The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-21
THE Rev. JOIN SCOTT.
BY NJ. QUAD.

No matter what sort OF business my
employers We're engaged in, or the firm
name. It is sufficient to say that I was
a trusted collector, and once a month
made round Of about so customers
and turned in from $4,000 to $50, 600. !
am man of average intelligence and
realized when I took the place that,
sooner or later, some knaye would get
on to my programme and seek to rob
me after making the last collection. I
not only knew it, but my employers
cautioned me over and over again, and
took up the business prepared to keep
my eyes open.
Fer a time used to lie awake nights
and wonder Just how the rascals would
work to get me, and to plan just how
/ would defeat them, and thought OF
all kinds of tricks and prepared rem
edy for them. When a man does this,
he is digging pit to fall into. He is
quite apt to think he is duly prepared,
ana the first thing he knows something
is sprung so dead easy, that its very
simplicity knocks him out. Tt was so
easy in my case.
had gone along for six months all
right, and had defeated several at
teEpts at poeket-picking and highway
robbery, when one day, as 1 was COM
ing in off my route, I met with my
downfall I had a railroad journey OF a
hundred miles to make, and I would not
arrive home before 9 O'Clock in the ev-
ening. 1t had always been that way,
and the Waterman was instructed to let
me into the office, in order that / might
deposit the money in the safe. took a
glance at my felloW-passenger as I
entered the car and I found no cause
for suspicion. Indeed, in my car there
were only half a dozen people, and
three of them were women. One OF
the three men was an old man, and 1
spotted him for a clergyman at once.
He had a seat quite a distance away,
and after about half an hour I took
a second look at him and he beckoned
me to come over. He made place for
me to sit beside him, and opened the
conversation by asking:
Young man, I want to ask you II you
are resident of Blankville?'
Il am sir [ replied.
'Then when you can do an old man q
favor, if you viii. 1 am not only an old
man, but very lame to boot My name
is John Scott-the Rev. John Scott
although [ retired from active work
some years ago. I presume you are
well acquainted with your city?''
Fairly well, sir, and I shall be glad
to oblige you in any way I car"
Thanks. I knew I could not be mis-
taken in you. It is this I want to ask:
How far is Butternut street from the
depot?"
"Only two blocks away 49,.
And about where would No. PA be?'
mot over three blocks away" 1 re-
piled, after a little thought.
THAT is well. The street, as have
been told, is respectable?"
"Oh, yes. The residents are mostly
working people, but it is a nice street.
you don't happen to know a machin-
ist living at 224-a man named Bar
row."
mo, SIR
wen, no harm done. I don't know
him. either. but shall make his ac-
quaintance this evening I had son
die in South Africa three years ago
and this MI Barrow was with him
and has written me that he can give
me full particulars. He is to meet me
at the depot and put me up for the
/ night Poor Harry! He was my only
! son. sir. He went off there to seek his
/ fortune and was killed by the natives
4 You are not q father and you don't
! know what it means for one to lose his
/ only child, and in such a way as poor
Harry died.
! I assured him of my sympathy. and
/ when saw his chin quivering and his
! eyes full of tears.
| ooh, well. it is cross 7 am called
upon to bear" he said after time
| THE Lord gives and the Lord takes
away. Are you member of any church
may ask2'
mot as yet, sir
/ But you believe in the Christian doc
! trine, 7 hope2"
| "I certainly do"
| well, let me trust that in time you
will see your way clear to ally your
/ self to some church Religion asks
and you do not know what a consola-
/ ton it is in time of trouble"
/