Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-10
GARDERING'S HINTS AND SPRING FASHIONS
The Daily Story
Muggs and His Luck


and ranches. When he reached Corinti
he strutted a little more than usual. Ht
found there an English lord, and, want
ing to show him that he wasn't the only
prominent parsonage about, he cut 9
swath as wide as he could. Unknown tc
him, there was an article in a Greeh
paper about him. He was said to be
worth S50,0O00O0 and plling up millions
more and that he talked of buying ur
all the ruins in Greece and shipping them
to New York as free gift to the city.
Your true Greek brigand takes his daily
newspaper and pays special attention to
| the society column. 1t was on account
of that newspaper article that Colonel
| Muggs was taken in. He hired car
| riage and driver and guide and two
! hunkies, and drove out into the country
| from Corinth to do" some Interesting
ruins; but before he was half finished
sightseeing he found that the brigands
had done" him.
As soon as they had made the Colonel
| understand that he was at their mercy
they turned to and ate up the rest Of
! his luncheon. and wanted to punch his
! head because he hadn't left more When
| they had finished eating and drinking
they set out for the mountains.
| The Colonel exhibited reluctance to
! go with them, but they caused a change
| VI itllL py DTlthlUB Ulfn WIN the points
of their knives One of them could speak
English fairly well, and he explained that,
| while IL was the intention to treat the
| captive with due consideration until he
had yielded up the money, they couldn't
| permit anything bordering on the frollc-
some in his conduct.
Say, now, but who do you felers
take me for?" demanded the American,
as he was being hustled along.
'We have made no mistake" was the
reply you are the man worth $780,
00O. O0O."
Fifty million nothings! Where did you
get hold OF any such rot?'
I'm the newspapers. You shall see
them when we get to camp"
"Well. You are a, lot of fools. have
been swelling around some, and have
perhaps given false impression, but It's
all been done on cheek I'll tell you
straight that I'm from Meriden Conn,
U. S. a. I'm no colonel, though I hate
10 admit it to n blamed gang of robbers.
I'm simply Joseph j. Muggs, travelling
salesman for clock factory. l am over
here to introduce eight-day clocks, and
| have hardly money enough to pay my
hotel bill and get out of town. If you've
got hold of me thinking to raise a stake,
you are going to get left"
1--WE shall see," replied the leader,
while the smile on his face showed that
he thought the Colonel was trying to
work off old stock on him.
After n five-hour tramp they reached
headquarters in the hill. Headquarters
was a dilapidated hut and campfire
in lonely spot Some black bread and
roasted goats flesh constituted supper,
and later on the brigands sat in circle
around their captive, and the leader
said:
You shall have the freedom of the
camp as long as you are with us, but
nth t,gr+
the time. The first move you make to
escape will bring a bullet. In the morn
ing YOU may write a letter to your
banker, and it will be sent to the town
by messenger"
What in the devil shall l write to
my banker about?" demanded the Col
onel, who was tired and disgusted.
That he shall send us a sum equal
to what you would call half a million
dollars in your American money as your
ransom"
Jupiter Jewkins, but you are crazy!
Have the whole five of you just escaped |
from some lunatic asylum? If you want
any further chat with me tonight, then |
don't talk through the top of your hat"
You will write in the morning." said |
the leader, while tho others muttered |
under their breath.
but 1 have no banker in Corinth."
Then to the American Consul He |
Will nelp you TO get tle ransom money |
from America He will use the cable, |
and in three days it will be here, and |
you will be free"
Say. old man." remarked the Colonel, |
after n hearty laugh, this will be one |
on me when I get back to Meriden. You |
seem to have got the Idea that there |
arc millions in the clock business. Let |
mo tell you that If We show four per |
cent. clean profit a year we are tickled |
to death. My bank balance in the First |
National of Meriden is about ST.
$4,000, ,OOO,"
1.-THE papers be hanged! If you run this
brigand business by what tho papers say
you'll die in the poorhouse."
The Colonel was ordered into the hut to |
pass the night and the brtgands went into |
caucus. They believed the American to |
be lying. Once they had captured a
wealthy Frenchman, who had lied them |
out OF q big ransom, and they didn't |
mean to be caught again.
When morning came there was another |
slim breakfast, Then the leader said:
'If you wish to be free in two days, |
then write to your bank in Cor!nth."
But told you had none," replied
the Colonel
"Then to your countrys consul"
He could be of no use whatever"
Listen to me-" said the man. as his |
comrades fingered their knives menac- |
1ngly. we give you one week In which |
TO raise the ransom. After that you are |
dead man. Don't trife with u.s. You |
cannot deceive us, and you cannot hope |
for a rescue"
Nothing further was said to the Colonel |
for two days. He made himself believe |
that he was out on a huckleberry ex- |
curson and tried to enjoy it. On the third |
day he noticed that the brigands began |
TO exhibit signs of impatiencs and feel the |
edges of their knives. On the morning |
of the fifth writing materials We're placed |
before him, and the leader said: |
perhaps you will write TO your banker |
today?"
with the greatest OF pleasure, IL you |
win only tell me who he is"
"oh, very well. There are two days |
left to you"
Colonel Muggs hadn't been taking |
things as easy as appeared He was In |
hole and couldn't see his way out. |
He couldn't raise 500 Just them TO save |
his life. and he realized that he had |
put himself into a false position and |
that the bHgands would hold him 10 It. |
For four days he had had an eye out |
for any chance TO make a break, but |
nc had been under strict watch.
Soon after noon on that fifth day a |
big thundercloud came sweeping up from |
the south and brought a torrent Of rain |
ana terrific thunder and lightning.
Every one crowded into the hut for shell |
ter, and the brigands were cursing and |
aTlV ole NaI. III.