The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-03-27

roar reached IFS ears, a mob that VIZ
rushing, turning into the avenue, over
whelmed him; he fell, and the "chink" of
the silver in the bag as it struck the pave
ment attracted the attention of several OF
the outlaws who were in the throng; one
reached for the prize, but Stumpy thrust it
under his rough and strong jacket. and
contrived to button it there, and laid down
upon his face and kicked and yelled, and,
| have not the least doubt, swore like seven
Malay pirates on spree. He was jerked
up and thrown down and kicked and beat
and mauled most numerically. that boy
was; and bruised and battered and pound
ed. and almost torn limb from limb, but
still he kept that tough coat of his but
toned abont the treasure that had been en-
trusted to him, and he so wriggled and
squirmed and gained an inch here and
there that by the time the police
in force charged upon and drove the riot
ers. Stumpy, after being trampled upon
by both parties, managed to crawl into an
open doorway.
Thomas T. r. had Looked at his watch
a dozen times. he had wondered what in
the world could be keeping that boy, and
he was most anxiously watching from the
office window for the temperance of his
messenger, when, a lad, whose face and
hands did not spe ak of extravaganza in
use of soap and water, and whose garments
would have been better for application of
needles and thread, rushed breathlessly up
the steps and into the door.
Say, mister Yer teller, yer boy
'Stumpy' yer knows: well, he's a-layin'
down yer in hallway, low Fif'-seven
street, and de strikers and de cops t'gedder
has busted him wide open, an | were don
ter see de muss, an he sen me fur you, an
yer better hurry, fur blamed eff l don't
blief he's agoin fur to die" and the
youngster rubbed his dirty knuckles into
his eyes
Thomas, T. r., closed the Office and put
the key in his pocket, regardless of conse-
quences. He went with the dirty messen-
ger, faster than his feet ever carried him
before. He found Stumpy in a sad con-
dition, indeed, curled up behind door in
hallway, sitting his groans 80 as not to
attract attention. the disturbed condition
of the street having saved him from the
notice of the police.
MY poor boy" said my friend, "are
you very badly hurt?'
I'm hurted purity bad, mister" said
Stumpy, but dar," and a smile broke
over us uOITlUlN UdtttEtu FEATURES, Dul
dars all yer cash, boss, safe an SCUM.
I'm squar man, boss. I'm squar."
Then Stumpy tainted. When he walked
up he was in hospital bed, a mass of
breaks and bruises, and ointments, and
splints, and liniments, and plasters, and
bandages, aud Thomas T. r came every
day to see him, and his "ole nanny"
came often also and "the firm" came,
and Stumpy was hired for STEADY
sit from the day of his beating. but
something solid was given in hand too, to
help cure the wounds and keep the pot
boiling at home. and after many months,
Stumpy made his appearance at the Office
and had desk "all to his own self, and
close application, natural aptitude and
honest behavior have advanced him until,
with the exception of the peculiarities con-
nected with his original construction. he is
no more like the Stumpy of my former
acquaintance than | am like my friend
Thomas T. r. But he will never be very
strong or healthy again, and one leg will
always hobble lit e, and one shoulder
be kind of warped to the front But limp
ing or erect, warped or straight, that
"Stumpy" will always be the 'squar man"
he used to boast himself, is the firm belief
of the firm" Thomas T. r. and the
writer of this true story.