The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-11-28
BY M. QUAD

my friend killam, who was an artist
instead Of journalist and had $50
less capital as well, we took steerage
on steamer and planned to do Europe
on foot and avoid all extravaganza.
As 70 how We got along until We struck
Greece and a certain event happened Il
Of no great consequence. We tramped
here and there, ate, slept and had
fairly good time.
From Athens we went on a tramp
up the country viewing tombs and
ruins by the way, and after putting in
two days at Marathon we started out
one morning for hamlet called His
trophus. After n long tramp | found
Il place to take II nap.
At the end Of two hours | was
awakened by some one giving me
smart kick on the hip, and | reused up
to see that we had been taken prison
erS by four brigandS The fellows had
come down off the mountains about
four miles away. having probably been
notified by a messenger from the vii
lage. | have many times read Of the
picturesque Greek brigands, but the
have gone out of the picturesque busl-
ness some weeks previous. They were
a ragged, ugly lot. The leader spoke
English fairly well. 1t was the leader
who had kicked me, which | have al
ways taken as compliment, and as
sat up he saluted me and said
MY lord, you will please consider
yourself prisoner and come along
without resistance"
Now don't make any mistake on
me-" | replied. "If you are counting
on capturing rich Englishman you
will get badly left. for l am an Amer
lean, and poor one ut that AS near
as l can make out from this short
range, you are brigands."
II am Bobetto," he said as he laid
his hand on his heart and bowed low.
Excuse me that / never heard of
you before. You are brigand and in
1t for money, and this is your band"
"Aly lord is correct"
"Now. about this lord business. Let
MS have an understanding Who do
you take me for?"
IAN English lord, my lord. | have
been expecting you for severa days.
The name l cannot pronounce, but |
know you to be the gentleman. Have
no fears for your safety, as it will be
case Of ransom"
This Is kind of you. If you take me
for an English lord who do you take
this other chap to be:'
Your companion. sir. His name l
heard, but cannot give it. He will also
be held for ransom
Then we started for the west The
particular retreat of this band was
halfway up mountain and consisted
Of two brush huts and n fire in front of
them. AZ soon as we had arrived at
the huts Bobetto brought out station
cry and commanded me to write to the
English minister at Athens and obtain
burst out laughing at this demand,
and after little while | said to the
leader:
"Of what use to play the fooa III this
matter? AS / told you before, we are
Americans and poor men at that. We
can raise about 5000 apiece, but not
another cent"
You may be Americans, but you are
my lord just the same" replied Bo-
betto. 81
but there are no titles in America.
If should write to the American min
lister he would take it as joke
But you must write" persisted the
wooden headed rascal. you must
write to the American minister that If
he does not send us $4,000 10y our
messenger your ears will be sent him
in package"
read the letter to Bobetto after il
was written. and he was perfecsly sat
istied that il would fetch the cash in
reply. 1t was sent off 10y Il messenger.
who would be gone at least ten days.
and then we went into retirement"
For the first five days of our cap
tivity we were closely guarded. and
there could be no thought of our es-
cape. Then, as we appeared to make
ourselves at home, the vigilance OF the
brigands relaxed
On the eighth day came our opportu-
nifty. The artist whispered TO me:
Lets end this right here and now.
You tackle the leader. and I'll go for
the other fellow"
The "other fellow was ut the fire
heaping the brands together. We rose
up in unison and made the attack. |
gave OLD Bobetto kick on the jaw
which Knocked him over and caused
doeful howls. and Killam hit his man
such blow on the neck us to render
him unconscious for half an hour.
There were two guns in camp. and we
sieZed them and made for the highway.
only a mile distant. Before departing
gave the leader n tap on the head TO
quiet his yels. and so far as 1 know
we were not followed n rod. We reach
ed the highway just in time to get a
lift i'm passing cart and in couple
of hours We're i'm Marathon. AS to the
letter. Ii WAS delivered at the consti-
tate. but was looked upon rs joke,
and the messenger was sent off empty
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