The Tupelo journal., 1903-10-30
THOMPKINS DEALS
WITH FOOTPADS 8

MRS. THOMPKINS had been making
lVf 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.
at was simply terrible" said Mrs.
Thompkins. Mr.. Timide had a revolver,
too, but it was three against one, and he
was u~nprepared, 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 peo-
pie who get held up ought to be hung in
stead of the robbers. I'd like somebody
to hold me up. l just wish they would.
There'd be a few footpads up in Heaven
right away, I'll tell you"
Indeed, there wouldn't" said Mrs.
Thompkins, Indignantly.
Woman Numbered Mr.. Thompkins,
edo 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"
We'll, you know what l 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 can't shoot EN-
on the street when you meet 'em down
town in daylight because you don't know
they're fQotpads. The only time to shoot
ZEN 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-that's
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. T~hompkins, there are Sc many fools
like Timide browsing around the town
at night encouraging the footpad indus-
deal with these creatures should employ
their midnight hours in going out and
KILN them. l am going to sally forth
tonight and Stay 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 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
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
he turned and walked north, and through
a vacant lot which was used as a 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 vas aware that two men
stood in front of him. Up flew Mr..
~Thompkins' good right hand, clinching
a revolver. For some reason his hand
shook SO that he could never have taken