Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-11-27
An
Expensive
Find
-s-
An American Is CAPTURED BY
an Italian Bandit
BY WALTER wAiNROW
BY WALTER wAiNRow

ter Of Siguor ferraa. u prominent
citizen and member os the italian par
lament. captured the heart Of the
American. and be proposed for her
hand Her heart he already possessed.
Considerable time elapsed before be
could induce her father to give her to
him. for his fortune was not more than
$4,000. and he had no income except
what be derived from this source, In
deed. II 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-
tons being prosecuted at Pompeh
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 sepulture
are a 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 80 alone to the
graves and trust to lnck to end 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 be raised with a crowbar. In
I a stone coffin lay a skeleton. on the
arms Of which were antique bracelets.
while scattered about were 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:
Coed morning. signor You seem to
be pleased with what you have found
| on my domain"
De Witt turned and saw a man COW
ering him with a rife.
But" continued the newcomer.
these antiques are expensive. You
| can't expect to get what has been seal
ed up for 1880 years for nothing"
Il will pay you fair price for these
! articles What do you asky'
.'ln 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 81
gnor Ferrari that you possess 100000
4 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 70
/ rob me / shall require these securities
turned into gold. You will send for the
gold. and win permit you to depart
with these relics OF past age"
And II ! leave your tressuresT'
'-The bargain Is already made"
Suppose refuse to complete it,"
| I'm that case Ii Is quite likely that
| some archaeologist several centuries
hence will open that grave and find
| your bones In It,"
De Witt understood this perfectly. II
meant either his fortune or death.
| "Are you Giovanni RicadennaT
81 am"
Giovanni Ricadonna was at that time
the terror of the environs of Naples.
y threat from him to kill II a ransom
were not forthcoming was always made
| good De Witt saw az 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 10 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
I erty into gold and send IL 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.
files did not dare to have the police
track him for fear the captive would
be killed. Ricadonna took the treas
ure and, blindfoiding his prisoner. put
him on a horse ard Travelled with him
for the greater part of day; then, the
bandage being removed. they stood on
the heights back of Sorrento
"Adieu. Signor De Witt" said Rica-
donna. Il would advise you to return
TO America. make another fortune and
bring 1t 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"
So saying, he turned his back on the
! American and led his followers In the
direction of AmaIn.
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
| hRz h.