Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
CHAPTER TX.
The Carabinieri.

turned - he stare witle which they al
favored me and muttered as if to myself,
but iE tone loud enough to reach them:
who in thunder are these"
The woman of the place bade them
good evening. and before the leader who
stepped forward could get word out l
addressed myself To him.
Good evening, siSnor, you pardon me
1 hope / said. speaking with the most
nasal drawl l could command and stick
ing my thumbs in the armholes of my
waistcoat, i'm the fashion approved of by
all Caricaturists of the American abroad,
but if either of you gentlemen can speak
English I'll take this meeting as just the
ceanest bit of luck I've struck for some
time. For I'm up against IT. GOOD ana
hard. with this good soul here. L want
lodging and she just insists on thinking
/ ought 10 fill myself mp with her wine.
The frown with which he listened 20
my first words faded gradually, and.
when l had finished he smiled. and to my
intense satisfaction. replied in English
which he spoke fluently. Excuse me one
minute. sir. and l shall place myself at
your service.
Bully for you 1 exclaimed. with the
broadest of grins. and seized his hand
and wrung it cordially.
His two companions smiled. and he
turned to the woman and held WhlS-
pered conversation. in the course of
which / heard the name of Beppo Ser
rano mentioned several times by them
both.
| slipped my wine and puffed at my
cigarette, smiling carelessly with the air
of man Unexpectedly helped out of a
difficulty. but thinking hard over the tale
l had best tell to account for my pres
ence.
Now, sir" he said. at length, turning
to me.
Some wine the best" 1 said to the
woman. in broken Italian. You'll all
drink with me to our better acquaint-
ance?" l added to the officer.
He made me pretty bow. What is
your trouble?" he asked, as we sat down
"A pile of it. I'm an American; Cum
nnghams my name. of New York,
newspaper man. on the prOwl for copy.
Got cable when / was in Rome on
vacation to come down here to write up
something about some new sulphur mines
said to have been found in this province.
At Palermo they told me to come to this
place. Just in. and can't make a soul
understand my Italian. Guess the New
York folk thought fortnight in Rome
ought to make me speak the language all
right. l know something about sulphur.
but as for the language L tossed up
my hands with laugh.
Il have been in New York" he said.
smiling.
Gee wiz, You don't say l exclaimed
gripping his hand again.
My name is Murito / am an officer
in the carabinieri."
well, captain. I'm just real glad to
meet you. and if ever you come to New
York again and I'm there. I'll give you
the time of your life, Il and as the wine
was set before us l filled the glasses and
we clinked them together in good fellow
ship.
II cannot give you much time now,
am on duty. How can l serve you?
Tell this good creature that | want
bed here for a day or two and that, as
she refuses to understand my italian, she
must get me such food as she likes"
He laughed, and turning to the woman
acted as interpreter. She shrewd
body. and laughed. and gestured and
apologized for her supposed mistakes with
very natural air, and with promise
10 do all she could to make me comfort
able. hurried off to give the necessary
orders.
Then 1 put question or two about the
sulphur mines. and he assured me that
there were none within many miles of
Levaccio. / persisted. however, that my
people would not be likely to have made
mistake.
There was a man who could have
told you if there is such a thing. Signor
Vicino but unfortunately he is dead. He
has been murdered. we fear. and 1t is to
look for the assassin, a ruffian named
Beppo Serrano, that now am engaged"
he said "One of dangerous band"
rs there good newspaper story in
it?" l asked quickly. LAS matter of
fact / may tell you. I have been urged
TO look into the brigandage question:.
added, lowering my voice and speaking
with confidential air.
''Oh. no. there is nothing of that. Moth
ing at all. We have no brigandage here"
he replied. emphatically. His wish to as
sure me on the point was very evident.
.'Mores the pity from my point of view.
We have our own toughs and bad men
on our side, of course. but our readers
like something more picturesque"
''Oh. no. there is nothing of the kind
here. We have put it all down with
strong hand. ] assure you"
And about the sulphur? Levaccio was
the place told to me-
He reflected moment and then burst
out into loud laugh. "Of course" he
said. Il see it now. You have come to
the wrong place. There is another Lee
vaccio. 1t is in Catanisetta. There is
sulphur all round there
| fell back in my chair if over
whelmed with astonishment. Gee whiz,
but I've run up against snag," l eX-
claimed
Il know that saying" he said. Run
up against a snag. I remember it.
think you have" and he laughed good
humoredly.
Well. it's up to me to make good
somehow. How had l better fix it,"
Ride over to Trapani. the railway
from there will take you to the district"
It's a pretty how'd ye-do, anyway"
said. with a laugh and shrug.
He rose then. Il should say / am very
sorry were it not that your mistake has
given me the pleasure of meeting you. i
have many friends in New York and
like all Americans / have met"
At the same moment the woman came
back into the room and shot me glance
of warning.
gave him my hand. eff ever you
come to my country again, captain, ask
for me at the Press Club Shake,'
L went outside with him and a young
fellow passed us L stood while he
mounted He bore resemblance to
Masta. and IL was an easy guess that
il was her brother. fortunately my face
was in the shadow. and seeing me with
the police he did not look closely at me-
just as the officer was riding off he
said. Il can make some inquiries tonight
about the sulphur and ! will call and see
YOU in the morning.
That's real friendly of YOU / replied
and waved my hand in last farewell a.
he departed
| let the party get well away be fore re-
entered the house. The young fellow was
talking 10 the woman and turned as
entered.
"Beppo, YOU" he exclaimed his weak
dssipated face alight with astonishment
that should have been with the cara
bnier
| drew him aside out of the womans
hearing. Il have q message for you.
Masita is the island and wishes you
10 go to her at once. You are not TO
breathe ii word of where she is orwell
YOU know and / left him to draw his
own conclusion to the consequences.
course I'll come he said after a