The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-17
MISTAKEN FOR A LORD.
By ". QUAD.

II an American wants TO go abroad on a
cash capital of $500, there is no law to pre-
vent, even if ne is a newspaper man who
has saved and ecOnomiZed for six or seven
years to get that much wealth together
When | started out with my friend Gill
lam, VINO was an artist instead of a
journalist. and had $50 less capital as
wcll,we took steers ge passage on a steam
er and planned TO do Europe on foot and
avoid all extravaGances. AS to how we
got along until we struck Greece and 4
certain event happened is of no great
consequence. We tramped here and
there, ate, slept, and had a fairly good
time
From Athens we went on tramp up
the country, viewing tombs and ruins by
the way, and after putting in two days at
Marathon we started out one morning for
a hamlet called Histrophus. We were first
met by about a dozen dogs of all sizes
ages and cOlors, and each one a worse
looking dog than the enc who came after
After we had clubbed the pack off We were
charged down upon by nine children OF
various sizes and ages, all of whom need
ed soap and water. They rallied around
us for small coin, and not getting any
they fell back and gave four women a
chance. We got rid of the latter to en-
counter three men, one of whom could
speak little English. They were dirty,
ragged villains, who did not hesitate 10
threaten us, and not a word could we get
out OF them about the ruins until we had
come down with backsheesh. Gillian
started out after a bit to do some sketch
ing, while / found place to take a nap,
and the inhabitants of Histrophus finally
got out of breath begging for coins and
trying 10 get us to buy skeleton old
goat for S2 and went back to their fea-in-
tested huts
AT the end OF two hours I was awak-
ened by some one giving me a smart
kick on the hip. and | reused up to see
that we had been taken prisoners by
four brigands. The fellows had come
down off the mountains, about four miles
away. having probably been notified by
a messenger from the village / have
many times read Of the picturesque
Greek brigands. but the four who COB
5led US up that day must have gone out
of the picturesque business some weeks
previous. They were a ragged ugly lot
no better than the men Of the village.
and We We're far more disgusted with
their breaths than afraid OF their knives.
The leader spoke English fairly well. and
l have always felt grateful 10 him on
that account. All leaders of Greek bri-
gands should learn three or four languages
before proceeding to business, as il is a
great help toward an understanding about
Identity, money matters, and so forth
1t was the leader who had kicked me.
which l have always taken as a COM
pliment, and as ! sat up he saluted me
and said:
My lord. you will please consider
yourself a prisoner. and come along with
out resistance
But don't make any mistake on me-"
1 replied. "As near as / can make out
from this short range you are brigands"
Il am Bobetto," he said. as he laid his
hand on his heart and bowed low.
Excuse me that | never heard of you
before. You are brigaad and in it for
money, and this is your band"
My lord is correct"
Nov, about this lord business. Let US
have an understanding. Who do you take
ne for?''
An English lord, my lord. / have been
expecting you for several days. The name
cannot pronounce, but I know you TO be
the gentlemen. Have no fears for your
safety. as il will be a case of ransom"
THAT is kind Of YOU. If you take me
for an English lord. who do you make this
other chap TO be?'
your companion, sir His name
heard, but cannot give il. He will also
be held for ransom.
Then We started of 10 the west. The
particular retreat Of this band was half
way up a mountain. and consisted OF two
brush hUts and a fiTe in front of them.
We were IN no manner i'll used. They
could have rODDcd Us OF our lew dollars
ana personal property, but they did not
even search us for weapons. As soon as
We had arrived at the huts however, Bo-
bstto brought out stationery and COM
manded me 10 write 10 the English Min
ister at Athens and obtain the sum Of
$50 gop Both Gillian and ! burst out laugh
ing at this demand, and after a little !
said 10 the leader:
"Of what use 20 play the fool in this
matter! As / told you before. We are
Americans. and poor men at that We
can raise about $40 aD.ece. but not ar
other cent and IL you take that We shall
have 10 turn brlgands and compete with
you IN business.
You may be Americans bi.t YOU are
my lord just the same, replied Boestto.
but there are no titles IN America. II
! should write 10 the American minister,
he would take il as a joke You haven't
Had you got hold OF Rockefeller Gould
or Vanderbilt you might have made
raise and bought a garlic factory. but We
are almost down tc hardpan. Sorry for
you but you can't always hit IL, even In
the hrigand business
But you must write" persisted the
wooden-headed rascal. You must write
to the American minister that IL h doe
not send Us slG 9lJ By our messenger your
ears will he sent 10 him In p8ckage,
! read the letter 10 Bobetto alter Il WAS
written. and he was perfectly satisfied
oh h. nh. f- Ia