THE MASKED LADY: OR, THE FORTUNES OF A DRAGOON

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 6

THE MASKED LADY: OR, THE FORTUNES OF A DRAGOON

* By LIEUTENANT MURRAY, Author of 'Mezzoni the Brigandi^' Red ■■:■:■■■■■ Rnpert/ 'Tried for His Life, , ' The Buccaneers,' etc.

CHAPTER XII. THE ROBBER'S DEN. ; We must once more turn to the tragic scenes of our story. It was on the Sunday night fcllow--ino- the day on which Anita had visited Alberto Kavenna at his private quarters in Naples,'that Captain Frederico Aliano and his band of desperadoes were gathered jn : . the cellar _of an old ruin in the -far end .of the Strado Nuovoi No • particular, care had been taken'to fortify-or; protect in any way this-.rendezvous, which had the reputation of being- 1 haunted, and was therefore universally avoided by the neighbours and the public at.large.--i- .-■ ' ' The apartment was little more than the vaulted foundation of the old structure, which had once been one of splendour and great magnitude. It was damp and moss-grown upon the rough wall, and the stones under foot were moist and slippery, a fit-,

ting resort for owls and robbers. Nothing that loved the light of day could long exist there. But for .Ali.ano and his band it was fitly chosen, and here they met weekly, as Anita had said. . ■

On the occasion referred to, there ■were- gathered here some fifteen or eighteen cut-throats, who constituted nearly the whole of the band so lately organised by Aliano. Bach one of the robbers had deposited upon the table which stood in their midst whatever prize his thieving and. robbing career had yielded during the week just past, a collection representing almost every article of ornament usually worn by man or woman. Watches, ear-rings, breastpins, purses, gold and silver coin, and even gloves and handkerchiefs. Nothing seemed to have been, so small as to escape their cunidity. - i • ' -,i.,', Prom7this collection •■the division ■was; iuade ■ by' fair valuation , into

twenty- piles, each one bearing,;,a card' with the owner's name written upon It. . Aliano was the supreme judge, and he seemed to deal with his' men fairly, at any rate, none dared to complain of his division of the spoils, but all stood patiently watching the progress of the operation. Now and then some rude joke was uttered at the expense of the party from whom this or that article had been stolen. Sometimes the captain would ask if an article was pure gold or only: limitation,' as he calculated the shares of the several members. Otherwise, the damp 'cellar-like apartment was, quite still. ~ " ■

The band little knew what awaited them. ■'"'■ ' V ' ' • : ', ', /i:;'\'", "

Jxist as the clock upon the nearest cathedral sounded one hour after■ midnight, a file of men Composed of the night police, ancl headed by an officer of the corps, who was accompanied b|, Alberto. Ravenna in citizen's clothes, quietly^siirrounded the old ruin4n thel Strada-N'uovo wherethe brigands were busy,: as we have described, dividing their-.ill-gotten booty. The ( police were fully armed and carefully posted, so as to arrest any fugitive who might attempt to escape. They had been detailed and placed under the direction of General EavenniL, who ordered the men to instantly shoot down any party who should attempt to get away. Alberto had put' on .his shift of mail, for he knew that this was liable to be a desperate affair, and now with the leader of the police and a dozen men armed with carbines, .he prepared to enter, this dcii of thieves, It was a most hazardous enterprise; and the men were carefully instructed as to their duty in any emergency. 'Kill and spare xlofc after the word is given,' said Alberto, 'but wait for the order.' ' ■ - . .

The men understood what was expected of them, and prepared to obey, carefully examining- their weapons.' "There is but one man in Naples/ said Aliano to his men, 'that we heed really fear^ and that man is brave, a skilful swordsman, an excellent shot,' and a perfect devil at fighting. He knows only too much about our ways, for .he was once a boy among us^l mean Alberto KaveflnaV

'Ay, ay, we've sworn to Mil him,' said one or two of the brigands. 'True, but he is no common enemy,' continued the leader, 'and he possesses means of information that are accountable to me.' '"'■'■'

'A sharp blade is the only medicine for him,' said one. .

'And a strong arm behind it,' added another, with a significant motion. 'And a dark night,'said a third. 'He's as quick as the quickest, and has finished half a dozen of our best men,' said Aliano.

