The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-02


He fumbled in his breast pocket for
moment and then brought out the
money. There were three separate
packages 900, $1,000 and $1,000
but he had tied them all together
ana made one large package Most of
the bills were new and the bundle
was worth second look.
This means clothes, quail on toast,
a Trip to London. Paris and Berlin" "
he said, as he fondly patted the
money. 80 the affair is already out
Ell? Please hand me the paper
/ passed it over and he read the
account with a smile on his face
Pretty close shave that. but a miss
IS as good as a mile. Sorry for the
paying teller, but suppose his bonds
men are good for it and that he Will
wriggle along some way. Excuse my
impertinence, but. what do you do for
Head of a department with Gill &
White, retail drygoods.p
''Married?''
mo"
Ever been abroad?"
Look here, old chappie." he con
tinued as he coolly stretched at full
length on the bed. I'm willing to
divvy with you. Hand in your resig-
nation and take a European tour with
me- It'll help your health and broad
en- your mind This Doodle viii enable
US to travel first class for a year"
His impotence aggravated me. I
had not recovered from my surprise
and as he looked at me for an answer
I said:
IN see you hanged first. I'm not
making European tours with bank
sneaks and forgers. Your trip viii
end at the front door of the state
prison!"
TOO peppery-altogether too pep
perry for the head of a retail depart
ment," he quietly observed. "And do
you think I'll be arrested2'
Certainly. m going to take you
downstairs and turn you over to the
police"
That's all wool and a yard wide,
but it will shrink when you come to
try it on he said as he flung his feet
know that 1 blame you for refusing
the trip to Europe, but please don't be
an idiot in other directions
How do you mean?' I asked, also
getting up.
Just figure for a minute. I'm no
chicken. Having played for a big
stake and won it, I'm not going to
prison as you would lead calf. Your
that. I'm willing to put my liberty
and this Doodle against your life if it
comes to that, though hope it won't
I'm armed, as you see, while you are
not Even without the revolver, being
the larger man, / could do you up"
You cOld-bloOded Scoundrel,
muttered, as I realized the situation.
Don't call Names" he pleasantly re-
marked Let's ask what your duty is in
this case I've beaten a bank. Banks
are soulless corporations. They have no
mercy. Last year 80 banks in the United
States closed their doors and left thou
sands of depositors Every failure was
brought about by fraud of some sort.
Right here in this city the president of
the Third National stole $4,000 of the de-
posts. And don't fatter yourself that you
owe a duty to the public. The public
would let YOU starve or freeze. The pub
Ito o. hoe =
public would rob you of your last dollar.
You owe duty to yourself. It is to pre-
serve your present state of health"
You mean that you will shoot me if
give an alarm2' 1 queried
Certainly. l may kill you or only in
weeks 1t may result in my arrest but
where IS your gun2 The firm may bury
you or the bank pay your Doctors bill,
but where Will the profit come in for you
His arguments silenced me, and coming
around the foot of the bed he continued
Il thought l was right when 1 first
sized you up. We have now come to an
understandings I've got to ask a favor
or two, but won't bother you long All
here are the scissors. I must sacrifice
this mustache. Please sit over by the
window.
He laid his revolver on the dresser and
used his scissors to clip off as fine mus
tache as you would see in a weeks travel
my own placidity of mind
"You shave yourself don't youe'' he
finally asked as he turned to me
yes, it's in the right-hand top drawer -
ssA41. tl9anlxsi Good razor-good brnsh-
good soap That makes shaving a lux
He handled the razor with the dizziness
of a barber and in seven or eight min
b utes he was clean shaved. He had sandy
hair. while bis eyebrows were almost red
There was a bottle or bsT.k ink on the
dresser. He used his handkerchief for a
sponge and colored his eyebrows. With
the same fluid he made up as neat a black
eye as one Fowdy ever gave another, and
he was chuckling as he turned to me to
'iTust one thing more, old mana suit