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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10948-0.txt b/10948-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f49e7e --- /dev/null +++ b/10948-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3222 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10948 *** + +[Illustration: Frank R. Stockton] + + +The Stories +of the +Three Burglars + + +By +FRANK R. STOCKTON + + +1889 + + + + +THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS. + + +I am a householder in a pleasant country neighbourhood, about twenty +miles from New York. My family consists of myself and wife, our boy, +George William, aged two, two maid-servants, and a man; but in the +summer we have frequent visitors, and at the time of which I am about to +write my Aunt Martha was staying with us. + +My house is large and pleasant, and we have neighbours near enough for +social purposes and yet not too near or too many to detract from the +rural aspect of our surroundings. But we do not live in a paradise; we +are occasionally troubled by mosquitoes and burglars. + +Against the first of these annoyances we have always been able to guard +ourselves, at least in a measure, and our man and the cook declare that +they have become so used to them that they do not mind them; but to +guard against burglars is much more difficult, and to become used to +them would, I think, require a great deal of practice. + +For several months before the period of this narrative our neighbourhood +had been subject to visits from burglars. From time to time houses had +been entered and robbed, and the offenders had never been detected. + +We had no police force, not even a village organization. There was a +small railway station near our house, and six miles away was the county +town. For fire and police protection each household was obliged to +depend upon itself. + +Before the beginning of the burglarious enterprises in our midst, we had +not felt the need of much protection in this direction; sometimes +poultry was stolen, but this was a rare occurrence, and, although +windows and doors were generally fastened for the night, this labour was +often considered much more troublesome than necessary. But now a great +change had taken place in the feelings of our community. When the first +robbery occurred the neighbours were inclined to laugh about it, and to +say that Captain Hubbard's habit of sitting up after the rest of his +family had gone to bed and then retiring and forgetting to close the +front door had invited the entrance of a passing tramp. But when a +second and a third house, where windows and doors had not been left +open, had been entered, and, in a measure, despoiled, people ceased to +laugh; and if there had been any merriment at all on the subject, it +would have been caused by the extraordinary and remarkable precautions +taken against the entrance of thieves by night. The loaded pistol became +the favourite companion of the head of the house; those who had no +watch-dogs bought them; there were new locks, new bolts, new fastenings. +At one time there was a mounted patrol of young men, which, however, was +soon broken up by their mothers. But this trouble was unavailing, for at +intervals the burglaries continued. + +As a matter of course a great many theories were broached as to the +reasons for this disturbance in our hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. We +were at such a distance from the ordinary centres of crime that it was +generally considered that professional burglars would hardly take the +trouble to get to us or to get away from us, and that, therefore, the +offences were probably committed by unsuspected persons living in this +part of the country who had easy means of determining which houses were +worth breaking into and what method of entrance would be most feasible. +In this way some families, hitherto regarded as respectable families, +had fallen under suspicion. + +So far, mine was the only house of any importance within the distance of +a mile from the station which had not in some way suffered from +burglars. In one or two of these cases the offenders had been frightened +away before they had done any other injury than the breaking of a +window-shutter; but we had been spared any visitation whatever. After a +time we began to consider that this was an invidious distinction. Of +course we did not desire that robbers should break into our house and +steal, but it was a sort of implied insult that robbers should think +that our house was not worth breaking into. We contrived, however, to +bear up under this implied contempt and even under the facetious +imputations of some of our lively neighbours, who declared that it +looked very suspicious that we should lose nothing, and even continue to +add to our worldly goods, while everybody else was suffering from +abstractions. + +I did not, however, allow any relaxation in my vigilance in the +protection of my house and family. My time to suffer had not yet +arrived, and it might not arrive at all; but if it did come it should +not be my fault. I therefore carefully examined all the new precautions +my neighbours had taken against the entrance of thieves, and where I +approved of them I adopted them. + +Of some of these my wife and I did not approve. For instance, a tin pan +containing iron spoons, the dinner bell, and a miscellaneous collection +of hardware balanced on the top stair of the staircase, and so connected +with fine cords that a thief coming up the stairs would send it rattling +and bounding to the bottom, was looked upon by us with great disfavour. +The descent of the pan, whether by innocent accident or the approach of +a burglar, might throw our little boy into a fit, to say nothing of the +terrible fright it would give my Aunt Martha, who was a maiden lady of +middle age, and not accustomed to a clatter in the night. A bull-dog in +the house my wife would not have, nor, indeed, a dog of any kind. George +William was not yet old enough to play with dogs, especially a sharp +one; and if the dog was not sharp it was of no use to have him in the +house. To the ordinary burglar-alarm she strongly objected. She had been +in houses where these things went off of their own accord, occasioning +great consternation; and, besides, she said that if thieves got into the +house she did not want to know it and she did not want me to know it; +the quicker they found what they came for and went away with it the +better. Of course, she wished them kept out, if such a thing were +possible; but if they did get in, our duty as parents of the dearest +little boy was non-interference. She insisted, however, that the room in +which the loveliest of children slept, and which was also occupied by +ourselves, should be made absolutely burglar proof; and this object, by +means of extraordinary bolts and chains, I flattered myself I +accomplished. My Aunt Martha had a patent contrivance for fastening a +door that she always used, whether at home or travelling, and in whose +merit she placed implicit confidence. Therefore we did not feel it +necessary to be anxious about her; and the servants slept at the top of +the house, where thieves would not be likely to go. + +"They may continue to slight us by their absence," said my wife, "but I +do not believe that they will be able to frighten us by their presence." + +I was not, however, so easily contented as my wife. Of course I wished +to do everything possible to protect George William and the rest of the +family, but I was also very anxious to protect our property in all parts +of the house. Therefore, in addition to everything else I had done, I +devised a scheme for interfering with the plans of men who should +feloniously break into our home. + +After a consultation with a friend, who was a physician greatly +interested in the study of narcotic drugs, I procured a mixture which +was almost tasteless and without peculiar odour, and of which a small +quantity would in less than a minute throw an ordinary man into a state +of unconsciousness. The potion was, however, no more dangerous in its +effects than that quantity of ardent spirits which would cause entire +insensibility. After the lapse of several hours, the person under the +influence of the drug would recover consciousness without assistance. +But in order to provide against all contingencies my friend prepared a +powerful antidote, which would almost immediately revive one who had +been made unconscious by our potion. + +The scheme that I had devised may possibly have been put into use by +others. But of this I know not. I thought it a good scheme and +determined to experiment with it, and, if possible, to make a trap which +should catch a burglar. I would reveal this plan to no one but my friend +the physician and my wife. Secrecy would be an important element in its +success. + +Our library was a large and pleasant room on the ground floor of the +house, and here I set my trap. It was my habit to remain in this room an +hour or so after the rest of the family had gone to bed, and, as I was +an early riser, I was always in it again before it was necessary for a +servant to enter it in the morning. + +Before leaving the library for the night I placed in a conspicuous +position in the room a small table, on which was a tray holding two +decanters partially filled with wine, in the one red and in the other +white. There was also upon the tray an open box of biscuit and three +wine-glasses, two of them with a little wine at the bottom. I took pains +to make it appear that these refreshments had been recently partaken of. +There were biscuit crumbs upon the tray, and a drop or two of wine was +freshly spilled upon it every time the trap was set. The table, thus +arranged, was left in the room during the night, and early in the +morning I put the tray and its contents into a closet and locked it up. + +A portion of my narcotic preparation was thoroughly mixed with the +contents of each of the decanters in such proportions that a glass of +the wine would be sufficient to produce the desired effect. + +It was my opinion that there were few men who, after a night walk and +perhaps some labour in forcibly opening a door or a window-shutter, +would not cease for a moment in pursuance of their self-imposed task to +partake of the refreshments so conveniently left behind them by the +occupants of the house when they retired to rest. Should my surmises be +correct, I might reasonably expect, should my house be broken into, to +find an unconscious burglar in the library when I went down in the +morning. And I was sure, and my wife agreed with me, that if I should +find a burglar in that room or any other part of the house, it was +highly desirable that he should be an unconscious one. + +Night after night I set my burglar trap, and morning after morning I +locked it up in the closet. I cannot say that I was exactly disappointed +that no opportunity offered to test the value of my plan, but it did +seem a pity that I should take so much trouble for nothing. It had been +some weeks since any burglaries had been committed in the neighbourhood, +and it was the general opinion that the miscreants had considered this +field worked out and had transferred their labours to a better-paying +place. The insult of having been considered unworthy the attention of +the knights of the midnight jimmy remained with us, but as all our goods +and chattels also remained with us we could afford to brook the +indignity. + +As the trap cost nothing my wife did not object to my setting it every +night for the present. Something might happen, she remarked, and it was +just as well to be prepared in more ways than one; but there was a point +upon which she was very positive. + +"When George William is old enough to go about the house by himself," +she said, "those decanters must not be left exposed upon the table. Of +course I do not expect him to go about the house drinking wine and +everything that he finds, but there is no knowing what a child in the +first moments of his investigative existence may do." + +For myself, I became somewhat tired of acting my part in this little +farce every night and morning, but when I have undertaken anything of +this sort I am slow to drop it. + +It was about three weeks since I had begun to set my trap when I was +awakened in the night by a sudden noise. I sat up in bed, and as I did +so my wife said to me sleepily,-- + +"What is that? Was it thunder? There it is again!" she exclaimed, +starting up. "What a crash! It must have struck somewhere." I did not +answer. It was not thunder. It was something in the house, and it +flashed into my mind that perhaps my trap had been sprung. I got out of +bed and began rapidly to dress. + +"What are you going to do?" anxiously asked my wife. + +"I'm going to see what has happened," said I. At that moment there was +another noise. This was like two or three heavy footsteps, followed by a +sudden thump; but it was not so loud as the others. + +"John," cried my wife, "don't stir an inch, it's burglars!" and she +sprang out of bed and seized me by the arm. + +"I must go down," I said; "but there is really no reason for your being +frightened. I shall call David, and shall carry my pistol, so there is +really no danger. If there are thieves in the house they have probably +decamped by this time--that is, if they are able to do so, for of course +they must know that noise would awaken the soundest sleepers." + +My wife looked at me and then slowly withdrew her hands from my arm. + +"You promise me," she said, "if you find a burglar downstairs in the +possession of his senses you will immediately come back to me and George +William?" + +I promised her, and, slipping on some clothes, I went out into the +second-story hall. I carried no light. Before I had reached the bottom +of the back stairs I heard David, my man, coming down. To be sure it was +he and not a burglar I spoke to him in a low voice, my pistol raised in +case of an unsatisfactory reply. + +"I heard that noise, sir," he whispered, "and was going down to see +about it." + +"Are you ready if it's thieves?" I whispered. + +"I have got the biscuit-beater," he replied. + +"Come on, then," said I, and we went downstairs. + +I had left no light in the library, but there was one there now, and it +shone through the open door into the hallway. We stopped and listened. +There was no sound, and then slowly and cautiously we approached the +door of the library. The scene I beheld astounded me, and involuntarily +I sprang back a step or two. So did David; but in an instant we saw that +there was no need of retreat or defence. Stretched upon the floor, not +far from the doorway, lay a tall man, his face upturned to the light of +a bull's-eye lantern which stood by the mantel-piece. His eyes were +shut, and it was evident that he was perfectly insensible. Near by, in +the wreck of the small table, glasses, and decanters, lay another man, +apparently of heavier build. He also was as still as a corpse. A little +further back, half sitting on the floor, with the upper part of his body +resting against the lounge, was another man with a black mask over his +face. + +"Are they dead?" exclaimed David, in an undertone of horror. + +"No," said I, "they are not dead; they have been caught in my trap." + +And I must admit that the consciousness of this created a proud +exultation of spirit within me. I had overmatched these rascals; they +were prostrated before me. If one of them moved, David and I could kill +him. But I did not believe there would be any killing, nor any moving +for the present. + +In a high whisper, which could have been heard distinctly all over the +house, my wife now called to me from the top of the stairs. "What is +it?" she said. "What has happened?" + +I stepped quickly to the stairway. + +"Everything is all right," I said in a loud, distinct voice, intended +to assure my wife that there was no necessity for caution or alarm. "I +will be with you presently." + +"I am glad to hear that nothing is the matter," said Aunt Martha, now +for the first time opening her door. "I was afraid something had +happened." + +But I had business to attend to before I could go upstairs. In thinking +over and arranging this plan for the capture of burglars, I had +carefully considered its various processes, and had provided against all +the contingencies I could think of; therefore I was not now obliged to +deliberate what I should do. "Keep your eye on them," said I to David, +"and if one of them moves be ready for him. The first thing to do is to +tie them hand and foot." + +I quickly lighted a lamp, and then took from another shelf of the closet +a large coil of strong cotton rope, which I had provided for such an +occasion as the present. + +"Now," said I to David, "I will tie them while you stand by to knock +over any one of them who attempts to get up." + +The instrument with which David was prepared to carry out my orders was +a formidable one. In the days of my youth my family was very fond of +"Maryland biscuit," which owes much of its delicacy to the fact that +before baking it is pounded and beaten by a piece of heavy iron. Some +people used one kind of a beater and some another, but we had had made +for the purpose a heavy iron club a little over a foot long, large and +heavy at one end and a handle at the other. In my present household +Maryland biscuits were never made, but I had preserved this iron beater +as a memento of my boyhood, and when the burglaries began in our +vicinity I gave it to David to keep in his room, to be used as a weapon +if necessary. I did not allow him to have a pistol, having a regard for +my own safety in a sudden night alarm, and nothing could be more +formidable in a hand-to-hand encounter than this skull-crushing club. + +I began with the tall man, and rapidly tied his feet together with many +twists of the rope and as many knots. I then turned him over and tied +his elbows behind him in the same secure way. I had given so much +thought to the best method of securing a man by cords, that I do not +think this fellow could possibly have released himself when I had +finished with him. + +David was obeying my orders and keeping a strict watch on the prostrate +men; but his emotions of amazement were so great that he could not keep +them down. + +"What is the matter with them, sir?" he said. "How did they come so?" + +"There is no time for talking now," I answered. "I will tell you all +about it when the men have been secured." I now turned my attention to +the man who was partly resting against the lounge. I first tied his +feet, and before letting him down to the floor, so as to get to his +arms, I removed his hat and his mask, which was made of black muslin. I +was surprised to see the beardless face of a young and very good-looking +man. He was well dressed, and had the general appearance of a person +belonging to theatrical circles. When his arms had been tied, I told +David he might lay down his biscuit-beater, and help me with the third +man, who was badly mixed up with the _débris_ of the refreshments. We +hauled him out and tied him up. He was rather a short man, but very +heavy, and I could see no signs of his having been hurt by the smash-up +he made in falling. + +We now proceeded to search the insensible burglars for arms. Upon the +tall man we found a large revolver, a heavy billy, which seemed as if it +had seen service, and a long-bladed knife. The stout man carried two +double-barrelled pistols, and upon one of the fingers of his right hand +wore a brass ring with a murderous-looking iron protuberance upon it, +which, when driven forward by his powerful arm, was probably more +dangerous than a billy. Upon the younger man we found no arms at all, +and his hip pocket contained nothing but a small handbook on civil +engineering. + +I now briefly explained to David the nature of the trap which had caught +the burglars. He gazed upon me with a face glowing with amazed +admiration. + +"What a head you have got, sir!" he exclaimed. "I don't believe there is +another man in this State who would have thought of that. And what are +you going to do with them now, sir; hang 'em? That's what ought to be +done with them, the hounds!" + +"All I shall do," I answered, "will be to keep them till daylight, and +then I shall send word to the sheriff at Kennertown, and have him send +officers for them." