The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-28

The story is founded upon a real occur
renee that happened at the little town of
hero of it was c. H. Pattison, one of the
organizers OF the Continental Creamery
company, now its New York representa-
tive, who is well known and highly es-
teemed in Topeka
Fifteen or twenty years ago Charley
Pattison was cashier in the bank of his
uncle, w T. Harris, at Solomon. One day
a circus struck Solomon. It was one of
the oId-fashioned shows that used to
travel around over the country and was
men generally. It went under the name
OF the Great Consolidated Shows. and Il
had with 1t about great an aggregation
Of thieves as often gets together in
Among the people who came to town to
take in the circus was well-to-do farm
tron of the hank in which Pattison was
cashier and at the time Of the circus he
day some of the con. men got Taylor on
the string and got him into "a little
game" They found out that he was we'll
TODD and they laid their plans to fleece
him
The usual play was made. Taylor won
right along for time. He made up his
mind that he got on to the game and
could win whenever he wanted to- The
swindlers pretended to be mystified and
finally refused to play with him, but fl
naIy consented to if the stakes were
made worth while.
Taylor went to the bank and drew out
his $780, telling PattisOn what a sure.
thing he had. He expected to break the
H.
suade him out of It. but he wouldn't be
persuaded; He returned to the game and
Of course it was the old story. His money
had disappeared in no time and the
swindlers disappeared also
Taylor sought Pattison again and ac-
knowledged that his money was gone and
sought his assistance in getting it back.
Pattison promised to help him after
banking hours. He was an athletic young
fellow and everybody in the whole cOun-
try was his friend. AS soon as the bank
was closed he sought the manager of the
one of the assistant managers, however,
and directly accused the show manage
ment of robblng the farmer. The Snowman
denied it, but Pattison persisted and f.
nally threatened to gather a crowd to-
gether and wreck the whole outfit unless
the money was restored
The Snowman saw danger in Pattfsons
eyes. and he finally consented to meet
Pattison again at 8 O'Clock in the ticket
wagon after the collections had been
made for the evenings admissions, and
settle the matter.
Pattison was on hand promptly at s
and the manager invited him into the
wagon. Then they argued the whole mat
ter over again the Snowman denying any
knowledge of the robbery and Pattison
insisting If the money were not speedily
restored to Taylor he would wreck the
show. For half an hour the controversy
went on but when Pattison made a move
agreed to compromise for $3.50. Pattison
refused He insisted on having the en-
$780, but still Pattison was firm But when
the Snowman offered $3.50 the young
cashier agreed to take It.
In the meantime the ticket wagon had
been shut up except for little door at
the side. The manager counted out the
money and asked Pattison to write re-
ceipt for it. While PattisOn was thus en-
gagged, the manager slipped through the
| door slammed it shut and bOlted It. The
wagon quickly started off with the cashier
! a prisoner on the inside.
It did not take Pattison long to realize
what It meant He tried to break the
J door but could not The only thing he
going a number of miles the wagon was
/ halted and the prisoner heard voices on
| the outside. He quickly gathered that
| the money was to be taken from him and
| he was to be robbed of anything he might
have besides and then turned loose to
find his way back in the darkness as best
| he might.
about that. AS the door swung open ne
| the darkness. The circus men started at
! .er him, but Charley Pattison is a Splinter
and it did not take him many minutes to
4 get safely away from the circus
After going mile so he came to the
house Of farmer and STOPPED for the
| night The farmer was John Dewar- The
! next morning he got acquainted with Mr.
/ Solomon. where he restored to Taylor the
money that was stolen from him. Taylor
was pFofuse in his gratitude hut Patuson
didn't care for that. He went back to
Mr. Dewar'S a few DAYS later, and after
wards the habit of driving out to ne
| DeWar farm became a dxed one with ft7E-
| 1t might be stated that Mrs. Pattison.
| who become known to many topeka 2eo-
| pie during her residence here last year,
I nrlr n Solomon