The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-04

the queer looking sovercoat would fit
extremely well over his openwork
trousers and trapped jacket, thereupon
removed 1t deftly and departed
Jimmy had known that this
blanket" was worth something like
200 bucks, he undoubtedly would have
| hit the bricks like Al Shrubb and thus
have avoided all risk of come
pack Yes, indeed, and if he had
known that he had over his arm a
garment compounded of the hides of a
BUFFALO and couple of sheep, making
It unlike anything else in the New
would, like as not. have taken all the
short cuts he could remember to get to
the dim recessess of a side door Pull
man down in the freight yards, or be-
hind some big dry goods crate up an
unpopular alley, before he went to
dressing himself in it.
But Jimmy didn't know these things.
And SO, when he had got a piece away
from the hotel, stopped in front of a
big plate glass front and began to hud-
die himself into the blanket.
''Buffalo'' Gets Busy.
BUFFALO Jones" was taking turn
about the office of the New Marlboro
when somebody remarked, Did you
tell that gentleman he might borrow
out to be pressed or something. col
oneI?''
Huh = what = overcoat = what
MANI" calculated the colonel. 81
coat round Boston. Why, man pal,
there amt another coat like that on
seventeen continents. Where in
Jimmy Ryan had got one sleeve OF
the big coat on and was beamlng on
himself proudly in the plate glass front,
when he heard a whoop and a clatter
of footballs. A big man, splutterlng
something that didn't sound friendly,
was bearing down on him. Here's
where Jimmy didn't know once more
If he had, he would have dropped the
blanket and taken himself off. AS
sured of the recovery of his coat,
Buffalo Jones' might have let it go
at that. But Jimmy thought he could
get away with it. The big man looked
to chunky to run.
With one arm still in a sleeve and
the rest of the fur coat trailing along
behind him something like unto the
tail of prehistoric Simian-centaur or
other uncouth breed, Jimmy headed
for the good old South End and At
Dover street. That was the best place
he could think of.
whoa, there, YOU" roared the
big man. Drop that bundle" Even ven
then Jimmy wasn't wise. He still
thought he could get away with the
loot. He began to surmise 1t was
better than $7.9S oVercoat.
Jimmy's ideas on clothing values
don't run much above $S.13 anyway.
It was an uncommon1y good blanket
maybe Cohen would give him a buck
and a half on it. He'd stick to it.
It took the colonel twelve city
blocks to do it, but he did it. While
scores looked on in amaZement and
others turned and followed in his
wake the big man, under full head of
steam, overhauled Jimmy Ryan,
brought to a halt with yank that
back teeth, shook him somewhat
severely and handed him over to the
first crossing policeman he came to.
The Colonel Is Glad.
When Col. Jones reappeared at the
New Marlboro he was clad in his
own overcoat. and mighty glad of it.
sit wasn't the value of the coat so
much,'' he said later, "as the rela-
tfons connected with it. The fur of
the coat itself is made from the first
hybrid born of a full blooded
buffalo and Western longhorn COW.
The collar is made from the first
hybrid resulting from cross-breed ing
the Persian Broadtail sheep and the
fuIl-blooded Merino sheep. I was the
first man to cross-breed these ami
mails successfully and value this
coat principally because Of that"
Col; Jones refers to his intimate
lied and told interesting reminis-
cences about their friendship. He
took his capture modestly. tSure, it |
is nothing" he said. when you
come to taking grizzly bears that are
in Yellowstone park. the ones that
kill the other bears. and whipping |
them until their spirit is cowed in or
der to make them fear the less
ferocious ones, that tests your nerve. |
1t certainly, tested mine the first time |
L tried it. These cheap drunkardS |
of thieves are nothing to handle. Old
as I am. this thief was like child in |
nv arms. That is because I have
never touched liquor
1t may be said for Jimmy Ryan |
that he wishes good and hard he had |
never touched that funny-looking |
blanket. o, well, Jimmy didn't |
know. that's all. He knows now, and |
after he gets out if he's ever called |
upon to pass the New Marlboro hotel |
on Washington street, he'll pass it by
way of Joy street, Charlestown,
Brighton. Roxbury and South Bos-
ton. Leave it to Jimmy Ryan.
Jimmy was given four months in
Jail for his escapade.