Mezzoni the Brigand — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

44 MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. general room for the gang, a kitchen, and three or four smaller apartments for various uses. It was into one of these last that Marion had been con- ducted, and where she found rude accommodations for sleeping. The woman had evidently been in- structed as to her duties toward the new prisoner, and performed cheerfully all that she was asked to do, in accordance with those instructions. ‘‘Is this your home?’’ Marion asked the woman in Italian. Sey ga ‘“How long have you been here?”’ ‘*Hor years.”’ ‘‘Have you a husband?’’ . “Yes; we are steward and stewardess here.’’ ‘“Who is the captain?’ ‘*Mezzoni.”’ ‘Does he live here also?”’ The woman shook her head. To the many questions put to her by Marion she would give some casual answer, but generally she would reply by a shake of the head, especially to any question in any way relating to the band or its leader. It was already the third day since her ab- duction, and Marion had just received a letter from her father, sent through the secret channel desig- nated by the robbers. She was not surprised to find that it had been opened and read before she re- ceived it. “My DEAREST CHILD: Under the peculiar circum- stances of the case, I cannot write to you as I wish to do, but still seize upon the opportunity designated by your captors to send you a few lines. I feel con- fidence in the assurance of the leader that no per- sonal harm shall come to you, and that the time designated, viz., six weeks, will be allowed me to ob- * -Ecomicbooks.co