Evening star., 1919-09-21

follow arrest. It has happened in
other states - though presumably
never in Kansas-that the man who
did the arresting found his ultimate
reward boiled down to few chips
and couple of whetstones, while
police chiefs, nephews, prosecuting
got the money. The Kansas Bankers
Association evidently foresaw GER
tain reluctance on the part OF good
citizens. So they added another clause
that really counts:
"If a robber is killed in the act OF
robbing bank or resisting arrest the
$4,000 reward will be paid on the
tt cory that this constitutes con-
viction."
Can Still Use Their Guns.
They used to put 1t in more dra-
matte fashion in the rude old days.
when the state paid for a robber
dead or alive" But the meaning IS
the same. Bank robbing in Kansas
may conceivably enter the list OF ex-
ira hazardous occupations. II tne
bankers Of other states follow suit,
it is even possible that this lively out
door sport may follow croQuet ano
and bowls and bear-baiting into the
discard. For here in the west sur.
prising number of men have guns ana
know how to use them, in spite OF
the eastern theory that the west nA1
been softened by oil and refined py
free rural delivery and the farm tele-
phone.
~"There was three in the gang that
tried to stick up the bank at Rfne'
Col.," said the man who might rea-
sonably have been suspected OF be-
ing the fourth. 'And it was just As
good as stuck up. Only one of the
boys he had to shoot his gun a little
bit and that sort of gave the alarm
and them old boys in Rifle began TO
come out of the cracks-and they
come a-shootin'."
Puzzled Even in Death.
Say. Them old boys in Rifle must
carry Winchesters in their hair.
Them three boys that tried to stick
UP the bank was certainly as dead as
ever I see before Rife got through.
But the funny thing was that they
had the surprisedest looks on their
pore dead faces. Yes, sir Looked
like they was a-trying to figure out
where that home guard had been
a-keeping itself"
The automobile has been RESPONSE
BILE for the recent elevation of coun-
try bank robbing to the dignity OF
vocation. Banks throughout this
western country-Kansas. Oklahoma.
Texas especially-are SO full OF money
nowadays that new deposits must be
crammed down the chimneys. Every
little way there Is a large, oil soaked
splotch on any one of these states.
Farming is fairly prosperous busis
ness, too. An eastern writer recently
figured out that the Kansas vi see
crop only averages twelve bush 10
the acre, and that at the pegged pffee
the farmer actually loses money on,t
R-k <e
to raise wheat and put more money
in the banks. One-hundred- -doflar.an.
acre land is cheap land in Kansas. Ano
there are pigs and cattle in the COUP
try and the hotel business in town. s,s
Fortune in Hotel Business.
.I only want this hotel for ono
year." the buyer Of q new oil town
hotel is reported to have said. by
That time 1 will have got my money
back"
Some Of these banks, filled with
money and liberty bonds-and every
one has liberty nowadays, and -eacn
bond is as alike each other bond a.
peanuts are like other peanuts-cAn
sessed of a screwdriver and q giant
firecracker. Needy men not possessed
Of any bent for mechanics, however.
have found it easier to walk In during
business hours. shoot. reckiessly
around, empty the safe. and walk ont
again.
A stolen automobile stands at the
door with a partner at the wheel.
The getaway Is easy. It Is not often
that any one gets the number OF the
car-sometfmes the license plates are
changed-and sometimes other cars
how, there is the record. Twenty
five Kansas banks were robbed this
year, and but one group OF robbers
was captured-and they by an entire
accident. 49, -,
May Embarrass Robbers.
But If Kansas understands that
cash is being paid for scAlplockS-
if the money is laid on the nail dead
or alive"-the adventure Of robbing q
bank will presently assume harsh and
forbidding outlines. Bank robbers
will no longer feel themselves safe
and have whirled away from the scene
of their activities. Behind any hedge
a farmer may be laying. armed. with
one of those old-fashioned Sharp's
rifles that chamber a cartridge about
the size Of the hired mans thumb.
and also with the full assurance that
the pelt of each fleeing robber is
worth JuSC osVVU DUCKS ana tne- car
full-well. the car full would be about
equivalent to a lucky summer on the
Yukon. .-,-.
Incidentally, other automobilists in
parts infested by prosperous country
banks. robbers. and farmers having
Sharp's rifles will be well advised if
they learn how to stop short and get
up their hands at any hail from be-
hind a hedge.
Tt's like hreafh ~ old fiJnes IN the
casual visitor. Magic words to con-
jure with-".Dead or alive
In the competitive drill Of the Odd
Fellows at Baltimore, Auto City Can =
koz - AEak .nYiZA.