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed David, "they are in the worst kind of a box." + +Now my wife called me again. "What in the world are you doing down +there?" she called; "why don't you come upstairs?" + +This annoyed me, for I was not yet ready to go upstairs. I wished to +resuscitate these fellows, for their stupor was so profound that I began +to fear that perhaps they had taken too much of the drug and ought to be +brought to their senses as speedily as possible. This feeling was due +more to my desire that serious injuries should not occur to the rascals +while in my house than to any concern for them. + +"My dear," said I, stepping to the bottom of the stairs, "I have some +things to attend to down here which will occupy me a few minutes longer; +then I will come up to you." + +"I can't imagine what the things are," she said, "but I suppose I can +wait," and she went into her room and closed her door after her. + +I now began to consider what was to be done with the burglars after they +had been resuscitated. My first impulse was to rid the house of them by +carrying them out of doors and bringing them to their senses there. But +there was an objection to this plan. They would be pretty heavy fellows +to carry, and as it would be absolutely necessary to watch them until +they could be given into the charge of the officers of the law, I did +not want to stay out of doors to do this, for the night air was raw and +chilly, and I therefore determined to keep them in the house. And as +they could be resuscitated better in a sitting position, they must be +set up in some way or other. I consulted David on the subject. + +"You might put 'em up with their backs agin the wall, sir," said he, +"but the dirty beasts would spoil the paper. I wouldn't keep them in a +decent room like this. I'd haul 'em out into the kitchen, anyway." + +But as they were already in the library I decided to let them stay +there, and to get them as speedily as possible into some position in +which they might remain. I bethought me of a heavy wooden settle or +bench with back and arms which stood on the side piazza. With David's +help I brought this into the room and placed it with its back to the +window. + +"Now, then," said I to David, "we will put them on this bench, and I +will tie them fast to it. We cannot be too careful in securing them, for +if one of them were to get loose, even without arms, there is no knowing +what trouble he might make." + +"Well, sir," said David, "if I'm to handle them at all, I'd rather have +them dead, as I hope they are, than have them alive; but you needn't be +afraid, sir, that any one of them will get loose. If I see any signs of +that I'll crack the rascal's skull in a jiffy." + +It required a great deal of tugging and lifting to get those three men +on the bench, but we got them there side by side, their heads hanging +listlessly, some one way, some another. I then tied each one of them +firmly to the bench. + +I had scarcely finished this when I again heard my wife's voice from the +top of the stairs. + +"If any pipes have burst," she called down, "tell David not to catch the +water in the new milk-pans." + +"Very well," I replied, "I'll see to it," and was rejoiced to hear again +the shutting of the bedroom door. + +I now saturated a sponge with the powerful preparation which Dr. Marks +had prepared as an antidote, and held it under the nose of the tall +burglar. In less than twenty seconds he made a slight quivering in his +face as if he were about to sneeze, and very soon he did sneeze +slightly. Then he sneezed violently, raised his head, and opened his +eyes. For a moment he gazed blankly before him, and then looked stupidly +at David and at me. But in an instant there flashed into his face the +look of a wild beast. His quick, glittering eye took in the whole +situation at a glance. With a furious oath he threw himself forward with +such a powerful movement that he nearly lifted the bench. + +"Stop that," said David, who stood near him with his iron club uplifted. +"If you do that again I'll let you feel this." + +The man looked at him with a fiery flash in his eyes, and then he looked +at me, as I stood holding the muzzle of my pistol within two feet of his +face. The black and red faded out of his countenance. He became pale. He +glanced at his companions bound and helpless. His expression now changed +entirely. The fury of the wild beast was succeeded by a look of +frightened subjection. Gazing very anxiously at my pistol, he said, in a +voice which, though agitated, was low and respectful:-- + +"What does this mean? What are you going to do? Will you please turn +away the muzzle of that pistol?" + +I took no notice of this indication of my steadiness of hand, and +answered:-- + +"I am going to bring these other scoundrels to their senses, and early +in the morning the three of you will be on your way to jail, where I +hope you may remain for the rest of your lives." + +"If you don't get killed on your way there," said David, in whose +nervous hand the heavy biscuit-beater was almost as dangerous as my +pistol. + +The stout man who sat in the middle of the bench was twice as long in +reviving as had been his companion, who watched the operation with +intense interest. When the burly scoundrel finally became conscious, he +sat for a few minutes gazing at the floor with a silly grin; then he +raised his head and looked first at one of his companions and then at +the other, gazed for an instant at me and David, tried to move his feet, +gave a pull at one arm and then at the other, and when he found he was +bound hard and fast, his face turned as red as fire and he opened his +mouth, whether to swear or yell I know not. I had already closed the +door, and before the man had uttered more than a premonitory sound, +David had clapped the end of his bludgeon against his mouth. + +"Taste that," he said, "and you know what you will get if you disturb +this family with any of your vile cursin' and swearin'." + +"Look here," said the tall man, suddenly turning to the other with an +air of authority, "keep your mouth shut and don't speak till you're +spoken to. Mind that, now, or these gentlemen will make it the worse for +you." + +David grinned as he took away his club. + +"I'd gentlemen you," he said, "if I could get half a chance to do it." + +The face of the heavy burglar maintained its redness, but he kept his +mouth shut. + +When the younger man was restored to his senses, his full consciousness +and power of perception seemed to come to him in an instant. His eyes +flashed from right to left, he turned deadly white, and then merely +moving his arms and legs enough to make himself aware that he was bound, +he sat perfectly still and said not a word. + +I now felt that I must go and acquaint my wife with what had happened, +or otherwise she would be coming downstairs to see what was keeping me +so long. David declared that he was perfectly able to keep guard over +them, and I ran upstairs. David afterward told me that as soon as I left +the room the tall burglar endeavoured to bribe him to cut their ropes, +and told him if he was afraid to stay behind after doing this he would +get him a much better situation than this could possibly be. But as +David threatened personal injury to the speaker if he uttered another +word of the kind, the tall man said no more; but the stout man became +very violent and angry, threatening all sorts of vengeance on my +unfortunate man. David said he was beginning to get angry, when the tall +man, who seemed to have much influence over the other fellow, ordered +him to keep quiet, as the gentleman with the iron club no doubt thought +he was doing right. The young fellow never said a word. + +When I told my wife that I had caught three burglars, and they were +fast bound in the library, she nearly fainted; and when I had revived +her she begged me to promise that I would not go downstairs again until +the police had carried away the horrible wretches. But I assured her +that it was absolutely necessary for me to return to the library. She +then declared that she would go with me, and if anything happened she +would share my fate. "Besides," she said, "if they are tied fast so they +can't move, I should like to see what they look like. I never saw a +burglar." + +I did not wish my wife to go downstairs, but as I knew there would be no +use in objecting, I consented. She hastily dressed herself, making me +wait for her; and when she left the room she locked the door on the +sleeping George William, in order that no one should get at him during +her absence. As we passed the head of the stairs, the door of my Aunt +Martha's room opened, and there she stood, completely dressed, with her +bonnet on, and a little leather bag in her hand. + +"I heard so much talking and so much going up and down stairs that I +thought I had better be ready to do whatever had to be done. Is it +fire?" + +"No," said my wife; "it's three burglars tied in a bunch in the library. +I am going down to see them." + +My Aunt Martha gasped, and looked as if she were going to sit down on +the floor. + +"Goodness gracious!" she said, "if you're going I'll go too. I can't let +you go alone, and I never did see a burglar." + +I hurried down and left the two ladies on the stairs until I was sure +everything was still safe; and when I saw that there had been no change +in the state of affairs, I told them to come down. + +When my wife and Aunt Martha timidly looked in at the library door, the +effect upon them and the burglars was equally interesting. The ladies +each gave a start and a little scream, and huddled themselves close to +me, and the three burglars gazed at them with faces that expressed more +astonishment than any I had ever seen before. The stout fellow gave vent +to a smothered exclamation, and the face of the young man flushed, but +not one of them spoke. + +"Are you sure they are tied fast?" whispered my Aunt Martha to me. + +"Perfectly," I answered; "if I had not been sure I should not have +allowed you to come down." + +Thereupon the ladies picked up courage and stepped further into the +room. + +"Did you and David catch them?" asked my aunt; "and how in the world did +you do it?" + +"I'll tell you all about that another time," I said, "and you had better +go upstairs as soon as you two have seen what sort of people are these +cowardly burglars who sneak or break into the houses of respectable +people at night, and rob and steal and ruin other people's property with +no more conscience or human feeling than is possessed by the rats which +steal your corn, or the polecats which kill your chickens." + +"I can scarcely believe," said Aunt Martha, "that that young man is a +real burglar." + +At these words the eyes of the fellow spoken of glowed as he fixed them +on Aunt Martha, but he did not say a word, and the paleness which had +returned to his face did not change. + +"Have they told you who they are?" asked my wife. + +"I haven't asked them," I said. "And now don't you think you had better +go upstairs?" + +"It seems to me," said Aunt Martha, "that those ropes must hurt them." + +The tall man now spoke. "Indeed they do, madam," he said in a low voice +and very respectful manner, "they are very tight." + +I told David to look at all the cords and see if any of them were too +tightly drawn. + +"It's all nonsense, sir," said he, when he had finished the examination; +"not one of the ropes is a bit too tight. All they want is a chance to +pull out their ugly hands." + +"Of course," said Aunt Martha, "if it would be unsafe to loosen the +knots I wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent to prison?" + +"Yes," said I; "as soon as the day breaks I shall send down for the +police." + +I now heard a slight sound at the door, and turning, saw Alice, our maid +of the house, who was peeping in at the door. Alice was a modest girl, +and quite pretty. + +"I heard the noise and the talking, sir," she said, "and when I found +the ladies had gone down to see what it was, I thought I would come +too." + +"And where is the cook," asked my wife; "don't she want to see +burglars?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Alice, very emphatically. "As soon as I told +her what it was she covered up her head with the bedclothes and +declared, ma'am, that she would never get up until they were entirely +gone out of the house." + +At this the stout man grinned. + +"I wish you'd all cover up your heads," he said. The tall man looked at +him severely, and he said no more. + +David did not move from his post near the three burglars, but he turned +toward Alice and looked at her. We knew that he had tender feelings +toward the girl, and I think that he did not approve of her being there. + +"Have they stolen anything?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"They have not had any chance to take anything away," I said; and my +wife remarked that whether they had stolen anything or not, they had +made a dreadful mess on the floor, and had broken the table. They should +certainly be punished. + +At this she made a motion as if she would leave the room, and an +anxious expression immediately came on the face of the tall man, who had +evidently been revolving something in his mind. + +"Madam," he said, "we are very sorry that we have broken your table, and +that we have damaged some of your glass and your carpet. I assure you, +however, that nothing of the kind would have happened but for that +drugged wine, which was doubtless intended for a medicine, and not a +beverage; but weary and chilled as we were when we arrived, madam, we +were glad to partake of it, supposing it ordinary wine." + +I could not help showing a little pride at the success of my scheme. + +"The refreshment was intended for fellows of your class, and I am very +glad you accepted it." + +The tall man did not answer me, but he again addressed my wife. + +"Madam," he said, "if you ladies would remain and listen to me a few +moments, I am sure I would make you aware that there is much to +extenuate the apparent offence which I have committed to-night." + +My wife did not answer him, but turning to me said, smiling, "If he +alludes to their drinking your wine he need not apologize." + +The man looked at her with an expression as if her words had pained him. + +"Madam," he said, "if you consent to listen to my explanations and the +story of this affair, I am sure your feelings toward me would not be so +harsh." + +"Now, then," said my Aunt Martha, "if he has a story to tell he ought to +be allowed to tell it, even in a case like this. Nobody should be judged +until he has said what he thinks he ought to say. Let us hear his +story." + +I laughed. "Any statement he may make," I said, "will probably deserve a +much stronger name than stories." + +"I think that what you say is true," remarked my wife; "but still if he +has a story to tell I should like to hear it." + +I think I heard David give a little grunt; but he was too well bred to +say anything. + +"Very well," said I, "if you choose to sit up and hear him talk, it is +your affair. I shall be obliged to remain here anyway, and will not +object to anything that will help to pass away the time. But these men +must not be the only ones who are seated. David, you and Alice can clear +away that broken table and the rest of the stuff, and then we might as +well sit down and make ourselves comfortable." + +Alice, with cloth and brush, approached very timidly the scene of the +disaster; but the younger burglar, who was nearest to her, gazed upon +her with such a gentle and quiet air that she did not seem to be +frightened. When she and David had put the room in fair order, I placed +two easy-chairs for my wife and Aunt Martha at a moderate distance from +the burglars, and took another myself a little nearer to them, and then +told David to seat himself near the other end of the bench, and Alice +took a chair at a little distance from the ladies. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to the burglars, "I would like very much +to hear what any one of you can say in extenuation of having broken into +a gentleman's house by night." + +Without hesitation the tall man began his speech. He had a long and +rather lean, close-shaven face, which at present bore the expression of +an undertaker conducting a funeral. Although it was my aunt who had +shown the greatest desire to hear his story, he addressed himself to my +wife. I think he imagined that she was the more influential person of +the two. + +"Madam," said he, "I am glad of the opportunity of giving you and your +family an idea of the difficulties and miseries which beset a large +class of your fellow-beings of whom you seldom have any chance of +knowing anything at all, but of whom you hear all sorts of the most +misleading accounts. Now, I am a poor man. I have suffered the greatest +miseries that poverty can inflict. I am here, suspected of having +committed a crime. It is possible that I may be put to considerable +difficulty and expense in proving my innocence." + +"I shouldn't wonder," I interrupted. To this remark he paid no +attention. + +"Considering all this," he continued, "you may not suppose, madam, that +as a boy I was brought up most respectably and properly. My mother was a +religious woman, and my father was a boat-builder. I was sent to school, +and my mother has often told me that I was a good scholar. But she died +when I was about sixteen, and I am sure had this not happened I should +never have been even suspected of breaking the laws of my country. Not +long after her death my father appeared to lose interest in his +business, and took to rowing about the river instead of building boats +for other people to row. Very often he went out at night, and I used to +wonder why he should care to be on the water in the darkness, and +sometimes in the rain. One evening at supper he said to me: 'Thomas, you +ought to know how to row in the dark as well as in the daytime. I am +going up the river to-night, and you can come with me.' + +"It was about my ordinary bedtime when we took a boat with two pair of +oars, and we pulled up the river about three miles above the city." + +"What city?" I asked. + +"The city where I was born, sir," he said, "and the name of which I must +be excused from mentioning for reasons connected with my only surviving +parent. There were houses on the river bank, but they were not very near +each other. Some of them had lights in them, but most of them were dark, +as it must have been after eleven o'clock. Before one of them my father +stopped rowing for a moment and looked at it pretty hard. It seemed to +be all dark, but as we pulled on a little I saw a light in the back of +the house. + +"My father said nothing, but we kept on, though pulling very easy for a +mile or two, and then we turned and floated down with the tide. 