Six score and 14 years after his death, Abraham Lincoln appeared to return -- in this case to rob a Friendly's restaurant in Kings Contrivance before driving off in a light blue Camry, Howard County police said.

The man -- wearing a beard, top hat, tie and long coat -- walked into the restaurant in the 8600 block of Guilford Road about 4 p.m. yesterday and approached the cash register, said Lt. Sandy Regler, a police spokeswoman.

He opened his coat and showed the cashier a gun. The employee handed the man an undisclosed amount of cash and fled in what police said was a stolen vehicle. They recovered it about a block from the restaurant.

The last robbery in the county was April 7, police said.

A rash of robberies occurred during the preceding three months.

Pub Date: 4/30/99