Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-30

L
destined to build eternal Rome one of
these bandits had his lair. From the
plateau he would swoop down on I'M
suspecting travellers and return 10 re
peat the process when the spirit moved
him.
But after Garibaldi with his thou-
sand men made Sicily a part of united
Italy there began a process of ref
ormation. 4 government was estab-
lished with n national police capable
of hunting down brigands and bring
ing them TO justice.
Carrazini. as the bandit Of Mount
Etna called himself. had for twenty
years robbed undisturbed. He had
built himself n house in which he had
reared family and had money in the
bank at Palermo but all this had been
achieved when the business of levy
ing tribute or ransom on travellers was
considered one of the fields OF enter
prise of the country. Now that the
national police had stepped in and in
terfered with his calling CarraZini saw
that his days for accumulation would
before long be ended But he had
passed the heyday of youth, his chill
dren We're nearly grown, and diff
ferent future was before him from
that when he was an active young
man.
Nevertheless the bandit resolved to
make hay as long as the sun continued
to shine. His first move was to send
his family away to Naples, where his
eldest daughter might receive an edu-
cation at finishing school for young
ladies and his eldest son might fit him
self for college. Until this removal
was effected the father remained pas
sive, then recommended his depreda-
lions.
During the following year Carrazini
added materially TO his accommodations,
sending the proceeds to bank I'm Ma
pies to which he had removed his de
posits from Palermo. Freed from the
care and responsibility Of his family.
he took risks that he had never taken
before. The police heard OF him through
those whom he had robbed, but never
saw him. His neighbors one and all
stood by him Indeed, they had been
so accustomed through many genera
tons to the old regime wherein brig
andage was considered a respectable
calling that they did not welcome the
new. The police tried to secure a de
scription of the bandit, but he was
shrewd enough TO disguise himself
when levying tribute, and those who
knew him personally could not be pre-
vailed upon to describe him.
But the chief OF police at Palermo
knew the region in which Carrazln
worked and slowly drew n network of
men about him. The willy bandit. how
ever. was too smart for them, and de-
spite many well laid plan TO trap
him they failed TO get their hands IN
him. One day he went into wine I
shop kept BY one Of his friends and, T
seating himself at a table with his
host a bottle between them, said
Luigi. would you like to make I
enough money to enable you to leave .
lere and set Yourself up in America Z" /
Yes. but how could I do thstF'
There is a reward of $4,000 Ire
offered for nv head. Write TO the .
chief Of police at Palermo that you are .
Carrazini and will surrender YOUR
self If your life is spared and the re- /
ward offered for you be paid to your .
family"
But if the terms were accepted l /
would at least have to spend tha rest .
of my life in prison"
Leave that to me. / will Sc that /
you don't remain there long"
What part Of the reward co you
wantE"
None CT it. You win run SC much
risk in the matter that you should
have all there IS in 1t. for you will +
have TO trust to promises Will may
fail you. Besides, have scheme or
my own for which you will prepare !
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