The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-19
Who Won the Wine?.

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Copyright. 1905. by American Press Assoc
olatton.l
Montgomery Stout's business often
keeps him late at his once, and al
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 his house, and In this
distance lies the only danger. He car
ries a revolver. but what use is a
weapon when one is dropped by a rap
on the back Of his headf
Stout was one Of younger set OF
men in his suburb who were together
a 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 he was passing dimly 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 excitedly
told Of his adventure and his loss.
They sympathlzed 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 hnd callers SO late at night
II 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 a general jollifca-
ton. Stout brought out drinkables and
cigars, and ell agreed that very
amusing and practical joke had been
played.
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 upF'
At the same time he felt the cold
muzzle Of a gun near bis ear and hands
relieving him of everything be 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 will re-
suit in hole In you."
Now, the threat was lost on Mr..
Stout, for he knew it 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
like that Of Mark Hamlin.
"Just wait a bit. my fine fellow"
thought Stout, "and wen see whom
the joke is on this time
He was within stones throw of his
house. Darling to 1t, he went in. gotg
a revoIver-the robbers had taken the
one he carried-ran back on tiptoe to !
find them dividing the spoil under
gas light
Hands upw he 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.
"Now turn your backs and 60 on
down the street"
The men hesitated. then after word
with each other did as they were told.
Stout followed till be came to bis prop.
erty, picked up every article, then
dred his revolver.
At the shot the robbers took to 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
lie Of wine at noon at popular restau-
rant telephoning Hamlin also TO be
there. AT half past u all had arrived
except Hamiin, who came few min
1tes later.
MY friends" said Stout, this prac-
tical joking has gone far enough.
irove Off two OF you last night and
recovered. the property you had taken.