'You +might as well rest, Thomas,' said he, 'for you have worked pretty hard.' + +"We floated slowly, for the tide was just beginning to turn, and when we +got near the house which I mentioned, I noticed that there was no light +in it. When we were about opposite to it father suddenly looked up and +said, not speaking very loud, 'By George! if that isn't Williamson +Green's house. I wasn't thinking of it when we rowed up, and passed it +without taking notice of it. I am sorry for that, for I wanted to see +Williamson, and now I expect he has gone to bed.' + +"'Who is Mr. Green?' I asked. + +"'He is an old friend of mine,' said my father, 'and I haven't seen him +for some little while now. About four months ago he borrowed of me a +sextant, quadrant, and chronometer. They were instruments I took from +old Captain Barney in payment of some work I did for him. I wasn't +usin' them, and Williamson had bought a catboat and was studying +navigation; but he has given up that fad now and has promised me over +and over to send me back my instruments, but he has never done it. If +I'd thought of it I would have stopped and got 'em of him; but I didn't +think, and now I expect he has gone to bed. However, I'll row in shore +and see; perhaps he's up yet.' + +"You see, ma'am," said the speaker to my wife, "I'm tellin' you all +these particulars because I am very anxious you should understand +exactly how everything happened on this night, which was the +turning-point of my life." + +"Very good," said Aunt Martha; "we want to hear all the particulars." + +"Well, then," continued the burglar, "we pulled up to a stone wall which +was at the bottom of Green's place and made fast, and father he got out +and went up to the house. After a good while he came back and said that +he was pretty sure Williamson Green had gone to bed, and as it wouldn't +do to waken people up from their sleep to ask them for nautical +instruments they had borrowed, he sat down for a minute on the top of +the wall, and then he slapped his knee, not making much noise, though. + +"'By George!' he said, 'an idea has just struck me. I can play the +prettiest trick on Williamson that ever was played on mortal man. Those +instruments are all in a box locked up, and I know just where he keeps +it. I saw it not long ago, when I went to his house to talk about a +yacht he wants built. They are on a table in the comer of his bedroom. +He was taking me through the house to show me the improvements he had +made, and he said to me:-- + +"'"Martin, there's your instruments. I won't trouble you to take them +with you, because they're heavy and you're not going straight home, but +I'll bring them to you day after to-morrow, when I shall be goin' your +way." + +"'Now, then,' said my father, 'the trick I'm thinkin' of playing on +Williamson is this: I'd like to take that box of instruments out of his +room without his knowing it and carry them home, having the boat here +convenient; and then in a day or two to write to him and tell him I must +have 'em, because I have a special use for 'em. Of course he'll be +awfully cut up, not having them to send back; and when he comes down to +my place to talk about it, and after hearing all he has to say, I'll +show him the box. He'll be the most dumbfoundedest man in this State; +and if I don't choose to tell him he'll never know to his dying day how +I got that box. And if he lies awake at night, trying to think how I got +it, it will serve him right for keeping my property from me so long.' + +"'But, father,' said I, 'if the people have gone to bed you can't get +into the house to play him your trick.' + +"'That can be managed,' says he; 'I'm rather old for climbing myself, +but I know a way by which you, Thomas, can get in easy enough. At the +back of the house is a trellis with a grape-vine running over it, and +the top of it is just under one of the second-story windows. You can +climb up that trellis, Thomas, and lift up that window-sash very +carefully, so's not to make no noise, and get in. Then you'll be in a +back room, with a door right in front of you which opens into Mr. and +Mrs. Green's bedroom. There's always a little night lamp burning in it, +by which you can see to get about. In the corner, on your right as you +go into the room, is a table with my instrument-box standing on it. The +box is pretty heavy, and there is a handle on top to carry it by. You +needn't be afraid to go in, for by this time they are both sound asleep, +and you can pick up the box and walk out as gingerly as a cat, having of +course taken your shoes off before you went in. Then you can hand the +box out the back window to me,--I can climb up high enough to reach +it,--and you can scuttle down, and we'll be off, having the best rig on +Williamson Green that I ever heard of in my born days.' + +"I was a very active boy, used to climbing and all that sort of thing, +and I had no doubt that I could easily get into the house; but I did not +fancy my father's scheme. + +"'Suppose,' I said, 'that Mr. Williamson Green should wake up and see +me; what could I say? How could I explain my situation?' + +"'You needn't say anything,' said my father. 'If he wakes up blow out +the light and scoot. If you happen to have the box in your hand drop it +out the back window and then slip down after it. He won't see us; but +if he does he cannot catch us before we get to the boat; but if he +should, however, I'll have to explain the matter to him, and the joke +will be against me; but I shall get my instruments, which is the main +point, after all.' + +"I did not argue with my father, for he was a man who hated to be +differed with, and I agreed to help him carry out his little joke. We +took off our shoes and walked quietly to the back of the house. My +father stood below, and I climbed up the trellis under the back window, +which he pointed out. The window-sash was down all but a little crack to +let in air, and I raised it so slowly and gently that I made no noise. +Then without any trouble at all I got into the room. + +"I found myself in a moderate-sized chamber, into which a faint light +came from a door opposite the window. Having been several hours out in +the night my eyes had become so accustomed to darkness that this light +was comparatively strong and I could see everything. + +"Looking about me my eyes fell on a little bedstead, on which lay one of +the most beautiful infants I ever beheld in my life. Its golden hair +lay in ringlets upon the pillow. Its eyes were closed, but its soft +cheeks had in them a rosy tinge which almost equalled the colour of its +dainty little lips, slightly opened as it softly breathed and dreamed." +At this point I saw my wife look quickly at the bedroom key she had in +her hand. I knew she was thinking of George William. + +"I stood entranced," continued the burglar, "gazing upon this babe, for +I was very fond of children; but I remembered that I must not waste +time, and stepped softly into the next room. There I beheld Mr. and Mrs. +Williamson Green in bed, both fast asleep, the gentleman breathing a +little hard. In a corner, just where my father told me I should find it, +stood the box upon the table. + +"But I could not immediately pick it up and depart. The beautiful room +in which I found myself was a revelation to me. Until that moment I had +not known that I had tastes and sympathies of a higher order than might +have been expected of the youthful son of a boat-builder. Those artistic +furnishings aroused within a love of the beautiful which I did not know +I possessed. The carpets, the walls, the pictures, the hangings in the +windows, the furniture, the ornaments,--everything, in fact, impressed +me with such a delight that I did not wish to move or go away. + +"Into my young soul there came a longing. 'Oh!' I said to myself, 'that +my parents had belonged to the same social grade as that worthy couple +reposing in that bed; and oh! that I, in my infancy, had been as +beautiful and as likely to be so carefully nurtured and cultured as that +sweet babe in the next room.' I almost heaved a sigh as I thought of the +difference between these surroundings and my own, but I checked myself; +it would not do to made a noise and spoil my father's joke. + +"There were a great many things in that luxurious apartment which it +would have delighted me to look upon and examine, but I forbore." + +"I wish I'd been there," said the stout man; "there wouldn't have been +any forbearin'." + +The speaker turned sharply upon him. + +"Don't you interrupt me again," he said angrily. Then, instantly +resuming his deferential tone, he continued the story. + +"But I had come there by the command of my parent, and this command must +be obeyed without trifling or loss of time. My father did not approve of +trifling or loss of time. I moved quietly toward the table in the +corner, on which stood my father's box. I was just about to put my hand +upon it when I heard a slight movement behind me. I gave a start and +glanced backward. It was Mr. Williamson Green turning over in his bed; +what if he should awake? His back was now toward me, and my impulse was +to fly and leave everything behind me; but my father had ordered me to +bring the box, and he expected his orders to be obeyed. I had often been +convinced of that. + +"I stood perfectly motionless for a minute or so, and when the gentleman +recommenced his regular and very audible breathing I felt it safe to +proceed with my task. Taking hold of the box I found it was much heavier +than I expected it to be; but I moved gently away with it and passed +into the back room. + +"There I could not refrain from stopping a moment by the side of the +sleeping babe, upon whose cherub-like face the light of the night lamp +dimly shone. The little child was still sleeping sweetly, and my impulse +was to stop and kiss it; but I knew that this would be wrong. The infant +might awake and utter a cry and my father's joke be spoiled. I moved to +the open window, and with some trouble, and, I think, without any noise, +I succeeded in getting out upon the trellis with the box under my arm. +The descent was awkward, but my father was a tall man, and, reaching +upward, relieved me of my burden before I got to the ground. + +"'I didn't remember it was so heavy,' he whispered, 'or I should have +given you a rope to lower it down by. If you had dropped it and spoiled +my instruments, and made a lot of noise besides, I should have been +angry enough.' + +"I was very glad my father was not angry, and following him over the +greensward we quickly reached the boat, where the box was stowed away +under the bow to keep it from injury. + +"We pushed off as quietly as possible and rowed swiftly down the river. +When we had gone about a mile I suddenly dropped my oar with an +exclamation of dismay. + +"'What's the matter?' cried my father. + +"'Oh, I have done a dreadful thing!' I said. 'Oh, father, I must go +back!' + +"I am sorry to say that at this my father swore. + +"'What do you want to go back for?' he said. + +"'Just to think of it! I have left open the window in which that +beautiful child was sleeping. If it should take cold and die from the +damp air of the river blowing upon it I should never forgive myself. Oh, +if I had only thought of climbing up the trellis again and pulling down +that sash! I am sure I could go back and do it without making the least +noise.' My father gave a grunt; but what the grunt meant I do not know, +and for a few moments he was silent, and then he said:-- + +"'Thomas, you cannot go back; the distance is too great, the tide is +against us, and it is time that you and I were both in our beds. Nothing +may happen to that baby; but, attend to my words now, if any harm should +come to that child it will go hard with you. If it should die it would +be of no use for you to talk about practical jokes. You would be held +responsible for its death. I was going to say to you that it might be as +well for you not to say anything about this little venture until I had +seen how Williamson Green took the joke. Some people get angry with very +little reason, although I hardly believe he's that sort of a man; but +now things are different. He thinks all the world of that child, which +is the only one they've got; and if you want to stay outside of jail or +the house of refuge I warn you never to say a word of where you have +been this night.' + +"With this he began to row again, and I followed his example, but with a +very heavy heart. All that night I dreamt of the little child with the +damp night winds blowing in upon it." + +"Did you ever hear if it caught cold?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"No," replied the burglar, "I never did. I mentioned the matter to my +father, and he said that he had great fears upon the subject, for +although he had written to Williamson Green, asking him to return the +instruments, he had not seen him or heard from him, and he was afraid +that the child had died or was dangerously sick. Shortly after that my +father sent me on a little trip to the Long Island coast to collect some +bills from people for whom he had done work. He gave me money to stay a +week or two at the seashore, saying that the change would do me good; +and it was while I was away on this delightful holiday that an event +occurred which had a most disastrous effect upon my future life. My +father was arrested for burglary! + +"It appeared--and I cannot tell you how shocked I was when I discovered +the truth--that the box which I had carried away did not contain +nautical instruments, but was filled with valuable plate and jewels. My +unfortunate father heard from a man who had been discharged from the +service of the family whose house he had visited--whose name, by the +way, was not Green--where the box containing the valuables mentioned was +always placed at night, and he had also received accurate information in +regard to the situation of the rooms and the best method of gaining +access to them. + +"I believe that some arrangement had been made between my father and +this discharged servant in regard to a division of the contents of the +box, and it was on account of a disagreement on this subject that the +man became very angry, and after pocketing what my father thought was +his fair share he departed to unknown regions, leaving behind a note to +the police which led to my father's arrest." + +"That was a mean trick," said Aunt Martha. + +The burglar looked at her gratefully. + +"In the lower spheres of life, madam, such things often happen. Some of +the plate and jewels were found in my father's possession, and he was +speedily tried and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. And now, +can you imagine, ladies," said the tall burglar, apparently having +become satisfied to address himself to Aunt Martha, as well as my wife, +"the wretched position in which I found myself? I was upbraided as the +son of a thief. I soon found myself without home, without occupation, +and, alas! without good reputation. I was careful not to mention my +voluntary connection with my father's crime for fear that should I do so +I might be compelled to make a statement which might increase the +severity of his punishment. For this reason I did not dare to make +inquiries concerning the child in whom I had taken such an interest, +and whose little life I had, perhaps, imperilled. I never knew, ladies, +whether that infant grew up or not. + +"But I, alas! grew up to a life of hardship and degradation. It would be +impossible for persons in your sphere of life to understand what I now +was obliged to suffer. Suitable employment I could not obtain, because I +was the son of a burglar. With a father in the State prison, it was of +no use for me to apply for employment at any respectable place of +business. I laboured at one thing and another, sometimes engaging in the +most menial employments. I also had been educated and brought up by my +dear mother for a very different career. Sometimes I managed to live +fairly well, sometimes I suffered. Always I suffered from the stigma of +my father's crime, always in the eyes of the community in which I +lived--a community, I am sorry to say, incapable, as a rule, of making +correct judgments in delicate cases like these--I was looked upon as +belonging to the ranks of the dishonest. It was a hard lot, and +sometimes almost impossible to bear up under. + +"I have spoken at length, ladies, in order that you may understand my +true position; and I wish to say that I have never felt the crushing +weight of my father's disgrace more deeply than I felt it last evening. +This man," nodding toward the stout burglar, "came to me shortly after I +had eaten my supper, which happened to be a frugal one, and said to +me:-- + +"'Thomas, I have some business to attend to to-night, in which you can +help me if you choose. I know you are a good mechanic.' + +"'If it is work that will pay me,' I answered, 'I should be very glad to +do it, for I am greatly in need of money.' + +"'It will pay,' said he; and I agreed to assist him. + +"As we were walking to the station, as the business to be attended to +was out of town, this man, whose name is James Barlow, talked to me in +such a way that I began to suspect that he intended to commit a +burglary, and openly charged him with this evil purpose. 