Hamilton restaurant.

One crook battered 54-year-old Mrs. Rieo Hollis over the head with a cash bag.

And as she reeled from the blow, the other intruder terrorised the cashier by wielding a club.

The pair then seized the cash register -- containing about $600 -- and coolly walked from the door of Roosters in Court Street.

Manageress Mrs. Hollis was treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for a head wound.

Police later recovered the cash register and its contents. They also questioned a 26-year-old Sandys man, who was detained with the help of two taxi drivers.

Yesterday Mrs. Hollis recalled being gripped by fear when the pair burst in.

She was sitting in a back office as the robbers struck in the early hours.

"It was really terrifying. One of them shouted at me to hand over the money.

He didn't believe we didn't have a safe.'' Mrs. Hollis said the man's accomplice then jumped on the front counter, wielding a club.

As the cashier froze, the man picked up the till and the pair escaped.

"They just walked out the door. The street was empty at the time,'' Mrs.

Hollis added.

"I went to hospital, and was treated for a bump on my head. I didn't need any stitches.

"At the moment I'm just resting. I've got a bit of a headache.'' Yesterday Police appealed for witnesses. Anyone who can help should ring Det.

Sgt. Andy Boyce on 295-0011.

The robbery occurred at about 2.40 a.m. yesterday shortly before closing time.

One man burst in through the front, and the other the back. No customers were in the restaurant, which serves take-out food.

Owner Mr. Bryson Bascome said three female employees -- including Mrs. Hollis -- were there.

"Of course, it was a terrifying experience for all of them.'' He added the cashier was so panic-stricken she could not open the till for the men.

Mr. Bascome, who was at home at the time, believed the robbery could be linked to drugs.

"No rational, sane person would do such a thing,'' he said.

Mr. Bascome said it was high time Bermuda tackled the drug problem head-on.

Politicians had failed to do anything -- despite all the "rhetoric''. "Guys here are crying out for help, and we are not doing anything to help.'' Mr. Bascome said he had some experience in dealing with drug abuse in the Dominican Republic. A very successful programme had been set up there -- and could be introduced in Bermuda.

Mr. Bascome said he would be willing to launch such a programme, and offered to bring counsellors here.

"I know the people who can come here and help. All I need is a place to set up the programme.'' Meanwhile, Police yesterday appealed for witnesses to another armed robbery in Devonshire.

A man brandishing a knife escaped with about $150 from Vanna Lee's Cafe on North Shore Road.

The incident occurred at about 6.30 p.m. on Thursday.

Police said the man was brown skinned, 5ft 7in, tall, slim, and thought to be in his early 20s.

He was wearing a blue three-quarter length hooded jacket.

"We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously around 6.30 p.m. near this cafe,'' said Police spokeswoman Sgt.

Roseanda Jones.

Anyone who can help Police should ring Det. Insp. Legay Farley on 295-0011.