Mezzoni the Brigand — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

_ MEZZONI THE BRIGAND, 17 The game must be worth the trouble it would cost or it was not interfered with. CHAPTER II. STAND AND DELIVER. Just where the Strada di Toledo enters the great ~ square of Naples, on which is situated the royal pal- ace, and the St. Carlo Theater, was located a large jewelry establishment, the branch of a London Jewish house, and forming one of the richest collec- tions of goods of that description in the city. This store was the daily resort of the better classes, and commanded a heavy trade in diamonds and precious stones of all descriptions. It was _ lo- cated under the very shadow of the royal palace, and in the heart of Naples. One morning, about a month after the reward set upon the head of Mezzoni had been doubled, the proprietor of the establish- ment referred to came to his store at the usual hour, to find the watchful man, who slept inside, gagged and tied, while the most valuable goods had been quietly abstracted. Of course the first thing to be done was to release the poor watchman from his painful situation. It was noticeable that nearly the entire stock in the store had been overhauled and examined, only the richest goods, and those most portable, having — been taken, while the heavy articles were left un- disturbed. The watchman’s story was soon told. He had been awakened from sleep, while he was lying upon the small cot, placed nightly for his use in the center of the shop, and a gag was placed in ‘\ a comicboo cS com —