Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-11-18
out fruits even in his business

to a mob that worked on tn,
west side. How he got into th,
company of these people it woulc
be hard to tell. But he was M
adroit and rather amiable thief
that never caused the force any
trouble. 1t was customary in
the days Of the metropolitan po.
lice to lock up all the pickpock-
cts and "guns" when there was
to be a great celebration or pro.
cession. They were merely or
dered to the central office, and
there kept till the city was re-
stored to its usual quiet. John
ny Mas only needed to be told
TO go to cadquarters to report
himself there promptly. He
was a young man, rather slight
in build, and somewhat taci-
turn.
10 the surprise OF the super
intendant, he came to the office
one afternoon and inquired
when all the special men would
be in. He was told he could
see them i'll the morning. When
the morning came he was there.
After the roll was called the SUI
perintendant said: "N ow
Johnny, the men are all here if
you want to speak to them"
He got up from the corner in
which he was sitting, and wiring
ing out his cap with his two
hands, proceeded to address
them in faltering and abashed
manner:
"Well, you see, I've conclud-
ed to square it. You've. been
pretty rough on me for some
time, and I've got a sister that's
got the heart disease, and she's
got it inter her head that she'd
live a bit longer if as how Ia do
the right thing, and l told her
I'd make a try Of it; and if you
men'll gimme a hand, why |
don't mind maxim it a go. |
don't want to get 'the cholera
no more, and if the gal III live a
bit longer on my account l am
willin'."
And all the men went up and
shook hands with him, and it
was agreed that he shouldn't
have "the cholera unless he
broke through his resolution.
About a year after that, in
the dead Of severe winter, the
superintendent was coming
through Crosby street into
Blocker, and he met Johnny
Mas. The fellow was dressed
I'D a thin, bombazinc coat. He
was collariess, and his feet were
out, and he looked hungry,
pinched and wretched.
"I'm glad you've kept your
word, Johnny. But it's going
pretty hard with you, I suppose,
to be honest?"
"Awful hard, sir" said John
ny; "but | told her / would,
and / did"
"That's right. Don't you go
back of your word. Stick it
out. You'll have better times
by-and-by."
'Do you see that bank over
there?" said the young man,
pointing to the marble bnildingI
on Bleecker street. "Well, |
there aint money enough in
that place to make me go back. |
I'd rather go cold and hungry
and not be huntcd-so | would"
The next summer one of the |
hotel proprietors at Long
Branch sent up to the superin-
tendant for a man to keep an
eye on thieves that hang around |
a watering-place. 81 can get
you a man." said the superin-
thinking of Johnny, |
''but I'm bound to tell you, he's
been a thief"
= ''Then don't want him."
Then the superintendent told
the story / have told, only he
told it better.
"Send- him down." said the
landlord. ga chap that'll do
that ought to be helped"
It was $50 a week to Johnny, |
and it made a man of him.
During that season there
wasn't a robbery committed at
The Branch. Johnny stationed |
himself at the railroad depot,
md when he saw a former pal
he warned him off. "1t's no
lse," he would say, 81 don't
want to pipe none O you boys,
and l amt goin' to do it if you
stay away. If you come here
TIL be awful rough on both Of |
u.s." !
And to their credit it ought
to be said that they always went