'You may call +it burglary or anything else you please,' said he; 'property is very +unequally divided in this world, and it is my business in life to make +wrong things right as far as I can. I am going to the house of a man +who has a great deal more than he needs, and I haven't anything like as +much as I need; and so I intend to take some of his overplus,--not very +much, for when I leave his house he will still be a rich man, and I'll +be a poor one. But for a time my family will not starve.' + +"'Argue as you please, James Barlow,' I said, 'what you are going to do +is nothing less than burglary.' + +"'Of course it is,' said he; 'but it's all right, all the same. There +are a lot of people, Thomas, who are not as particular about these +things as they used to be, and there is no use for you to seem better +than your friends and acquaintances. Now, to show there are not so many +bigots as there used to be, there's a young man going to meet us at the +station who is greatly interested in the study of social problems. He is +going along with us just to look into this sort of thing and study it. +It is impossible for him to understand people of our class, or do +anything to make their condition better, if he does not thoroughly +investigate their methods of life and action. He's going along just as a +student, nothing more; and he may be down on the whole thing for all I +know. He pays me five dollars for the privilege of accompanying me, and +whether he likes it or not is his business. I want you to go along as a +mechanic, and if your conscience won't let you take any share in the +profit, I'll just pay you for your time.' + +"'James Barlow,' said I, 'I am going with you, but for a purpose far +different from that you desire. I shall keep by your side, and if I can +dissuade you from committing the crime you intend I shall do so; but if +I fail in this, and you deliberately break into a house for purposes of +robbery, I shall arouse the inmates and frustrate your crime.' Now, +James Barlow," said he, turning to the stout man with a severe +expression on his strongly marked face, "is not what I have said +perfectly true? Did you not say to me every word which I have just +repeated?" + +The stout man looked at the other in a very odd way. His face seemed to +broaden and redden, and he merely closed his eyes as he promptly +answered:-- + +"That's just what I said, every blasted word of it. You've told it fair +and square, leavin' off nothin' and puttin' in nothin'. You've told the +true facts out and out, up and down, without a break." + +"Now, ladies," continued the tall man, "you see my story is +corroborated, and I will conclude it by saying that when this house, in +spite of my protest, had been opened, I entered with the others with the +firm intention of stepping into a hallway or some other suitable place +and announcing in a loud voice that the house was about to be robbed. As +soon as I found the family aroused and my purpose accomplished, I +intended to depart as quickly as possible, for, on account of the shadow +cast upon me by my father's crime, I must never be found even in the +vicinity of criminal action. But as I was passing through this room I +could not resist the invitation of Barlow to partake of the refreshments +which we saw upon the table. I was faint from fatigue and insufficient +nourishment. It seemed a very little thing to taste a drop of wine in a +house where I was about to confer a great benefit. I yielded to the +temptation, and now I am punished. Partaking even that little which did +not belong to me, I find myself placed in my present embarrassing +position." + +"You are right there," said I, "it must be embarrassing; but before we +have any more reflections, there are some practical points about which +I wish you would inform me. How did that wicked man, Mr. Barlow I think +you called him, get into this house?" + +The tall man looked at me for a moment, as if in doubt what he should +say; and then his expression of mingled hopelessness and contrition +changed into one of earnest frankness. + +"I will tell you, sir, exactly," he said; "I have no wish to conceal +anything. I have long wanted to have an opportunity to inform occupants +of houses, especially those in the suburbs, of the insufficiency of +their window fastenings. Familiar with mechanic devices as I am, and +accustomed to think of such things, the precautions of householders +sometimes move me to laughter. Your outer doors, front and back, are of +heavy wood, chained, locked, and bolted, often double locked and bolted; +but your lower windows are closed in the first place by the lightest +kind of shutters, which are very seldom fastened at all, and in the +second place by a little contrivance connecting the two sashes, which is +held in place by a couple of baby screws. If these contrivances are of +the best kind and cannot be opened from the outside with a knife-blade +or piece of tin, the burglar puts a chisel or jimmy under the lower sash +and gently presses it upward, when the baby screws come out as easily as +if they were babies' milk-teeth. Not for a moment does the burglar +trouble himself about the front door, with its locks and chains and +bolts. He goes to the window, with its baby screws, which might as well +be left open as shut, for all the hindrance it is to his entrance; and +if he meddled with the door at all, it is simply to open it from the +inside, so that when he is ready to depart he may do so easily." + +"But all that does not apply to my windows," I said. "They are not +fastened that way." + +"No, sir," said the man, "your lower shutters are solid and strong as +your doors. This is right, for if shutters are intended to obstruct +entrance to a house they should be as strong as the doors. When James +Barlow first reached this house he tried his jimmy on one of the +shutters in this main building, but he could not open it. The heavy bolt +inside was too strong for him. Then he tried another near by with the +same result. You will find the shutters splintered at the bottom. Then +he walked to the small addition at the back of the house, where the +kitchen is located. Here the shutters were smaller, and of course the +inside bolts were smaller. Everything in harmony. Builders are so +careful now-a-days to have everything in harmony. When Barlow tried his +jimmy on one of these shutters the bolt resisted for a time, but its +harmonious proportions caused it to bend, and it was soon drawn from its +staples and the shutter opened, and of course the sash was opened as I +told you sashes are opened." + +"Well," said I, "shutters and sashes of mine shall never be opened in +that way again." + +"It was with that object that I spoke to you," said the tall man. "I +wish you to understand the faults of your fastenings, and any +information I can give you which will better enable you to protect your +house, I shall be glad to give, as a slight repayment for the injury I +may have helped to do to you in the way of broken glass and spoiled +carpet. I have made window fastenings an especial study, and, if you +employ me for the purpose, I'll guarantee that I will put your house +into a condition which will be absolutely burglar proof. If I do not do +this to your satisfaction, I will not ask to be paid a cent." + +"We will not consider that proposition now," I said, "for you may have +other engagements which would interfere with the proposed job." I was +about to say that I thought we had enough of this sort of story, when +Aunt Martha interrupted me. + +"It seems to me," she said, speaking to the tall burglar, "that you have +instincts, and perhaps convictions, of what is right and proper; but it +is plain that you allow yourself to be led and influenced by +unprincipled companions. You should avoid even the outskirts of evil. +You may not know that the proposed enterprise is a bad one, but you +should not take part in it unless you know that it is a good one. In +such cases you should be rigid." + +The man turned toward my aunt, and looked steadfastly at her, and as he +gazed his face grew sadder and sadder. + +"Rigid," he repeated; "that is hard." + +"Yes," I remarked, "that is one of the meanings of the word." + +Paying no attention to me, he continued:-- + +"Madam," said he, with a deep pathos in his voice, "no one can be +better aware than I am that I have made many mistakes in the course of +my life; but that quality on which I think I have reason to be satisfied +with myself is my rigidity when I know a thing is wrong. There occurs to +me now an instance in my career which will prove to you what I say. + +"I knew a man by the name of Spotkirk, who had invented a liniment for +the cure of boils. He made a great success with his liniment, which he +called Boilene, and at the time I speak of he was a very rich man. + +"One day Spotkirk came to me and told me he wanted me to do a piece of +business for him, for which he would pay me twenty-five dollars. I was +glad to hear this, for I was greatly in need of money, and I asked him +what it was he wanted me to do. + +"'You know Timothy Barker,' said he. 'Well, Timothy and I have had a +misunderstanding, and I want you to be a referee or umpire between us, +to set things straight.' + +"'Very good,' said I, 'and what is the point of difference?' + +"'I'll put the whole thing before you.' said he, 'for of course you +must understand it or you can't talk properly to Timothy. Now, you see, +in the manufacture of my Boilene I need a great quantity of good yellow +gravel, and Timothy Barker has got a gravel pit of that kind. Two years +ago I agreed with Timothy that he should furnish me with all the gravel +I should want for one-eighth of one per cent. of the profits on the +Boilene. We didn't sign no papers, for which I am sorry, but that was +the agreement; and now Timothy says that one-eighth of one per cent. +isn't enough. He has gone wild about it, and actually wants ten per +cent., and threatens to sue me if I don't give it to him.' + +"'Are you obliged to have gravel? Wouldn't something else do for your +purpose?' + +"'There's nothing as cheap,' said Spotkirk. 'You see I have to have lots +and lots of it. Every day I fill a great tank with the gravel and let +water onto it. This soaks through the gravel, and comes out a little +pipe in the bottom of the tank of a beautiful yellow color; sometimes it +is too dark, and then I have to thin it with more water.' + +"'Then you bottle it,' I said. + +"'Yes,' said Spotkirk; 'then there is all the expense and labour of +bottling it.' + +"'Then you put nothing more into it,' said I. + +"'What more goes into it before it's corked,' said Spotkirk, 'is my +business. That's my secret, and nobody's been able to find it out. +People have had Boilene analyzed by chemists, but they can't find out +the hidden secret of its virtue. There's one thing that everybody who +has used it does know, and that is that it is a sure cure for boils. If +applied for two or three days according to directions, and at the proper +stage, the boil is sure to disappear. As a proof of its merit I have +sold seven hundred and forty-eight thousand bottles this year.' + +"'At a dollar a bottle?' said I. + +"'That is the retail price,' said he. + +"'Now, then, Mr. Spotkirk,' said I, 'it will not be easy to convince +Timothy Barker that one-eighth of one per cent. is enough for him. I +suppose he hauls his gravel to your factory?' + +"'Hauling's got nothing to do with it,' said he; 'gravel is only ten +cents a load anywhere, and if I choose I could put my factory right in +the middle of a gravel pit. Timothy Barker has nothing to complain of. + +"'But he knows you are making a lot of money,' said I, 'and it will be a +hard job to talk him over. Mr. Spotkirk, it's worth every cent of fifty +dollars.' + +"'Now look here,' said he; 'if you get Barker to sign a paper that will +suit me, I'll give you fifty dollars. I'd rather do that than have him +bring a suit. If the matter comes up in the courts those rascally +lawyers will be trying to find out what I put into my Boilene, and that +sort of thing would be sure to hurt my business. It won't be so hard to +get a hold on Barker if you go to work the right way. You can just let +him understand that you know all about that robbery at Bonsall's +clothing-store, where he kept the stolen goods in his barn, covered up +with hay, for nearly a week. It would be a good thing for Timothy Barker +to understand that somebody else beside me knows about that business, +and if you bring it in right, it will fetch him around, sure.' + +"I kept quiet for a minute or two, and then I said:-- + +"'Mr. Spotkirk, this is an important business. I can't touch it under a +hundred dollars.' He looked hard at me, and then he said:-- + +"'Do it right, and a hundred dollars is yours.' + +"After that I went to see Timothy Barker, and had a talk with him. +Timothy was boiling over, and considered himself the worst-cheated man +in the world. He had only lately found out how Spotkirk made his +Boilene, and what a big sale he had for it, and he was determined to +have more of the profits. + +"'Just look at it!' he shouted; 'when Spotkirk has washed out my gravel +it's worth more than it was before, and he sells it for twenty-five +cents a load to put on gentlemen's places. Even out of that he makes a +hundred and fifty per cent. profit.' + +"I talked a good deal more with Timothy Barker, and found out a good +many things about Spotkirk's dealings with him, and then in an off-hand +manner I mentioned the matter of the stolen goods in his barn, just as +if I had known all about it from the very first. At this Timothy stopped +shouting, and became as meek as a mouse. He said nobody was as sorry as +he was when he found the goods concealed in his barn had been stolen, +and that if he had known it before the thieves took them away he should +have informed the authorities; and then he went on to tell me how he got +so poor and so hard up by giving his whole time to digging and hauling +gravel for Spotkirk, and neglecting his little farm, that he did not +know what was going to become of him and his family if he couldn't make +better terms with Spotkirk for the future, and he asked me very +earnestly to help him in this business if I could. + +"Now, then, I set myself to work to consider this business. Here was a +rich man oppressing a poor one, and here was this rich man offering me +one hundred dollars--which in my eyes was a regular fortune--to help him +get things so fixed that he could keep on oppressing the poor one. Now, +then, here was a chance for me to show my principles. Here was a chance +for me to show myself what you, madam, call rigid; and rigid I was. I +just set that dazzling one hundred dollars aside, much as I wanted it. +Much as I actually needed it, I wouldn't look at it, or think of it. I +just said to myself, 'If you can do any good in this matter, do it for +the poor man;' and I did do it for Timothy Barker with his poor wife and +seven children, only two of them old enough to help him in the gravel +pit. I went to Spotkirk and I talked to him, and I let him see that if +Timothy Barker showed up the Boilene business, as he threatened to do, +it would be a bad day for the Spotkirk family. He tried hard to talk me +over to his side, but I was rigid, madam, I was rigid, and the business +ended in my getting seven per cent. of the profits of Boilene for that +poor man, Timothy Barker, and his large family; and their domestic +prosperity is entirely due--I say it without hesitation--to my efforts +on their behalf, and to my rigidity in standing up for the poor against +the rich." + +"Of course," I here remarked, "you don't care to mention anything about +the money you squeezed out of Timothy Barker by means of your knowledge +that he had been a receiver of stolen goods, and I suppose the Boilene +man gave you something to get the percentage brought down from ten per +cent. to seven." + +The tall burglar turned and looked at me with an air of saddened +resignation. + +"Of course," said he, "it is of no use for a man in my position to +endeavour to set himself right in the eyes of one who is prejudiced +against him. My hope is that those present who are not prejudiced will +give my statements the consideration they deserve." + +"Which they certainly will do," I continued. Turning to my wife and Aunt +Martha, "As you have heard this fine story, I think it is time for you +to retire." + +"I do not wish to retire," promptly returned Aunt Martha. "I was never +more awake in my life, and couldn't go asleep if I tried. What we have +heard may or may not be true, but it furnishes subjects for +reflection--serious reflection. I wish very much to hear what that man +in the middle of the bench has to say for himself; I am sure he has a +story." + +"Yes, ma'am," said the stout man, with animation, "I've got one, and I'd +like nothin' better than to tell it to you if you'll give me a little +somethin' to wet my lips with--a little beer, or whiskey and water, or +anything you have convenient." + +"Whiskey and water!" said Aunt Martha with severity. "I should think +not. It seems to me you have had all the intoxicating liquors in this +house that you would want." + +"But I don't think you're the kind of person who'd doctor the liquor. +This is the first gentleman's house where I ever found anything of that +kind." + +"The worse for the gentleman," I remarked. The man grunted. + +"Well, ma'am," he said, "call it anything you please--milk, cider, or, +if you have nothin' else, I'll take water. I can't talk without +somethin' soaky." + +My wife rose. "If we are to listen to another story," she said, "I want +something to keep up my strength. I shall go into the dining-room and +make some tea, and Aunt Martha can give these men some of that if she +likes." + +The ladies now left the room, followed by Alice. Presently they called +me, and, leaving the burglars in charge of the vigilant David, I went to +them. I found them making tea. + +"I have been upstairs to see if George William is all right, and now I +want you to tell me what you think of that man's story," said my wife. + +"I don't think it a story at all," said I. "I call it a lie. A story is +a relation which purports to be fiction, no matter how much like truth +it may be, and is intended to be received as fiction. A lie is a false +statement made with the intention to deceive, and that is what I believe +we have heard to-night." + +"I agree with you exactly," said my wife. + +"It may be," said Aunt Martha, "that the man's story is true. There are +some things about it which make me think so; but if he is really a +criminal he must have had trials and temptations which led him into his +present mode of life. We should consider that." + +"I have been studying him," I said, "and I think he is a born rascal, +who ought to have been hung long ago." + +My aunt looked at me. "John," she said, "if you believe people are born +criminals, they ought to be executed in their infancy. It could be done +painlessly by electricity, and society would be the gainer, although you +lawyers would be the losers. But I do not believe in your doctrine. If +the children of the poor were properly brought up and educated, fewer of +them would grow to be criminals." + +"I don't think this man suffered for want of education," said my wife; +"he used very good language; that was one of the first things that led +me to suspect him. It is not likely that sons of boat-builders speak so +correctly and express themselves so well." + +"Of course, I cannot alter your opinions," said Aunt Martha, "but the +story interested me, and I very much wish to hear what that other man +has to say for himself." + +"Very well," said I, "you shall hear it; but I must drink my tea and go +back to the prisoners." + +"And I," said Aunt Martha, "will take some tea to them. They may be bad +men, but they must not suffer." + +I had been in the library but a few moments when Aunt Martha entered, +followed by Alice, who bore a tray containing three very large cups of +tea and some biscuit. