The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-06-22
THE HIDDEN RANSOM,
story Of an Amsriosn's Experiences in
Italy.
ny 2. a. MlrchEL.
copyright. 1909 BY American Press Aass
ciaflonl

I WttH " @tA4AN 1AtN AA@AMAAtt NA NAH ' 80
Caraccialo at Naples On ono hand
was the park. teeming with tropical
plants, statuary and fountains. On
the other were the waves Of the Med
iteranean, splashlng against the sea
wall that protects the street from
their encroachment Far out on the
bay the sun was shining on the haze
enveloped island Of Capri, casting a
white light on the water directly be-
meath It, causing it to appear as II
resting on sea OF silver.
But Rowland Hill, though an artist,
thought nothing Of this. His mind
was occupied with misfortune which
had happened him several years be-
fore and which had separated him
from the girl he loved. His head was
bowed, and be did not notice either
the beautiful scene or the people he
met. But suddenly one Of those strange
mental influences for which we cannot
account caused him to look up. His
eyes met those Of a man he immedl-
ately recognized and who recognized
him. Hill started: the man scowled.
Hill advanced a step, and the man put
bis hand under hts coat as IL for
weapon. then said IN Italian:
III you inform the police you diew
On the other side OF the street two
men In cooked hats (such as the great
Napoleon wore) and long military
cloaks emerged from the park. They
were government policemen. Hill
made a dash for them, and as soon as
bis opponent took In the situation be,
too, ran like deer. He was too late.
Hin pointed TO him. the officers gave
chase, and he was captured.
'Who IS her' asked his captor.
"Luigi BinetiiF'
Great was the surprise OF the gov
eminent officials when they learned
that the most desperate bandit that
had ever infested the environs OF Ma
pies had ventured into the city, had
been recognized and arrested. His
capture was most interesting 10 the
man who had brought It about. Row
land Hi FIVE years before bad gone
from America to Florence TO study
art His father had recently left him
$4,000. In Florence the young man
had met signorina Blanca Favari Of
an aristocratic family, dwelling on the
Parco Marguerhita. which climbs the
cliffs back OF Naples. To Naples be
followed her, proposed and was &C
cepted.
Hin was fond Of roaming and one
day while walking on a lonely road
near the village OF Casoria, not far
from Naples, was taken by the bandit
Luigi Blnetti, carried to the nelghbor.
ing mountains and held a prisoner
Meanwhile the bandit went 10 Naples,
learned the exact amount Of bis cap
tive's fortune and gave him the choice
between turning It 10 as a ransom or
death. Hin arranged for the CONVEX
sion Of his property into gold and its
transfer to the bandit He returned
TO Naples a free man, but ne had lost
not only bis fortune. but his love. 81
gnor Favari declined to permit his
daughter to marry a penniless man.
From that day till he met his cap
tor on the Via Caraccialo the Ameri
can lived a wretched life, and, though
bic did not know IT. Blanca was equal
" miserable. TIE bandit was exc.
cuted. But this only satisfied HHrs
craving for revenge. Before the exc.
cution Luigi Binetti told his jailer
that be had hidden II the cliffs behind
CasteIlamare, some fifteen miles south
Of Naples, treasure that lie would
give him provided he would secure
him a pardon. The 1aiIer did not be-
Iieye his story, but passed It on to Hill
later on.
Now, when Hill had been liberated
By the bandit bandage was taken
from his eyes, and he found himself /
on the high rocks overlooking Castella-
mare from the south. The description
OF the place where the robber had
claimed he had hidden the treasure /
corresponded with the spot where Hill
had been kept a captive. He had /
walked or been carried blindfelded for
half day from the place before being
liberated. He believed that the hid
den treasure was his own gold and that
it was located in the neighborhood OF
Casteramare.
Hin searched the heights about Cas-.
tellamare for weeks, when one morn
ing ia a gulch some DISTANCE behind t
and far above the town he came to an
excavation in the rock partly built up
tn its front that he Judged might have
once been q Roman peasants abode.
Like fash it came to him that it had
been the place Of his captivity. With
in he found scratched on the rocky
wall rude drawing Of an anvil, from
which pointed an arrow in a north
easterly direction end the figures 100.
Selling at once the idea that this was
a key to the hiding place or the treas
ure, he proceeded the distance was
100 paces-tO rock which bore some
resemblance to the drawing Digging
at its base, he soon came to dat stone
beneath which glittered every dollar
of his ransom.
Returning to Naples, he reported his
find to Signor Favari who withdrew
bis opposition to the match between
the young American and his daughter.
and there was brilliant wedding up
on the Pareo Marguerhita, at which
the best citizens were present
The story OF Roland HlH's achieve
meat reaching the ears Of the king Of
Italy. the American was invited 10 re