The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-03
THE REWARD OF VIRTUE.
Mr.. Rashbone Was n Good Man Until Dis
couraged.


couraged.
"My name is johnson Cummerford
Rathbone, G. NJ" he said, as he entered
the police station and looked at tho
sergeant over the desk.
EYES," was the reply, as the officer
looked up. well, what's the matter"
81 want proper credit, sir"
"What for?"
1.-THE 'G. NJ after my name stands for
good man That's what am. 1 ar
rove in the city early this morning. Be-
fore was out of the depot man came
up TO me and wanted to know if would
help him rob a bank. i repulsed him
with scorn. Didn't / do the right
thing?"
"Yes, that's right" replied the ser
geant.
} ''I'm glad to hear you say So" oon-
tinued Mr.. Rathbone, as he rubbed mis-
hands with self-satisfaction. "As i got
out into the street another man came up
to me and said he'd give me ten dollars
to set the city hall on fire. Hooked him
up and down, like this, and then / re-
pulsed him with ignominy. Yes, sir
gave him to understand that was no
such man. Wasn't that right to re-
pulse him with ignominy?"
"Yes, suppose So" sighed the ser
geapt, as he worked away at his reports.
81 dropped into an eating house TO get
q bite to eat" said the caller, land q
man sat down at the same table and told
me In confidence that he wanted to get
rid of his wife in order to marry again.
He offered me $40 if would go up to the
house and knock her on the head. Did
I shake hands on it? Not much! Ire
pulsed him with burning indignation
and let him see that was no such man.
Didn't deserve tally mark for that?"
"Yes, I'll tally you," replied the ser
geant without looking up.
about an hour after that I was tal6n'
o drink in saloon and a wall-eyed duffer
called me aside and offered me s25 20
Jaurder child four years old that he
might fall heir to a large amount of
property. He sized me up for cold
FLOODED demon, but he made a grand
mistake. repulsed him with gigantic
con tumely. Don't deserve credit for
that?"
"You bother mel" exclaimed the SER
geant, as he looked up. Cant you
come around some time next winter and
tell your storyP"
"Some time next winter!" gasped
Mr.. Rathbone. "Great Scott but is
this the proper way to use an honest
msn? Haven't you been listening to
my storyP"
81 am very busy, you know. Come IN
January or February-comes some day
when / have lots of time"
sand do you turn an honest man away
in this fashion,"
''I said January or February. Ifyou
could make il March or April it would
he all the better. Glad you called-see
you later"
, T.ook here, misterl" exclaimed the
caller, as he pounded the desk. II am
johnson Cummerson Rathbone, G.. NJ,
which means good man. Ihave refused
TO rob a bank. commit arson and do
murder, and yet you throw me down
with overwhelming frigidityl Is this
my reward? Is this the sort of prize
packages you give away for meritorious
deeds?'
"Yes-very busy-come in May or
June" replied the sergeant, in far
AWAY voice.
Never, sir" shouted Mr.. Rathbone.
''never! I'll not return in January,
February. March, April, May, June, nor
any other month of the year. i 20 ont
from here, sir. different mani / ex-
punge the %. NJ from my name and l
replace il with B. NJ which means
bad Man'-and / viii rob and murder
and burn and slay and kill and become
human hyena, and make the population
Of this city tremble with terror and
howl and fearl Frigid and Indifferent
officer, good-byi"-Dctroi: Free Press.