Mezzoni the Brigand — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 165 The English detective was one of the first to call upon Walter, after the announcement of his escape, seeking various and minute information of him re- lating to the outlaws, and the cave they inhabited, besides freely expressing his admiration of his bravery and skill. At his solicitation Walter wrote out some minutes of localities and the topographical character of the mountain. ‘Did you ever see Mezzoni?’’ asked the detective. ‘*Never.”’ ‘“‘T can find no one who has.’’ “Nor I,”’ said Walter, “‘that is, I could get no de- scription of him.”’ ‘“‘He’s a myth with nearly every one.” ‘‘T begin to doubt if there be any Mezzoni.”’ “T do not,’’ said the detective. ‘‘The organization of those brigands is too complete to be the work of any of those common banditti. There is a mystery about the matter that I should lke to see unrav- eled.”’ ‘Mezzoni did not come to the cave while 1 was there.”’ “You have taught them a bitter lesson.’’ ‘‘T was too handy with the pistol to suit them.” ‘No doubt of that.”’ ‘“T have telegraphed to stop the forwarding of those funds,’’ said Colonel Bray to the young American, ‘ond now I have a proposition to make to you.”’ ‘What is it, colonel?” ‘Come with us to England.”’ f ‘“‘T shall be delighted to do so.’’ ‘“At once?”’ ‘“Yes,’? replied Walter, “‘if the authorities have — done with me. But you know that they notified me (ele) Eomicbooks ee