The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-24
NO REST At REST ROOM
Nothing But YeIls and Excite
ment at Eighth and kansas
Avenue This Morning.

The old eelored man who is care
itaker at the city rest room, Eighth
and Kansas avenue, was engAged in
| his morning duties today when he
noticed a huge rat scamper across the
tile floor. With yell he leaped to the
doorway, mounted the steps to the
street level and down West Eighth
street toward the Orpheum theater.
Three newsboys were standing on
the corner In true boy fashion they
jumped to the scene of excitement.
When informed of the unlimited guests
| in the rest room they scattered to the
many corners of an alley and armed
themselves with sticks and. brooms.
BY this time the eolored caretaker
/ had recovered and, standing at the top
| of the stairs. he directed the lads
well protected by the iron railing and
1 by the wide expanse of streets.
Up from the rest room came a mix
lture of yells, squeals and beating of
sticks. Then a luil and the voice of a
newsie:
"T-t-they're all d-d-eadi"
The colored man gave a sigh of re-
| lief and slowly dropped his feet down
| the stairs. He at least weuld be on
hand to carry away the casualties.
| Onlookers stood at the top of the
stairs awaiting the arrival of the VIC
Tins Suddenly in the still morhlng
air there was a chorus of beyish yells
and the howl of a frightened man.
The doorway was blackened and the
caretaker and the three newsboys,
mouths wide, eyes popped, appeared as
one, Yelling and screaming they
fought for the top of the stairs Half
way up they became wedged and their
cries and means attracted crowd
The spectators were stunned. They
could not understand the tragedy
acted beneath their feet. A moan, a
~ Of = n dist a SiRlraYiT
appeal for help rang out in the morn
ing air. Then out from the struggling
legs of the wedged foursome emerged
rat. large as a cat, and squealing in
mortal fear. Another scream from the
lodged crr saders-and another rat. A
third cry-and a third rat.
One spectator a hero of the Ar
gonne. stood at the top of the stairs.
He lunged a wicked hoof at the first
rat, his heel struck the pest in the
face and turning over and over it
fell down the stairs, striking the col
ored earetaker full in the stomach.
From the impact came a cry that
the onieokeFs declare they'll never
forget. More like the night yowl of
a panther in the baekweods at night
was this eutburst of fright.
But it rallied to the negro his full
strength and with a lunge he broke
the blockade and came leaping to the
head of the stairs. Nor did he stop
there. On he went. Far down West
Eighth he ran before he dared turn
around Looking over his wind swept
left shoulder he saw that no rats were
pursuing and he applied the brakes,
Before he had come to full stop he
ran his shaking hands down his trou-
ser legs. He felt his stomach. He
shook like a dog cut of water. Then
he sat down on the eurbing and for
ten minutes talked frantically te him.
self
What was the matter?' a nasserby
inquired.
The old negro shook his head.
"Aftah this" he said in q bfpken
and hoarse voice. ''Aftah this, 8clS
don't see mo goiAf attain no rats. 4sid
they~don't needta come to me to be
killed, either. No. sab. no sah!'s