HELD FOR RANSOM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 140, 15 June 1893, Page 10

HELD FOR RANSOM.

BY LIEUTENANT MURRAY.

p Author of 'The Masked Lady,' * Spanish Muaket«er,'' Scarlet Flag,' etc.

CHAPTER VI,

THE JAR OF GOLD.

Naples, like Genoa, is tull of old palaces, formerly occupied by wealthy and titled families, who have long since passed away ( loaving descendants still resident in them, bub whose fortune* havo vory generally dwindled away. The titles and the palaces have been easily handed clown, but pocuniary resources havo very naturally proved much more ephemeral. In tho Sbrada Roma, Naples, also known as the Strada Toledo, thero are a numbei of these palatial residences, as pretentious ao thoy wore a century since, though the fortune of tho present occupant may do, in a pocuniary Bonae, of tho humblest character. Among thoso pMacoa was that o the Corrello family, once known as among the leading apirita of the thai Kinßdom 01 Naples. This family had sustained a high position in Italian history—tbey were loyal, proud and rich. With the doath of tho ropreaon tativo of tho family, half a century since tho proverbial wealth of the Correllos hat also pasted away. But there stood tin palace as of yore, now occupied only bj Alberto Corrello, the solo living represents tivo of a long line of famous statesmen anc soldiers, mon who had served their countr; generation after generation. Time wna when tho ancoatora of Albert' Corrello were held by tho people an littl lower than tho occupants of tho throne it eolf. But, alas ! the nobility of cluiracto had seemed to fade out from tho family rt prcsentatives as its pecuniary fortune hai done, and Alberto Corrello to-day, in plac of holding tho position of counsellor, schola and philosophor, a3 his great, great! grand father had done, was known better aa th famous Neapolitan gamester than for an other individuality. He was a man of singular habits, ofte isolating himself for days at a time, and re fusing to see even hia confidential servant He cared apparently for neither women no wine, and bo far as .his riaturo was ovincc to the outer world, ho exhibited but on pasaion, that of the gamester. Ono otho trait) Alborto Corrello had shown, that c cold-blooded vengeanco, such as is ofte • seen in the duellist. Ho had several time been engaged in theso personal encounters in which he had more than once killed hi adversary. Somo people accounted for hia eolitnr tastes and frequent retirement from bi associates, as resulting from the romors engendered by these evonts. Ho had no intimates ; and it was fiai that be waa too proud to associate thus wit the class among whom his habits as gamester so often bronghb him. He ha early run through with tho limited tnoar which he had inherited, and how h managed to sustain his large lossos aa gambler was often a source of surprise t those who knew him. There was, however, awoll-authonticate story extant, and which had been tosae aboub from mouth to mouth among th gossips for years. Ib wag to the otfect fchf one of tha Corrollo family had left a psale jar buried in the basement of the palact and which, with certain condition?, we mentioned in his will. This jar was not t be opened for threo generations, the tim expiring, according to tho story, just f Alberto came into possession. When was opened by Alberto ib waa found to co: tain untold wealth in the shape of gold an precious stones. This story was Aladdin-like to a<clo£.'rc( just