The Somerset reporter., 1900-08-23

actlng ike young man who felt solid
ground beneath his feet. To my sur.
prise. Mr.. Wallace and his daughter
returned on the evening train. and they
had an adventure to relate. From
Marathon you make a tour of the
toInbs on the backs of donkeys, and II
is a rough road and full of ambushes.
The trio had started out by them
selves and made fair progress when a
couple of picturesque villains suddenly
bounced out upon them The escort
of man and his two boys fed at once.
and the villains were about to lead the
donkeys up into the hills when Burns
came to the rescue. He alone was
armed. He descended from his saddle
and began shooting, and after tum-
bling over themselves the scoundrels
left him in possession of the battle
field. He had saved the party, and he
was hero, entitled to admiration and
gratitude, but before the father could
pat him on the head or the daughter
announce that his love was returned
something else happened. Shots were
fired from behind ruin, and the don
keys ridden by father and daughter
started off on a gallop, followed by
the others. Burns was not hit, but In
hero of one moment became the cap
tive of the next. When the others had
reached a place of safety, they learned
that their savior had fallen into the
hands of regular brigands headed by
old Beppo. and, though a show of pur-
suit was made by detail of soldiers,
the fellows were not overhauled.
AS soon as l had heard the story |
saw the little scheme Burns had work
ed. He had hired a couple of rascals
In Athens to 60 over to Marathon and
play brigands for him, but after becom-
ing hero a gang of the genuine article
swooped down on him and carried him
off. The only man In Marathon or Ath-
ems who was at all disturbed over the
matter was the landlord of the hotel,
who feared he might not get his bill.
Mr.. Wallace and his daughter seemed
to have a suspicion after their return
that a little job had been put up, but
the father came forward and guaran-
teed the hotel bill, and not n great deal
was said Two days later an ugly
faced native presented Wallace with
note from Burns. He had not only
been carried off, but the brigands want
ed $4,000 In gold for his ransom. In
his trunk he had about $3.50 but they
had refused that The rascals took Ii
that he was Il rich mans prospective
son-ln-law and that the $4,000 would
be forthcoming at once. but the Ameri-
cun carried the note to the British con-
sulate. The minister was off on jun
ket, and the official in charge had no
intention of hustllng In the matter. He
said he would notify the Greek govern
ment and that In due time the matter
would be Strengthened out Two days
later there was a second note. Burns
said If the messenger came back with
out the cash he would lose one of his
ears. When this was handed in at the
consulate, it was greeted with the re-
mark:
THE case must take the usual chan
nels, and he was an ass to go and get
captured
Two days passed again, and this
time the messenger handed Mr. Wal
lace bulky letter Its bulk arose from
the fact that one of Burns ears was
inclosed. In the letter he stated that
unless the cash was raised he would
lose the other. The sight of the eur
stirred them up at the consulate-that
Is, another demand was made on the
Greek government, and the Greek gov
eminent replied that the case would
be taken up in its regular order Then
Wallace did handsome thing. The
messenger had been detained to see
what the minister would do, and as 1t
was plain that nothing would be done
until too late, the ransom was handed
over. 1t was three days before the
captive was handed over. His right
ear had been sliced off as slick as you
please. and he had had a hard time of
1t moving about on the mountains In
the company of the villains. He did
not come to the hotel, but sent for
me to come to the lodgings he had Sc
cured. While his gratitude to Wallace
was unbounded and he said he would
speedily arrange to repay him, he did
not want tc meet him.
"Egad," said he, but doncher see
how II Is? The hero is no hero, but an
ass! He must have seen through my
little game. The fact Is the two bloody
villains | had hired for the little com
edy began to fall down and beg for
their lives before | had fired shot.
believe the old gent was smiling wien
the donkeys started to run. The brutes
overdid It, doncher see. No, | cant
see him. He'd quite knock me out as
he'd take my hand and press 1t and
say. Hero, | thank thee for thy gallant
conduct
Put the girl@" querled.
"Egad, but that's worse yet. | saw
her looking at one of the bloody vii
lains to see where he was hit, and
heard her ask her father If the fellow
wasn't doing some tall running for
wounded man. couldn't face 1t.
doncher know She might fall on my
shoulder and call me a hero and de
clare that had saved her life. but It's
more likely that she'd welcome me as
the prize donkey Of the century. Real
ly. but couldn't take chances. doncher
know
And how about your volcanic and
overwhelming love. angels on earth.
and SO forth?"
why, hang it, man, can't you see