The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-12-09
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: Who Won the Wine?

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Copyright. 1908, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Montgomery Stout's business often
keeps him late at his office, and at
times when funds come in after bank |
hours he carries them home With him.
\ street car line passes within d few
minutes WALK of his house. and in this
distance lies the only dancer. He car
rics a revolver, but what use is Il
weapon when one is dropped by a rap
on The back of his head
Stout was one C q Younger set of
men in his suburb who were together
great deal and constantly Joking ono
another He talked TO them about his
nocturnal trips home, his fear on
footpads and what he hoped to accom-
plish in case of attack. One night
when he was passing diTnly lighted
place between the street car line and
his house he was seized from behind
by both arms, hand was thrust in
his pocket and $500 in bills taken, to-
gether with his revolver, so that when
the robbers ran away he had no
weapon with which to pursue them.
On reaching his house he found sew
eral of his friends, whom he eNcitedly
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 so late at night
1t was II o'clock-but after all, there
was nothing remarkable in their visit.
After listening to his account of the
robbery and asking many questions,
Mark Hamlin handed him the pocket
book Of which he had been robbed
and confessed himself the robber.
Then there was q general jollif1ca-
ton. Stout brought out drinkables and
cigars, and all agreed that very
amusing and practical joke had been
played.
Some months after this Stout waa
again on his way home at night, thi1
time with $1,000 in his pocket that had
come in late, when at the very same
spot as before he heard the order:
Hands up!''
AT the same time he felt the cold
muzzle of q gun near his ear and hands
relieving him of everything he pos
sessed. Then the man with the gun
said to him:
"You walk around the block before
you go home and remember that you're
watched. Any attempt to use a tele
, phone for the next half hour will re
: suit in hole in you"
J Now, the threat was lost ON Mr.
Stout, for he knew it had only beer
made as bluff The robbers woul(
not be likely to wait to see that he
completed his walk. Besides, tht
voice that gave the order was YER!
4 like that of Mark Hamlin.
t Just wait bit. my fine fellow,
thought Stout, land We'll see whom
@ the joke is on this time
He was within stones throw of hi
house. Darling to it, he went in, go
: revolver-the robbers had taken th
one he CARIBBEAN back on tiptoe t
q find them dividing the spoil under
e gas light.
:. "Hands up" he yelled in ster
torian voice.
n There We're but two men, and bot
raised their hands.
Leave the things on the sidewalk,
y cried Stout, "and, mind, no lowerin
Of hands"
rs Stout said this to gain time to thinl
a, The men remained motionless.
NOW turn your backs and go o
h down the street.
The men hesitated then after wor
with each other did as they We're tol(
= Stout followed till he came TO his prof.
o. erty picked up every article, the
IN fired his revolver.
as At the shot the robbers took to the
as heels, and Stout went home and [
tx bed chucllling at the way he had &c
Nd even with his practical joking friends
=. The next morning he telephoned eth
gang" that lIamlin would break q bo
tie of Wine at noon at a popular restal
e rant, telephoning Hamlin also to b
there At half past 10 al had arrive
it except Hamlin, who came a few mil
Id Ntes later.
MY friends" said Stout, "this pra1
of teal joking has gone far enough.
J, drove off two of you last night als
). recovered the property you had talci
One of the two know. Mark IIamil
you owe me and this party the Wine.
'h 81? The wine? What do you mean:
ri II mean this: When you played you
game ON me some time ago and
= found the boys at my house, You an
Bill Turner coming in later with IN
pocketbook, 1 took the joke goo