suited to the taste of the Neopolitn gossip, and so was eagerly seized upon an retailed everywhere. It was not exactly known who first starte this etory, bub ib was universally bolievec and when on one occasion, Alberto hiraael had been appealed to as to the truth, c otherwise of the tale, he said significantly that family matters were hardly afibsubjec for public discussion, yet ho seemed fo Borne reason to take good care nob to denl the truth of tho story. Indeed, to tlios •who had heard his reply ho had conveyei the impression that there was a dccidci foundation of fact in the report. And bhs fresh impetus was given to the queer story. In speaking of Alborto Corrello ib cam to be a frequent thing in Naples, ii reference to the etory of the jar of gold, t< Bay: ' I wish I had Corrcllo's jar of gold.' 1 Now Corrello with his jar of gold migh do thus and so.' ' If I had Corrello's jar I would help you. 'Go to Corrello with his jar of gold,' am Bimilar applications of the idea. It thus became the universal belief tha this representative of the old family had ii this store of gold and procioua stones i never-failing source to draw upon whoneve his purse neoded replenishing. That ja was quite as inexhaustible as Fortunatus purse, and far more tangible, as the aggre gated wealth was in visible mass. Anc yot, although Naples is full of boggars, am poverty stalks boldly ab every corner somehow tho poor did not feol moved to be; at the well-known door of tho Correlli palace, and never of its mastor in person. Beggars havo certainly an unconaciou instinct by which they are governed. The' rarely solicit of tho wrong man. They ma* not always bo successful, but perhaps the; may succeed tho next time. Alberto Corrello'a air was cold and re p U lsive, his features dark even' for ai Jt a lian, while his smooth and carofull' shaven fa°9 was classic in its severe beaut; o f o utlinß; his eyes were large and pierc ing, and his manner self-possosaod anc assured. , His mannor was that of one who had dis counted all chances, and who was not to b< surprised by whatever might occur. Thus ■when hia gamo was watched at thegarnblinj resorts, no one cvor detected tho least ox preseion of olation or depression while hi •was winning or losing, and certainly m man played with a rnoro lavish hand that he. " Alberto Corrello had broken.more thar one private bank in Naples, but he had alsc losb the gold which he had thus won perhaps within the next twenty-four hours'. Thor( werfl no tell talo lines in his face ; hia hand was equally steady whethor in staking hundreds or thousand?, ' Hok' cool he is !' said ono, 'Of cQurse.' ' VVhy ci course ?' : ' Has he not that jar to draw from V 'Ah very > fruo.' ' Wo should any of us be indifferent as to .our losses if wo had unlimited credit at tho Banco Nazionale. ' you are right. Tho jar is his bank. And thus the guidon and inexhaustible •jar waa being constantly brought) to mind. Tho Church even hucl considered tho matter and finally cr.ma to beliove a story go frequently repeated', and hau made bold to solicit a fraction for tho use of tho religious institutions; bub Alberto dismissed thoso applications so coolly that they wore noc repeated. With such a treasure to draw from,' said one of tho priests, 'or.o would suppose you could afford to give a trifle to tho Church. i ' What treasure ?' ask.od Alberto, sternly. " Why, the jar of gold.' ' Ah, yoa; bub oven that jar has a •fcGttom.' , •One might doubt it.' (

