Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-21


their dress, and they did not seem to
be at their ease I'VE also caught one
of them exchanging a wink and a grin
with one of the common sailors, and
a quiet way we reported the fact TO
one OF the English party, and he quiet
ly replied:
'fDo you know, I've got a Suspicion
that this put up JOB and that we
shall hear something drop as soon as
we land at the island"
"But why should Mr.. Talanti deceive
| us9 we asked.
I'm the first place, is he what he rep
resents himself? Who made any in
quiries about him? In the next place,
you never saw an aristocrat with such
big hands and feet? His skin is coarse,
his language is full OF slips, and you
may notice a sort Of roll to his gait, as
If he had been at sea for years. l be-
lieve the mans an impostor.
But Professor Hampstead seems to
be perfectly satisfied with him."
THAT counts for nothing The pro-
fessor may be up on ancient Greece,
but he is way off on confidence games.
| believe we're in for some sort of
skin game, but it's nonsense to worry
over It, We have walked into the trap
like lot of idiots"
The island was fairly well covered
with trees, and yet it did not have
hospitable look. AS we made closer
approach we could see a couple of rude
huts and a 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. TT was as we were drifting in to
make fast to the wharf that others in
our party became suspicious. The no.
BILE Greek was neither crafty nor diplo-
matte. He let the mask slip and betray
him 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.. Talan
ii suddely produced pistols and knives
and took their stations by the gangway.
The sailors divided into two parties
and, handling their naked knives in
menacing fashion, they drove the peo-
pie into line. When Professor Hemp
stead had rubbed his eyes. scratched his
head and got it in his brain that
something was going on, Talanti mount
ed a box and smilingly observed:
ladies and gentleman, 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. l will see that ev-
erything is safely cared for"
But what-what does it mean"
asked the bewildered professor as he
looked around him.
cts robbery" cried three or four
voices in chorus.
do not mar the harmony of the oc-
casion with hard Words continued the
chief villain. Il 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? j do not think there
was flrearm among them, while the
Greeks seemed overanxious to use their
knives. There were protestations and
threats OF the law, but Talanti only
smiled at them and ordered the work to
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 women
were requested to hand over, and each
one had her watch and rings in hand as
she moved up. In the course Of half
an hour the last one was ashore, and
then Talanti took off his hat, made
sweeping bow and sailed away with his
piratical crew. He had no sooner gone
than a gang of half dozen villainous
looking men came down from the huts.
They told us they were fishermen, but
their actions belied the statement.
Their first move was to demand cash,
and great was their indignation and
disappointment at being told that Ia
lanti's crowd had taken the last coin.
When sure of this, they left us, and an
hour later two genuine fishermen came
ashore in their boat There were doz-
en- vessels within five or six miles of us,
and a dollar would have been big pay
for them to sail out and notify the near
est craft of our situation; but real
izing our helplessness, they demanded
the sum of 800. AS there was no mon
ey to pay them, they were finally pre-
vailed upon to take an | o U signed by
all the men of the party.
1t WAS almost dark when battered
old schooner came sailing UP to take
us off, and the terms were So apiece,
to be paid in Athens. We spent a
dvaary night IN deck and landed in the