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to me, "if you will untie their hands, I +will give them some tea." + +At these words each burglar turned his eyes on me with a quick glance. I +laughed. + +"Hardly," said I. "I would not be willing to undertake the task of +tying them up again, unless, indeed, they will consent to drink some +more of my wine." + +"Which we won't do," said the middle burglar, "and that's flat." + +"Then they must drink this tea with their hands tied," said Aunt Martha, +in a tone of reproachful resignation, and, taking a cup from the tray, +she approached the stout man and held it up to his lips. At this act of +extreme kindness we were all amused, even the burglar's companions +smiled, and David so far forgot himself as to burst into a laugh, which, +however, he quickly checked. The stout burglar, however, saw nothing to +laugh at. He drank the tea, and never drew breath until the cup was +emptied. + +"I forgot," said my aunt, as she removed the cup from his lips, "to ask +you whether you took much or little sugar." + +"Don't make no difference to me," answered the man; "tea isn't malt +liquor; it's poor stuff any way, and it doesn't matter to me whether +it's got sugar in it or not, but it's moistenin', and that's what I +want. Now, madam, I'll just say to you, if ever I break into a room +where you're sleepin', I'll see that you don't come to no harm, even if +you sit up in bed and holler." + +"Thank you," said Aunt Martha; "but I hope you will never again be +concerned in that sort of business." + +He grinned. "That depends on circumstances," said he. + +Aunt Martha now offered the tall man some tea, but he thanked her very +respectfully, and declined. The young man also said that he did not care +for tea, but that if the maid--looking at Alice--would give him a glass +of water he would be obliged. This was the first time he had spoken. His +voice was low and of a pleasing tone. David's face grew dark, and we +could see that he objected to this service from Alice. + +"I will give him the water myself," said Aunt Martha. This she did, and +I noticed that the man's thirst was very soon satisfied. When David had +been refreshed, and biscuits refused by the burglars, who could not very +well eat them with their hands tied, we all sat down, and the stout man +began his story. I give it as he told it, omitting some coarse and rough +expressions, and a good deal of slang which would be unintelligible to +the general reader. + +"There's no use," said the burglar, "for me to try and make any of you +believe that I'm a pious gentleman under a cloud, for I know I don't +look like it, and wouldn't be likely to make out a case." + +At this the tall man looked at him very severely. + +"I don't mean to say," he continued, "that my friend here tried anything +like that. Every word he said was perfectly true, as I could personally +testify if I was called upon the stand, and what I'm goin' to tell you +is likewise solid fact. + +"My father was a cracksman, and a first-rate one, too; he brought me up +to the business, beginning when I was very small. I don't remember +havin' any mother, so I'll leave her out. My old man was very +particular; he liked to see things done right. One day I was with him, +and we saw a tinner nailing a new leader or tin water-spout to the side +of a house. + +"'Look here, young man,' says Dad, 'you're makin' a pretty poor job of +that. You don't put in enough nails, and they ain't half drove in. +Supposin' there was a fire in that house some night, and the family had +to come down by the spout, and your nails would give way, and they'd +break their necks. What would you think then? And I can tell you what it +is, young man, I can appear ag'in you for doing poor work.' + +"The tinner grumbled, but he used more nails and drove 'em tight, Dad +and me standin' by, an' looking at him. One rainy night not long after +this Dad took me out with him and we stopped in front of this house. +'Now, Bobbie,' said he, 'I want you to climb into that open second-story +window, and then slip down stairs and open the front door for me; the +family's at dinner.' + +"'How am I to get up, Dad?' said I. + +"'Oh, you can go up the spout,' says he; 'I'll warrant that it will hold +you. I've seen to it that it was put on good and strong.' + +"I tried it, and as far as I can remember I never went up a safer +spout." + +"And you opened the front door?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"Indeed I did, ma'am," said the burglar, "you wouldn't catch me makin' +no mistakes in that line. + +"After a while I got too heavy to climb spouts, and I took to the +regular business, and did well at it, too." + +"Do you mean to say," asked Aunt Martha, "that you willingly and +premeditatedly became a thief and midnight robber?" + +"That's what I am, ma'am," said he; "I don't make no bones about it. I'm +a number one, double-extra, back-springed, copper-fastened burglar, with +all the attachments and noiseless treadle. That's what I am, and no +mistake. There's all kinds of businesses in this world, and there's got +to be people to work at every one of 'em; and when a fellow takes any +particular line, his business is to do it well; that's my motto. When I +break into a house I make it a point to clean it out first-class, and +not to carry away no trash, nuther. Of course, I've had my ups and my +downs, like other people,--preachers and doctors and storekeepers,--they +all have them, and I guess the downs are more amusin' than the ups, at +least to outsiders. I've just happened to think of one of them, and I'll +let you have it. + +"There was a man I knew named Jerry Hammond, that was a contractor, and +sometimes he had pretty big jobs on hand, buildin' or road-makin' or +somethin' or other. He'd contract to do anything, would Jerry, no matter +whether he'd ever done it before or not. I got to know his times and +seasons for collecting money, and I laid for him." + +"Abominable meanness!" exclaimed my wife. + +"It's all business," said the stout man, quite unabashed. "You don't +catch a doctor refusin' to practise on a friend, or a lawyer, nuther, +and in our line of business it's the same thing. It was about the end of +October, nigh four years ago, that I found out that Jerry had a lot of +money on hand. He'd been collectin' it from different parties, and had +got home too late in the day to put it in the bank, so says I to myself, +this is your time, old fellow, and you'd better make hay while the sun +shines. I was a little afraid to crack Jerry's house by myself, for he's +a strong old fellow, so I got a man named Putty Henderson to go along +with me. Putty was a big fellow and very handy with a jimmy; but he was +awful contrary-minded, and he wouldn't agree to clean out Jerry until I +promised to go halves with him. This wasn't fair, for it wasn't his job, +and a quarter would have been lots for him. + +"But there wasn't no use arguin', and along we went, and about one +o'clock we was standin' alongside Jerry's bed, where he was fast asleep. +He was a bachelor, and lived pretty much by himself. I give him a punch +to waken him up, for we'd made up our minds that that was the way to +work this job. It wouldn't pay us to go around huntin' for Jerry's +money. He was such a sharp old fellow, it was six to four we'd never +find it. He sat up in bed with a jump like a hop-toad, and looked first +at one and then at the other of us. We both had masks on, and it wasn't +puzzlin' to guess what we was there fur. + +"'Jerry Hammond,' says I, speakin' rather rough and husky, 'we knows +that you've got a lot o' money in this house, and we've come fur it. We +mean business, and there's no use foolin'. You can give it to us quiet +and easy, and keep a whole head on your shoulders, or we'll lay you out +ready fur a wake and help ourselves to the funds; and now you pays your +money and you can take your choice how you do it. There's nothin' +shabby about us, but we mean business. Don't we, pard?'--'That's so,' +says Putty. + +"'Look here,' says Jerry, jest as cool as if he had been sittin' outside +on his own curbstone, 'I know you two men and no mistake. You're Tommy +Randall, and you're Putty Henderson, so you might as well take off them +masks.'--'Which I am glad to do,' says I, 'for I hate 'em,' and I put +mine in my pocket, and Putty he took off his." + +"Excuse me," said Aunt Martha, interrupting at this point, "but when Mr. +Hammond mentioned the name of Tommy Randall, to whom did he refer?" + +"I can explain that, madam," said the tall burglar, quickly. "This man +by his criminal course of life has got himself into a good many scrapes, +and is frequently obliged to change his name. Since I accidentally +became acquainted with him he has had several aliases, and I think that +he very often forgets that his real name is James Barlow." + +"That's so," said the stout man, "there never was a more correct person +than this industrious and unfortunate man sittin' by me. I am dreadful +forgetful, and sometimes I disremember what belongs to me and what +don't. Names the same as other things. + +"'Well, now, Jerry,' says I, 'you needn't think you're goin' to make +anythin' by knowin' us. You've got to fork over your cash all the same, +and if you think to make anything by peachin' on us after we've cleared +out and left you peaceful in your bed, you're mistook so far as I'm +concerned; for I've made the track clear to get out of this town before +daybreak, and I don't know when I'll come back. This place is gettin' a +little too hot for me, and you're my concludin' exercise.' Jerry he sat +still for a minute, considerin.' He wasn't no fool, and he knowed that +there wasn't no use gettin' scared, nor cussin', nor hollerin'. What's +more, he knowed that we was there to get his money, and if he didn't +fork it over he'd get himself laid out, and that was worse than losin' +money any day. 'Now, boys, says he, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll +make you an offer; a fair and square offer. What money I've got I'll +divide even with you, each of us takin' a third, and I'll try to make up +what I lose out of my next contract. Now nothin' could be no squarer +than that.'--'How much money have you got, Jerry?' says I, 'that's the +first thing to know.'--'I've got thirty-one hundred dollars even,' says +he, 'and that will be one thousand and thirty-three dollars and +thirty-three cents apiece. I've got bills to pay to-morrow for lumber +and bricks, and my third will pay 'em. If I don't I'll go to pieces. You +don't want to see me break up business, do you?'--'Now, Jerry,' says I, +'that won't do. You haven't got enough to divide into three parts. Putty +and me agree to go halves with what we get out of you, and when I lay +out a piece of business I don't make no changes. Half of that money is +for me, and half is for Putty. So just hand it out, and don't let's have +no more jabberin'.' + +"Jerry he looked at me pretty hard, and then says he: 'You're about the +close-fisted and meanest man I ever met with. Here I offer you a third +part of my money, and all you've got to do is to take it and go away +peaceable. I'd be willin' to bet two to one that it's more than you +expected to get, and yet you are not satisfied; now, I'll be hanged if +I'm going to do business with you.'--'You can be hanged if you like,' +says I, 'but you'll do the business all the same.'--'No, I won't,' says +he, and he turns to Putty Henderson. 'Now, Putty,' says he, 'you've got +a pile more sense that this pal of yourn, and I'm goin' to see if I +can't do business with you. Now, you and me together can lick this Tommy +Randall just as easy as not, and if you'll help me do it I'll not only +divide the money with you, but I'll give you fifty dollars extra, so +that instead of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars--that's all he'd given +you, if he didn't cheat you--you'll have sixteen hundred, and I'll have +fifteen hundred instead of the thousand and thirty-three dollars which I +would have had left if my first offer had been took. So, Putty, what do +you say to that?' Now, Putty, he must have been a little sore with me on +account of the arguments we'd had about dividin', and he was mighty glad +besides to get the chance of makin' fifty dollars extry, and so he said +it was all right, and he'd agree. Then I thought it was about time for +me to take in some of my sail, and says I: 'Jerry, that's a pretty good +joke, and you can take my hat as soon as I get a new one, but of course +I don't mean to be hard on you, and if you really have bills to pay +to-morrow I'll take a third, and Putty'll take another, and we'll go +away peaceful.'--'No, you won't,' sings out Jerry, and with that he +jumps out of bed right at me, and Putty Henderson he comes at me from +the other side, and, between the two, they gave me the worst lickin' I +ever got in my born days, and then they dragged me down stairs and +kicked me out the front door, and I had hardly time to pick myself up +before I saw a policeman about a block off, and if he hadn't been a fat +one he'd had me sure. It wouldn't have been pleasant, for I was a good +deal wanted about that time. + +"So you see, ladies and gents, that it's true what I said,--things don't +always go right in our line of business no more than any other one." + +"I think you were served exactly right," said Aunt Martha; "and I wonder +such an experience did not induce you to reform." + +"It did, ma'am, it did," said the burglar. "I made a vow that night that +if ever again I had to call in any one to help me in business of that +kind I wouldn't go pards with him. I'd pay him so much for the job, and +I'd take the risks, and I've stuck to it. + +"But even that don't always work. Luck sometimes goes ag'in' a man, +even when he's working by himself. I remember a thing of that kind that +was beastly hard on me. A gentleman employed me to steal his daughter." + +"What!" exclaimed my wife and Aunt Martha. "Steal his own daughter! What +do you mean by that?" + +"That's what it was," said the stout burglar; "no more nor less. I was +recommended to the gent as a reliable party for that sort of thing, and +I met him to talk it over, and then he told me just how the case stood. +He and his wife were separated, and the daughter, about eleven years +old, had been given to her by the court, and she put it into a boardin' +school, and the gent he was goin' to Europe, and he wanted to get the +little gal and take her with him. He tried to get her once, but it +slipped up, and so there wasn't no good in his showin' hisself at the +school any more, which was in the country, and he knowed that if he +expected to get the gal he'd have to hire a professional to attend to +it. + +"Now, when I heard what he had to say, I put on the strictly pious, and, +says I, 'that's a pretty bad thing you're askin' me to do, sir, to +carry away a little gal from its lovin' mother, and more 'an that, to +take it from a school where it's gettin' all the benefits of +eddication.'--'Eddication,' says he; 'that's all stuff. What eddication +the gal gets at a school like that isn't worth a row of pins, and when +they go away they don't know nothin' useful, nor even anything tip-top +ornamental. All they've learned is the pianer and higher mathematics. As +for anythin' useful, they're nowhere. There isn't one of them could +bound New Jersey or tell you when Washington crossed the +Delaware.'--'That may be, sir,' says I, 'but them higher branches comes +useful. If Washington really did cross the Delaware, your little gal +could ask somebody when it was, but she couldn't ask 'em how the pianer +was played, nor what the whole multiplication table came to added up. +Them things she'd have to learn how to do for herself. I give you my +word, sir, I couldn't take a little gal from a school, where she was +gettin' a number one eddication, silver forks and towels extry.' The +gent looked pretty glum, for he was to sail the next day, and if I +didn't do the job for him he didn't know who would, and he said that he +was sorry to see that I was goin' back on him after the recommend I'd +had, and I said that I wouldn't go back on him if it wasn't for my +conscience. I was ready to do any common piece of business, but this +stealin' away little gals from lovin' mothers was a leetle too much for +me. 'Well,' says he, 'there ain't no time to be lost, and how much more +will satisfy your conscience?' When I said a hundred dollars, we struck +the bargain. + +"Well, we cut and dried that business pretty straight. I took a cab and +went out to the school, and the gent he got the key of a house that was +to let about three miles from the school, and he was to stay there and +look at that empty house until I brought him the gal, when he was to pay +me and take her away. I'd like to have had more time, so that I could go +out and see how the land laid, but there wasn't no more time, and I had +to do the best I could. The gent told me they all went a walkin' every +afternoon, and that if I laid low that would be the best time to get +her, and I must just fetch her along, no matter who hollered. + +"I didn't know exactly how I was going to manage it, but I took along +with me a big bag that was made for the conveyance of an extinct +millionaire, but which had never been used, owin' to beforehand +arrangements which had been made with the party's family. + +"I left the cab behind a bit of woods, not far from the school, and then +I laid low, and pretty soon I seed 'em all coming out, in a double line, +with the teacher behind 'em, for a walk. I had a description of the +little gal as was wanted, and as they come nearer I made her out easy. +She was the only real light-haired one in the lot. I hid behind some +bushes in the side of the road, and when they come up, and the +light-haired little gal was just opposite to me, I jumped out of the +bushes and made a dash at her. Whoop! what a row there was in one +second! Such a screamin' and screechin' of gals, such a pilin' on top +each other, and the teacher on top the whole of 'em, bangin' with her +umbrella; they pulled at the gal and they pulled at me, an' they yelled +and they howled, and I never was in such a row and hope I never shall be +again, and I grabbed that girl by her frock, and I tumbled some over one +way and some another, and I got the umbrella over my head, but I didn't +mind it, and I clapped that bag over the little gal, and I jerked, up +her feet and let her slip into it, and then I took her up like a bag of +meal, and put across the field, with the whole kit and boodle after me. +But I guess most of 'em must have tumbled down in hysterics, judgin' +from the screechin', and I got up to the cab and away we went. Well, +when we got to the house where I was to meet the gent, he began straight +off to blow at me. 'What do you mean,' he yelled, 'bringin' my daughter +in a bag?'--'It's the only way to do it, sir,' says I; 'they can't +holler and they can't kick, and people passin' by don't know what you've +got,' and so sayin' I untied the strings, put the little gal on her +feet, and pulled off the bag, and then I'd be hanged if I ever saw a man +so ragin' mad as he was. 'What do I want with that gal?' he cried; +'that's not my daughter. That girl's hair is as black as a coal, and +she's a Jew besides.' As soon as I sot my eyes on the little varmint it +come over me that I got the thing crooked, and in the scrimmage I let go +of the right gal and grabbed another. + +"I don't see how a man could help makin' mistakes with that +school-teacher's umbrella whanging away at his knowledge box, but I +wasn't goin' to let on. 'She ain't no Jew, nuther,' says I, 'and she's +your daughter, too; you needn't try to play no tricks on me. Pay me my +money and take her away as quick as you can, that's my advice, or before +you know it you'll be nabbed.'--'Pay ye!' he yelled; 'do you think I'd +pay you anything for that little Jew?'--'She's just as much a Christian +as you are,' says I. 