;' How ao V demanded Alberto. loin?tafief™ 111 y0Ul" laVißhneß3 ab thß door! 0"06 Said Albert °i- Pointing to the nroS!? S F nllty aro EGns'tive to reproacn, saia the priest. ~-T &aCrel Sarmentß and calling alone presuve you from a thrashing,' was the hmil 3 la3fc re Prosentafcivo of the Corrello r*X{ Wa? no slol' o solicited in behalf of £« -Tr altho»Kli his ancestors bad ever ueen its farm supporter. His (jiarii) K in- 1 consistencies Wor6 tho talfc o{ the gi bis moods, aa variable as the wind, served tnem aa ready fch6lnoß) and both hia gafn3 am losses at play wore magnified beyond all reason by tho tonguoof rumour, or twice Beppo, the man-servant W.io attended upon Alberto, was imporwnod relative to that jar of gold, bub lie cou.a C ivo no p Ot ,i t i vo information. The iiasemeut, where-it was said to be was securely loekod, bein X only accessible by »n iron door and his master kopb the key, permitting no one to enter' thore at any time. | Aa to tha size of tho jar Beppo know not exactly bow ho hud got tho impression, >ub ib was said to stand nearly or quito as l»Rh as a man's head, nnd v/hon first opened was full to tho brim with gold and precious stories dug from gome royal depository within tho ancient walla of Cumre, that onco famous city, tho ruins of which are stiy visited by" travellers, about a league from Naples. A city which flourished a thousand yoars before the advont of Chriat upon tho earth. 1 His w,m« hy do means a very improbable story, aa immense wealth had been gathered from tombs of tho ancient Groekei, whose dnad woro burned and their ashes buriod is mural urns, togobbor with a largo share of bhoif earthly richos in the shape of £old and precious stones. Altogether a mystery wing over Alberto Corrollo which tho Neapolitans could not fathom. ; Ho was handsome onourrli to attract the ?ye of mnny a lovoly, tided lady, and it *>.? known that many eu'cli had niodoßtly tried to engage his favours, but Alberto scorned to care for nono of them. Belying tho temperamont of liifl countrymen generally ho appeared to be of stono rather than of flesh and blcod. Wine could nob warm him, nor woman attract him ; at least, this was what the tongue of public gossip said, Bid appearances certainly sustained the tliocry." ' Thero goes Alberto Corrollo,' said one young follow to another, as they stood Spoking before the royal palaco. 1' How Btern and cold he looks.' ' lie has had enouj'li oxporiotice to sour b> im. ' Yes ; ho has killed throo foreigners, aa v?eH as younr; Verdi in duels. Perhaps his conscience pricks him.' i'Tlioro were two Frenchmen and an En^lioh man,' eh V I'Yob.' ' What was the trouble V 'Somobhing at tho gaming table.' s 1 JNoS woinon, then ?' 'No; Corrollo wouldn'tfightabontwomon; bo's too cold-blooded. He doesn't care for thorn.' 'And yet,' said his companion, 'I have lenrd that ho was onco very deeply in love, Ume dozen years ay;o, and that, with the eiccption of his want of property, he \Vns lion considered a very desirable and preientab!o fellow among tho other box. I forget who aho was but folks thought; thab ho was en£a£cd ab thab time, until, to the general surprise, the parents of tho lady broko oil tho match.' .' I had never hoard of this.' 'It was HO.' 'How lon£ sinco!' I' About twelve years. ' 1 Ho must havo outgrown that.' 'I was one day where tho subjecb was being discusped,' continued tho narrator, Vhen one of tho gentlemen attributed tlio eccentricity of Alberto Corrollo to thi3 vjry fact of his early disappointment in love, saying that ho gave promise as a younf; man of boinf; a worthy ncion of his once noble family, bub suddenly nil was clanged on hia broakiug off from the lady, aid from that hour he went to the bad dpidly.' I*lt may bo so.' i'l can very well conceivo of ib, for Corrello isia handsome and sensitive follow. Since tliose days ho has become hardened, indeed. Do you remember when he fought with young Verdi ? That was ono of tho hardest things ever brought against him, I think. It was a gambling dispute ; nothing, one would think, but what the soconds might easily havo-settled. But no, Corrello insijfed upon fighting Verdi, who was almogb aboy in yoats, and a nobio-hoarted fellow, Tlioy fdugiit with pistols, in tho usual fashion, and Alberto eetit a bullet, through the boy's brains.' 1 I remember that,"and how tho family mourned over their loss. Public feeling ran hard aga'insb Corrello then, and he absented himself for a considerable time from the city" I can concoivo of a man t-'oing out to fight in resenting a serous insult, but for a more dispute at cards ib ia unreasonable.' 'Corrello would go out, they oay, if you were to drop a pin upon his foot, he is co moody and imperious. Do you know that he has not an intimate friend in all .Naples, man nor woman ? To bo sure his style is nob exactly calculated to invito friends, ihab is plain, but then we all want somo ono to loan upon occasionally. Hint's why Itolerato you, my dear boy.' The subject of this conversation as he Dagood took no heod of any one, or at least ha secmod nob to do bo, and yet his keen, active eyea were all about him and ho was in fact very observant, of even tho smallest circumstance occurring. , Ho was plainly but handsomoly dressed, I medium height and si/.0, with, as wo five'before said, a fresh shaven handsome ffbe, almost womanly in its delicacy of outlitfe. He was just such a man as women would have praised ab first sight for hi« nod looks and aristocratic bearing. Ihere ms nn itnnorio.ui.noss and hautepr about hi, f.owov-er, that did not Invite confidence, its had just been remarked by those %o were observing- him. I Wonder if he hasn't got near the bottom I thab jar of go!d V suggested ono of the former speakers. • _ • Do you believe there is any jar ? V Well, overybodysuysso,' •Honoeds n mino.' ( | Some say the jar is inexhaustible. •Ono would think so from the way ho lavishes cold ab tho gamine; table,' said the other. 'He is declared to be the coolest gamester in Europe'

( To he Continual.)