Mezzoni the Brigand — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

16 MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. The sum demanded for his ransom was left blank, but there was no use to hesitate, and he absolutely signed the paper to save his life. He then took his seat in the vehicle as directed, and it proceeded on a different road from that whence it had come. After reaching a mountain path the driver was dis- patched with the paper, addressed to the friends of the captured man, and he was paid to hand it to the landlord of the inn at Salerno, who would forward it. They were soon joined by a couple of men armed like the first, and from him they received certain orders relating to the prisoner, who was conducted by them to a secret cave many miles into the moun- tains. Here, after three weeks’ confinement, the heavy ransom of five thousand pounds sterling was paid, and he was released. These were two events which had so lately spouted the government and led to the doubling of the re- ward heretofore set upon the head of Mezzoni. Still none of his comrades seemed tempted to be- tray him, though. by doing so they could have se- cured pardon and independence for life. The same mystery remained. Sometimes for weeks there would be no overt act brought to the notice of the government. It was observable that no mistakes were made as to attacking the wrong parties, but all that were laid under contribution were attacked at the right time and place, and were called upon for valuables, which showed a previous knowledge of the victims, on the part of the brigands. Every stranger who came to Naples was watched, and if found to be a desirable victim, he was sure to be met at some proper time and place, and relieved of his valuables. No petty thieving was indulged in. Eomicbooks:co