Mezzoni the Brigand — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 173 rest, a man evidently suffering from serious illness, his room shut off by a temporary partition. In another similar division, near by, was found a bed containing two women, — _ These last were informed that so long as they re- mained quiet they would not be interfered with, but any attempt to rise until they were ordered to do so, would result in their being handcuffed and secured like the rest of the band. The lieutenant was then brought to the entrance of the cave, and there interrogated by the detective, at the same time being told that there was no possi- bility of escape for any of the gang. He was in- formed also that he might mitigate his own situa- tion, as it regarded the future, by giving whatever information was required to expedite matters. He was not desired or expected to criminate himself, or his companions, but simply. to facilitate present movements for the convenience of all. This man was of far more than ordinary intelli- gence, and taking a correct view of the situation, he realized that every man of his command had been captured, and that no disguise or stratagem could possibly avail anything. He accepted the position, and wisely answered the questions put to him. ‘Who is the sick man within there?’’ asked the detective, to commence with. ‘Our captain.’’ ‘“Mezzoni?’’ ce ag 27 ‘What is the matter with him?’ ‘He has fever.”’ ‘What fever?’’ ‘Arising from a gun-shot wound,” ‘Where are your treasures?’’ cComicbooks con