The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-09-04
BLANCA
MlCELE
Bv ESTHER VANDEVEER

cOffluOT duu SlOppcu ~ d cell where
be could see u girl through the bars.
He stood looking ut her with u curious
expression on his face. the expression
Of one who would gaze upon a beau.
tifuI leopard in a cage. She was u
peasant. but endowed with a beauty
that a highbOrn dame might envy.
She returned his gaze as one would
look upon a captOr-with hate. min
gled with the knowledge that she was
powerless to crafty 1t.
"WeIl." he said. you see what crime
has brought you to. You are a wO.
man. and the government dislikes to
intict on you the punishment Of a man.
| have told the public prosecutor that
If he will spare you. let you 20 free.
you will return to the mountains and
lead all orderly life; that you will dis
band your troop and advise them to
i've honestly hereafter"
As he proceeded the girls express.
linn changed to one that he did not
Understand. for be was infatuated
with her. He had been sent to cap
tire a troop Of bandits who were
bouncing on persons. whom they held
for ransom. and had found a girl in
command. He had succeeded in trap
ping her and q few of her band and
brought them to Rome.
II will not trouble the police again
and will advise my men not to do so.
1t il not the prosecutor that pardons
me of his Own accord. You have
saved my life" she said.
The only recompense l wish is to
see you a good girl"
Lieutenant Morini the next day came
again to the Jail with a pardon for
Blanca Micele. took her out of prison
and proceeded with her by rail to Cas-
tellammare, thence up the steep heights
behind it till he reached the summit.
On reaching a certain point she gave a
''tOo-hoo" and a couple Of men sprang
from behind rocks and advanced to-
ward her and her conductor.
"'Take this man." she said. Into the
ravine and give him the stilettO."
The two men drew back. MOrini
was in uniform. and they hesitated at
numbering one Of the c%arabineers sim
ply to crafty their leader, we'll know
ing that for doing so they would be
hunted to the death.
"Signorina." said one of them, why
do you wish to put him out Of the
wayY"
well since you don't wish it. send
him down again. But you are wrong
He will return with a force strong
enough to take us. and our lives will
pay for such folly"
The two bandits consulted in an un.
dertone. Then the one who had
spoken said:
I'VE will obey you If you command
us to do this. but we do not advise it"
"Send him away" said Blanca.
Morini. who had expected death. lost
no time in descending from the heights
But no sooner had he reached a safe
distance than he proved the truth Of
the girls words by resolving that he
would v rest till he had got her
again in his power and punished her
for her treachery and more especially
for her ingratitude. This she OWNED
when she consented that he should g.
free.
The police soon heard of more depre
dations on the part Of the band whom
Blanca was to advise to change their
occupation. and 1t was reported that
she was still at their head. MOrini
was laughed at by his companions and
was impatient to get revenge on the
woman who had not only spurned
but ridiculed him. He went himself In
disguise to reconnoiter the position o..
cupied by the band. then took q sum
cient number Of carabineers TO
round their camp. But he failed to
surprise them and was obliged to fight
in order to get them into his posses
sion.
Morini vas with 4 party Of bis mel
who attacked a rude fort the bandits
had thrown up across the mouth Of
Il pocket. Failing to pick of his enc.
mics in SUFFICIENT numbers. be deter
mined to carry the work by assault.
As he stood on it. about to leap down
into II. a man put the muzzle Of his
gun to the lieutenant's breast. But
the ball went over his shoulder. for
Blanca. who was there. knocked the
gun up with her wi piece. ~|
That was the end of the matter. ev-
cry person belonging to the band be
ing captured. with their girl leader.
and all being taken to Naples.
well. lieutenant" said his command
or. 80 you have captured that little
devil. l presume that now you are
satisfied to let justice take it's course"
LAS to that ! am in a worse fix than
before"
"Why?"
Had it not been for the little devil
would not now be here. One Of her
men fred Mt me with the muZzle OF his
gun close against my breast. She
knocked his gun up. and the bullet.
instead Of going into my heart. grazel
my ear"
The officer laughed. hut secretly he
was pleased He had M stomach for