stage door
through which the bandits had passed S
nd unlock the doors for the rest G
".Alas. senior. this brave leader and i
undred of his men have since been =
aptured. and these people are hurry =