Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-12-09
Who Won the Wine?

montgomery Bt0uts business often
keeps him late az his once, and at
times when funds come in after bank
hours he carries them home with him.
A street car line passes within a few
minutes walk OF bis house, and In this
distance lies the only danger. He car
Fies revolver, but what use Is
weapon when one IL dropped By a rap
on the back Of his headf
Stout was one Of a younger set Of
men In his suburb who were together
q great deal and constantly joking one
another. He talked to them about his
nocturnal trips home, his fear Of
footpads and what he hoped to accom-
plish In case Of attack. One night
when be was passing a dimly lighted
place between the street car line and
bis house be was seized from behind
By both arms, a hand was thrust In
his pocket and $500 in bills taken, to-
gether with his revolver, 80 that when
the robbers ran away he had no
weapon with which to pursue them.
On reaching bis house he found ser.
eral Of his friends, whom be excltedly
told OF his adventure and his loss.
They sympathized with him deeply,
and while doing so two others OF the
set. Mark Hamlin and Ben Turner,
walked In. Stout was somewhat sur
prised to find callers 20 late at night
Il was II o'clock-but, after all, there
was nothing remarkable In their visit.
After listening to lils account OF the
robbery and asking many questions,
Mark Hamlln handed him the pocket
book OF which he had been robbed
and confessed himself the robber.
Then there was a general jollifica-
ton. Stout brought out dFinkables and
cigars, and all agreed that a very
amusing and practical joke had been
played
Some months after this Stout was
again on his way home at night, this
time with 1000 In his pocket that had
come In late, when at the very same
spot rs before he heard the order:
"Hands upr
AZ the same time be felt the cold
muzzle Of gun near his ear and hands
relieving him OF everything he pos
aessed. Then the man with the gun
hAlu 10 Hluls
you walk around the block before
you 90 home and remember that you're
watched. Any attempt to use tele-
phone for the next half hour will re.
suit In hole in you"
Now, the threat was lost on Mr..
Stout, for he knew It had only been
made az a blur The robbers would
not be likely to walt to see that he
completed his walk. Besides, the
voice that gave the order was very
like that Of Mark Hamlln.
"Just wait BIT my ane fellow"
thought Stout, 'and wen see whom
the joke Il on this time"
He was within stones throw OF his
house. Darling to II, he went In, got
Fevolyer-the robbers had taken the
one he carried-ran back on tlptOe to
and them dividing the spoil under a
gas light.
Hands upp no yelled in a stem.
torian voice.
There were but two men. and both
raised their hands.
Leave the things on the sidewalk"
cried Stout, "and. mind. no lowering
Of hands"
Stout said this to gain time to think.
The men remained motionless
Nov turn your backs and so on
down the street"
The men hcsltated, then after a word
with each other did as they were told.
Stout followed till no came to his prop
erty, picked up every article, then
lired bis revolver
At the shot the robbers took to their
heels, and Stout went home and to
bed chuckllng at the way he had got
even with his practical Joking friends
Tho next morning he telephoned ''the
gang" that Hamlin would break a bot
tie Of wine at noon at a popular restau-
rant telephonlng Hamlln also 70 be
there. Al half past 12 all had arrived
except Hamlln. who came a few min
utea later.
'My friends" said Stout, "thls prac-
teal joking has gone far enough.
drove OF two Of you last night and
recovered the property you had taken.
One OF the two know. Mark Hamlln,
you owe me and this party the wine"
~ The winef What do you meanf'
II mean this: When you played your
game on me some time ago aud
found the boys az my house. you and
hin Turner coming IN later with my
poeketbook, took the joke good
naturally and opened my larder. Last
night l turned the tables. drove you
away and recovered my property. You
owe the wine"
Hamlln stood gaping at bis friend IN
establishment
DO yon mean to say I robbed you
last nlghtf''
''Come; no blufingl made you and
your pal. whoever he was. drop the
swaE, I Eot Il and fred q shot after
you 10 scare you. az which yen took to
your heelss
Hamiln Continued to cape. but the
others told him TO own up like a man
and pay the wine. He made another
affer NJ a aenfa1 huf halnr maj With