Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-08-21
MR.. BAXTER'S ROBBER
BY EDMUND COMPTON.

6y EDM UNI JUMP ON.
copyright, 1909. by American Press Assc-
ciation.l
Mr.. Benjamin Baxter never forgot
that in college he had been the right
footbalD tackle of his time and had
pulled stroke oar in the first university
race in which his college had beaten
after a long series of defeats. When,
as a middle aged man with bald
head and somewhat pursy stomach,
he visited Europe he maintained that
if any sneak thief, robber or bandit
could get away with him he was wei
come to do so. This did not satisfy
Mrs. Baxter who dreaded that, i'll
Italy especially, her husband might be
kidnapped and held for a ransom.
Mr.. Baxter had heard that one of the
principal sights of Rome was visit to
the Coliseum by moonlight. One even
ing while in the Eternal City, when
the queen of night was at the full, he
proposed to his wife that they go
and view the ruin thus Illuminated.
Mrs. Baxter refused. But he persist
ed
Leaving his hotel on the Esqualine
hill, he strOlled down a broad thor
oughfare and soon stood on a height
overlooking the eastern end of the
enormous theater of the Caesars. lie
was surprised to note how immense it
looked under the different light The
great pile, or the remaining two-thirds
of it, built by slaves 1900 years ago,
where gladiators had fought and
Christians had been torn to pieces by
wild beasts, rose against the sky like
the dark silhouette of a mountain. Co
ing around to the entrance, Mr.. Baxter
went within the walls and saw anOth-
er sight-the moonlight throwing the
upper portions of the interior into con-
trast with the shadowy lower parts.
Many visitors were there, but as the
hour was late they gradually departed
Suddenly Mr.. Baxter found himself
alone. To go out through the main en-
trance was to increase the distance to
his hotel. There were openings all
around the oval, but not lighted. New
ertheleSs the fearless American con
cluded to make his exit by one of
them. 1t was very dark under the
archway through which he passed, es-
pecially since that at that moment a
cloud rolled over the moon. Suddenly
he felt some one brush by him and a
cloth fly against his face. He had
heard that the members of the Inter
national League of Pickpockets were
~ 70
covering their victims faces with q
newspaper when robbing them. and it
flashed upon Mr.. Baxter that he was
suffering robbery. Clapping his hand
to his pocket, he missed the porte
monnaie he usually carried there.
Throwing his arms around the person
who had passed him, he dragged him
back into the arena. There he found
that he held a priest.
"Ah, har' he cried $50 you thieves
resort to the priestly dress to commit
your depredations. But you can't fool
an American. I'll get my money back
or I'll break your back over one Of
these stone walls"
Then came a volley of words like an
explosion of a Calling gun, but since
Mr.. Baxter knew only two italian
words, dove sta' (where is), they pro
duced no effect upon him. He felt all
over the mans body to find his porte
monnaie, but found only 10 centessimi,
or 2 cents. Then, after giving the
fellow his opinion of him lin English),
telling him that he had been very dex-
ferrous in passing his plumber to dark
figure whose footsteps were to be
heard running away, Mr.. Baxter re
membered that, after ALL there were
only a few five lire bills in the porte
monnaie SO he gave the thief a sound
drubbing and a final kick and started
out of the ruin quite pleased that he
had lost none Of his youthful strength
or courage The only fear he felt was
at a possibility of having to appear
in court against the robber. On arriv-
ing at his hotel he told his adventure
to his wife.
why, my DEAR" said that lady, Il
have your pocketbook locked in the
trunk"
Thereupon Mrs. Baxter unlocked the
trunk and took out the pocketbook.
We'll" said Baxter meditatively, 81
downed him anyway"
There was a sharp rap at the door.
Opening it, there stood two of the ma
tional police in swallowtail coats
white cord aiguillettes, cooked (Napo-
leon) hats and swords. Any one could
see by the serious expression of their
countenances that the dignity of the
Italian realm had been offended. Be
hind them stood delicate, intellectual
looking priest, wiping scratches on his
face and forehead with a bloody hand
kerchief
Mr. Baxter, marching between the
officers of the law, was taken to the
police Office, where. summoning his
italian vocabulary, he kept repeating
"Dove sta the Americana consulate? p
His plea was finally heard, and he
was permitted to write a line to the
consul, who came, but whose influence
availed nothing but to secure for the
American who had maltreated an inof-
fensive priest fair trial. Baxter was
locked up. ~
The next morning befpre the time