Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-11-29
THE FLOWER
LADY
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1911.


had only one adventure worth telling.
Being In Palermo. In the island Of
Sicily, desired to visit the temple Of
Ceres. the NEUROLOGICAL goddess of the
crops, from whom the word cereal In
derived. Sicily Is still more or less in
the power 81 the brigands. and the
location Of this temple is one Of their
operating grounds. A visit to the spot
Is, or was at that time, equivalent to
capture by them and having to put
out goodly sum for ransom. There
were several Americans at Palermo
who wished to see the temple. 30 we
made up party to go together.
The dangerous part OF the trip was
q drive we were obliged to take from
the end Of the railroad to the temple.
We telegraphed ahead to the authors
ties to learn whether we could, not get
policemen or soldiers for guard We
received a reply that we would be
taken care Of.
When we reached the terminal we
found that the way We were to be
taken care Of was this: A daring and
willy brigand named Giovanni Taran-
tola had sent the police word that any
party going to the temple Of Ceres
would be robbed. Tarantola always
acted alone. and the police concluded
to send several Of what we would call
plain clothes men with us, who would
catch Signor Tarantola In his own
trap.
All our tourists except myself backed
out. The reason I stood my ground
was that in all my travels had had
no marked adventure, and / needed
one to liven up my accounts Of places
had visited. When 1 reached the ter
minal / found little bit Of an old
stagecoach. drawn by three mules, In
which we were to make the journey.
The paint had long ago been worn OF
(royal maiD. for which it had formerly
been used. 1t held four persons in
side and three outside.
Three policemen and myself occupied
the inside, two of the former being
dressed as women. We were all arm
ed and ready for Tarantola. We had
| gone but a few leagues when our royal
mail coach was stopped by woman
who wished to take passage with US.
| Sicily abounds In beautiful flowers
and the woman who Joined US held a
large bouquet Of them In her hands.
| 1t IL always warm on the island, but
/ this person said she had a bad cold
and asked II any of us would object
to her having the windows closed.
The Italian ladies are pretty while
| young, but there are many bags
among the lower classes. especially
those past middle age. Our passen-
| ger. though she was Of large build
and must have been forty years old.
was not bad looking. She was be-
dixened with jewels and tinsel, and
her face was profusely painted and
powdered. Some women In Italy have
very coarse voices. and this woman's
was Of the coarsest.
When we told her that Tarantola
had sent word that he would attack
any party going to visit the temple
she appeared to be very much fright
ened. She demanded a return Of the
fare she had paid that she might get
| out. But a Sicilian never returns any
thing that comes into his possession
| except by force, and the policeman
who had taken her money refused to
give it up. She said she could not at
ford to lose it. SO she remained with
| rs.
| She was very liberal with her fow-
ers. giving each Of us one and poking
| her bouquet constantly under our
| noses. observed that the perfume
/ was having visable effect on the pc
hcemen, and l began to feel drowsy
myself One Of the 80 called ladies'
dow, but the woman with the flowers
stopped her and. showing her bouquet
under her nostrils. held 1t there till
! the object Of this attention sank back
| unconscious. A policeman tried to
open the window. but the flower lady
instead Of showing her bouquet under
his nose put the muzzle Of revolver
| there.
The next thing l knew l heard the
words, Wake up. Senior Americana"
and l was roughly shaken. Opening
my eyes. saw the flower lady smil-
ing at me.
"Gtve my compliments to the chief
| Of police on your return. and tell him
that when Tarantola says he win do a
thing he keeps his word. These beg
| carly policemen have no money to re-
pay me for my trouble. so ahall
leave them. But l must trouble you
10 come with me. Any attempt at re-
oistance and you Will never see your
beloved land again."
He stopped the coach and drove me
before him into wood. paying no at
tention to the driver of the royal mail
and the policeman outside, except to
turn and say, Il am Tarantola." Since
| he covered them they did not dare to
draw q weapon.