Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1902-08-14
had been at sea for years. I believe
thp mans an inDosforv

the mans an impostor."
"But Professor Hampstead seems IN
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 are In for some sort of a
skin game. but it's nonsense 10 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 a
hosptable look. AS we made a closer
approach we could see couple Of rude
huts and primitive jetty, but Mr.. Ia
aantl 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.
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. 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 int hir
brain that something not down on the
programme was going on, Talanti
mounted box and smllingly 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. will see that ev-
erything is safely cared for"
"But what-what does it meanT'
asked the bcwildered 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 1irearm among them, while the
Greeks seemed overanxlous to use their
knives. There We're protestations and
threats OF the law, but Talant 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
Talant took off his hat, made sweep
ing bow and sailed away with his pi-
ratical crew. He had no sooner gone
than gang of half a 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
lantrs 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 a 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
nearest craft of our situation; but, real
izing our helplessness, they demanded
the sum of 500. AS there was no mon
ey to pay them, they were finally pre-
vailed upon to take an 0 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
dreary night on deck and landed in the
city ut noon next day. Immediate no.
tice was given to the various consuls
and to the Greek government, but no
one had any faith that anything would
he accomplished. The government
made loud promises and seemed TO be
making all possible efforts, but as n
matter of fact Mr.. Talanti was not
even pursued. He never could have
put up and carried through such job
without n number of officials standing
in with him, and each and every one
of them doubtless shared in the plum
der when it was divided. 1t was said
that the money and jewelry amounted
to about $4,000, and the only consola-
ton any of the victims had was the
privilege of abusing n country where