The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-09-16


proper or your improper SELF, SAID Sim
mons, quite unmoved, and filing two tin
mugs with the sweetened tea.
And who am ~
"'Joe the Tinman.'
"Joe handled his pistol as one prepared
for action, but Simmons burst into laugh.
Leave off handling your barking
iron, he said, and take that mug of tea.
I'd advise you to put taste of rum In IL,
for the nights a nipper. You know where
the bottle Is, so make no bones about 1t.
When Old Mike-that was the name of
the stockman-sen me up here In his
place, he didn't forget to say who was his
friends and best customers
$50, Joe the Tinman and Simmons the
trap sat down to their tea together, and a
jolly night I've heard they had of It.
"Toward morning each took to Boosting
OF his powers of doing this thing or that
thing. and among other things Simmons,
who'd beer when "a mere boy a sort Of
acrobat at circus, boosted Of his powers
of jumping,
"'Now, he said, 'supposing the traps
were about me and you was one of 'em I'd
clear short man like you at bound,
and, provided you weren't armed, I'd defy
q dozen like you TO catch me-.
"The tinman, who was bumptious In
his cups, denied this.
"'Why, he said, IF you was to try to
leap over me as You say, I'd just up with
my arms and pin your two thread paper
legs So
HE illustrated his words by action.
But Simmons only laughed.
Nonsense. I'd skim over you as a
swallow Skins over a bit of water. You
wouldn't even touch my shadder as
passed.
"The tlnman, drinking more rum, grew
angry.
"'I'd like to see you try It. You're
more of a grasshopper than properly
built man, that's what you are Come,
I'll bet you this gold watch that you don't
Jump clean over me as / stand now, back
toward you.
Z" Watch be Langedl' says Simmons
I'LL bet you bottle of rum against that
bowie you've got in your belt that clear
short chap like you, hold up your hands
as high as you can, at jump; only give
me a run of a few yards.
"'Done' And drawing the bowie
knife from his belt the bushranger laid 1t
on the table.
"Gammonp' observed Bill, who had
listened with much attention to the story.
"It's thing as Leotard or any one O.
them springy chaps, couldn't do.
"It's only trick, " replied Mr. Blake,
"a mere circus trick-which every clown
in the ring understands. Here, I'll show
you how it's done in minute-that Is,
I'll show you how Simmons must have
done 1t, according to my belief"
With ready obedience Bill stood up and
turned his back to the operator.
81 suppose that's how the Tinman
stoodP"
~ should fancy so. Raise your arms
little above the level Of your head. That's
1t. Throw them back little and I'll
show you how the trick was done''
Bill, following every direction, raised
his hands high over his head, then let
them decline slightly in the direction Of
his new friend.
The latter, taking Bills wrists In his
hands, brought them gently together.
''This Is how the thing must have been
DONE" he said Simmons must have
taken advantage of "a position that placed
the bushranger absolutely In his power to
draw pair Of handouts from his pocket,
and, before the other could make move.
ment, slip them on So"
The thing was done In an instant, and
before the craftsman could realize the
fact he found himself seated In one OF the
chairs, his hands fettercd and his captor,
calm and smiling, standing over him.
New York News.