Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-07-13
An
Find
An American Is Captured by
an Italian Bandit
By WALTER WAINROW

Some twenty years ago Reginald De
Witt. a young American. after being
graduated from college went 10 Italy
for a brief trip before settling down to
a profession.
A Roman young lady. Elena. daugh-
ter of Signor Ferrari. a prominent
citizen and member Of the Italian par
liament. 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
him, for his fortune was not more than
$4,000. and he bad 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-
tons being prosecuted at POmpeii.
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 a treasure to the archaeologiSt. for
men have always been prone 10 bury
with their dead such articles as they
have been accustomed 70 use in lie
De Witt determined 10 20 alone To the
graves and trust TO luck 10 find those
near at hand TO assist him in opening
them. BUT when lie reached them. be
ing disappointed in finding labOrerS. be
borrowed tool from n peasant woman
and set about the work himself.
Removing the top earth from one OF
the graves, he uncovered a headSione.
and this he raised with Il crOwbar. IN
q stone coffin hay a 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 a 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
eTing 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 $500 years for nothing"
u will pay you a fair price for these
articles. What DO you askY'
I'm 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
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 tile
gold. ana | will permit you to depart
with these relics Of a past age"
And if leave your t%reasures?"
"Thc bargain IS already made"
suppose ] refuse to complete it?"
In that case it is quite likely that
some archaeologist several centuries
hence will open that grave and find
your bones in it"
De Witt understood this perfectly. 1t
meant either his fortune or death.
Are you Giovanni Ricadonna?'
II 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 ut once that this
misfortune would not only deprive him
of his little estate. but his love. He
did not yield ut once. Indeed, he told
the bandit that he was in doubt
whether 10 accept death or assent 10
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 ny some peasant centuries ago.
There he succeeded IN convincing his
captive that he must either die or
surrender his fortune. De Witt wrote
a note 10 his banker TO turn the prop
erty into gold and send II by the
bearer. The messenger was q grape
grower who lived in the vicinity
A week passed. when the messenger
returned with the money. The author
titles did not dare TO have the police
him for fear the captive would
be Killed Hicndonna took the treas
lre md. hlindfoldinc his prisoner. put
him on a horse and travelled with him
the greater part OF n day; then. the
being removed. they stood on
The heights back II Sorrento.
"Ad.eu. Signor De Witt said Rica-
donna. Il would advise YOU TO return
TO America. make another fortune and
bring It to Italy. They say money Is
very rapidly in your country.
lnd | shall doubtless in 4 few years be
YOU some more archaeological
treasures"
So saving. he turned his back on the
and led his followers in the
i.recti0n OF .Ama!h I,
De Witt stood for awhile looking u
~ an enhancing scene before him.
Directly beneath was Sorrento perched
,u the clin. the waters of the bay ,
in On the strip OF beach or
the stretch OF rocks nj its