The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-05
-. Nay
RivOlla's Bandit
Gang
BY SELMA HIGGINS

tHc WiF-u large DTHSS cHuDON. -
Pietro was an honest, sturdy
blacksmith. He had fought just "a
he set tires on the wagon wheels
or shod a horse-his whole soul In
the task. He had been the leader
OF the company which drove the
marauding gang Of Kivolla, the ban
dit, out of the district. go
1T is a -memento, q monument
and trade sign" said Pietro.
There II shall remain as q record,
reminder and sign manual Of the
trade Of the anvil"
There came new disturbances a.
the years passed by, but these were
conferred in distant province.
Pietr0 looked grim and thoughtful
as he heard of new depredations Of
the Rivolla banditti. Airy, fairy
Ninez, full of all the joyous hope.
fulness Of youth, only smiled on.
She was light-hearted and happy.
Had she not Luts Guarez, the hand
soonest gallant at Piasta? His
stalwart arm. his loyal heart would
spring to action in response to any
patriotic call. AS to Rivolla, some
day the gibbet. %.
For the family of Pietro had
known RiyollA in the past. Two
years before he had lived at Pasta
for time. He had appeared as q
sutton for Ninez. Sternly old San.
chez had ordered him away from
the threshold. And Ntnez had felt
relieved when the fierce visaged
bandit had departed from the vii.
lage. $50
Then there had come q missiye
for the little Mexican maid. It
was from the renegade Rivolia.'
Have care!" the words Of the
message ran. II have sworn to make
you mine, and Rivolla never fails
In his purpose" - 80 r. '.sA,.'
1t was Of this that Ninez and
Luis were speaking one moonlight
night. The pair had seated them
selves on bench beside the old
1eldpiece. ~
Another month, milo Ninez,"
spoke the young man fervently,
land you will be mine. Then adios !!
to all your needless fears OF this
terrible Rivolla."
"You do not know his PREACHER
Gus nature" fluttered Ninez. shrink.
ing closer to her manly escort. %
though from sense Of protection.
MY father tells me he has broken
loose again with his wicked horde. !"
'Rivolln is a braggart and COW.
ard!" declared Luis. 1T was In tho
last campaign that he threatened
our little army so direfully, only to
run and hide when we advanced
upon his stronghold"
Ninez smiled and forgot her fears
as they strolled h0mewards. Luis
did not tell Ninez as he babe her
goodnight, but he knew there was
some foundation for her words. =
After leaving Ninez. her lover
returned to the bluffs. TWAS his
night for patrol duty. For q long
time he sat by the side Of the can.
non. a, t't-'
His cloak wrapped about him TO
guard himself from the usual mid.
night chill sweeping down the val.
leys, Luis suddenly reused, as,
CHANGING to glance across the broad
stream, he saw faint glimmer OF
blue light. +.
Without disturbing or alarming
any other member Of the family,
he aroused Sanchez. A grim smile
CROSSED the face of the smith as he
listened. His clear eye glowed with
the coherent resolve Of q resOlute
and intelligent man as he gave his
directions. Luis was to carry these
out.
Mount your swift horse" direct
ed Pietro, ''ar0use the gunsmith
and send him to me at once. Then
make for the ford and Modiva. Tell
the mayor there to arouse the old
guard and hurry to surround RI
VOLTA and his crew." ~ "+
But If they cross the river be-
fore then?" submitted Luis, quite
anxiously. a. &c
"They will not cross the river -
declared Pietro with grim. de-
termined fash of his lion eyes.
At daylight over one hundred
grim-visaged, determined men were
gathered on the bluff where the his
toric fieldpiece stood. The mists
slowly lifting. showed the camp of
the outlaws on the opposite bank OF
the river. They had secured the
shore up and down stream for every
stray raft, yawl and rowboat. A
formidable f1otilla, all centered In q
group in a little cove, showed.
Beside the cannon stood old San.
chez, In his hand, an !unlighted
fuse. Fills old companion gunner
was sighting the fieldpiece.
"Aim low" directed Pietro, and
the fusee was lighted.
Grand old thunderer!" comment.
ed the patriarch of the village, as
boom and flash. and destruction
haunted the face Of the waters.
There was. confusion on the opp0.
site shore, as almost to the last
vestige the flotilla was destroyed
And then new excitement as Luis
with the Modiva contingent, cut
of the inland retreat OF the. banned
bandits.
NOOSSus pCISVuoID' W OSDSTOyeO
their evil career was summarilJ
and permanently checked and the
power of Rivolla broken forever. (,
And in the white moonlight, how
ering near the brave old faeldpiect
that had saved Plasta, Luis and
Ninez renewed their pAghted troth
y %. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.p
One day in 1910 a well-dressed
man, wearing heavy Overcoat, en-
tered jewelers. shop In London
and asked to be shown some valu
able rings. Those shown him, he
said, were not quite good enonsh
and he asked to be shown another
tray. As the, attendant went e
get it he' glanced nttlie mirror spe
cially set to show the counter wher
| h{C h0nk yUoo f,nn ~ A.