'Ain't you a Christian, little gal? and is'nt this +gentleman your father? and ain't you surprised that he wants to give you +back to be put in the bag?' I said this hopin' she'd have sense enough +to say he was her father so's to get rid of me. + +"The wretched gal had been clean dumbfounded when she was took out of +the bag, and hadn't done nothin' so far but blubber and cry, and try to +get away, which she couldn't, because I held her frock; but now she ups +and screams he wasn't her father, and she'd never seen him before, and +then he storms and swears, and tells me to take her back where I got +her, and I tell him I'll see him hanged first, and what I want is my +money; she screams, and he swears he'll not pay me a cent, and I squares +off and says that I'll thrash him out of his skin, and then he calls in +his coachman, and they both make at me, and I backs out the door to get +my cabby to stand by me, and I found that he'd cut out, havin' most +likely got frightened, afraid of bein' mixed up in trouble. Then I seed +on the high road, some half a mile away, some men comin' gallopin', and +the gent he looked out and seed 'em, too, and then says he to me, +'You'll jist take that little Jew gal back where you got her from; she's +no use to me; I'm goin';' and at that I hollered for my money, and made +a grab at him, but the coachman he tripped me over backward, and before +I could git up again they was both off with the horses on a run. + +"I was so mad I couldn't speak, but there wasn't no time for foolin', +and I hadn't made up my mind which door I should cut out of, when the +fellows on horseback went ridin' past as hard as they could go. They +must have seed the carriage drivin' away, and thought for sure it had +the gal in it, and they was after it, lickety-split. + +"When they was clean gone I looked round for the little gal, but +couldn't see her, but all a-sudden she came out of the fireplace, where +she'd been hidin'. She'd got over her cryin', and over her scare, too, +judgin' from her looks. 'I'm glad he's gone,' says she, 'and I'm mighty +glad, too, that Mr. Haskins and them other men didn't see me.'--'Who's +they?' says I.--'They's neighbors,' says she;' if they knew I was here +they'd took me back.'--'Well, you little minx,' say I, 'isn't that what +you want?'--'No,' says she. 'I didn't want to go with that man, for I +don't know him, and I hate him, but I don't want to go back to that +school. I hate it worse than anything in the whole world. You haven't no +idea what a horrid place it is. They just work you to death, and don't +give you half enough to eat. My constitution won't stand it. I've told +Pop that, and he thinks so too, but Marm, she don't believe in it, and +my stayin' there is all her doin'. I've been wantin' to get away for +ever so long, but I didn't want to be took off in a bag; but now that +I'm out of that horrid hole I don't want to go back, and if you'll take +me home to Pop, I know he won't let me go back, and he'll pay you real +handsome besides.'--'Who's your Pop?' says I.--'He's Mr. Groppeltacker, +of Groppeltacker & Mintz, corset findings, seven hundred and something +or other, I forget the number now, Broadway. Oh, Pop does a lot of +business, I tell you, and he's got lots of money. He sends corset +findings to South America, and Paris, and Chicago, and Madagascar, and +the uttermost parts of the earth. I've heard him say that often, and you +needn't be afraid of his not bein' able to pay you. A lot more than that +man would have paid you for his little gal, if you'd catched the right +one. So if you take me to Pop, and get me there safe and sound, it will +be an awful good speck for you.' + +"Now, I begins to think to myself that perhaps there was somethin' in +what that little Jew gal was sayin', and that I might make something out +of the gal after all. I didn't count on gettin' a big pile out of old +Groppeltacker,--it wasn't likely he was that kind of a man,--but +whatever I did get would be clean profit, and I might as well try it on. +He couldn't make no charge ag'in me fur bringin' him his daughter, if +she asked me to do it; so says I to her, 'Now, if I take you home to +your Pop, will you promise on your word an' honour, that you won't say +nothin' about my carryin' you off in a bag, and say that you seed me +walkin' along the road and liked my looks, and told me you were +sufferin', and asked me to take you home to your kind parents, where you +might be took proper care of; and that I said I wasn't goin' that way, +but I'd do it out of pure Christian charity, and nothin' more nor less, +and here you was? And then, of course, you can tell him he ought to do +the handsome thing by me.'--'I'll do that,' says she, 'and I tell how +you talked to me awful kind for more than an hour, tryin' to keep me to +stay at the school, and it wasn't till I got down on my knees and weeped +that you agreed to take me to my kind father.'--'All right,' says I, 'I +might as well take you along, but we'll have to go back by the railroad +and foot it, at least two miles, to the station, and I don't know about +walkin' across the country with a little girl dressed as fine as you +are. I might get myself suspicioned.'--'That's so,' says she; 'we might +meet somebody that'd know me,' and then she wriggled up her little +forehead and began to think. I never did see such a little gal as sharp +as that one was; needles was nothin' to her. In about a minute she says, +'Where's that bag of yourn?'--'Here it is,' says I; and then she took it +and looked at it up and down, with her head cocked on one side. 'If I'd +somethin' to cut that bag with,' says she, 'I could fix myself up so +that nobody'd know me, don't care who it was.'--'I don't want that bag +cut,' says I; 'it's an extry good bag; it was made for a particular +purpose, and cost money.'--'Pop will pay expenses,' says she; 'how much +did it cost?'--'It was four dollars cash,' said I.--'They cheated you +like everything,' says she; 'you could get a bag like that any day for a +dollar and seventy-five cents. Will you let it go at that?'--'All +right,' says I, for I was tickled to see how sharp that little Jew gal +was, and ten to one I'd throwed away the bag before we got to town; so +she pulled a little book out of her pocket with a pencil stuck in it, +and turnin' over to a blank page she put down, 'Bag, one dollar and +seventy-five;' then she borrows my big knife, and holdin' the top of the +bag up ag'in her belt, she made me stick a pin in it about a +hand's-breadth from the floor; then she took the knife and cut the bag +clean across, me a-holdin' one side of it; then she took the top end of +that bag and slipped it on her, over her head and shoulders, and tied +the drawin' strings in it round her waist, and it hung around her just +like a skirt, nearly touchin' the ground; then she split open the rest +of the bag, and made a kind of shawl out of it, puttin' it into shape +with a lot o' pins, and pinnin' it on herself real clever. She had lots +of pins in her belt, and she told me that she never passed a pin in that +school without pickin' it up, and that she had four hundred and +fifty-nine of them now in her room, which she was mighty sorry to leave +behind, and that these she had now was this day's pickin' up. + +"When she got done workin' at herself you couldn't see not a ribbon nor +a hem of her fine clothes; it was all black skirt and shawl, and she'd +put up her sleeve, so that when her arm stuck out it was bare. Then she +took all the ribbons and flowers off her hat, and crumpled it up, and +when she tied it on what a guy she was. 'Now,' says she, 'I can go +barefoot.'--'Which you won't,' says I, 'for you'll get your feet all +cut, but you can muddy your shoes,' which she did, I pumpin' on 'em, so +that the dust in the back yard would stick. Then we starts off across +the country, and, upon my word, I was pretty nigh ashamed to be seen +walkin' with such a little scarecrow. When I bought the tickets at the +station she asked me how much they was, and put it down in her book. +When we got into the cars the people all looked hard at her, and I +reckon they thought some kind of a home had been burnt down, and this +was one of the orphans that had been saved. But they didn't say nothin', +and she fixed herself as comfortable as you please; and before long a +boy came through the car with fruit in a basket, and then says she to +me, 'I want two apples.' The boy had gone past us, but I got up and +followed him and bought her two apples. 'How much did you give for +them?' says she, when I come back.--'They was two for five cents,' says +I.--'Well,' says she, 'they do stick you dreadful. Two for three cents +is all papa or I pays for apples like them,' and she took out her little +book and put down, 'Apples, three cents.'--'Very well, miss,' says I, +'but if you want any more refreshments you buy 'em yourself.'--'I think +I'd better,' says she, and she went to work eatin' them two apples. She +hadn't more than got through with 'em when the boy came around ag'in. 'I +want a banana,' says she; 'lend me five cents,' which I did, and she put +down, 'Cash, five cents.' Then the boy come up, and says she, 'How much +are your bananas?'--'Five cents,' said he.--'For two?' says she.--'No,' +says he, 'for one.'--'What do you take me for?' says she. 'I've bought +bananas before. I'll give you three cents for that one,' pointin' to the +biggest in the lot.--'I can't do that,' said the boy; 'the price is five +cents.'--'I'd like a banana,' says she, 'but I don't pay more'n three +cents; take it or leave it,' and with that the boy went on. 'Now,' says +I, 'you've gouged yourself out of a banana.'--'Not a bit of it,' says +she; 'he'll be back;' and in two minutes he was back, and said she might +have it for three cents. 'Have you got two coppers?' said she. 'Let me +see 'em.' He said he had, and showed 'em to her, and she took 'em and +the banana, and then give him five cents, and then she didn't give the +change to me, but put it in her pocket. 'Now,' says she, 'if you'd buy +things that way, you'd be rich in time.' + +"When we got to the city we took the elevated and went up town to +Forty-eighth street, and then walked over to her father's house. It was +a big one, on one of the cross streets. When we got there, she told me +to wait a minute, and, lookin' around to see that nobody was comin', she +slipped off the skirt and the cape she had made and rolled 'em up in a +bundle. 'It don't matter about my hat and shoes,' says she, 'but they +wouldn't know me in such duds.' Then, handin' me the bundle, she said, +'For twenty-five cents you can get that bag mended just as good as new, +so you can take it, and it will save us a dollar and a half.'--'No, you +don't,' says I, for I'd had enough of her stinginess. 'I don't touch +that bag ag'in, and I made up my mind that minute to charge the old man +five dollars' worth. When the front door was opened, the servant gal +looked as if she couldn't believe her eyes, but my young woman was as +cool as you please, and she had me showed into a room off the hall, and +then she went up-stairs. + +"I sat a-waitin' a long time, which gave me a good chance to look around +at things. The room was real handsome, and I took a peep at the window +fastenin's and the lay of the doors, thinkin' the knowledge might come +in handy some time. Right in front of me on a table was a little yellow +mouse, and it struck me as I looked at it that that must be gold. I +listened if anybody was comin', and then I picked it up to see if it +really was. I thought I heard the door-bell ring just then, and shut it +up in my hand quick, but nobody went to the door; and then I looked at +the little mouse, and if it wasn't pure gold it was the best imitation +ever I see, so I slipped it quietly in my pocket to look at it ag'in +when I had time. + +"Pretty soon old Groppeltacker come in, shut the door, and sot down. 'So +you brought my daughter back,' says he.--'Yes,' says I.--'And you expect +to be paid for it,' says he.--'Yes,' says I, 'I do.'--'How much do you +ask for your services?' says he. Now, this was a sort of a staggerer, +for I hadn't made up my mind how much I was goin' to ask; but there +wasn't time for no more thinkin' about it, and so says I, plum, 'A +hundred dollars, and there was some expenses besides.'--'Well, well,' +says he, 'that seems like a good deal, just for bringin' a little gal +from school. It couldn't have took you more'n a couple of hours.'--'I +don't charge for time,' says I, 'it's for the risks and the science of +the thing. There's mighty few men in this town could have brought your +daughter home as neat as I did.'--'Well, well,' says he, rubbin' his +hands, 'I expect I'll have to pay for the whole term of the school, +whether she's there or not, and the business will come heavy on me. +Don't you think sixty dollars would pay you?' Now, I know when you deal +with this sort of a man there's always a good deal of difference +splittin'; and so, says I, 'No, it won't. I might take ninety dollars, +but that's the very lowest peg.'--'The very lowest?' says he, gettin' up +and walkin' about a little; and then I thought I heard the door-bell +ring again, and I was dreadful afraid somebody would come and call off +the old man before he finished the bargain. 'Well,' says I, 'we'll call +it eighty-five and expenses, and there I'll stop.' + +"Groppeltacker, now he set down ag'in and looked hard at me. 'I didn't +ask you to bring my daughter back,' says he, speakin' gruff, and very +different from the way he spoke before, 'and what's more, I didn't want +her back, and what's more yet, I'm not goin' to pay you a red +cent.'--'Now, look a-here,' says I, mighty sharp, 'none o' that, old +man; fork over the money or I'll lay you out stiff as a poker, and help +myself. I'm not a fellow to be fooled with, and there's nobody in this +house can stop me.' Old Groppeltacker, he didn't turn a hair, but just +sot there, and says he, 'Before you blow any more, suppose you take my +little gold mouse out of your pocket and hand it to me.' I must say I +was took back at this, but I spoke back, as bold as brass, and said I +never seed his gold mouse. 'O, ho!' says he, 'what you didn't see was +the electric button under the table cover which rung a bell when the +mouse was picked up. That's what I call my mouse-trap.' + +"At this I jist b'iled over. 'Now,' says I, 'just you hand out every +cent you've got, and your watch, too; not another word.' And I jumped up +and clapped my hand on my pistol in my hip-pocket, and just at that +minute there was a click and the nippers were on me, and there was a big +policeman with his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't speak, I was so +b'ilin' and so dumbfounded both at once. Old Groppeltacker he just +leaned back and he laughed. 'You came in,' he said to the cop,'jest the +second I rang, and as soft as a cat, and the first thing that I want +you to do is to take that gold mouse out of his pocket, and I'll be on +hand whenever you let me know I'm wanted.' The cop he took the gold +mouse out of my pocket, and says he, 'I know this fellow, and if I'm not +mistook, they'll be more charges than yourn made ag'in him.' There +wasn't no chance to show fight, so I didn't do it, but I says to old +Groppeltacker, 'There's my expenses, you've got to pay them, +anyway.'--'All right,' says he, 'jist you send in your bill marked +correct, by my daughter, and I'll settle it,' and he laughed again, and +the cop he took me off. Well, ladies and gents, that little piece of +business, together with some other old scores, took me to Sing Sing for +three years, and it tain't six months since I got out, so you can see +for yourselves what hard times a fellow in my line of business sometimes +has." + +"Well," said Aunt Martha, "I don't approve of the Groppeltacker sort of +people, but if there were more of that kind I believe there would be +fewer of your kind. That story shows you in such a bad light that I +believe it's true." + +"Every word of it," said the man. "I wish it wasn't." + +And now I spoke. "Since you claim to be a truth-telling being," I said +to the stout burglar, "suppose you tell me why you never attempted +before to break into my house. Every considerable dwelling in this +neighbourhood has been entered, and I have no doubt you are the men who +committed all the burglaries." + +"No, sir," said he; "not men, I am the man who did 'em all; but these +two friends of mine was never with me before in a bit of business like +this. 'Tain't in their line. I have had pals with me, but they was +professionals. These ain't cracksmen, they don't know nothin' about it; +but this one is handy at tools, and that's the reason I brung him along, +but you see he kicked, and was goin' to give me away, and this young +gentleman"-- + +"Never mind about that young gentleman," I said; "I have a certain +curiosity to know why my house was not entered when the others were." + +"Well," said he, "I don't mind tellin' yer how that was. It was on +account of your baby. We don't like to crack a house where there's a +pretty small baby that's liable to wake up and howl any minute, and +rouse up the rest of the family. There's no workin' in a house with +comfort when there's such a young one about. I'll tell you what it is, +all your burglar-alarms and your dogs ain't worth nuthin' alongside of a +baby for guardin' a house. If a cracksman ain't careful the alarms will +go off, and if he don't know how to manage dogs, the dogs will bark. But +by George, sir, there ain't no providin' ag'in a baby. He'll howl any +time, and nobody can tell when, so I waited till your baby was a little +more settled in its ways and slept soundly, and then we come along, and +here we are." + +This statement very much surprised me, and did not elate me. Without +saying so to any one, I had flattered myself that the burglars had heard +of my precautions, and of my excellent stock of firearms, and perhaps +had got a notion that I would be an intrepid man to deal with, and it +was somewhat humiliating to find that it was our baby the burglars were +afraid of, and not myself. My wife was amazed. + +"Can it be possible," she said, "that these people know so much about +our baby, and that George William has been protecting this house?" + +"It makes my flesh creep," said Aunt Martha. "Do you know everything +about all of us?" + +"Wish I did, ma'am," said the stout burglar; "wish I'd known about that +beastly liquor." + +"Well, we've had enough of this," said I, rising; "and, my dear, you and +Aunt Martha must be ready to go to bed, and David and I will keep guard +over these fellows until morning." + +At this instant the youngest burglar spoke. His face wore a very anxious +expression. + +"May I ask, sir," he said, "what you intend to do with me in the +morning?" + +"I have already said," I answered, "that I shall then hand over all of +you to the officers of justice of this country." + +"But, sir," said the young man, "you will surely except me. I am not at +all concerned in this matter, and it would be of the greatest possible +injury to me to be mixed up in it, or to be mentioned in public reports +as an associate of a criminal. I'm not acquainted with the gentleman at +the other end of the bench, but I have every reason to believe from what +he said to me that he intended to notify you if this James Barlow +proceeded to any open act. For myself, I beg you will allow me to state +who and what I am, and to tell you by what a strange concatenation of +circumstances I happen to find myself in my present position--one which, +I assure you, causes me the greatest embarrassment and anxiety." + +"We've had enough story-telling