The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-12-03
THOMPKlNS DEALS
WITH FO0TPADS q

Mars. THOMPKINS had been making
lNI calls in the afternoon, and at am
ier she told the narrowing tale mar
rated 10 her by Mrs Timile of how MI
Timide had been held up by three masked
bandits the night before and been forced
20 dlsgorge his watch and pocketbook,
ut was simply terrible" said Mrs.
Thompkina mir, Timde had revolver
too. but It was three against one ana n
WAS upprepared. and so they just helped
themselves. Why they took even the re-
yolver. Just hope they'll catch those
robbers and hang them. foof MT
Tim!de, he was so hraye-neNer nih'cu
or anything"
Mfr Thompkins srorted These PEG
ME who get held up ought 10 be hung In |
stead Of the robbers I'd Ike somebody |
20 hold me up Just wish they would. |
Therc'd be a few footpads UP in Heaven |
right away, ~ tell You"
Indeed. thdTc wouldn't" said Mrs.
Thompklns Indignantly
Woman" thundorcd Mr. Thomrkins. !
"do you doubt my bravery"
No" responded Mrs Thompldns,
hrayely, but determined to stand by hcr
principlca But wouldn't the footpads
--hum-go TO the other place.
We'll. you know what moan. This
thing Of standing still and just request
ing the footpads to kindly step M and
help Themselves and ask for anything
they don't see Is worse than foolish us
criminal. that's what tits
criminal" asked Mrs Thompkins,
Yes. criminal because foot
pnds should be- shot You can'tshoot ON
On the street when you meet en- down
town IN daylight because you don't know
they're footpada Tho only lime 10 shoot
en- Is when they're In the act Of foot
padding BciuG held up is something
thnt an honest citizen should seek, be-
cause II gives him the opportunity oi
knowing who the fao'pada arc aud re-
moving them Immediately from the
earth
but perhaps there are too many NJ
them. as In the case Of Mr. Timidc. SAID
Mrs Thnmpkina
Don't care how many there are oi
ON The more the mcrricr a man out
In the city late NJ night should be Ike
an army IN the presence OF IN" enemy
lie should be- scmpor paratus- that u
Latin for alwayB ready lie should have
his revolver In his hand and his eyes
peeled in every direction and should
FlaTuE-
ter until he has proven himsclf II fricnd.
Mrs Thumpkins. there are 80 many fools
likc Timidc browsing around the town
at night encouraging the tootpad indus
,ry that brave men who know how 10
ical with these creatures should employ
their midnight hours IN going out and
KILN them. | am going to sally forth
tonight and STAY Il few Of these villains
Mrs. Thompkins pleaded IN vain Mr.
Thompkins practicod on IN" punching
bag for an hour or two. read three chap
tcra on The Manly Art Of Sclf-Dctcnse,'
and then. putting two rcvOlvcrs in his
pocket, started out MR. Thompktns
wcpt when he went away and then, after
sitting for awhile In silent thought, was
nllcd with great resolve. and she put on
her hat and cloak and followed
Nj ThomplIIns walked down the street
Tor four blocks, but saw no one. Then
he turned and walked north, and through
vacant lot which was used rs a short
cut between two streets
IIie head was down aud ne was deep In
thought as to whether he should XIII
the footpad right of the reel or bind and
gag him and send for the patrol wagon
Suddenly he was aware that two men
stood In front Of him Up flew MI
Thompkins' good right hand, Cllnching
q revolver For some reason his hand
shook so that he could never have taken
aim, but he pressed the muzzle Of the re-
volver against the body Of the man In
front of him and pulled on the trigger
The weapon clicked, and before Mr..
Thompkins could pull the trigger again
he received blow on the head from Il
cane that knocked him down. The two
men sprang ut him with appraised canes.
Jut one Of them exclaimed:
why. it's old Thompkins What do
you mean by attempting to assassinate
mo, you villain"
"Helpl POlicc!" shouted ThOmpkins.
Then he recognized In the two men his
ueighbors. DR. Pillem and Mr. flootcr
What does this outrage mcan2" de-
manded Mr.. Eooter. Why. Thompkins
II your revolver hadn't missed fire you
would have been murderer"
pntnnIa - cot
Mr. Thompkins. meekly.
DO footpads wear silk hats? Dark
Aa the night was you should have recog.
nizcd our hats. Besides the street lights
here give enough light to have enabled
tcu to zoe who We were"
Il wasn't looking" said MIR. Thomp
kns. in fact. was sort Of expecting
TO be held up and was ready"
You were little bit too ready" com
mented MIR Hooter You can thanh
your lucky stars that you didn't kill any
body or get killed yourself"
The two men. without saying gooc
night, walked away. and Mr.. Thompklni
rubbed the lump on his head raised by
the doctors cane and had n mind to e
nome. but finally decided to carry gu
his appointed mission of Staying foot
pads. So he kept on.
Two blocks away and weakened In
dividual was seen standing under a lamp
post.
"Ah. there Ia one OF the outcasts of {
great city" thought Mr.. Thompkins
He hasn't even ten cents to buy bed II
q lodging house But I'll not encourag,
mendicancy. Drink or gambling hal
brought him to this and will rcprov,
him as To deserves and perhaps point {
wholesome moral"
MY lad" said Mr.. Thompkins. "yo,
should not be abroad at this time O
night. frightening unofYending citizens
Why are you not nj homer"
Il bain't skeerin anybody" said tn,
wanderer. beRinnilE 20 wh.mser. m,