Mezzoni the Brigand — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

i ‘ \ ‘a be “. tie F ot a A +e el SD — a = ~~, A eee" ~ “] watt i? us Oe (ee ‘a. oes a” ee ee ee es ws , ee Se~r +. fe Hh « ~ « . . nn @ 5 P > te ~~ a} * ‘ we ‘7 = . or ? 2 Rf t.: i? : ©, wale Fa ¢ * . be © Ce J s * x... > - -. Fm a * >a j +: . . - . - * % j 7 : 40) MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. “Yes, here it is,’’ replied the colonel. ‘‘A printed form?”’’ .°Ves.’?? “This is systematizing villainy with a vengeance,”’’ said young Hammond as he read the elaborate and carefully prepared document. Here the amount of ransom, the mode of final pay- ment, the time allowed to collect the sum, and various other conditions were carefully detailed. -It was evident that consummate skill and care, doubt- less the result of long experience, had been taken to so hedge the brigands about, that nothing short of compliance with the demand could possibly be con- templated by the interested parties. ‘‘What do you propose to do, my dear sir?’’ asked young Hammond of the colonel. - ‘*Pay the ransom.”’ “Of course. ”’ ‘That paper names six weeks as the longest period of delay recognized by the brigands, which means that after that period, the ransom not being paid, - Marion’s dishonor and death may follow.”’ ‘““Horrible!”’ said Walter, nearly biting his lips through in the bitterness of his feelings. ~ “JT will start, I think, for England immediately,”’ said the colonel, “‘where, of course, in time, I hope to be able to get the necessary funds.’’ “It seems to be the only thing for you to do,” said young Hammond. “T am told that these outlaws religiously keep their promises, so we know what to depend upon,” continued the father. _ “Thank Heaven, she is safe then for the present,” was the hearty reply. ‘“When do you leave?” asked the colonel, comicbooks.com —