for one night," said I, "and you had +better reserve your statement for the magistrate." + +Here Aunt Martha put in her voice. + +"That is not fair," she said, "two of them have been allowed to speak, +and this one has just as much right to be heard as the others. What do +you say, Cornelia?" + +I hoped that my wife would put herself on my side, and would say that we +had enough of this sort of thing; but female curiosity is an unknown +quantity, and she unhesitatingly replied that she would like to hear the +young man's story. I sat down in despair. It was useless to endeavour to +withstand this yearning for personal information,--one of the curses, I +may say, of our present civilization. The young man gave no time for +change of opinion, but immediately began. His voice was rich and rather +low, and his manner exceedingly pleasing and gentle. + +"I wish to state in the first place," said he, "that I am a reporter +for the press. In the exercise of my vocation I have frequently found +myself in peculiar and unpleasant positions, but never before have I +been in a situation so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this. In the +course of my studies and experiences I have found that in literature and +journalism, as well as in art, one can make a true picture only of what +one has seen. Imagination is all very well, often grand and beautiful; +but imaginative authors show us their inner selves and not our outer +world; there is to-day a demand for the real, and it is a demand which +will be satisfied with nothing but the truth. I have determined, as far +as in me lies, to endeavour to supply this demand, and I have devoted +myself to the study of Realism. + +"With this end in view, I have made it a rule never to describe anything +I have not personally seen and examined. If we would thoroughly +understand and appreciate our fellow-beings we must know what they do +and how they do it; otherwise we cannot give them credit for their +virtues, or judge them properly for their faults. If I could prevent +crime I would annihilate it, and when it ceased to exist the necessity +for describing it would also cease. But it does exist. It is a powerful +element in the life of the human race. Being known and acknowledged +everywhere, it should be understood; therefore it should be described. +The grand reality of which we are a part can never be truly comprehended +until we comprehend all its parts. But I will not philosophize. I have +devoted myself to Realism, and in order to be a conscientious student I +study it in all its branches. I am frequently called upon to write +accounts of burglars and burglaries, and in order thoroughly to +understand these people and their method of action I determined, as soon +as the opportunity should offer itself, to accompany a burglarious +expedition. My sole object was the acquisition of knowledge of the +subject,--knowledge which to me would be valuable, and, I may say, +essential. I engaged this man, James Barlow, to take me with him the +first time he should have on hand an affair of this kind, and thus it is +that you find me here to-night in this company. As I came here for the +purpose of earnest and thorough investigation, I will frankly admit that +I would not have interfered with his processes, but at the same time I +would have seen that no material injuries should result to any members +of this family." + +"That was very kind of you," I said, at which my wife looked at me +somewhat reproachingly. + +"If he really intended it," she remarked, "and I do not see why that was +not the case, it was kind in him." + +"As for me," said Aunt Martha, very sympathetically, "I think that the +study of Realism may be carried a great deal too far. I do not think +that there is the slightest necessity for people to know anything about +burglars. If people keep talking and reading about diseases they will +get them, and if they keep talking and reading about crimes they will +find that iniquity is catching, the same as some other things. Besides, +this realistic description gets to be very tiresome. If you really want +to be a writer, young man, why don't you try your hand on some original +composition? Then you might write something which would be interesting." + +"Ah, madam," said the young man, casting his eyes on the floor, "it +would be far beyond my power to write anything more wonderful than what +I have known and seen! If I may tell you some of the things which have +happened to me, you will understand why I have become convinced that in +this world of realities imagination must always take a second place." + +"Of course we want to hear your story," said Aunt Martha; "that is what +we are here for." + +"If I was unbound," said the young man, looking at me, "I could speak +more freely." + +"No doubt of it," said I; "but perhaps you might run away before you +finished your story. I wouldn't have that happen for the world." + +"Don't make fun of him," said Aunt Martha. "I was going to ask you to +cut him loose, but after what you say I think it would perhaps be just +as well to keep them all tied until the narratives are completed." + +With a sigh of resignation the young man began his story. + +"I am American born, but my father, who was a civil engineer and of high +rank in his profession, was obliged, when I was quite a small boy, to go +to Austria, where he had made extensive contracts for the building of +railroads. In that country I spent the greater part of my boyhood and +youth. There I was educated in the best schools, my father sparing no +money to have me taught everything that a gentleman should know. My +mother died when I was a mere infant, and as my father's vocation made +it necessary for him to travel a great deal, my life was often a lonely +one. For society I depended entirely upon my fellow-scholars, my tutors, +and masters. It was my father's intention, however, that when I had +finished my studies I should go to one of the great capitals, there to +mix with the world. + +"But when this period arrived I was in no haste to avail myself of the +advantages he offered me. My tastes were studious, my disposition +contemplative, and I was a lover of rural life. + +"My father had leased an old castle in Carinthia, not far from the +mountains, and here he kept his books and charts, and here he came for +recreation and study whenever his arduous duties gave him a little +breathing-spell. For several months I had lived at this castle, happy +when my father was with me and happy when I was alone. I expected soon +to go to Vienna, where my father would introduce me to some of his +influential friends. But day by day I postponed the journey. + +"Walking one morning a few miles from the castle, I saw at the edge of a +piece of woodland a female figure seated beneath a tree. Approaching +nearer, I perceived that she was young, and that she was sketching. I +was surprised, for I knew that in this part of the world young women, at +least those of the upper classes, to which the costume and tastes of +this one showed her to belong, were not allowed to wander about the +country by themselves; but although I stood still and watched the young +lady for some time, no companion appeared upon the scene. + +"The path I had intended to take led past the piece of woodland, and I +saw no reason why I should diverge from my proposed course. I +accordingly proceeded, and when I reached the young lady I bowed and +raised my hat. I think that for some time she had perceived my approach, +and she looked up at me with a face that was half merry, half +inquisitive, and perfectly charming. I cannot describe the effect which +her expression had upon me. I had never seen her before, but her look +was not such a one as she would bestow upon a stranger. I had the most +powerful desire to stop and speak to her, but having no right to do so, +I should have passed on, had she not said to me, in the best of English, +'Good-morning, sir.' Then I stopped, you may be sure. I was so +accustomed to speak to those I meet in either French or German that I +involuntarily said to her,'_Bon jour, Mademoiselle_.'--'You need not +speak French,' she said; 'I am neither English nor American, but I speak +English. Are you the gentleman who lives in Wulrick Castle? If so, we +are neighbours, and I wish you would tell me why you live there all the +time alone.' + +"At this I sat down by her. 'I am that person,' I said, and handed her +my card. 'But before I say any more, please tell me who you are.'--'I am +Marie Dorfler. My father's house is on the other side of this piece of +woodland; you cannot see it from here; this is part of his estate. And +now tell me why you live all by yourself in that old ruin.'--'It is not +altogether a ruin,' I answered; 'part of it is in very good condition.' +And then I proceeded to give her an account of my method of life and my +reasons for it. 'It is interesting,' she said, 'but it is very odd.'--'I +do not think it half so odd,' I answered, 'as that you should be here by +yourself.'--'That is truly an out-of-the-way sort of thing,' she said; +'but just now I am doing out-of-the-way things. If I do not do them now, +I shall never have the opportunity again. In two weeks I shall be +married, and then I shall go to Prague, and everything will be by line +and rule. No more delightful rambles by myself. No more sitting quietly +in the woods watching the little birds and hares. No more making a +sketch just where I please, no matter whether the ground be damp or +not.'--'I wonder that you are allowed to do these things now,' I +said.--'I am not allowed,' she answered. 'I do them in hours when I am +supposed to be painting flower pieces in an upper room.'--'But when +you're married,' I said, 'your husband will be your companion in such +rambles.'--'Hardly,' she said, shrugging her shoulders; 'he will be +forty-seven on the thirteenth of next month, which I believe is July, +and he is a great deal more grizzled than my father, who is past fifty. +He is very particular about all sorts of things, as I suppose he has to +be, as he is a Colonel of infantry. Nobody could possibly disapprove of +my present performances more than he would.' I could not help +ejaculating, 'Why, then, do you marry him?' She smiled at my +earnestness. 'Oh, that is all arranged,' she said, 'and I have nothing +to do with it. I have known for more than a year that I'm to marry +Colonel Kaldhein, but I cannot say that I have given myself much concern +about it until recently. It now occurs to me that if I expect to amuse +myself in the way I best like I must lose no time doing so.' I looked at +the girl with earnest interest. 'It appears to me,' said I, 'that your +ways of amusing yourself are very much like mine.'--'That is true,' she +said, looking up with animation, 'they are. Is it not delightful to be +free, to go where you like, and do what you please, without any one to +advise or interfere with you?'--'It is delightful,' said I; and for half +an hour we sat and talked about these delights and kindred subjects. She +was much interested in our castle, and urged me to make a sketch of it, +so that she may know what it now looked like. She had seen it when a +little girl, but never since, and had been afraid to wander very far in +this direction by herself. I told her that it would be far better for +her to see the castle with her own eyes, and that I could conduct her to +an eminence, not half a mile away, where she could have an excellent +view of it. This plan greatly pleased her; but looking at her watch she +said that it would be too late for her to go that morning, but if I +happened to come that way the next day, and she should be there to +finish her sketch, she would be delighted to have me show her the +eminence." + +"I think," interrupted Aunt Martha, "that she was a very imprudent young +woman." + +"That may be," he replied, "but you must remember, madam, that up to +this time the young lady had been subjected to the most conventional +trammels, and that her young nature had just burst out into temporary +freedom and true life. It was the caged bird's flight into the bright +summer air." + +"Just the kind of birds," said Aunt Martha, "that shouldn't be allowed +to fly, at least until they are used to it. But you can go on with your +story." + +"Well," said the young man, "the next day we met I took her to the +piece of high ground I had mentioned, and she sketched the castle. After +that we met again and again, nearly every day. This sort of story tells +itself. I became madly in love with her, and I am sure she liked me very +well; at all events I was a companion of her own age and tastes, and +such a one, she assured me, she had never known before, and probably +would never know again." + +"There was some excuse for her," said Aunt Martha; "but still she had no +right to act in that way, especially as she was so soon to be married." + +"I do not think that she reasoned much upon the subject," said the young +man, "and I am sure I did not. We made no plans. Every day we thought +only of what we were doing or saying, and not at all what we had done or +would do. We were very happy. + +"One morning I was sitting by Marie in the very place where I had first +met her, when we heard some one rapidly approaching. Looking up I saw a +tall man in military uniform. 'Heavens!' cried Marie, 'it is Colonel +Kaldhein.' + +"The situation was one of which an expectant bridegroom would not be +likely to ask many questions. Marie was seated on a low stone with her +drawing-block in her lap. She was finishing the sketch on which she was +engaged when I first saw her, and I was kneeling close to her, looking +over her work and making various suggestions, and I think my countenance +must have indicated that I found it very pleasant to make suggestions in +that way to such a pretty girl. Our heads were very close together. +Sometimes we looked at the paper, sometimes we looked at each other. But +in the instant I caught sight of the Colonel the situation had changed. +I rose to my feet, and Marie began to pick up the drawing materials, +which were lying about her. + +"Colonel Kaldhein came forward almost at a run. His eyes blazed through +his gold spectacles, and his close-cut reddish beard seemed to be +singeing with the fires of rage. I had but an instant for observation, +for he came directly up to me, and with a tremendous objurgation he +struck me full in the face with such force that the blow stretched me +upon the ground. + +"I was almost stunned; but I heard a scream from Marie, a storm of +angry words from Kaldhein, and I felt sure he was about to inflict +further injury. He was a much stronger man than I was, and probably was +armed. With a sudden instinct of self-preservation I rolled down a +little declivity on the edge of which I had fallen, and staggering to my +feet, plunged into a thicket and fled. Even had I been in the full +possession of my senses, I knew that under the circumstances I would +have been of no benefit to Marie had I remained upon the scene. The last +thing I heard was a shout from Kaldhein, in which he declared that he +would kill me yet. For some days I did not go out of my castle. My face +was bruised, my soul was dejected. I knew there was no possible chance +that I should meet Marie, and that there was a chance that I might meet +the angry Colonel. An altercation at this time would be very annoying +and painful to the lady, no matter what the result, and I considered it +my duty to do everything that was possible to avoid a meeting with +Kaldhein. Therefore, as I have said, I shut myself up within the walls +of old Wulrick, and gave strict orders to my servants to admit no one. + +"It was at this time that the strangest events of my life occurred. +Sitting in an upper room, gazing out of the window, over the fields, +through which I had walked so happily but two days before to meet the +lady whom I had begun to think of as my Marie, I felt the head of a dog +laid gently in my lap. Without turning my head I caressed the animal, +and stroked the long hair on his neck. + +"My hound Ajax was a dear companion to me in this old castle, although I +never took him in my walks, as he was apt to get into mischief, and when +I turned my head to look at him he was gone; but strange to say, the +hand which had been stroking the dog felt as if it were still resting on +his neck. + +"Quickly drawing my hand toward me it struck the head of the dog, and, +moving it backward and forward, I felt the ears and nose of the animal, +and then became conscious that its head was still resting upon my knee. + +"I started back. Had I been stricken with blindness? But no; turning my +head, I could plainly see everything in the room. The scene from the +window was as distinct as it ever had been. I sprang to my feet, and, +as I stood wondering what this strange thing could mean, the dog brushed +up against me and licked my hand. Then the idea suddenly flashed into my +mind that by some occult influence Ajax had been rendered invisible. + +"I dashed down-stairs, and although I could neither see nor hear it, I +felt that the dog was following me. Rushing into the open air, I saw one +of my men. 'Where is Ajax?' I cried. 