Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-12-11

"I'm kinder fraid OF losin' it."
90, not at all not if its well in
vested. People only lose their money
through carclcs>neSS. But ot course
some one has to lose money to kccl
the stuff properly in circulation"
Well, hain't got much money t.
lose, and I'm feared if was to open
that ERE bag that mine would get t.
circulation and You bet it would
circulate might dcrn fast"
well, if you did lose, it would stick
To- some ones fingers"
"You bet your blame life she would
and she'd stick purity gol darned fast"
$50 you don't want me to invest it
for YOU"
I'm little bit scary bout putin
it in wheat"
No risk whatever" said Bloom
field.
"Why, l tell you, Mr.. Tatman, a
good speculator can pick money of
the trees here in Chicago"
Bloomfeld's expression tickled Tat
man. He laughed uproariously and
then said:
"You can pick it off the trees in
Bunkum, too, but you can't keep it
log, cause it circulatcs too dern fast. "
BY this time the men were growing
inpatient, and Tatman noticed that
they looked more frequently and
longer at the carpet bag. He thought
it about time to take his revenge, SO
he said:
"Wcll, gentlemen, I reckon I'd
better be a-goin', and I'd like to leave
that ere money with you, so as it'll be
safe while hunt up a stoppin' place.
The men were perfectly willing to
accommodate farmer Tatman. They
assured him that the carpet bag and
its contents would be perfectly safe,
and that they would be willing to
wait until he came back.
"Much obliged, gentlemen" and
Tatman arose. ""Tisn't very often
that Teller meets such kind friends
as you are in a strange city, and it's
kinder soothin' 20 know that fellows
leavin' his money with honest people.
l reckon I'll be back in about an hour"
And Tatman once more thanked his
friends as he passed out of the room,
closing the door behind him.
Tatman did not leave the saloon, as
the men expected. By clever dodge
he managed to slip the key of the
door in his pocket before he left the
room. He remained on the outside
long enough to silently turn the bolt
in the lock, after which he slipped into
the adjoining room. He did not wait
long before he heard one of the men
say:
"Well, that was the easiest snap
ever saw" Silas recognized the voice
as that of Cunningham. Then Bloom
field answered.
Easy! Why, you could rob that
fool before his eyes and he wouldn't
know it. Hand up the granger's grip
sack"
Tatman heard the sound of the grip
sack striking the top of the table
Then he heard them prying at the
lock. Presently he heard the clasps
give, and in another instant piercing
yelp rent the air. Whack! Crashi
Bang! The chairs were upturned and
the table was tumbled over in the mad
scramble for the door.
Then he heard some one say: "Great
heavens! They're hornets and the
door is lockedw
The howls and yelps which followed
brought the bartender and the proprie-
tor to the scene. The Bunkhum
farmer seized the opportunity to slip
out of the saloon, and as he was passing
into the street he heard the door crash
in as one of the men on the inside
dealt it blow with chair. Over his
shoulder he saw stream of hornets
sail after the bartender.
Twenty minutes later, from his re-
treat in the alley across the street, Tat
man saw his five friends limping out OF
the saloon to the ambulance which
had been called, md which had
backed up to the curbstone.