Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-02-05


kinds of businesses in this world, and
there's got to be people to work at every
one of 'em, and when fellow takes any
particular line his business is to do II
well; that's my motto. When ! break
into house make it point to clean
1t out f1rst-class and not to carry away
no trash nuther. OF course I've had my
ups and my downs like other people
preachers and doctors and store-keeperS.
They all have them, and l guess the
downs are more amusin' than the ups, at
least to outsiders. I've just happened
to think of one of them and I'll let you
have it.
'There was man knew named Jerry
Hammond that was contractor, and
sometimes he had pretty big jobs on
hand, buildin' or road maxim or some
thin or other. He'd contract to do any
thing, would Jerry, no matter whether
he'd ever done it before or not. I got to
know his times and seasons for collect
ing money and laid for him.
"Abominable meannessl' exclaimed
my wife.
cts all business" said the stout man,
quite unabashed. ''You don't catch
doctor refusin' to practice on friend,
or lawyer, nuther, and in our line of
business it's the same thing. 1t was
about the end of October, nigh four
years ago, that found out that Jerry
had lot of money on hand. He'd been
collectin' it from different parties, and
had got home too late in the day to put
it in the bank, SO, says to myself, this
is your time, old fellow, and you'd bet
ter make hay while the sun shines. /
was little afraid to crack Jerry's house
by myself, for he's strong old fellow,
so got man named Putty Henderson
to go along with me. Putty was a big
fellow and very handy with jimmy,
but he was awful contrary minded, and
he wouldn't agree to clean out Jerry un-
til [ promised to go halves with him.
This wasn't fair, for it wasn't his job,
and aquarter would have been lots for
him
But there wasn't no use arguin', and
along we went, and about one o'clock we
was standin' alongside Jerry's bed, where
he was fast asleep. He was bachelor
and lived pretty much by himself. 1
give him a punch to waken him up, for
we'd made up our minds that that was
the way to work this job. 1t wouldn't
pay US to go around huntin' for Jerry's
money. He was such sharp old fellow
it was six to four we'd never find it. He
sat up in bed with a jump like hop
toad, and looked first at one and then at
the other of US. We both had masks
on, and it wasn't puzzlin' to guess what
we was there fur.
Jerry Hammond says 1, speakin'
rather rough and husky, we knows
you've got lot O. money in this house
and we've come fur it. We mean bust
ness and there's no use foolin'. You can
give it to us quiet and easy, and keep a
whole head on your shoulders, or we'll
lay you out ready fur wake and help
ourselves to the funds; and now you
pays your money and you can take your
choice how you do it. There's nothin'
shabby about us, but we mean business.
Don't we, pard?' That's so,' says Putty.
Look here says Jerry, just as cool
as if he had been sittin' outside on his
own curbstone, I know you two men
and no mistake. You're Tommy Ran
dali and you're Putty Henderson, so you
might as we'll take off them masks
Which l am glad to do says 1, for
hate 'em,' and put mine in my pocket,
and Putty he took off his"
Excuse me-" said Aunt Martha, in
terrupting at this point, ''but when Mr.
Hammond mentioned the name of Tom.
my Randall to owhom did he refer?'
81 can explain that, madam" said the
tall burglar, quickly. This man by
his criminal course of life has got him,
self into good many scrapes, and is
frequently obliged to change his name.
Since 1 accidentally became acquainted
with him he has had several aliases, and
l think he very often forgets that his
real name is James Barlow"
That's So" said the stout man.
"There never was more correct person
than this Industrious and unfortunate