The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-26
FIRED CLARKE IN KANSAS.
How the Head Pirate Was Mistaken
for a Dynamiter.

C. c. Fraser and his valued brother-in-
law, Fred Clarke, are barred from one
can. The name of the place is Akron,
Kan. which town has placed a price on
them to be dynamiters.
Without intending to do so, these mild
Perry is on the lookout for them. One
day last winter our heroes walked in from
tred's country estate, three miles out
from Akron, TO take a train. The train
was several hours late, so when night
came on the travellers took refuge from
the cold in Perry Moore's emporium.
In the middle of the store was a large
hot stove surrounded by Kansas farmers,
whose whiskers swayed and tossed in the
glowing heat. Everything was so home
like and cheerful The athletes grew hun
huge can of Boston baked beans, some
crackers and a small tin of potted ham
Fraser likes his beans warm, and Clarke
said he would serve them that way.
Placing the can of beans on a long
IanuIe9 snoVel' FREQ PoKeo linen, TneIn INTO the
stove 10 neat up a Dit: Ihen ne and
Chick became absorbed in the CONVERSE
ton of the farmers, which was mostly
about train robbers blowing up express
cars with dynamite. The robbers had just
bagged so. 600 from one train when there
came an a wfui crash, streak of nre, and
Perry Moore's stove split wide open.
Showers of live Goals lodged in the whis-
kers of the Kansas farmers and the place
was not the same, however. In the wild
stampede for the door Chick and Fred es-
and dumped tub OF salt mackerel on the
wreck of the hot stove. The fish helped
agine.
A mile away from Akron. Kan, our he
roes took refuge in railroad cuIVert
while the singed farmers roamed at large
with guns. On three occasions the avenS-
ers passed over the culvert. but by press
ING their hands on their beating hearts
the fugitives escaped detection. In tell
ing the story Fraser said he never was so
near death in his career.
those DeanS2' a.
ser asked when the pursuit ended:
1t over. They did it all themselves"
Who. the farmers?" queried Chick
Nav. the beans said the unhappy Pr
them" 9i---e- - 'N-'o" what 'iieo
:. Did you open the can before putting
Clarke said he did not, but that the can
50 heard said the wise Fraser. THE
trouble with you is that you don't know
anything about machinery Get next 1
worked in a shop in Chicago and belonged
70 the union. too You should have vented
the can before putting it in the fire The
not beans in an alright receptacle gener-
ated steam. swelled up. and busted the
can. That's all there is TO it
demanded Fred.
I didn't hear you ask for useful infor-
Inaton, c; Cooper mildly retorted. The
IeloWs with the whisHers could have told
You that much
Wonder if any of the beans got away?'
1nuSed clarke. I'm still hungry"
% am 1, SalO Chlck. who was aDnOV-
ed at passing half the night in a cold chi
vert m willing to admit that you are
my brother-ln-law: that you won some
pennants with the Pirates; but. on the
low down quiet, you don't know beans -
Ihat sounds like a true story said
Ered- Then, after a long pause. 7 ct 8
go home and be the same to one another
as II nothing had happened -
me athletes went home, making wide
aetour around Perry Moore's place There
was no use stopping, as the beans were
Pald for Neither athlete has ever been
back to Akron. It's the last place either
would think of visiting for any purpose:
yet the fact that they are outlawed from
AKRON frets and worries them. Since fhe
foregoing Incident Clarke has made a
special study of beans, SO Fraser saws