Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-11-26
u ~ NN1N ~
| WhOWOn the Wine?


copyright. 1893. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Montpomery Stouts business OFTEN,
keeps him late at his Office. and at
times when funds come In AFTER Dank
hours he carries them home Win ni"-
A street car line passes within Z rev
minutes walk Of bis house. and Ia tnn
distance lies the only danger. He car
ries a revolver. but what use "
weapon when one is dropped BY . rap
on the back Of his head7
Stout was one Of a younger SCI OK
men In his suburb who were togetner
q great deal and constantly joking ono
another. He talked to them about MS
nocturnal trips home. his fear or
footpads and what he hoped TO accom-
piish In case of attack. One night
when he was passing a dimly lighted
place between the street car line ana
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 wnen
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 exciteoiy
told OF his adventure and his loss
They sympathlzed with him ceepiy.
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 nj night
It was II o'clock-but. after all, there
was nothing remarkable In their visit
After listening to his account ~ tho
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 a general jollifca-
ton Stout brought out drinkables and
cigars, and all agreed that very
amusing and practical joke had been
played rHe
Some months after this Stout was
again on his way home at night. this
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 upr'
At the same time he felt the cold
muzzle Of 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 20 home and remember that you're
watched. Any attempt to use tele-
phone for the next half hour win re-
suit in hole In you"
Now, the threat was lost ON Mr..
Stout. for he knew 1t had only been
made as a bluff The robbers would
not be likely TO wait TO see that he
completed his walk Besides, the
voice that gave the order was very
, Hike that OF Mark Hamlin.
"Just wait n bit. my fine fellow"
thought Stout, "and Wen see whom
' the joke Is on this time"
He was within a stones throw Of his
house. Darling to It. he went In, got
a revolver-the robbers had taken the
one he carried-ran back on tiptoe to
find them dividing the spon under ?,
gas light.
Hands upl" he yelled In stem
torian voice.
There were but two men. and both
raised their hands.
~Leave the things on the sidewalk"
cried Stout. land, mind. no lowering
Of hands"
Stout said this to gain time to think.
\ The men remained motionless.
Snow turn your backs and go on'
down the street"
The rcn hesitated. then after wer 1
with each other did as they were tplde
Stout followed till he came to his prom
erty picked up every article thor
fred his revolver.
At the shot the robbers took 70 their
! heels. and Stout went home and to
bed chuckling at the way he had got
even with his practical joking friends.
\ The next morning he telephoned "the
gang that Hamlin would break a bot
tie Of wine at noon at a popular restau-
s rant, telephoning Hamlin also to be
there At half past II all had arrived
{ except Hamlin, who came a few min
{ utes later.
my friends" said Stout, this prac-
2 teal joking has gone far enough.
3 drove off two Of you hast night and
Z recovered the property you had taken.
One OF the two know. Mark Hamlin,
you owe me and this party the wine"
B at? The wine7 What do you mean ?"
1T mean this: When you played your
I game on me some time ago and l
\ found the boys at my house. you and
Bill Turner coming IN later with my
4 pocketbook, I took the joke good
{ naturedly and opened my larder. Last
night / turned the tables, drove you
} away and recovered my property You
owe the wine"
Hamhn stood gaping at his friend In
establishment.
do you mean to say I robbed you
( hast nightT'
"Come; no bluffingl l made you and
y your pal, whoever he was, drop the
swag. got II and fred a shot after
. you to scare you, at which you took to
your heels"
Hamlin continued TO cape. but the
X others told him to own up like a man
and pay the wine. He made another
offer at a denial, but being met with.
the cry of "Shamer' pushed the buts
ton and ordered IN champagne. For
an hour there was a merry party-afl,
except Hamlin, who never opened hi I
y mouth, bearing the chaff of his friend :
\ without irritation. At the end OF thu