"With a double murder on his conscience Uncle Vincent cast about for a get-away. As he was short of money he searched the first man that he had murdered and took from him two hundred and fifty lire. Returning to town Uncle wrote a long letter to his family notifying them of what happened and took a train for Palermo. There he contracted with a sail-boat man who landed him at Tunis in Africa. There he found means to get his fare and went to Tokio, Japan. In Tokio he could not find work, was forced to steal in order to live, and when he had accumulated some money he went to Liverpool. He lived in Liverpool about a year where he existed by theft the same as in Japan. In March, 1902, he left Liverpool for New Orleans. When in America, he said, he did not lose heart because he knew many friends, _and they had to help him_, he said. And he uttered these words with the saturnine confidence of the established 'Black-Hander.'" CHAPTER IX THE SOCIETY "'How could you manage in so many different places without knowing the language?' I inquired, not quite knowing the ramifications of the Mafia. "'I found Italians everywhere, and would get directions from them until I found some _friends_.' He spoke the last word significantly. "'Did you understand English then?' "'Did not even dream of it.' "'Have you worked while you have been in America?' "'Never,' grinned Uncle Vincent. 'Neither do I expect to work. If I knew the man who invented work, and met him, I would kill him.' "'What do you do to live?' "'You are too young to know certain things,' he explained with a veiled glance. 'When you have become well interested in the affairs of our society you will know _how to live without work_.' "'Then you belong to some society which gives you money?' I inquired, feigning stupidity. "'Yes, but not like _your_ societies. When you leave your societies and join ours you will feel better.' "'And what is the price of initiation?' "'Nothing.' "'How will I be admitted then?' "'We must try you with a courageous deed requiring secrecy.' "'And what is this society of yours called?' I asked. "'It has no name.' "'Is it a mutual aid society?' "'No.' "'Where are its headquarters?' "'In all parts of the world.' "'In Italy?' "'Yes, in Italy.' "'Then it must be the Masons?' "'What, the Masons? Pooh-pooh! my friend. _Ours_ is a society that _never ends_ and is bigger than the Masons.' "'And when will you allow me to enter?' "'I must school you first,' he grumbled, eyeing me suspiciously. 'And when you become known to the heads, and are respected, then we will christen you.' "'You will christen me?' I exclaimed. "'Yes.' "'How is that? I have already been baptized in the Roman Catholic religion, and now you would baptize me again?'