The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-01-08
An Effective
Weapon
Story of a Rescue From
Italian Bandits
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

lege, became physician in charge OF n
hospital. Here he caught an infectious
disease that left him much reduced.
A year passed. and, since he had not
improved. he concluded to take a sea
voyage. So he sailed for Naples.
Whether it was the effect Of the eli
mate of Italy or the beautiful sur
roundings Of Naples. the doctor began
to improve as soon us he reached that
city.
Dorrance was charmed by the bay
of Naples. Its beauty has been long
renowned. and justly. The longer one
lives ON its shores the more delightful
1t becomes to him. A central figure Is
Vesuvius. whose cone is seldom. il
ever. without light smoke. From the
sen the ground rises to Il height that
may be called billy or mountainous.
Rising out of the sea some ten or fif-
teen miles from shore are the volcanic
islands Of Ischia and Capri. usually
softened by Il light mist, while the
browning beauty Is the ever changing
color OF the water through every hue
from bright silver to the darkest
blue.
Quite likely it was these attractions
appealing to I'm artistic element in the
young doctors makeup that led him to
settle ut Sorrento and practice medi-
cine there. A constant flow Of tourists
passes through the town, and many of
A .t.,ntl 10
their homes. Among both tourists and
residents DR.. Dorrance found patients.
There is one detraction from the
pleasure Of II sojourn In southern Italy.
One cannot feel safe in wandering I'M
protected about the country. There Is
a town in the Alban hills. dozen
miles from Rome. of some 500 persons.
all of whom are criminals. When the
mounted police see strangers in this
vicinity they keep protecting watch
over them.
One morning Miss Alice Townsend.
an American girl staying at one of
the hotels ut Sorrento. situated OH the
high cliff overlooking the bay of Ma
pies. asked the proprietor IL it was
safe for her to walk OH certain road
leading out of the town. His reply
was. THAT road is perfectly safe"
This indicated that the other roads
were not safe. Miss Townsend had
fancy for going about alone and chafed
ut not being able to do so. She soon
got tired Of walking oil the road men,
toned and longed for new route.
One afternoon she struck out. resolv
ing to go to a height from which she.
might look down OH the bay. At any
rate. that is what she told u compan-
ion she intended to do. who declined to
accompany her beyond the outskirts
Of the town. When night came Miss
had not returned. Her IA
Their gathered posse to go out to look
for her. but returned in the morning
without her or any news Of her.
1t was apparent that the girl had
been kidnapped for ransom. At least
this was the hope, for no one could say
that she had not been murdered. The
police advised Mr.. Townsend to wait
for message demanding money for
his daughters release. when they
hoped to be able to make an attempt to
capture the kidnapers. The unhappy
father could do nothing but wait, but
he resolved that if the demand was
made he would pay the amount with
out endangering his daughters life.
Several days passed, and no word
was heard from the missing girl. The
police were urged to take action in the
matter; but, whether they were ineffi
cient or knew the enemy they had to
deal with. they made no move.
One afternoon boy called at DR..
Dorrance's office and handed him bit
Of paper on which was scra wled. in
hand denoting an iliterate writer.
request to call and see sick man liv-
ing on the heights directly back Of the
town. The doctor. who made it
point to answer all calls at once. took
up satchel in which he carried
stock Of drugs and instruments and,
getting into calash standing Mt the
door. took in the boy and started on
his quest.
He had assembled part way to the
summit when he was met by man
armed with carbinc aud told to halt.
The boy got out of the vehicle and the
nan got in. Then he said:
doctor. know all about you, and
you may be sure that you are in no
danger so long as yon do what Is re-
Iuired of you In attending a sick per-
son. Drive on
Dorrance, in going about the coun-
try. relied entirely on his profession
'or protection. Realizing that to arm
himself for the purpose of defense
would avail nothing and believing that
criminals would not modest one they
night have occasion to call upon to
heal them or save their lives. he made
lis visits without any protection what
ever.
The sun went down. night came and
he two men had not reached their
destination. II was long past dark
When the doctors guide directed him
o turR ofx .he road and. shortly after
loing so. stop NJ what had once been
villa, but what WAS now half ruin
md half habitabe. Before alighting
IFS companion said to him:
n