Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-09

Some twenty years ago Reginald De
Witt. young American. after being
graduated from college went to Italy
for q 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
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
him, for his fortune was not more than
what he derived from this source. In
deed. it was not till he received q 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 Pompen.
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 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 a 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
a 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 a voice behind him say:
Good morning, signor. You seem to
! be pleas ed with what you have found
on my domain
De Witt turned and saw a man GOV.
eIing 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"
II will pay you fair price for these
articles. What do you ask"
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 l00.00(
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 tc
rob me l shall require these securitie.
turned into gold. You will send for tht
gold. and | will permit you to depar
| with these relics of past age"
And If leave your treasuresT
1.-THE bargain is already made"
Suppose l refuse to complete It'll"
I'm that case 1t IS quite likely tina
some archaeologist several centuries
hence will open that grave and fn'
your bones in it."
De Witt understood this perfectly. 1
meant either his fortune or death.
Are you Giovanni Ricadonnap
81 am"
Giovanni Ricadonna was at that tim,
the terror of the environs Of Naples
a threat from him to kill If a ransom
were not forthcoming was always mad
good. De Witt saw at once that thi
misfortune would not only deprive hin
of his little estate, but his love. II
did not yield at once. Indeed, he toll
the bandit that he was in doub
whether to accept death or assent t
his demands. Ricadonna took him t
one of those cave dwellings formed b.
an Enclosure in the rock and partl
made by hands that were probab
used by some peasant centuries age
There he succeeded In convincing hi
captive that he must either die o
surrender his fortune. De Witt wrot
a note TO his banker TO turn the prop
erty into gold and send it by tn
bearer. The messenger was crap
grower who lived in the vicinity.
A week passed. when the messenge
returned with the money. The author
titles did not dare to have the polio
track him for fear the captive wOul
be killed. RicadOnna took the treas
ure and, hlindfolding his prisoner. pu
him on horse and travelled with hiT
for the greater part OF a day: then. tn
bandage being removed. they stood o
the heights back of Sorrento.
"Adieu. Signor De Witt" said RicG
donna. Il would advise you 10 retur
to America. make another fortune an
bring 1t to Italy. They say money
made very rapidly in your country
and | shall doubtless In a few years
selling you some more archaeologica
treasures"
So saying. he turned his hack on tn
American and led his followers in tn
direction or Amalti.
De Witt stood for awhile looking on
on an enhancing scene before hin
Directly beneath was Sorrento perche
on the cliff. the waters Of the ba
curling IN on the strip OF beach Q
against the stretch OF rocks at II
base. The waters today were dee
} sea green. from which protruded III
volcanic rocks Capri and lschia. viii
northward and 20 the east towere