The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-10-12

w oho" % ubuu. L sat III u CDalr Z
facing him and only a few feet away
OF a sudden, and while he was smiling
and Laughing, he put his hands on the
counter and leaped forwards and land
cd full upon ne. | was carried back
wards to the floor, and he had his
hand on my throat and his knee on nv
breast before | could put out u finger.
BE quiet and sensible, now l' he
cautioned. 81 am Mr. Thompson.
S metimes | am funuy-sometimes
not. There is no funny business about
rough !"
had no idea Of struggling with
him.. He took from his pocket pieces
OF rope and bound my arms and my
ankles, and when he had finished,
said
PPM after the money in the safe, of
course, and Of course | shall get it. 1t
viii save time and trouble, however,
If you will give me the word. II you
are obstinate about it may have to
hoJd a lighted match under YOU nose"
Il refused him any answer, and after
a minute he passed into tho private
Office and began working at the safe.
could hear but not see him. He saw
taat all the doors were locked before
he left me, and on such q night as that
he had little lear 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 a pistol in hand, and
Mr.. 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 Of
your funny stories, but | hardly
thought you'd call at such a late hour!'
Mr.. Thompson was struck dumb for
a moment, but he was u man of cheek
as well 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 man
who dreamed he was a horse ?"
mo, never did. If you are feeling
well tomorrow, come around and tell
it. | know it must be funny-ha ha
ha Were you trying to work tina,
combination ?"
why, yes, | was trying, but have
had no luck. You seem to have ex
pected me here tonight"
Yes, ha ha . ha Say Thompson
doesn't the situation strike you as rath
err funny ?"
Yes, devilish funny-ha ha ha p
Same here. | shall miss you NOR,
than ] can tell. II you have time be
fore you go to State Prison, | wish 20,
: would write me out a few of your bes
jokes. The one o were telling m,
, yesterday was a regular corker-ha
ha ha"
. And for O quarter Of an hour NOR,
1 the Two continued to joke each other
. while one of the policemen came GU
into the store and released me.
didn't feel very mirthful over tn
, affair, but Mr.. Baker slapped me O
the back and exclaimed
5 Charles, my boy, you mustn't hol
Q any spite against Mr.. Thompson. He
q very funny man, and.if he could onl
stay in Greendale a few weeks lSnge
t I'd get fat laughing over his Jokes
ha ha ha. Say. Thompson, tell hlr
l the story of the old maid and the COL
o lin-ha ha ha !"
+ I'll don't feel as funny as usua
D for some reason" replied Thompso,
d The fact is, l think I've got myse
boxed up"
d Eyes, just So" replied Mr.. Bake
d ~ don't suppose any funny man ca
d feel funny when he's boxed up. If yo
n haven't any more jokes TO relate, th
o police may walk you over to the cal,
boose."
The funny MIR. Thompson took h
dose lik a man. He had played b
hand and lost, and he was not the ma
to kick about it. He attempted no d,
fence, but said he was probably wall
ing in his sleep. He received a sci
t tence OF sever years, and before he WI
taken away Mr.. Baker vent to the ia
to see him aud say
= well, Thompson, any new Jokes {
g c%onundrums before you are off ?-ha
ha ha
Nothing to-day" was the repl
% Say, we used to swap some might
u good things, didn't we ?-ha ha hs
y Hang it, wish you were going alon
with me-
rs And we'd keep each other laugl
e ing from morning till night. Sorry
cant, but I'll see you seven years late
and We'll have lots of fun"
It And 1t is the solemn truth that tw
It days after Mr.. Thompson left prise
g he called at the store and visited wit
g Mr.. Baker for two or three hours, an
they slapped each other on the bac
e and laughed until their sides ache
n with the eXertion.