1971. Moved off the White Earth Reservation.
Minneapolis was 225 miles southeast. It was thumb express. I needed a job, Clark Station needed a nite
manager. All I had was an old Harley FLH Motor and it was being rebuilt. I traveled with a tool box, jeans, boots
and a USMC field jacket over a sweater.
I had been out of Nam for less than 3 years. After carrying a rifle everywhere for years, I felt naked without one,
so I was packin a S+W 357 Magnum revolver, 6-inch barrel. It was hidden in a false bottom of my tool box.
Getting into Minneapolis, my aunt Bea gave me a room in the attic. Her house was right across the street from
where I was hired at Portland and Franklin. Started my new job that night. I would be on alone from 11 pm to 7
am. I was in”Junkie Land” I soon discovered.
At 10:30 pm, I reported for work. Clark inventoried after every shift. Getting that done, the manager wished me
luck and left. At 11:15 pm I was robbed.
This character had a 32 snub-nosed revolver. His hand shook as he pointed at me. This dude was scared and he
was starting to piss me off!
I said “Steady your hand. I wouldn’t want you to shoot me.”
“Give me all your money,” he said.
”No can do buddy. See that floor safe? After every sale we drop it down that chute!”
“Well, I’m gonna be back in a few hours. I want you to keep the money you make. I want you to have some cash
Jack! Or I’ll...”
“My name's Ray, and you're gonna shoot me?”
“You best have some cash when I get back!” he said as he walked out the door, “I got other places to visit...”
I ran across the street and grabbed my tool box, 357 in bottom. I ran back to the station and called the
Minneapolis police. They said, “We can’t do anything until he robs you.”
“Great,” I said. ”How about if I shoot him?”
“As long as he is inside the station and has a gun.”
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Four hours later I see him walkin' towards the station. I reach into my pocket and pull my 357, letting the muzzle
point to the floor. I took two deep breaths. I was relaxed and ready to kill or die! After two tours in Nam, neither
of these propositions worried me. It put me on edge, sharpened my senses. I was ready, locked and loaded! In he
walked.
“You got my money Mother F—ER?”
“Sure do.” I raised the 357 pointing it at him. “HEAD or CHEST?” I yelled.
His voice came out real high pitched, kinda girly, “Whatch you mean, man?”
“Where do you want me to shoot you? Head or Chest?” I bellowed. “What goes around comes around. You
threatened to come back here and shoot me!”
“Oh man, lemme give you what's in my billfold.”
“After you throw that pea shooter over here,” I said. “Now your billfold. You're givin' me what you got because
you want to? Right? Right.” I picked up his 32. “OUT THE DOOR, RUN!”
He ran. I put three rounds over his head.
In his billfold was $1600.00! I ran the money home! I took his billfold with ID, the 32 pistol, sealed them up in a
box and addressed it to Mpls Police, Robbery Division. Sent that off during shift change. I told the supervisor I
was robbed, that I got scared, and wouldn’t be coming back to work. I walked down the block.
My aunt's friend had a car for sale. Get it out of my yard, it don’t run. I gave the lady $100, no title. She said the
guy who owned it moved out owin' her rent, had left this piece of junk in her back yard! It was mine for what he
owed her in rent! A $100 for a '67 Impala wagon. A timing chain was out. In three hours I had it running. It was
a 327 four barrel with powerglide tranny, new tires. I gave her another hundred for the use of her backyard,
drove back to the station, told the manager if he filled the 21 gallon tank and gave me a carton of Camels, he
could keep my hours.
He said I'll toss your job application, you never worked here. As I was leaving, the manager said the police heard
there were gunshots fired last night. Do you know anything about that? Not a thing, not a thing, I laughed.
The Mgr pointed to the roof. That's a camera, a new security device, I looked at the film, seen a dude running for
his life! You don’t know anything about it? Not a thing, I laughed!!
First stop, the machine shop. I picked up my rebuilt Harley FLH Motor. Machinist turned me on to a complete 58
Duo Glide swingarm frame wheels front end and a spare motor for the cost of the motor he had rebuilt. He had
put a mechanic's lien on it. I’ll send you a title he said. I was gettin my Tao back. I headed back to White Earth Rez
with more than enough money left over, money that was given me! I had ammo, a wood burnin' furnace, two
Harley FLH rebuilt motors. Didn’t need much else, a basement workshop, and a long winter!!!Semper Fi! Rat
a-tat-tat!...
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