'Yes, we know all that,' said one who had not before spoken. 'It's time, then, that his own turn should come,' still another. 'I have never: seen this man,' said one of the band. . 'Then look at him now!' said Alberto Eavena, as h e levelled his revolver at the head of the bandit. An entrance to the rendezvous had easily been effected, and Without the least noise,; so chat at the moment Alberto spoke, the bravbs saw themselves covered by the carbines of the police,- while their leader stood by the side of Alberto, both with a revolver in^ each hand.r,eady for use. .'The first man that moves a step dies,' said Alberto, ster,nly. 'Who"will make himself an example for the rest?' he continued, looking- into their faces. .

They were confounded/ No" one sjDoke.

Out wi*.h your weapons ■ every man of .you, ana pile them on the table. I here are eighteen of you—let me see eighteen knives. Quick! God help the. last man to obey, for I shall shoot him through the heart!' 'Let us—'began the leader >f the! bravos. ... ': . ' : - . . :

'Silence!' shouted, Alberto; 'Tbiiit a

single Word, and it shall be your death knell.' v: .. : / ' r , .

The brigands .were overawed at once; they saw that they were overmatched. Those "twelve loaded carbines were at full cock. The cool, determined order of the man whom they all feared, thrilled to their very craven hearts, and their knives and daggers were quickly laid upon the table. ' ;

One man hesitated

'Pall back from the table, every one of you,' was the low, stern order from Alberto. *

He was obeyed. 'You have not disarmed yourself,' he said to the man Who had hesitated.

The man did not move.

'Put your knife upon the table,' said Alberto, fixing his eye upon him. ,'I will not,' said the bravo, grasping the blade for self defence.

'Die, then!' said Alberto, the report of wliose revolver was heard as the robber reeled and fell upon the floor, shot through the heart.. 'Is there another man among you who woaild wish to die where he stands?' said Alberto, looking sternly among them, with his revolver half

raised. 'Aliano,' he continued, 'throw off your coat. Quick, or I will shoot you instantly.' • -

The, robber obe3'ed.. 'I thought so,' said Alberto. 'You have another knif2 there in your waist. Put it on the table and fall back. If I speak again, I shall fire.' The robber chief put his second weapon upon the table, and stepped back as he was orrlered.

'Call in.those nit ,' said Alberto to the police, officer.

'If One of you move, yoii will be shot down where j'ou are. Fire upon the first man who moves a step,' said Alberto to the carbineers.

He advanced and drew the table with'the weapons to one side. Six men now entered with handcuffs, and in five minutes the whole gang-, numbering- eighteen desperadoes, were securely ironed, and by a connecting chain four were locked together, thus rendering it nearly impossible fdr them to esdape. The bravos, desperate as they were, could offer no resistance. They saw what sort of man they had. to deal with, and realized that the fii-st step of an attempt to escape or at resistance- would instantly cost their lives. They were entirely without arms. These had been, carefully secured while the ■"carbine's were pointed at their heads until every one was secured with the irons. Their comrade, who had been shot through the heart, was a fearful example* for the rest/ •. - .

"Resistance was out-of question

As they were marched out, leaving their ill-gotten treasures "upon the table to be taken iii charge of the police, a bitter oath, but half slippressed, was heard to come from the lips of more than one of the desperate men who had been so "completely conquered.

When the gang got on the outside of the ruin, and were surrounded by those of the "police force left there, they saw how useless resistance would have been. They were marched rapidly to prison. On the way, Aliano, the leader, made a sign that he wished to speak to General Ravenna, who came at once to his side.

Apparently the brigand captain's hands were secured lik§ the rest, but,> as was afterward discovered, he had managed, by a wonderful exertion of his grea,t strength; to break the iron upon his right wrist, and. as Alberto approached he drew a third knife, which he had kept concealed upon his person, and struck a blow at his breast, which, but for the steel rings beneath his vest, would have ended the life of our hero.

As it. was, the wound proved to be but .a; mere scarcely drawing blood even, but iti:..response, the brigand received a. blow1 upon his head from the butt of Alberto's pistol, which deprived him of consciousness for many hours to come, and nearly Mll6d him upon tie spot. ; 'Poor , treacherous'fool,' was all Alberto Ravenna said,-as he had the robber chief put upon the shoulders of His Wn comrades, and thus carried, senseless as he ■ was, to the prison.

(To be Continued.)