The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-11-26
THOMPKINS DEALS
WITH FOOTPADS &

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MRS. THOMPKINS had been making
Ivf calls in the afternoon, and at din
ner she told the narrowing tale mar
rated to her by Mrs. Timide of how Mr..
Timide had been held up by three masked
bandits the night before and been forced
to disgorge his watch and pocketbook.
ut was simply terrible said Mrs.
Thompkins "Mr. Timide had a revolver,
too, but it was three against one, and he
was unprepared. and so they just helped
themselves Why, they took even the re-
volver l just hope they'll catch those
robbers and hang them. Poor Mr..
Timide, he was SO brave-never tainted
or anything"
Mr. Thompkins snorted. These reo-
pie who get held up ought to be hung in
stead of the robbers I'd like somebody
to hold me up. just wish they would.
There'd be few footpads up in Heaven
right away, I'll tell you" :
Indeed, there wouldn't" said Mrs.
Thompkins, Indignantly.
"Woman!" thundered Mr.. Thompkine.
"do you doubt my bravery"
NO. responded Mrs. Thompkins,
bravely, but determined to stand by her
principles. But wouldn't the footpads
--hum-go to the other placer"
well, you know what mean. This
thing OF standing still and just request
ing the footpads to kindly step up and
help themselves and ask for anything
they don't see is worse than foolish; it's
criminal, that's what it is.'
"Criminal?" asked Mrs. Thompkins.
eyes, criminal-criminal because foot
pads should be shot. You cant shoot 'em
on the street when you meet 'em down.
town in daylight because you don't know
they're footpads. The only time to shoot
'em is when they're in the act of foot
padding. Being held up is something
that an honest citizen should seek, be-
cause it gives him the opportunity of
knowing who the footpads are and re-
moving them Immediately from the
earth"
"But perhaps there are too many OF
them, as in the case of Mr.. Timide," said
Mrs. Thompkins.
Don't care how many there are OF
'em. The more the merrier. A man out
in the city late at night should be like
an army in the presence OF the enemy.
He should be semper paratus-thats
Latin for always ready. He should have
his revolver IN his hand and his eyes
peeled in every direction, and should
treat every man as a suspicious charac-
ter until he has proven himself friend
Mrs. Thompkins, there are SO many fools
like Timide browsing around the town
at night encouraging the footpad indus
try that brave men who know how tc
deal with these creatures should employ
their midnight hours in going out and
KILN them. am going to sally forth
tonight and slay a few of these villains. :
Mrs. Thompkins pleaded in vain. Mr.
Thompkins practiced on the punching
bag for an hour or two, read three chap
tiers o. "The Manly Art of f-Defense.'
arc :, putting two revolvers in his
po started out. Mrs. Thompkins
Ntpt NHcH uc WCAt q way oAu eACA, oAsOi
sitting for awhile in silent thought, was
filled with great resolve, and she put OF
her hat and cloak and followed.
Mr.. Thompkins walked down the stree
for four blocks, but saw no one. TheI
he turned and walked north, and through
a vacant lot which was used as shor
cut between two streets.
His head was down and he was deep II
thought as to whether he should xii
the footpad right OF the reel or bind an,
gag him and send for the patrol wagon.
Suddenly he was aware that two mel
stood in front OF him. Up few MI
Thompkins' good right hand, clinchin,
revolver For some reason his han,
shook SO that he could never have takel
aim, but he pressed the muzzle of the re
volver against the body of the man Il
front OF him and pulled on the trigger
The weapon clicked, and before MI
Thompkins could pull the trigger agai
he received blow on the head from
cane that knocked him down. The tw
men sprang at him with upraised canes
but one of them exclaimed:
Why, it's old Thompkins. What d
you mean by attempting to assassinat
me. you yillainf''