South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-27
Dirty Work At The Cross Road
By James ]. Montague

when Mr.. Scott wrote that poetry I
about "fuu many shaft at random !
sent finds mark its archer little
meant" he probably had the bandit
business in his mind. Anyway, while
there isn't any way 20 put any
bandits IN jail for il, they are just
as guilty Of what has been happen
ing TO me as IL they had stuck a
pistol under my nose and ordered
me TO stand and deliver. A lot Of
automobilists who never meant me
any harm are particeps criminis and
accessories before. during and after
the fact There isn't any way TO
have them put in jail. either. If
there was, and knew about IL, that's
where a lot Of them would be.
The bandits I have mentioned
have been pretty busy lately around
our suburb. and what with the hold
ups they actually committed and
what with the hold ups that melo-
dramatic chauffeurs said they COM
mitted, the public, as the editorial
writer's say, has been thoroughly
aroused. It has been particularly
annoying 90 have a bandit boom just
at this time, because almost every
evening folks are bringing out from
the city valuables that they don't
want 20 fall into any bandits hands.
such as sarsaparilla. and ginger ale
and other things In bottles.
However the bandits have been
busy Just the same. and while never
saw any of them / was one of the
heaviest bandit sufferers OF the viii
lage, as you will see presently.
Night before last I started TO drive
over to see a man who lives in an
other suburb six miles away, who
was going TO have a party and had
invited me 20 it.
/ supposed there was plenty Of
gas in the car when left home. but
one Of the neigh bors had needed some
during the afternoon and had come
over with a siphou. 10 borrow mine.
He meant TO tell me about It in time
for me to get more If needed it,.
Also he didn't mean 20 take quite so
much out OF the tank. This he eN-
planned TO me afterward, when It
wac too late TO 90 any good.
Everything > Going Dry.
When I got TO a cross roads about
three miles out and in the middle
OF a wood. the carburetor gave three
long and i've short pops, and the car
refused to go any farther.
I got out and tested fer engine
trouble. and for battery trouble. and
for ignition trouble. and last Of all
OF course for gas trouble. Gas
trouble was right. The tank was
dry.
II was at least two miles to the
nearest garage. and L was already
late for the party. The only thing
20 do was 20 stop some friendly
passer by, and either borrow a little
gas or ask for a ride some place
where 1 could get IL.
That looked easy enough, but 1
had forgotten about the bandits.
Cars had been passing right along.
40 went out into the street 10 flag
the first one that passed.
II was a fivver. which was
ambling along at about Is miles an
hour till the driver saw me. Then,
yelling like a Commanche. he fed IL
the gas, and IL ! hadn't got out Of
the way I'd have been severely dam
aged.
put him down for an III man
nered churl, and tried the next one
a big car that was travelling at a
pretty good clip.
There wasn't any answer 10 my
signal but mad rush past me, while
a man in the back seat yelled some
insult az me that was lost IN the
whir OF the motor.
Five cars I tried 20 stop in the
same fashion. The last man slowed
down almost to "a standstilL but
when ] stepped up he threw the cal
violently IN gear and shouting. TT
you shoot I'll shoot back" rolled
along down the road.
Well. the "if-at-first~ you don 4
succeed-try- try-againR thing can b,
overdone, so wandered around Til
I found a farm house and knocket
at the door.
Grim Alternatives.
For a long time there was M
answer. Then a window over my
head was opened. and a voice cried
i've got you covered Get out O.
here OF you're dead man"
He also vouchsafed the fnforma
ton that II I didn't he'd set the dos
on me. but that was suprerogatory
didn't want 20 be a dead man. anS
the voice talked Ike business, 80
got oct
WIN reached the car again
fSund r surrounded With gentlemen
ezr7J5ns FtEes asd e0Eversing sn los