The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-10-14
with Mr.. Baker for half an hour, and

we hehrQ great Qoal Oh lauSning II
the private cf1i, 30. At eight o'clock II
50, 600 in our safe, and the amount al
together was about 1872, 200. 1t was a
dark and rainy evening, and there
were SO few customers in the store thai
| let the clerks 20 home. AT nine
o'clock, as | expected and counted on
Mr.. Thompson arrived. twas q walk
Of five blocks from his hotel, and he
would not have come out in the rain
except that he was expecting impor-
tant letters. He got none, and the
post Office closed after his inquiry. As
he came through the store | was all
alone, and there was no doubt in my
mind that he was pleased to find things
thus. lie took u seat on the counter
and began smoking aud asking me to
guess various conundrums, and at half
past nine o'clock the streets were
quiet and the hour had arrived for him
to show his hand. sat in u chair
facing him and only a few feet away.
or sudden, and while he was smiling
and laughing, he put his hands on the
counter and leaped forwards and land
ed full upon me. was carried back
wards to the floor, aud he had his
hand on my throat and his knee on my
breast before | could put out finger.
BE quiet and sensible, now ~ he
cautioned. " am Mr.. Thompson.
Sometimes | am funuy-sometimes
not. There is no funny busin. SIS about
this. + you keep quiet. sha'n't hurt
rough ="
had no idea Of struggling with
him. He took from his pocket pieces
of rope and bound my arms and nv
ankles, and when he had finished
said
Pm after the money in the safe, of
course, and Of course l shall get it. 1t
will save time and trouble, however,
If you will give me the word. II YOU
are obstinate about it may bavo to
hold lighted match under your nose. "
| refused him any answer, and after
minute he passed into the private
office and began working ut the safe.
could hear but not see him. He saw
that all the doors were locked before
n" left me, and on such a night rs that
ne had little fear OF being disturbed
He took the list OF twenty words had
given him and started in on the
combination. He had tried eight Of
them, when Mr.. Baker and two police.
men suddenly rose up from behind a
screen, each with q pistol in hand, and
MIR. Baker called out in great good
nature:
"Ah, there, you funny Mr.. Thomp
son, but this is an unexpected pleas
ure | was just dying to hear one o
your funny stories, but | hardl,
thought you'd call at such late hour.n
MIR. Thompson was struck dumb fol
a moment, but he was IL man of cheek
as we'll as OF humor, and, after catch
Ing his breath, he answered.:
That you, Baker ?-ha ha. ha
Did you ever hear the story Of the mar
who dreamed he was horse ?"
No, never did. If you are feclins
we'll tomorrow, come around and tel
1T. L know it must be funny-ba. ha
ha Were YOU trying to work tina
combination ?"
"Why, yes, | was trying, but hav,
had no luck. You seem to have cx
pected me here tonight"
Yes, ha ha ha! Say Thompson
doesn't the situation strike you as rath
er funny"
Yes, dcvilish funnv-ha ha. ha y
Same here. | shall miss you NOR,
than | can tell. If you have time be
fore you go to State Prison, wish yo.
would write me out a few Of your bes
jokes. Tho one you were telling m,
ha ha"'
And for quarter of an hour NOR,
tho two continued to joke each other
while one of the policemen came ou
into the store and released me.
didn't feel very mirthful over tn,
affair, but MIR. Baker slapped me OF
the back and exclaimed:
Charles, my boy, you mustn't hole
any spite against Mr.. Thompson. He'
very funny man, and If he could onl,
stay in Greendale a few weeks lsnge
ia get fat laughing over his jokes
ha ha ha. Say. Thompson, tell hin
the story OF the old maid and the COB
lin-ha ha ha ~
"l-I don't feel as funny as usual
for somo reason" replied Thompson
The fact Is, l think Pve got myscl
boxed up"
I" Yes, just so," replied MIR. Baker
" don't suppose any funny man cal
feel funny when he's boxed up. If yol
haven't any moro jokes TO relate, tn,
police may walk you over to the Gala
boose."
The funny Mr.. Thompson took his
dose like man. He had played his
hand and lost, and he was not tho mar
to kick about it. He attempted no dc
fence, but said he was probably walk
ing in his sleep. He received son
tence Of seven years, and before he was
taken away Mr.. Baker vent to tho iai
to SEQ him and say
Well, Thompson, any new jokes on
conundrnms before you are otl?-ha
ha ha %
Nothing to-day" was tho reply
Say, we used to swap sOmo might,
good things, didn't we ?-ha ha ha
Hang it, | wish you were going along
with me-"
And we'd keep each other laugh
ing from morning till night. Sorry
cant, but I'll see you seven years late
and we'll have lots Of fun"
And it is the solemn truth that TIVE
days after Mr.. Thompson left prison
he called at the store and visited witt
Mr.. Baker for two or three hours, ant
they slapped each other on tho bacl
and laughed until their sides achet
with the exertion.
-.sssz>-. . <Szza--
HARD ON THE COUNSEL.--The fol
lowing experience of Mssissipp
LAWYER WAS related by himself IN In,