The daily Alaskan., 1913-04-15
A DESPERATE
 BANDIT
 By MARGARET BARRY

ed to headquarters at Naples, hIs chlef sald to him.
 "TbIs 0ug0nd Lanetd who has been tcrrorizlng Che mountains must be cap- mred have sent out a spy, who says that In raylne back of Sorrento be came upon che band He was halted and told to turn about He could see no one, but remarked the position and uys that lf they remain there long enough for competent force to attack them they must an be captured. Take Gfy men, go at once and bring IgnctI here dead or alive. If you Clu bring the others do 80, but do not fail to capture thoir Ie0der'
 Have you a description of himg asked the lieutenant.
 "No Nor have ] found any one who has seen hIm. He has but recently begun his dcprcdauons and ghus far we have not been ubIe to get any in- formation 0bout him Persons who have been captured by his band and held for rausom have not been brought before bIm"
 Lieutenant GroIano with bis men went by train us near to Che point they intended to att0cE as possible then at U.ghdaI followed a road leading up Into Che mountains.
 As soon Us lt grew lighter the police an armed with rifles. advanced turn. ing a bend In Che r0vluc, which led them face to face with a barricude of stones the bandits had erected across lL Griolano halted his men and stood looking up at lhe barrier An was si lent Not a living thing was to be seen
 "Thc bird has down." he remarked iu a disappointed tone.
 No sooner bad the words been ut tered th0n a bullet sang close to his ear
 The bravcst man win duck ot being thus surprised, for thc nerves do not give the brain time to reason that the danger hus already passed Grolano myoIunarIIy ducEcd. then ordered hIs men to Iie down under cover dII he couId determine upon thc best method of attack He stood upright himself taking In the defense before him He was handsome man, twenty-five years old and brave While hc was IooEiug for am opening by which to make a flank attack upon Che position another bullet sang a few inches above bIs head This time be was prepared and did not finch
 Ou both sides Of Che uvinc where che barrier had been erected there was wall Of rock. which Che lieutenant saw no way ot passing Indeed the position Che bandits had taken could only bc captured from the front and tis could not bc done without consid- erabIe loss of 'Ife. The young officer was at a loss how to proceed While dpuHoauus another rife cracked, and another bullet whizzcd past him. this time Knocking 0G Che uniform N0po. lconIc bat worn by Che national police.
 "F0r loHvous s0ko. Iicutcnuut' cried a sergeant "Ce0sc to expose yourself In chat way The next shot win surely bring you down"
 "rh0so shots have come from diff ,crent parts of lhe barrier" replied che lieutenant without needing the warming. "Thcre must bc half our number behind .t and lf we attempt to carry It by storm we shall lose the greater part Of our men. ! must dnd a way to get at them from
 Ping. Another bullet grazcd .he oll- cer's shoulder
 "I beg Of you. lieutenant" reiterated Che sergeant "to get behind a rock Why tho villains have missed you four times ! cannot understand"
 "Nor l," replied Grl0.ano. "H0wev- CT. hero is nothing for lt but to carry Che place by assault"
 Given the order to advance Che men moved up the ravIne. each man getting over the rocks In his own way. Every moment an expected to receive a vol. ley chat would thin their ranks but they made b0If Che distance and not shot had come from the barrier Every neck was stretched, every eye bent on che lmprovlsed fort, looking for a burst Of flame and smoke aud a haiIstorm of bullets. Halr the remaining distance was covered and yet no sign Of de. feusc
 "Thcy are waiting" s0id the ser gcant "uI We get right before them, then each bandit will aim at one of us, and they win dre an at once"
 But in a few moments more they were ot the base of Che bauicade then on and over lt, an unhurt
 In che farthest corner crouched the garrison. a girl some seventeen years old. No other living being was there. GrIo.uno stood in Um0zgmcnt
 "Where is LHDegt.g" be asked
 "I am LGnott"
 "Y0u L0netu2'
 "Ycs, s.gnor
 "Wbcre are your mon2"
 "Thcy orc towards They have de- serted me-"
 After a brief silence, during which the officer was lost in wonder he said:
 "Why did you miss me 80 many .#..... 4...H ..r. a.an.Hs m HHrnHTrHrHFHHH .HH