The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-27
BUNKOED BY
A GREEK
BY M. QUAD
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
BY M. QUAD

English excursionists who were max
ing tour arrived Among them was
nm antlquary who was looked up To
and respected for his knowledge OF
ancient history and ruins
Professor HImstead as he was named
had been charged to pick up all the old
Greek manuscripts to be had for mon
ey, and it was his inquiries for such
documents that doubtless led to our UNI
doing. One day man named Talanti,
who bad somewhat the manners and
dress of a gentleman, brought the pro-
! fessor two ancient manuscripts as a
present and to show his further good
will he announced a valuable discovery
which had Just been made on the is
/ land of Aeginn, about forty miles dis
4 tant. He was the owner Of the island,
/ and while his workmen were getting
out some stone they had come across
some rare treasures in art, but had de-
veloped only a small portion of them.
They had partly uncovered stone box
which he believed held a large number
Of manuscripts and valuable coins. but
he had delayed the opening OF it that
some Of his friends might be present
Three or four of them were going to
his island home tomorrow and he
would be glad to have on his yacht as
many of us foreigners go along as
could make it convenient.
Aside from the English party. there
were Americans. Germans and French
men to the number Of twenty in Ath-
ems. and when the list was made up
we numbered over forty, of whom ten
were ladies'. When we went on board
there was considerable surprise at find
ing her the craft she was. She was
nothing more than trader and her
accommodations were of a primitive
character.
My friend the professor could speak
Greek, but when he entered into con-
versation with bfr. Talanti's friends he
found them sulky enough. This excit-
ed our surprise, as they were supposed
to be gentlemen. When we came to
look them over we began TO get a little
suspicious.
AS we approached the island we saw
ii was fairly covered with trees. yet 1t
did not have hospitable look. AS we
made close approach we could see
couple of rude huts and a primitive
ietty. but Mr.. Talanti explained that
his castle was hidden by the forest and
that he was landing at that point to
save us q long walk.
AS soon as the craft was made fast
the three eminent friends of Mr.. Ia
lanti suddenly produced pistols and
knives and took their station by the
gangway. The sailors divided into two
parties, and, handling their naked
knives in a menacing fashion, they
drove the people into line.
When Professor Himstead had rub
bed his eyes, scratched his head and
got ii into his brain that something
not down on the program was going on
Talanti mounted a box and smilingly
observed:
Ladies and gentlemen, you are now
about to pass ashore, to behold my
wonderful discoveries, but each one OF
you is required 10 leave all money
and iewelry behind you. | will see
that everything is safely cared fort"
The men cried out in anger, but what
could they do? l do not think there
was a firearm among them. while the
Greeks seemed overanxious TO use
their knives. There were protesta-
tons and threats Of the law, but
Talanti only smiled az them and or
dered the work to go on. Each man
in the crowd was regularly held up
that is. his pockets were thoroughly
and everything OF value TAX
en- The women were requested TO
hand over. and each one bad her
and rings in hand as she NOV
ed up. IN the cougse OF bali an hour
every one was ashore. and then Talan- /
Il took OF his hat. made a sweeping /
bow aud sailed away with his piratical
crew. He had no sooner gone than
half dozen vilIainous looking men
came down from the hut
They told us they were fishermen.
but their actions belied their state \
ment Their first move was 10 de- /
mand cash. and great was their indig- 4
nation and disappointment az being
told that Talanti's crowd had taken .
the last coin when sure Of this they
left us. and an hour later two genuine
fishermen came ashore In their boat
There were a dozen vessels within I've
" six miles Of MS. and a dollar would
have been big pay for them 20 so out
ana notify the nearest one 81 our sit
nation. but realizing our helplessness,
hey demanded the sum u 500
II was almost dark when a battered
I'd schooner came sailing ~ 10 take
- on. and the terms were s. a piece,
. be paid in Athens We spent a
ircary night on deck and landed in
he city at noon next dar lmmedi-
.teiy notice was given 70 the various
'onsuls and 10 the Grcek government
W. 10 one bad any faith thnt anything
would hp accomplished. TIE govern
nant made loud promises and seemed I
o Be making al possible efforts: but {
+ . matter of fact NJ Taianti vas
II even pursued TIE never could
.ave put u0 such e Sob without Nun
~ IN aHrssls sfandIre On vlth hin.
n1 each and pvpfr one e them douhf-
-as shared IT ule r1rrHer when d was
r-ETrf u wes iF fhrf the r1uaer