Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-08-18

pense and anxiety would have been
more bearable; but be was, as his
captor had said, wholly at the mercy
Of others. and the perception of this
made him beside himself. It was the
same struggle magnified a thousand
fold which he had passed through at
The time OF his illness-for a man the
hardest strzggle possible-to endure
an unnatural and undeseryed restraint.
to be altogether helpless while con
scious Of strength. and knowing that
for that strength there is a terrible
demand. Such burning wrath con
sumed him, such uncomfortable re-
sentiment, that it was. perhaps well
for MIN that action was impossible,
or, with the blind impulse Of con
fused brain and despairing heart.
he might have done some rash deed
which in a cooler moment he would
bitterly repent
At length the carriage stopped, and
Carlo was dragged out The rough
handling made him Jingle from head
TO foot, and with all his n Ight he re-
sisted, for he knew that at present he
stood on a road where there was at
least a possibility of meeting with
help, and to what these brigands were
hurrying him he had no idea.
mo. use signor-" said the voice at
his side. eve are four to one, and
you only make matters worse for your
SELF
Something In the tone of the
speaker appealed to Carlo. His blood
cooled little, and he allowed himself
to be led through what he felt sure
must be thick wood, for he could
hear the rustic of the leaves as they
forced their way On. and could fee
boughs brushing against him. As to
the distance they walked he could
not form the slightest idea. 1t seemed
to him as if the journey would never
end, and his assailants were evidently
in hurry. for, spite of the rough, I'M
even ground, they went at sharp
pace, and when exhaustion made him
hang back little, he found himself
impatiently urged on by Lionbruno,
who, throughout the walk, grasped
his arm, while the men who brought
up the rear pushed, kicked, and hus-
tied him at every opportunity.
At last he was so worn out that it
was all he could do to drag one foot
after the other, the craving for air
and light became more and more
keen, and had # not been for the iron
grasp in which he was held he would
have fallen to the ground. A sort of
Iull comfort in the thought that it
must sooner or later end was his only
relief-and presently the way became
clearer, he heard other voices, ind
felt other men approaching him.
some one tore off the 5andages which
had kept him blind and dumb for so
long, and then, dazzled and confused,
he looked around.
lie found himself in a domed builG-
ing, which seel.Ied to him a smaller
edition of the Old Roman bath az
Baia, known as the Temple Of Mer-
curry. It was lighted only by two,
torches, which, however, shed a pretty
strong light on the strange group be-
meath. Han a dozen rough, ilfclad
men were clustered together close to-
a stone bensii, ON which was seated
the leader o6 The gang, powerful
looking man. whose rugged lace and
mouth instantly
checked all the hope that rose n
Carlos heart when he found himself
capable once morg of seeing ami
speaking.
Brancaleone WIS not at all the Zero
Gloss and cruel-Fsokirg br5gand chief
Of frs boyish fazciesr he was much
mere like an officer S6 the martinez
type. but his face was as hard as a
rock and he was evidImt1y a person
from whom no quszter was to be ex-
pected
'.Siwasssful. you see;. i'm my drst en-
terpriiss. padre mi6d" ssGd the young
sallbw who had sstfm addressed as
liUnbrTu@
To be Constituted.