on you will probably execute me.

"I have decided to purchase a valuable antique ring from my
host, at a price of fifty thousand dollars, which trifling
sum I must have at once to complete the transaction, for
until full payment is made I cannot rejoin you. Therefore
you must hasten to raise the dough. Here's the programme, my
dear girls: One of you must go by first train to Messina and
cable Isham, Marvin & Co. to deposit with the New York
correspondents of the Banca Commerciale Italiana fifty
thousand dollars, and have instructions cabled to the
Messina branch of that bank to pay the sum to the written
order of John Merrick. This should all be accomplished
within twenty-four hours. Present the enclosed order,
together with my letter of credit and passport, which will
identify my signature, and draw the money in cash. Return
with it to Taormina and give it secretly to the boy Tato,
who will bring it to me. I will rejoin you within three
hours after I have paid for the ring.

"This may seem a strange proceeding to you, my dears, but
you must not hesitate to accomplish it--if you love me.
Should my old friend Silas Watson be now with you, as I
expect him to be, he will assist you to do my bidding, for
he will be able to realize, better than I can now explain,
how important it is to me.

"Also I beg you to do a like service for Count Ferralti, who
is entrusting his personal commission, to Louise. He also
must conclude an important purchase before he can return to
Taormina.

"More than this I am not permitted to say in this letter.
Confide in no stranger, or official of any sort, and act as
secretly and quietly as possible. I hope soon to be with
you.

"Very affectionately, UNCLE JOHN."

"What does it all mean?" asked Patsy, bewildered, when Beth had finished
reading.

"Why, it is clear enough, I'm sure," said Kenneth. "Uncle John is
imprisoned by brigands, and the money he requires is his ransom. We must
get it as soon as possible, you know, and luckily he is so rich that he
won't miss this little draft at all."

Beth sat silent, angrily staring at the letter.

"I suppose," said Patsy, hesitating, "the robbers will do the dear uncle
some mischief, if he doesn't pay."

"Just knock him on the head, that's all," said the boy. "But there's no
ne