The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-11-14
THOMPKINS DEALS
WITH FOOTPADS q

MRS. THOMPKINS had been making
I'M 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 pocketbooE.
'It was simply TERRIBLE said Mrs.
Thompkins. ''AIr 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. just hope they'll catch those
robbers and hang them. Poor Mr..
Timide, he was so brave-neyer 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. just wish they would.
There'd be a few footpads up in Heaven
right away. iii tell you"
Indeed, there wouldn't" said Mrs.
Thomplzins, Indignantly.
"Woman!" thundered Mr.. ThompkinE,
do you doubt my bFavery?'
mo" responded Mrs. Thompkina
bravely, but determined to stand by her
principles. But wouldn't the footpads
--hunA- to the other place."
well, you kGoW what I 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 see is worse than foolish; it's
criminal, that's what tits"
''Criminal?" asked Mrs. Thompkins.
eyes, crimfnal--crimina because foot
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. ThomplSins.
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 a friend.
Mrs. Thomplins, there are so many fools
like Timide browsing around the town
at night encouraging the footpad indus
try that brave men who know how to
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.
Thomplzins practiced on the punching
bag for an hour or two, read three chap
ters on @The Manly Art Of self-Defense, /,
an6 "a, putting two reVolvers in his
poe started out Mrs Thompkins
wept when he went away, and then, after
sitting for awhile in silent thought, was
filled 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
kAlk anu sAAAeA AAl AAg H-A lAAA y
3 vacant lot which was used as a shori
cut between two streets.
His head was down and he was deep In
thought as to whether he should XII
the footpad right OF the reel or bind and
gag him and send for the patrol wagon.
Suddenly ne was aware that two meI
stood ia front Of him. Up Few Mr.
Thompkins good right hand, clinchinl
& revolver. For some reason his hand
shook SO that he could never have taker
aim, but he pressed the muzzle Of there
volver against the body Of the man Il
front Of him and pulled on the trigger
The weapon clicked, and before Mr.
Ihompkins could pun the trigger again
he received q blow on the head from I
cane that knocked him down The tw'
men sprang at him with upraised canes
but one of them exclaimed;
why its old Thomplins. What d'
you mean 81 attempting % sssassinat
nae. you viilain9"