Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-04-16
A Good Use of a Flask.


man, nau occasion 10 move my once
belongings and hired negro called
Bill for the purpose. After the NOV,
ing | missed new sixty dollar over
coat I was sure Rill had taken it and
had him arrested, but since there was
no evidence against him he was dis
charged.
My new Office was on the second
floor, apart from other offices. One
afternoon when | was sitting there
alone at work on my books Bill open
ed the door and came in. He had not
been paid for his services and asked
for the money | gave it to him and
said:
"Blll, perhaps you know who stole
my overcoat Try to find it and bring
1t to me- If you do, I'll pay you well
for your trouble. II not, I'll send the
man who stole it to state prison yet"
"I'n try" he said as he pocketed the
money paid him and went away.
/ had advertised my loss. and the
next day a woman and little girl
came into my Office with the missing
coat. The woman said that negro
had sold 1t to her for SO and that she
would know him If she should see him
again. had Bill rearrested She
identified him, and be was tried and
sent to state prison for two years.
After it was all over learned that
Bill was a very bad man. He had been
q slave, and his former master had
Gaid that he was the only negro he
had owned that he was afraid of
That Bill had ever been a criminal be.
fore stealing my coat did not learn
Upon getting this information re-
membered with some feeling his visit
10 me when was alone in my office
am q small man; he was large and
powerful one. Indeed. bad been
completely at his mercy. 1t occurred
to me that after he had served his
term he might make me another visit
for the purpose of taking his revenge
for an enforced residence in prison
| was sufficiently impressed with
this to note the time % expiration OF
Bilrs term, so thai when he was re
leased | might De prepared for him,
but didn't count on time reduced for
good behavior Onecvcnng just before
! was ready to shut mp my Office and
so home The door opened and in
waleed Bill lie assumed the same
cool, impudent manner as before
sat looking al hEi from my desk
"You don't remember me, do you
boss" he said
Yes remember you very well
You're the man who stole my over
coat"
INA tie man YOU sen, to state
prison"
Yes ! remember that too"
lie was looking about him. glancns
ont Of the window. taking in the stu
alton knew he had come to Lii me
and was only considering the question
OF my surroundings with view to do
ing the job without its beng known
who was the murderer Fearing step
IN the hall without. he delayed, All this
/ could read in his eyes as plainly as if
It had been written IN capitals on the
desk before me. The step was lost in
the distance. and BilPs manner indi-
Gated that he considered an obstacle re,
moved Still, he must have fully appre-
ciated the many possible dangers of
being tracked. II not caught in the act
He Kept his eyes and ears open for any
thing without. There was coal stove IN
the center of the Office, nek' where he
stood, and a heavy iron poker | saw
him take in the poker, ana | knew by
his expression that he had chosen II
for q weapon. 1t would make no noise
] also inferred by this that be was
probably uuarmed He doubtless had
no money with which to buy a weapon
A door slammed on the floor above
and there was step on the stairs
Some one was coming down Bilfs
eye changed in a twinklng
I'm gwine to try N do better, boss"
be said,
$50 would advise you"
Couldn't you help me leetlef"
Hero was ray of hope. Not from
the passing person. daree not risk
calling. In the right hand drawer of
my desk | remembered having placed
a brown glass flask ihaped like a re.
volver and commonly called a pocket
pistol Bill had given me an excuse to
open the drawer.
Il might give you few dollars" |
said, Ito keep you till you can get a
job | keep stamps and petty cash in
this drawer You needn't come inside
the rail | can hand it TO you"
The person coming downstairs had
gone out into the street, and all was
still Watching Bits eye, saw that
my tine had come Grasping the
poker, he started for the gate in the
rail opened the drawer, seized the
pocket pistol brought it 90 bear on him
anl cried Gercely:
Glands upr'
His hands went over bis head as II
worked by % spring roa la bat if
DELAYED he would discover my trick. !
cried
"Facc the door,"
Again gave the third order
SHOVE forward"