The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-26
TOLD By A DRUMMER.
(By NJ. Quad.)

Thirty years ago 1 was postmaster
in a small village in Indiana. There
were two stores, two groceries, char
factory and one or two shops There
was no bank within II miles. and, as
1 had the only burglar-proof safe in
the place, the merchants and others
were given the privilege OF depoSltlng
with me for several days at a time.
Sometimes, with my own money add
ed, l had over thousand dollars un-
der lock and key, and there was al
ways at least fifty dollars in postage
stamps.
The postoffice building was in the
rear of one of the groceries, and 1
have to smile now at the way it was
defended from robbers As matter
of fact, aside from a little bob-tailed
dog, it was not defended at all. By
breaking a pane of glass a window
could be raised. The lock. could have
been bored off the front door in five
minutes. Anyone getting into the
grocery part could have sawed a hole
in the partition. l trusted to the dog
to bark, and 1 trusted that no robber
could get into the safe.
For ten long years [ went on feel
ing as safe as bank, and then 1 got a
surprise party. Why robbers had
passed me by so long has always been
mystery to me- 1 lived with my
family two blocks up the street, and
we were all sound Sleepers. After 10
O'Clock at night no yillager could be
found astir, unless in case of sickness.
1t was June night, and about mid
night when my wife aWOke with a
case of tOothache and aroused me. We
had some simple remedies downstairs,
and l struck a light and went down.
had reached the lower hall when
heard a soft scratching on the front
door, and as / bent an ear to listen a
child's voice was heard saying:
"Oh. mister man. Mister man.
OF course 1 took it to be some
neighbours child sent for assistance,
- ~I.+ - .,t,- -
called by name. I opened the door
and a ragged boy of about 2 slid into
the hall. 1 had never seen him before
He was dirty we'll as ragged, but
saw. AS he shut the door and stood
with his back to it I asked:
We'll. who are you? Is there any
one in trouble?'
the postmaster lives?" he replied.
Right here. l am the postmaster"
Gee! 1 hit it the first time, didn't
I? Well, you'd better get a move on
you. There's three men trying to
break into the postoffice, Got a gun %
Boy don't try to joke with me-" I
sternly replied.
You won't find it much of joke if
you stand here the rest of the night
Get into your buds and come on"
! had no firearms of any sort, but I
ran back upstairs and got into my
trousers. and then, as we hurried out
ii
stick from the pile of wood handy by
and legged it down the street. A win
dow at the postOffice had been pried
up and two men had entered and
third was keeping watch outside. 1t
was the outside man that saw or heard
us and gave the alarm. The two that
were in came tumbling out in a hur-
ry. and the trio ran across the fields.
l confess | didn't make a hero of my
self. Perhaps it was because I was
hatless, coatless and barefooted.
didn't rush in and grab one of the
think 1 even Jagged behind little, and
was glad TO see them running away
like rabbits.
But the boy? All, there was pluck Tor
you, He tried his best to catch up with
the men. and when one OF them halted
bit to look back over his shoulder TIE
lad sent his stick whizzing with such
force and good aim that the fellow was
knocked down, and got up to be helped
away by the others. Next morning We
found his hat, three teeth and a bls
bloodspot where he fell.
The town was aroused, but OF what use?
horse and buggy. and had made good
their escape. They had only Just entered
the postofice as they got the alarm, bar
they had left evidence behind that thev
robbers are called. And what of the
ragged little stranger? OF course every
body wanted to know. and everybody
questioned him. A fool constable was
robbers but l put a stopper on that st
once. 1 fou-' out about the lad that
night, and the others had to wait till next
day. When I had taken him home and
questions. He told me all there was 70
tell when Re said:
We'll. mister my names Billy. and
I'm a hobo. Can't say how old I was