The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-17
THAT SKINNER BOY.
He Bosses a Job and Reaps Many
HOnOrs.

Humpy Skinner was trying to make
lariat out of an old piece of clothes
line ia the backyard the other day
when his mother called him in and
Il want new broom from the store
and l want 1t within fifteen minutes
Go to Whites and get it. and if you
fool around on the way you'll hear
from me when you get back"
Can boy fy?" protested Humpy.
who felt a bit hurt
mo but he need not crawl along
like a turtle; If you were going to a
What's the matter with your foot?"
hurts"
"well. keep it there until you get
pack, and then III take the tongs and
pull it out. Anything else the matter p
"One of my susDenders has busted
Never mind that You'd bust a
dozen pairs week if you had EN-"
But 'spose Id meet the mayor on
the street and he'd stop to ask what
time it was ?" argued Humpy
Mrs. Skinner looked around for
something to use as a weapon. and
finding that he must go. the boy made
start 1t was a walk of only two
blocks to the grocery in a straight. line,
but of course he didn't pursue the d.
rect course. That wouldn't have been
like boy. He had gone eight blocks,
and was wondering how he could
make them twelve, when he came
along to where a horse had fall
len and died in the street. A police
man was there. and as Ffumpy came
up, the officer said to him:
See here, boy, want to go and
find team to draw this dead horse
away. If I leave you in charge of the
body do you think you can manage
"Oh, yes. sir. I'm sure I cam was
Are you a sober. honest. industrious
boy?''
Il am. SIR
Ever been arrested?"
Never
-'Then I think can trust you. Just
stand right here, and if any one goes
to steal the body shout for assistance.
It's position of terrible responsible
ity, but I guess you can manage It,"
Humpy forgot all about the broom
and his waiting mother. Only once in
his life before had he seen a dead
horse, and he had just ached to see
another Here he was with one at his
feet, and he could not only gaze as
long as he wanted to, but he was the
boss of the job. His chest was swell
ing out with pride when along came
that Chester boy with his eyes buIging
out.
by George. but what's this.
Humpy?" he exclaimed.
"a dead horse.''
And who's in charge of him?"
II am"
Who put you in charge %
THE police
You don't say! Then you are Just
as big IS a policeman -
Just as big"
Wen. well Say, Hump Skinner.
haven't I always said you was just as
smart as Cicero2 I've said that a dozen
times over, and here is proof Of it.
In fact, you are smarter Cicero, as
far as we can learn, was never left in
charge of Il dead horse. This is the
onward you'u be climbing up. Why
couldn't 1 have had such luck? p
Hump was walking round and round
the body. arms folded, and feeling that
when an old woman came along She
stopped and drew back at sight Of the
horse, and then asked:
"Bubbys is that horse dead?"
Yes m, )" replied Humpy.
what did he die OFF,
"Of=of liver complaint ma'am."
"Shoo! That's the first time I ever
heard of a horse having liver COM
plant I s'pose they do have, though
Do you know if his last moments were
peacefu1?"
he never even kicked. ma'am. He
just fell and gasped and died"
I'm glad of that. That's the way
I want to die myself. He won't have
no headstone to his grave. but he'll
sleep just as well for all that"
When she had passed on along came
five or six hOodlums in body They
were led by boy about fifteen years
old, and his first act was to raise the
horses head and let it drop back with
a bang. and say:
"Fellers, it's case OF broken heart
Just what alls me. The old nag was
in love ard his girl went back on him.
Let's take him by the tail and run
him down the street,
you let him alone," commanded
Humpy in tones of authority, and thus
4 axxrfT1 a IF tn
himself
They looked at him for a moment
and there was a rush from all sides.
He was seized and thrown over the
and when the gang left he was out OF
l..-aa II, and hadIu l,a1lssad he