The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-10-12
A FOOL AND
A ROBBER

TCopyright, 1906, by Homer Sprague.J
My uncle, Joseph Fuller. always
kept his money in his house on MS
farm. A farmer living near had an
idiot son. From the time he was I'VE
years old he had been visitor at
Uncle Joe's. He sometimes remained
there overnight. The lad and I always
got along together very well, and after
l had known him for three or four
years l discovered that curiosity was
his leading trait.
He wasn't curious as other boys are.
but after arriving at the age OF ten
he took to running around the country.
On a certain night when l was at
Uncle Joe's and when I was fourteen
years old uncle and Aunt Mary count
ed over $1,000 in bills they had in the
house. This counting was done IN their
bedroom after 1 was in bed, and the
package was then hidden under the
carpet. A noise was heard at the win
dow, and Uncle Joe went out to see II
any one was spooking round, but
made no discovery. Next day he went
away to buy some cattle, and during
the forenoon things went on as usual.
Just before noon the fool came over,
and when the meal was ready he took
his seat at the table with the rest.
There were two hired men, and after
dinner had been disposed Of they went
back to their work in a distant field.
l had been sent to roll some old cider
end vinegar barrels out of the cellar
and rinse them as well. made signs
to the boy to help me, but he shook his
head and sat down on the doorstep and
kept up such a grinning and chuckling
that Aunt Mary noticed it after awhile
and wondered what he had been up to.
At about half past 1 o'clock a we'll
dressed, business looking man drove up
to the gate in buggy, hitched his
horse and came in. He asked me at
the we'll if Mr.. Fuller was home, and
when l answered in the negative he
seemed considerably put out fol-
lowed him to the kitchen door, where
he introduced himself to my aunt and
explained that he had cattle to sell.
After a little talk he began to tell us
that he had seen a man hurt on the
highway, and gradually we all came
to crowd into the kitchen. OF sud-
den the man pulled revolver and said:
''Sit down, the three of you, and If
one Of you utters a single yell will
shoot you deadw
1 thought the fellow was joking and
was slow about sitting down. Aunt
Mary was also slow in catching on.
and as she finally took chair she was
pale as death. The fool laughed and
sucked at his finger and seemed to con-
slider the thing a good joke.
Nov, then, understand me-" con-
tinued the man when we were seated
before him. There is money in this
house. want it. I'm going to get it
if 1 have to kill the three Of you. What
are you grinning at?"
This last remark was addressed to
the fool and explained that he was a
victim of misfortune 1 was aston
ished, but not frightened. I had heard
Of robbers, but this man didn't come
up to my notion of one at all. Neither
was aware Of the large sum of money
In the house. The man hauled of to
cuff the fool, but thinking better Of it
he looked at Aunt Mary and said:
"Get me that money. Get every dol
lar there is in the house. If you keep
any back I'll burn the roof over your
head"
"Please sir" she began. and knew
in second that she wanted to deny
that there was any money in the house.
She couldn't tell lie, however. She
was too good Christian for that She
did hold out, however, until the man
cooked the weapon in her face, and
then she crept into the bedroom to dig
the roll out from under the carpet. A
sudden ejaculation came from her, and
she appeared at the door to cry out:
Its gone! Some one has robbed us
Of every dollar!"
Don't lie to me, woman!' exclaimed
the man.
But I'm not lying. Last night we
had $1,000. and hid it under the corner
VI luc carpet OOuC Ouc udS
taken it since then"
The man had to believe her. Her
distress and sincerity were too evident
He fell to swearing and for five
minutes the air was blue with his pro-
family. During this time the fool had
his hands over his mouth to prevent
! himself from laughing aloud, and was
wondering if Aunt Mary wOuldn't
faint away. She said it was barely
possible that Uncle Joe might have
taken it away with him, thinking at
the last moment that he might have
need Of it. and it was probably this
that prevented the man from question
ing us two boys. He was terribly put
out, but after making search Of the
bedroom and kicking things around
he took his departure and drove OF at
| furious pace.
When it was all over Aunt Mary
Topped down in faint As ran for
water the fool ran toward the orchard.
I had just revived my aunt, who was
crying, when the boy came In with the
biggest kind Of a grin on his face and
the $1,000 in his hand, and we had an