Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-09
The Argus Daily Story
An Expensive Find-By Walter Wainrow.
Copyrighted. 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau.

had nothing 70 settle on his daughter
the marriage could not be permitted.
Elena wrote him a fearful letter. re-
signing him, for Italian girls are
brought up with the understanding
that marriage for them is to be ar
ranged by their parents.
a year passed. during which De Witt
and his Italian love pinned for each 9TH
er. Signor Ferrari arranged several
matches for his daughter. but she
would not give her consent TO any Of
them. and he was loath to force her into
marriage against her will.
One day De Witt was walking on the
Via Rationale. one of the most crowd
ed streets in Rome. when he met q
man whom by single feature he rec
ognized instantly. Giovanni Ricadon-
ma had an eye especially fitted for ter
rifying his captorS. De Witt had look
ed into 1t and been convinced that
without the surrender OF his fortune
he must die. Without this feature he
would never have recognized the BAN
dit, for Ricadonna was dressed in the
costume Of an ordinary Italian se7it,,ee-
man.
Ricadonna, or seeing De Witt locking
at him, knew that he was recognized.
Throwing all the veugefulneSs that he
could call up into his expression. he in
dictated to De Witt that If he Informed
upon him he would kill him. But 1t
was no easy matter under the circum-
stances to brighten the man whom he
had robbed OF his love. The Via Ma
tionale was a very different place from
the lonely mountains bordering on the
bay of Naples. De Witt turned and
followed his captor.
Ricadonna went on down the street
till he came to TraJan's column with
out turning to look behind him. At
that point De Witt saw a couple of the
carabinieri coming toward him and.
attracting their attention. pointed to
Ricadonna. 4 moment later a hand
was clapped on each one of the ban
! dts shoulders. He turned, ready to
spring upon his enemies; but, seeing
| that he was about TO resist them. they
| pinioned his arms, and be was power
/ less.
HE is Giovanni Ricadonna. the ban
dit" said De Witt
The villain gave De Witt another OF
his terrifying looks. but it was OF no
! avail. He was hurried away and lodg-
ed in prison.
De Witt hoping to recover some part
OF his lost fortune, went to the jail to
see the captive.
"Signor Ricadonna," he said, "I have
| a proposition TO make you. Whether
l can do my part in 1t depends upon
the will of the Italian government. AS
TO your doing yours, that depends upon
whether you have spent the money
with which I purchased my life. II
not it is possible that you may now
purchase your life with it"
at remains intact where placed it."
said the robber.
And you will give 1t for your life"
The bandit considered for few mo-
ments. then said that on n promise OF
the government to spare his life he
would tell where the money was con-
cealed
De Witt made an application to the
government to be authorized to carry
out the agreement, but was refused on
the ground that the rObber should no
longer terrorize the Italian people. De
Witt, seeing the justice Of this, did not
press the matter, and Ricadonna suf-
fercd death. but before he was exc
cuted he attempted to bride his jailer
to permit him to escape by the prom
Use of buried treasure. The jailer in
sisted on knowing the location OF the
funds, and Ricadonna, catching at a
straw. told him that IL was hidden
back of Sorrento.
The jailer, either because he was in
corruptible or because ne did not trust
RicadOnna, took no action In the mat
ter, but after the bandits death told
De Witt about 1t. De Witt at once in
ferred that the hiding place was near
where he had been left by RicadOnna
on the heights back of Sorrento With
out much hope Of finding it, he de
termined to make a thorough search
of the region in question.
Had the money been buried in the
ground with nothing to mark the spot
search for IL would have been futile.
AS 1t was. its finding WAS more easy
an eighth of mile from where DE
Witt stood when his eyes were I'M
bandaged was culvert. through
which n small mountain stream flowed
under the road De Witt explored the
culvert. and near the upper end he no
ticed two rocks that appeared 10 have
fallen together. Removing one OF
them. he came 10 small opening
Pulling away earth and small stones
the aperture became larger. and
through IL the explorer passed into an
excavation in or under rock that
formed room In the room. among
other things. was an iron box filled
with gold and silver pieces
There was more than enough to re,
store De Wits loss. but ne took moth
Ing away. notifying the police. Since
he had made the discovery the govern
ment paid him the 100000 francs he
had lost and kept the balance for res
tOratiOn 10 those to whom IL belonged
De Wit renewed his proposal fol
Elena'S hand and was accepted