Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-10-17

A BATTERED OLD SCHOONER.
believed held q large number of manu-
scripts and valuable coins, but he had
delayed the opening Of 1t that some of
his friends might be present. Three or
four Of them were going to his island
home on the morrow, and he would be
glad to have as many of us foreigners
20 along as could make 1t convenient.
The voyage would be made in his
schooner, and there would be no trou-
BILE about feeding and lodging all who
chose to go.
Aside from the English party, there
were Americans, Germans and French
men to the number of 20 in Athens,
and when the list was made up we
numbered over 40, Of whom 10 were
ladies. When we came on board the
schooner, there was considerable sur
prise at finding her the craft she was.
She was nothing more than a trader,
ana her accommodations were OF the
most primitive character. Mr.. Talantps
friends, who were supposed to be emil
nent professors, turned out to be a
common looking lot and not inclined
to be sociable, but we were out for a
jaunt and might expect few draw
backs. We had n favorable wind for
the voyage, and the professor and 9th
ers felt that 1t would be the event Of
their lives. As the weather was pleas
ant and we had brought lunch from
the hotel, our monday meal was sort
OF picnic. For an hour or two after
the meal Professor Hampstead enter
tanned US with a historic lecture, and
time passed pleasantly for all hands.
My friend could speak Greek, but
when he attempted to enter into con-
versation with Mr.. Talanti's friends he
found them surly enough. This ex-
cited our surprise, as they were sup
posed to be gentlemen. When we
came TO look them over, we began to
get little suspicious. Their language
and manners did not correspond with
their dress, and they did not seem to
be ut their ease. We also caught one
OF them exchanging II wink and grin
with one OF the common sailors, and
this caused us much worriment. In
quiet way we reported the fact to
one of the English party, and he quiet
ly replied:
"Do you know, I've got n suspicion
that this is n put up job and that we
shall hear something drop as soon as
we land at the island"
"But why should Mr. Talanti decisive
usf" we asked.
"In the first place, is he what he rep
resents himself? Who made any In
qulrles about him? In the next place,
you never saw an aristocrat with such
big hands and feet. His skin Is coarse,
his language full Of slips, and you may
notice sort of roll to his gait, as If he
had been at sea for years. believe
the mans an impostor."
"But Professor Hampstead seems to
be perfectly satisfied with him"
"That counts for nothing. The pro-
fcssor may be up on ancient Greece
but lie Is way off on confidence games,
! believe we are IN for some sort Of q
skin game. but it's nonscnse 10 worry
over II. We have walked into the trap
Ike lot Of ldlota,"
The bland was fairly well covered
with trees, and So, Il did not have n
hCspitable loCk. rs we made n closer
approach "C coCii see n couple Of rude
huta aud primitive jctty. but Mr.. Ia
lanti. explained LAT his castle was hid.
den BY tlp forest ANA that he was land
ing at that point 10 save us "A long
walk. II was a5 wc were drifting in to