Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-01

customs. where to get the best post
cards, and also the worst.
Hillard found among his bulky en-
velope postmarked Naples. After he
opened it he lay back in his chair and
contemplated the ruffled horizon. Ma
pies! He sat up. 1t had been adj
dressed to the house and the address
typewriter.
DAM"
What is it?"
Look at this!"
Good Lord!" Dan grasped, his feet
coming down to the deck.
For Hillard was holding up for his
inspection a crumpled black silk mask.
CHAPTER XIII.
The great ship had passed the Isle
of Ischia and now the Bay Of Naples
unfolded all its variant beauties. Hill
lard had seen them many times be-
fore, yet they are a poy eternal,
changing joy of which neither the eye
nor the mind ever grows weary. Both
he and Merrihew were foremost in the
press against the forward rail. To
the latter's impressionable mind 1t
was like a dream In fancy he could
see the Roman galleys, the fighting
triremes, the canopied pleasure-craft,
just as they were two thousand years
ago. Yonder, the temples and baths
of Nero of the Golden House; thither,
the palaces of the grim Tiberius, be-
yond Pompeii, with Glaucus, lone, and
Nydia, the blind girl. The dream
picture faded and the reality was no
less fascinating: the white sails of the
fishermen winging across the sapphire
waters, leaving ribboned pathways be-
hind that crossed and recrossed like
a chart of the stars; proud white
pleasure-yachts, great vessels from all
ports in the world; and an occasional
battleship, drab and stealthy And the
hundred pink and white villages, the
Jade and amethyst of the near and far
islands, the smiling terraces above
the city, the ruined temples, the grim
giant ash-heap of Vesuvius!
'sThat is it." said Merrihew, whose
flights of rhetoric were most simpli-
fed.
"vedi Napoli poi mori!" replied
Hillard
Hold on" exclaimed Merrihew.
pass it out slowly. What's that
mean"
''See Naples and die
81 prefer to see it and live. But l
am kind of disappointed in Vesuvius.
It's not the terrible old Moloch of my
Biographies that gobbled up cities and
peoples. And nobody seems to be
afraid of it, with a gesture toward
the villages nesting with the utmost
confidence at the circling base. Not
a bit of smoke anywhere
"No, my boy, don't speak sighting
ly of old Vesuvius. 1t is one of the
great mysteries of the world. To
morrow that mountain may swallow
up the whole bay, or it may never
wake up again. Respect it; do. When
recall Herculaneum and Pompeii-''
"Two thousand years ago; that's
different. I'm never satisfied,
know, but should like to see it blow
its head off while I'm here"
mot 1! AS grow older | like com
fort and security more and more. See
that village on the cliffs toward the
south? That's Sorrento. where I was
born. The eruption of ~ happened
Willie L was llltlS, bul / was loo Souiis
to take any particular notice. Sh!
Look at Giovanni"
Merrihew looked at the old Roman
Tears were running down his cheeks
and his gaze strove to pierce the dis
lance to the far-off Sabine Hills
Italy! Yonder his heart and soul hat
| taken root: his native land, his native
land, and condemned to live in exile
from it! Hillard leaned over ant
touched him on the arm, and hi
started
Take care, Giovanni"
pardon! l am weak this day bu
tomorrow l shall be strong. Sever
years! Have you not longed for i
yourself? Has not your heart gon'
out many times across the seas t.
those cliffs?" pointing to Sorrento.
/ MANY times. Giovanni. But remem
Der and control yourself. Presentl
the carabinieri will come on board
You will see that all our luggage goe
promptly to the Bristol, once we ge
through the customs"
Trust me, signore.
They landed5eat the custon-house
two in the afternoon, and passed witt
out any difficulty. Naples is tn
easiest port in the world, If you ar
not a native and you chance to be
monumental traveller who is willin
to purchase salt and tobacco of tn
State. The Italian TOBACCO, is gel
orally bad, and formerly one had
smoke it or go without; but now tt
best of imported cigars may be foun
in all the large cities, cheaper
some respects than those in Americ
and not a white inferior since thel
is no middlemans profit, buying,
one does, direct from the State. TT
!. hotels, however, sell the same brant
at an outrageous advance 1.-The pr
prietor must have his commission, II
concierge, the head-water, the waiter
the porters and the chef for tn
slight favor OF the guest Comm
; sion! 1t means something in sum
: Italy. All this Hillard explained
Merrihew as they were awaiting tt
examination.
9 Merrihew, holding grimly on to b
q .hand-luggage, stood waiting for H
= lard at the iron gates fronting tt
:. railroad. Suddenly brilliantly III
L