The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-14
THE EVENING STORY
A GentlemanIy Robber.
~ q r La-ss

daughter OF a. widow, was assistant
bookkeeper and assistant cashier Of the
Flint Woolen mills, in the suburbs Of a
certain western city. It was one OF
the duties Of the cashier to go to the
bank in the city every Saturday fore
noon and draw an amount sufficient to
pay the wages Of the employees, and he
had never met with any adventure in
so doing. One was coming, however.
There came a day when a stranger
recognized him and tried to possess
ground from the bank to the mills and
laid his plans, and a week before the
event he felt certain that the Doodle
was his.
Look here. Miss Davis said the mill
manager one Saturday forenoon. Il
have word that Mr.. Samson is sick and
won't be down this morning. At 10
O'Clock you viii have to go to the bank
IN his place. You can go down on a
street car and come back in a hansom-'
The young lady was rather pleased
and proued over the errand, and when
the hour arrived she set out with never
a thought that it was to be an eventful
day in her life As she boarded a car
in front of the mill a good-looking
stranger about so years old got in and
sat opposite her. Although she could
not say that he ever glanced at her,
she had several sly peeps at him and
was quite Iavorabey impressed with his
appearance.
The check was promptly cashed at
the bank, and with the money in her
reticule the girl reached the door to ma
an empty carriage drawn up as II
awaiting her.
''Keb, ma amp" queried the driver.
and next moment she was inside and
being Whirled away.
Miss Davis was so occupied with
thoughts of something else that she did
not notice the landmarks along the
way. When the hack suddenly stopped
she looked out and saw that she had
not arrived at the mill. Instead OF
that she had arrived at a lone old house
standing alone on the block, and the
neighboring was one she had never seen
before.
She sprung to the ground and began
to question the driver, but he wheeled
and drove off without a reply, and out
of the house stepped the man of the
street car and raised his hat and bow
ed and smiled.
Where am T.? What does this
mean?" asked the girl.
IF you will step inside I VIII ex-
plain" replied the man.
But shall not step inside Why
did the carriage bring me here? 1
shall not stay a minute
But she did. The man stepped for
ward and passed an arm around her
and carried her within in spite of her
struggles. He seated her on a box in
a bare room and sTnilingly said:
Excuse me, please, but you were
acting a bit foolish. You have asked
several questions, and I will now pro-
coed to answer them.
you are in the suburbs. You were
brought here to be robbed You Will
be detained a few hours and then set
at liberty. Had the cashier gone to the
bank for the money he would now
have been IN your place. You will be
held blameless in this matter, and
you must see that you are also perfect
ly helpless. Better take a sensible
view of things. How much money did
you draw %
about S2,60O," she replied as she
handed over the reticule
Not a fortune, but fair pay Tor a
days work. Now, then, you have got
to endure my society for an hour or
two, and I hope you VIII try TO make
the best of it.
raised a window. drew up another
box and continued:
I'VE may as well be sociabIe as to
sit here and sulk. Has the thought
ever occurred to you that you Woulo
be heroine some day.
Il never expected to fall into the
hands Of a robber."
1T was foreordained that you were
to become a heroine that way. Your
story will create a sensation. The three
daily papers will send reporters to in
terview you. They will publish your
picture. They will describe the color
of your hair and eyes-praise your
small hands and feet-telI how cool and
You viii be called one OF the most
beautiful girls in the state.
You are impudent," said the girl
with a toss of her head.
Then forgive me. If you are not en-
gagged YOU will have a score of oppor-
tunities to become so. You will receive
letters from all over the state. AS q
heroine you will be pointed out on the |
street and the reporters will follow you |
home and write articles on how you eat |
and sieep-vour old shoes-your likes (
and disnkes-whther pickles agree with |
you or give you headache. Songs may /
be composed and sung in YOUR honor, /
and it is certain that a brand of cigars
will be named after you. Fame is sure
" about to knock at the door.
ssF3ut I want none of it, responded
Miss Davis 7 want to appeal to your
better nature to give me that money
and let me 60 You say you are a TOD
her. but 7 am sure you are also a gen
tleman and not without honor and SEN
timent.'
Eyes. I am a gentleman by birth and
education and have my fair share OF
sentiment but this is a. worldly matter
and must be discussed from a worldly
standpoint. You have read IN the pa
oers haven't YOU, tho the mayor OF
your city is accused of boodling, and
that an effort viii be made to tmpeach
him
YES
There are two ALDERMEN under in
iictment and two more suspected while
! building inspector has had to leave
he country to escape arrest You knew
hat. didn't you?
Yes
sfEVell. some of them. at least, are
gentlemen, and all have more or less
sentiment, but has anybody appealed
o them on that score to surrender
heir boodle2'
ssT-I guess not. But because an
,tF7er man commits crime you can not
be excused" replied the girl.
ssThat is ancient history" smiled the
nan. ssThere has been a new deal on
~. the last fifty years. In our haste
o get rich we have put principle be-
lind us. The motto of the average
nan today is: Get rich as fast as
Iou can and any way you can, but
-. L.. -.t,-sctltr honest man s