Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-11-06
THOMPKINS DEALS
WITH FOOTPADS 8

~
IVk calls in the afternoon, and at din
aer 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.
at was simply terrible" said Mrs.
Thompkins. "Mr. Timide had 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 I 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 peo-
pie who get held UP ought to be hung in
stead of the robbers. I'd like somebody
to hold me up. 1 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!" Numbered Mr.. Thompkins;
"do you doubt my bravery"
NO." responded Mrs. Thompkins,
bravely, but determined to stand by her
principles. But wouldn't the footpads
well, you know what I mean This
thing of standing still and just request
ing :na 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 1t Is"
"Criminal?" asked Mrs. Thompkins.
Eyes, criminal-criminal because foot
pads should be shot. You can't 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 shooN
'em is when they're in the act of foot
padding. Being held up is something
shat 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
EN- 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 a friend.
Mrs ThOmpkins, there are so many fools
like Timide browsing around the town
at night encouraging the fOotpad indus
:ry that brave men who know how to
zeal with these creatures Should employ
their midnight hours in going out ard
rillin' them. 1 am going to sally forth
tonight and Stay few of these villains"
Mrs. Thompkins pleaded in vain. Mr..
Thompkins practiced on the punching
bag for an hour or two, read three chap
ters on "The Manly Art of Self-Defense,"
and then, putting two revolvers in his
pocket, started out. Mrs. Thompkins
wept when he went away, and then. after
sitting for awhile in silent thought was
filed with a great resolve, and she put on
her hat and cloak and followed.
Mr. Thompkins walked down the street
for four blocks, but saw no one. Then
he turned and walked north, and through
a vacant lot which was used as short
cut between two streets.
His head was down and he was deep in
thought as to whether he should kill
the footpad right off 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 few Mr.
Thompkins' good right hand, clinching
a revolver. For some reason his hand
shook so that he could never have taken
aim, hut 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 Mfr.
Thompkins could pull the trigger again
he received a blow on the head from
cane that Knocked him down. The two
men sprang at him with appraised canes,
but one Of them exclaimed:
why, it's old Thompkins. What do
you mean by attempting to assassinatel
me. you villain?"
Help! Police!' shouted Thompkins.
Then he recognized in the two men his
neighbors. DR.. Pillem and Mr.. Hooter.
What does this outrage mean?" de-
manded Mr.. Hooter. why, Thompkins,
if your revolver hadn't missed fire you
would have been murderer
ST thought you were footpads." said
Mr.. Thompkins, meekly.
do footpads wear silk hats? Dark
as the night was you should have recog-
nized our hats. Besides the street lights
here give enough light to have enabled
you to see wbo We we're"