Smyrna times., 1901-10-09

Ia" Oeen at sea Tor years. | behave
the mans an impostor.'
l'ut Professor Hampstead seems 70
De pertectly satisfied with him"
Ihat counts for nothing. The nro-
tesSor may be up on ancient Greece
but he is way off on confidence games
Delleve we are in for some sort of a
SKIN game, but it's nonsense to WORRY
over 1t. We have walked into the tran
like lot of idiots"
Ihe island was fairly well covered
with trees, and yet it did not have a
nOSpltable look. AS we made n closer
approach we could see a couple of rude
nuts and primitive jetty, but Mr.. Ia
lanti explained that his castle was hid
den by the forest and that he was land
ing at that point to save us a long
walk. 1t was as we were drifting in to
make fast to the wharf that others in
our party became suspicious. The no.
Ole Greek was neither crafty nor dinIo-
matte. He let the mask slip and betrav
MIN or at least aroused wonder and dis
trust, but the most suspicious of us
were hardly prepared for the climax.
AS soon as the craft was made fast
the three eminent friends of Mr.. Ia
lanti suddenly produced pistols and
knives and took their stations by the
gangway. The sailors divided into two
parties, and handling their naked
knives in a menacing fashion, they
drove the people into line. When Pro-
fessor Hampstead had rubbed his eyes.
scratched his head and got it into his
brain that something not down on the
| programme was going on, Talanti
mounted box and smilingly observed:
Ladies' and gentlemen, you are now
about to pass ashore to behold my won
derful discoveries, but each one of YOU
is required to leave behind you all
money and jewelry. 1 will see that ev-
erything is safely cared for"
But what-what does it mean?'
asked the bewildered professor as he
! looked around him.
ITS robbery!' cried three or four
voices in chorus.
do not mar the harmony of the oc-
casion with hard words" continued the
chief villain. II simply borrow your
purses and jewelry. The term robbery
does not sound well. AS time flies let
us get to work. Antonio, you may be-
gin with the professor first"
The men cried out in anger but what
could they do? l do not think there
was a firearm among them, while the
Greeks seemed OveranXiOus to use theil
knives. There We're protestations and
Of No
smiled at them and ordered the work tC
go on. Each man in our crowd was reg
ularly held up-that is, his pockets
were thoroughly searched. and every
thing of value was taken. The womer
were requested to hand over, and eacl
one had her watch and rings in hand 81
she moved up. In the course of half Al
hour the last one was ashore and theI
Talanti took off his hat made a sweep
ing bow and sailed away with his pi
ratical crew. He had no sooner gOn,
than a gang of half a dozen villainOu
looking men came down from the huts
They told us they were fishermen, bu
their actions belied the statement
Their first move was to demand cash
and great was their Indignation an,
disappointment at being told that Ia
lantis crowd had taken the last coiT
When sure of this, they left us, and a
hour later two genuine fishermen cam
ashore in their boat. There were a dol
en- vessels within five or six miles of u:
and a dollar would have been big pa
for them to sail out and notify tn
= nearest craft of our situation; but, rea
| izing our helplessness, they demande
the sum of 500. AS there was no MOI
r ey to pay them, they were finally pr'
| vailed upon to take an o U signed b
e all the men of the party.
8 1t was almost dark when battere
. old schooner came sailing up to tax
s us off. and the terms were So apiece
: to be paid in Athens. We spent
D dreary night on deck and landed in I'll
city at noon next day. Immediate N
e tice was given, to tie various consu
+ and to the Greek government but L
:, one had any faith that anything woul
c be accomplished. The governmel
g made loud promises and seemed to
e making all possible efforts, but as
: matter of fact Mr.. Talanti was NJ
5. even pursued. He never could ha'
:, put up and carried through such a jC
e without number of officials standiI
S in with him. and each and every oil
i of them doubtless shared in the plu
a der when it was divided. 1t was sa
d that the money and jewelry amOuntt
a to about $6,OO0 and the only consOl
= tion any of the victims. had was Il
II privilege Of abusing a country whe
J. such things could be carried out.
s. The Leather of the Egyptians.
E Tho ancient EgVDtianS were SkillC