Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-23

In which 30 many gladiators, so many
Christian martyrs, gave up their lives.
Small things present are Of more i'm
portance to US than important matters
past hurried back to my hotel and
up to my room. There, standing in the
center of the room, stood well dressed
young man looking around as though
he scarcely knew what he was doing.
Ny anxiety for my checks overcame
any fear 1 might have had, though I
admit the man did not look dangerous.
so made a dash for my trunk, raised
the I'D and looked IN & corner where
kept the book 1t was gone! The man
stood watching me mechanically and
knew by what / did, for l said moth
ing, that missed something. l looked
up at him with an accusing expression
on my face, and he turned pale.
There was q bell cord in the room
hanging from the ceiling obsolete in
America-and started for it. The
man placed himself between me and
1t, but instead of regarding me with
threatening look gave me one Of APP
peal. l paused, and we stood confront
ing one another.
He said something to me In Italian
which 1 did not understand, having
just arrived in the country. Then he
asked me In French If l spoke that lam
! guage. Since l could not carry on a
conversation in French / made no re-
/ ply. l pointed to my trunk and by
signs indicated that If he would sur
/ render what missed he might go free.
| He shrugged his shoulders and by his
expression asserted his innocence OF
the theft. Then, taking a gold pencil
| from his pocket and an old letter, he
/ handed them to me and by signs asked
me to write something. / guessed that
he wished me to put down the amount
of money 1 had lost and wrote, Three
| thousand francs" Then he spoke the
French words "Quel nonome," which
l understand, and with my name also.
Then, bowling politely, he walked out
of the room.
What to do did not know and hest
tated until it was too late to do any
thing. Then ran downstairs and told
the story TO the proprietor. He at once
sent for a carabineer, or one of the
national police, and gave my expert,
ence to him in the Italian tongue. The
Gardiner asked a great many ques-
lions and took a lot of notes and ther
went away.
Two hours later I was still deliberat
ing how to obtain money for my imme
date expenses when / was handed ar
envelope bearing my name. tore II
opened and uncovered three notes fol
1000 francs each. There was not an
other thing in the envelope-not wore
of explanation.
Never was | more a-fonished
thief who would take my checks and
then cash them was a wonder. But
was destined to another surprise tn
next morning when I received through
the mail my book of checks. Yet tn
return Of the checks was not so re
markable, because they could not verl
well be cashed without an identified
ton book carried in my corsage.
Time passed, and the mystery wa
not explained. Then some friends o
mine came to Rome who entered tn,
social world there and gave me al
opportunity Of getting an occasiona
glimpse of 1t myself. at ball give
at the Quirinal palace, to which n.
friends gained me an invitation, wa
destined to another surprise A lad
whom l had met said to me: Prime
Palioni desires to be presented t
you May / bring him:'
l answered her that | should b
pleased to meet any friend Of her
and little later l saw her advancin
on the arm Of young man wearin
several decorations on his breast, o