The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-03-28


The impatient robbers, themselves
the prey OF fearful anxieties. broke IN,
barking like pair OF coyotes IN
tumble OF commands: Now. line up
with your backs that way. and no
back talk. These guns shoot awful
easy. And remember as each party
is finished with, they are to turn
round and keep their hands up, on
penalty OF gittin' 'em shot of Line
up! Hands up! Give over there!"
Mrs Jimmie Wellington took her
time about moving into position, and
her deliberation brought a howl OF
wrath from the robber: Get into that
line, you!"
Mrs Wellington whirled on him:
How dare you, you brute?" And she
turned up her nose at the gun.
The anxious conductor interviewed
Better obey. madame; he's an ugly
lad"
Il don't mind being robbed" said
Mrs. Jimmie, but won't endure
rudeness."
The robber shook his head IN de-
spair, and he tried to wither her with
sarcasm: "Pardong. mamselly. would
you be so kind and condescendln as
to step into that there car before |
blow your husbands gol-blame head
Off"
This brought her to terms. She
fastened to her place, but put out
restraining hand on Jimmie, who need
ed no restraint. Certainly. to save
my dear husband. Don't strike him.
Jimmie!"
Then each man stuck one revolver
into it's convenient holster, and, coV'
ering the passengers with the other,
proceeded to frisk away valuables
with a speed and agility that would
have looked prettier II those lmpa
tient-looking muzZles had not pointed
here there and everywhere with such
venomous threats,
And so they worked from each end
of the car toward the middle. Their
hands ran swiftly over bodies with a
loathsome familiarity that could only
be resented, not revenged. Their
hands dived into pockets. and up
sleeves, and into womens hair, every
where that jewel or bill might be
secreted. And always rough groWl
or swing of the revolver silenceo
any protest.
Their heinous fingers had hardly
begun to ply, when the solemn still
ness was broken by a chuckle and
low boot of laughter, darkey's unctu,
GUS laughter. At such d place 1t was
more shocking than at a funeral.
What ails your" was the nearest
robbers demand.
The porter tried to wipe his stream
ing eyes without lowering his hands,
as he chuckled on: "I-l-just thought
of sumpum funny"
FUNNY" was the universal groan.
al was Just thinking" the porter
snickered, what mighty poor pick
ings you-all are goin' to git out OF me.
Whilst If you had "a waited till l
got to Frisco, Id jest nachelly been
oozin' money"
The robber relieved him OF few
nd ~
to turn round, but the black face
whirled back as he heard from the
other end of the car Wedgewood's in
dignant complaint: IL say. this Is an
outraged"
"Ah. close your trap and. turn
round, or III"
The porter's srufie died away. Good
Lawd." he sighed, they're goin to
skin that British lion! And just
wore myself out on him."
The far-reaching effect OF the whole
procedure was just beginning to dawn
on the porter. This little run on the
bank meant a period of financial
SITlUS0uCy lOI ILL., llC WdlShCu IuO
hurrying hands moment or two,
then his wrath rose to terrible proper
tons:
Look here, man." he shouted at
the robber. "ain't you-all goin' to
leave these passengers nothin' tall?
mot on purpose. niger.
mo small change, or nothin'?"
Mary a red"
Then. passengers" the porter pro
claimed, while the robber watched
him in amazement: then, passengers,
want to give you-all fair warnin
heah and now: No tips. no whisk-
broom!"
Perhaps because their hearts were
already overtlowing with distress, the
passengers endured this appalling
threat without comment. and when
there was commotion at the other
end of the line, all eyes rolled that
way.
CTO BE CONTINUED3