The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-08-13
HE MOUNT HOLLY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1912.
An
Expensive
Find
An American Is Captured by
an Italian Bandit
By WALTER WAINROW
By WALTER WAINRoW

Witt, a young American, after being
graduated from college went to Italy
for brief trip before settling down to
q profession.
A. Roman young lady, Elena, daugh-
ter of Signor Ferrari, a prominent
citizen and member of the Italian par
lament captured the heart of the
American. and he proposed for her
hand Her heart he already possessed.
Considerable time elapsed before he
could induce her father to give her to
$4,000, and he had no income except
what he derived from this source. In
deed, it was not till he received a sub
ordinate appointment in the archaeo-
logical corps of the Italian government
that Signor Ferrari consented to the
marriage.
Soon after his betrothal De Witt was
directed to take charge of the excava-
lions being prosecuted at Pompeil
While thus engaged he heard of some
graves that had been discovered far
back in the hills back of Vesuvius that
had remained undisturbed for many
centuries. Such places Of sculpture
are treasure to the archaeologist. for
men have always been prone to bury
with their dead such articles as they
have been accustomed to use In life.
De Witt determined to go alone to the
graves and trust to luck to find those
near at hand to assist him in opening
them. But when he reached them, be-
ing disappointed in finding laborers, he
borrowed tools from peasant woman
and set about the work himself
Removing the top earth from one of
the graves, he uncovered a headstone,
and this he raised with a crowbar In
q stone coffin lay skeleton. on the
arms Of which were antique bracelets.
while scattered about were a stone
lamp, articles of toilet and dishes of
food De Witt was about to remove
these archaeological treasures when he
heard voice behind him say:
Good morning, signor. You seem to
be pleased with what you have found
on my domain"
De Witt turned and saw a man COW
efing him with a rifle
But" continued the newcomer,
''these antiques are expensive. You
can't expect to get what has been seal
cd up for $500 years for nothing"
II will pay you fair price for these
articles. What do you askY
ain the first place, signor, know you
and what you have with which to pay
Friends of mine in Rome have in
formed me that you have satisfied ST.
gnor Ferrari that you possess 100000
francs in American bonds. These bonds
are deposited with Barnote Bros, bank
ers, In Rome. In payment for these
articles of which you have proposed to
rob me shall require these securities
turned into gold. You will send for the
gold, and | will permit you to depart
with these relics of past age"
"And If / leave your treasuresT
'AThe bargain is already made"
Suppose refuse to complete it?"
TN that case it Is quite likely that
hence will open that grave and find
POUR bones in it."
De Witt understood this perfectly 1t
meant either his fortune or death.
"Are you Giovanni Ricadonna?"
81 am"
Giovanni Ricadonna was at that time
the terror of the environs Of Naples
A threat from him to kill II a ransom
were not forthcoming was always made
good. De Witt saw at once that this
misfortune would not only deprive him
OF his little estate, but his love. He
did not yield at once. Indeed. he told
the bandit that he was in doubt
whether to accept death or assent to
his demands. Ricadonna took him to
one of those cave dwellings formed by
an Enclosure in the rock and partly
made by hands that were probably
used by some peasant centuries ago.
There he succeeded in convincing his
captive that he must either die or
surrender his fortune. De Witt wrote
note to his banker to turn the prop
erty into gold and send it by the
bearer. The messenger was a grape
grower who lived In the vicinity.
A week passed, when the messenger
returned with the money. The author.
tiles did not dare to have the police
track him for fear the captive would
be killed. Ricadonna took the treas
ure and. blindfolding his prisoner, put
him on horse and Travelled with him
TOR the greater part of day; then, the
bandage being removed, they stood on
the heights back of Sorrento.
"Adieu, Signor De Witt" said RIGA
donna 81 would advise you to return
to America, make another fortune and
bring it to Italy. They say money is
made very rapidly In your country,
and shall doubtless in few years be
selling you some more archaeological
treasures"
30 saying. he turned his back on the
American and led his followers In the
direction of Amalfi.
De Witt stood for awhile looking out
On an enhancing scene before him.
Directly beneath was Sorrento perched
on the cliff. the waters of the bay
curling In on the strip of beach or
against the stretch of rocks at its
base. The waters today were deep
sea green, from which protruded the
volcanic rocks Capri and Ischia. while
horthward and to the east lowered
Vesuvius, emitting smoke from its
apex. Had 1t not been for the prob
able loss of the girl he loved he would
not have deplored being robbed of
his fortune. for his was an intellec-
tual temperament. He carried, rolled
In paper, the articles he had taken
from from the grave he had opened.
and this was some solace. Ricadonna
had persisted in regarding the matter
as sale and had handed him the trim
kets just before leaving him.
The neighborhood was familiar to
De Witt, and, descending a steep decliv-
fty to his left, he struck a road that
From there he proceeded northward
to Naples and took a train for Rome.
Having communicated with Signor
Ferrari. he was informed that If he
had nothing to 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 Ferrar arranged several
matches for his daughter, but she
would not give her consent to any of
a marriage against her will.
One day De Witt was walking on the