'A very strange thing has happened, +sir,' he said, 'and I should have come to tell you of it, had I not been +unwilling to disturb your studies. About two hours ago Ajax was lying +here in the courtyard; suddenly he sprang to his feet with a savage +growl. His hair stood straight upon his back, his tail was stiff, and +his lips were drawn back, showing his great teeth. I turned to see what +had enraged him, but there was absolutely nothing, sir,--nothing in the +world. And never did I see Ajax so angry. But this lasted only for an +instant. Ajax suddenly backed, his tail dropped between his legs, his +head hung down, and with a dreadful howl he turned, and, leaping the +wall of the courtyard, he disappeared. I have since been watching for +his return. The gate is open, and as soon as he enters I shall chain +him, for I fear the dog is mad.' + +"I did not dare to utter the thoughts that were in my mind, but, bidding +the man inform me the moment Ajax returned, I reëntered the castle and +sat down in the great hall. + +"The dog was beside me; his head again lay upon my knees. With a feeling +of awe, yet strangely enough without fear, I carefully passed my hand +over the animal's head. I felt his ears, his nose, his jaws, and his +neck. They were not the head, the ears, the nose, the jaws, or the neck +of Ajax! + +"I had heard of animals, and even human beings, who were totally +invisible, but who still retained their form, their palpability, and all +the powers and functions of life. I had heard of houses haunted by +invisible animals; I had read De Kay's story of the maiden Manmat'ha, +whose coming her lover perceived by the parting of the tall grain in the +field of ripe wheat through which she passed, but whose form, although +it might be folded in his arms, was yet as invisible to his sight as the +summer air. I did not doubt for a moment that the animal that had come +to me was one of those strange beings. I lifted his head; it was heavy. +I took hold of a paw which he readily gave me; he had every attribute of +a real dog, except that he could not be seen." + +"I call that perfectly horrible," said Aunt Martha with a sort of a +gasp. + +"Perhaps," said the young man, "you would prefer that I should not +continue." + +At this both my wife and Aunt Martha declared that he must go on, and +even I did not object to hearing the rest of the story. + +"Well," said the young man, "Ajax never came back. It is generally +believed that dogs can see things which are invisible to us, and I am +afraid that my faithful hound was frightened, perhaps to death, when he +found that the animal whose entrance into the courtyard he had perceived +was a supernatural thing. + +"But if I needed a canine companion I had one, for by day or night this +invisible dog never left me. When I slept he lay on the floor by the +side of my bed; if I put down my hand I could always feel his head, and +often he would stand up and press his nose against me, as if to assure +me that he was there. This strange companionship continued for several +days, and I became really attached to the invisible animal. His constant +companionship seemed to indicate that he had come to guard me, and that +he was determined to do it thoroughly. I felt so much confidence in his +protection, although I knew not how it could be exerted, that one +morning I decided to take a walk, and with my hand on the head of the +dog, to make sure that he was with me, I strolled into the open country. + +"I had walked about a mile, and was approaching a group of large trees, +when suddenly from behind one of them the tall figure of a man appeared. +In an instant I knew it to be Colonel Kaldhein; his was a face which +could not easily be forgotten. Without a word he raised a pistol which +he held in his hand and fired at me. The ball whistled over my head. + +"I stopped short, startled, and frightened almost out of my senses. I +was unarmed, and had no place of refuge. It was plain that the man was +determined to kill me. + +"Quickly recocking his pistol, Kaldhein raised it again. I involuntarily +shrank back, expecting death; but before he could fire his arm suddenly +dropped, and the pistol was discharged into the ground. Then began a +strange scene. The man shouted, kicked, and beat up and down with his +arms; his pistol fell from his hand, he sprang from side to side, he +turned around, he struggled and yelled. + +"I stood astounded. For an instant I supposed the man had been overtaken +by some sort of fit; but in a flash the truth came to me,--Kaldhein was +being attacked by my protector, the invisible dog. + +"Horrified by this conviction, my first impulse was to save the man; +and, without knowing what I was going to do, I stepped quickly toward +him, but stumbling over something I did not see I fell sprawling. Before +I could regain my feet I saw Kaldhein fall backward to the ground, where +a scene took place, so terrible that I shall not attempt to describe it. +When, with trembling steps, I approached, the man was dead. The +invisible dog had almost torn him to pieces. + +"I could do nothing. I did not remain upon the spot another minute, but +hurried home to the castle. As I rapidly walked on I felt the dog beside +me, and, putting my hand upon him, I felt that he was panting terribly. +For three days I did not leave the house. + +"About the end of this time I was sitting in an upper room of the +castle, reflecting upon the recent dreadful event, when the thought +struck me that the invisible dog, who was by my side, apparently asleep, +must be of an unusually powerful build to overcome so easily such a +strong man as Kaldhein. I felt a desire to know how large the creature +really was, and, as I had never touched any portion of his body back of +his shoulders, I now passed my hand along his back. I was amazed at his +length, and when I had moved my hand at least seven feet from his head +it still rested upon his body. And then the form of that body began to +change in a manner which terrified me; but impelled by a horrible but +irresistible curiosity, my hand moved on. + +"But I no longer touched the body of a dog; the form beneath my hand was +cylindrical, apparently about a foot in diameter. As my hand moved on +the diameter diminished, and the skin of the creature became cold and +clammy. I was feeling the body of a snake! + +"I now had reached the open door of the room. The body of the snake +extended through it. It went on to the top of the stairs; these I began +to descend, my heart beating fast with terror, my face blanched, I am +sure, but my hand still moving along the body of the awful creature. I +had studied zoology, giving a good deal of attention to reptiles, and I +knew that, judged by the ordinary ratio of diminution of the bodies of +serpents, this one must extend a long distance down the stairs. + +"But I had not descended more than a dozen steps before I felt a shiver +beneath my hand, and then a jerk, and the next moment the snake's body +was violently drawn upward. I withdrew my hand and started to one side, +and then, how, I know not, I became aware that the dog part of the +creature was coming downstairs. + +"I now became possessed by a wild terror. The creature must be furious +that I had discovered his real form. He had always been careful to keep +his head toward me. I should be torn to pieces as Kaldhein had been! +Down the stairs I dashed, across the courtyard, and toward a lofty old +tower, which stood in one corner of the castle. I ran up the winding +stairs of this with a speed which belongs only to a frantically +terrified creature, until I reached the fourth story, where I dashed +through an open doorway, slammed behind me an iron door, which shut with +a spring, and fell gasping upon the floor. + +"In less than a minute I was aware, by a slight rattling of the +grate-hinges, that something was pushing against the door; but I did not +move. I knew that I was safe. The room in which I lay was a prison +dungeon, and in it, in the olden times, it is said, men had been left to +perish. Escape or communication with the outer world was impossible. A +little light and air came through a narrow slit in the wall, and the +door could not be forced. + +"I knew that the invisible dog, or whatever it was, could not get in +unless the door was open. I had frequently noticed that when he entered +a room it was through an open door, and I sometimes knew of his approach +by seeing an unlatched door open without visible cause; so, feeling +secure for the present, I lay and gasped and panted. + +"After the lapse of a few hours, however, I was seized by a new terror. +How was I ever to get out of this horrible dungeon? Even if I made up my +mind to face the dog, trusting that he had recovered from his momentary +anger, I had no means of opening the door, and as to making any one hear +me I knew that was impossible. + +"I had no hope that my servants would seek me here. I had not seen any +one when I ran into the tower, and if they should discover that I was in +this dungeon, how could they open the door? The key was in my father's +possession. He had taken it to Vienna to exhibit it as a curiosity to +some of his mechanical friends. He believed that there was not such +another key in the world. I was in the habit of making long absences +from the castle, and if I should be looked for I believed that the tower +would be the last place visited. + +"Night came on; the little light in the room vanished, and, hungry, +thirsty, and almost hopeless, I fell asleep. + +"During the night there was a most dreadful storm. The thunder roared, +the lightning flashed through the slit in the wall, and the wind blew +with such terrific violence that the tower shook and trembled. After a +time I heard a tremendous crash as of falling walls, and then another, +and now I felt the wind blowing into my prison. + +"There was no further sleep for me. Trembling with a fearful +apprehension of what might happen next, I cowered against the wall until +the day broke, and then I perceived that in front of me was a great hole +in the wall of the dungeon, which extended for more than a yard above +the floor. I sat and gazed at this until the light became stronger, and +then I cautiously approached the aperture and looked out. Nearly the +whole of the castle lay in ruins before me! + +"It was easy to see what had happened. The storm had demolished the +crumbling walls of the old building, and the tower, itself frail and +tottering, stood alone, high above the prostrate ruins. If the winds +should again arise it must fall, and at any moment its shaken +foundations might give way beneath it. + +"Through the hole in the wall, which had been caused by the tearing away +of some of the connection between the tower and main building, I could +look down on the ground below, covered with masses of jagged stone; but +there was no way in which I could get down. I could not descend that +perpendicular wall. If I leaped out, death would be certain. + +"As I crouched at the opening I felt the head of a dog pushed against +me. A spasm of terror ran through me, but the moment the creature began +to lick my hands I knew that I had nothing to fear from him. Instantly +my courage returned. I felt that he was my protector. I patted his head +and he renewed his caresses. + +"Passing my hand over him, I found he was holding himself in his present +position by means of his forelegs, which were stretched out upon the +floor. What a dog this must be, who could climb a wall! But I gave no +time to conjectures of this sort. How could I avail myself of his +assistance? In what manner could he enable me to escape from that +dangerous tower? + +"Suddenly a thought came to me. I remembered the snake part of him. +Judging from the ratio of diminution, which I have mentioned before, +that part, if hanging down, must reach nearly, if not quite, to the +ground. By taking advantage of this means of descent I might be saved, +but the feat would require dexterity and an immense amount of faith. +This serpent-like portion of the animal was invisible. How could I know +how long it was! + +"But there was no time for consideration; the wind had again arisen, and +was blowing with fury. The tower shook beneath me; at any moment it +might fall. If I should again escape from death, through the assistance +of my invisible friend, I must avail myself of that assistance +instantly. + +"I stopped and felt the animal. He still hung by part of his body and by +his forelegs to the floor of the dungeon, and by reaching out I could +feel that the rest of him extended downward. I therefore seized his body +in my arms, threw myself out of the aperture, and began to slide down. + +"In a very short time I found that I had reached the snake portion of +the creature, and, throwing my arms and legs around it, I endeavoured +with all my strength to prevent a too rapid descent; but in spite of all +my efforts, my downward progress was faster than I would have wished it +to be. But there was no stopping; I must slip down. + +"In these moments of rapid descent my mind was filled with wild anxiety +concerning the serpent-like form to which I was clinging. I remembered +in a flash that there were snakes whose caudal extremity dwindled away +suddenly into a point. This one might do so, and at any instant I might +come to the end of the tail and drop upon the jagged stones below. + +"Calculation after calculation of the ratio of diminution flashed +through my mind during that awful descent. My whole soul was centred +upon one point. When would this support end? When would I drop? + +"Fortunately I was on the leeward side of the tower, and I was not swung +about by the wind. Steadily I descended, and steadily the diameter of +the form I grasped diminished; soon I could grasp it in my hand; then +with a terrified glance I looked below. I was still at a sickening +distance from the ground. I shut my eyes. I slipped down, down, down. +The tail became like a thick rope which I encircled with each hand. It +became thinner and thinner. It grew so small that I could not hold it; +but as I felt it slip from my fingers my feet rested on a pile of +stones. + +"Bewildered and almost exhausted, I stumbled over the ruins, gained the +unencumbered ground, and ran as far from the tower as I could, sinking +down at last against the trunk of a tree in a neighbouring field. +Scarcely had I reached this spot when the fury of the wind-storm +appeared to redouble, and before the wild and shrieking blast the tower +bent and then fell with a crash upon the other ruins. + +"The first thought that came into my mind when I beheld the dreadful +spectacle concerned the creature who had twice saved my life. Had he +escaped, or was he crushed beneath that mass of stone? I felt on either +side to discover if he were near me, but he was not. Had he given his +life for mine? + +"Had I been stronger I would have searched for him; I would have +clambered among the ruins to see if I could discover his mangled form. +If I could but reach his faithful head I would stroke and caress it, +living or dead. But excitement, fatigue, and want of food had made me so +weak that I could do nothing but sit upon the ground with my back +against the tree. + +"While thus resting I perceived that the whole of the tower had not +been demolished by the storm. Some of the rooms in which we had lived, +having been built at a later date than the rest of the great edifice, +had resisted the power of the wind and were still standing. + +"From the direction of the uninjured portion of the castle I now saw +approaching a light-coloured object, which seemed to be floating in the +air about a foot from the ground. As it came nearer I saw that it was a +basket, and I immediately understood the situation. My faithful friend +was alive, and was bringing me some refreshments. + +"On came the basket, rising and falling with the bounds of the dog. It +was truly an odd spectacle, but a very welcome one. In a few moments the +basket was deposited at my side, and I was caressing the head of the +faithful dog. In the basket I found a bottle of wine and some bread and +meat, which the good creature had doubtless discovered in the kitchen of +the castle, and it was not long before I was myself again. The storm had +now almost passed away, and I arose and went to my own rooms, my friend +and protector still keeping close to my side. + +"On the morning of the next day, as I sat wondering what had happened +to my servants, and whether my father had been apprised of the disaster +to the castle, I felt something pulling at the skirt of my coat. I put +out my hand and found that it was the invisible dog. Imagining that he +wished me to follow him, I arose, and, obeying the impulse given me by +his gentle strain upon my coat, I followed him out of the door, across +the courtyard, and into the open country. We went on for a considerable +distance. A gentle touch of my coat admonished me when I turned from the +direction in which it was desired that I should go. + +"After a walk of about half an hour I approached a great oak-tree, with +low, wide-spreading branches. Some one was sitting beneath it. Imagining +the truth, I rushed forward. It was Marie! + +"It was needless for us to say anything, to explain the state of our +feelings toward each other. That tale was told by the delight with which +we met. When I asked her how she came to be there, she told me that +about an hour before, while sitting in front of her father's mansion, +she had felt something gently pulling at her skirts; and, although at +first frightened, she was at length impelled to obey the impulse, and, +without knowing whether it was the wind or some supernatural force which +had led her here, she had come. + +"We had a great deal to say to each other. She told me that she had been +longing to send me a message to warn me that Colonel Kaldhein would +certainly kill me the next time he saw me; but she had no means of +sending me such a message, for the Colonel had had her actions closely +watched. + +"When the news came of Kaldhein's death she at first feared that I had +killed him, and would therefore be obliged to fly the country; but when +it was known that he had been almost torn to pieces by wild beasts, she, +like every one else, was utterly amazed, and could not understand the +matter at all. None but the most ferocious creatures could have +inflicted the injuries of which the man had died, and where those +creatures came from no one knew. Some people thought that a pack of +blood-hounds might have broken loose from some of the estates of the +surrounding country, and, in the course of their wild journeyings, might +have met with the Colonel, and fallen upon him. Others surmised that a +bear had come down from the mountains; but the fact was that nobody knew +anything about it. + +"I did not attempt to acquaint Marie with the truth. At that moment the +invisible dog was lying at my side, and I feared if I mentioned his +existence to Marie she might fly in terror. To me there was only one +important phase of the affair, and that was that Marie was now free, +that she might be mine. + +"Before we parted we were affianced lovers, pledged to marry as soon as +possible. I wrote to my father, asking for his permission to wed the +lady. But in his reply he utterly forbade any such marriage. Marie also +discovered that her parents would not permit a union with a foreigner, +and would indeed oppose her marriage with any one at this time. + +"However, as usual, love triumphed, and after surmounting many +difficulties we were married and fled to America. Since that time I have +been obliged to support myself and my wife, for my father will give me +no assistance. He had proposed a very different career for me, and was +extremely angry when he found his plans had been completely destroyed. +But we are hopeful, we work hard, and hope that we may yet be able to +support ourselves comfortably without aid from any one. We are young, we +are strong, we trust each other, and have a firm faith in our success. + +"I had only one regret in leaving Europe, and that was that my faithful +friend, the noble and devoted invisible dog, was obliged to remain on +the other side of the Atlantic. Why this was so I do not know, but +perhaps it was for the best. I never told my wife of his existence, and +if she had accidentally discovered it, I know not what might have been +the effects upon her nervous system. + +"The dog accompanied me through Austria, Switzerland, and France to +Havre, from which port we sailed. I took leave of him on the gang-plank. +He licked my hands, and I caressed and stroked him. People might have +thought that my actions denoted insanity, but every one was so greatly +occupied in these last moments before departure, that perhaps I was not +noticed. Just as I left him and hastened on board, a sailor fell +overboard from the gang-plank. He was quickly rescued, but could not +imagine why he had fallen. I believe, however, that he was tripped up by +the snake part of my friend as he convulsively rushed away." + +The young man ceased, and gazed pensively upon the floor. + +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Martha, "if those are the sort of +experiences you had, I don't wonder that Realism was wonderful enough +for you. The invisible creature was very good to you, I am sure, but I +am glad it did not come with you to America." + +David, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, now interrupted +further comments by stating that it was daylight, and if I thought well +of it, he would open the window-shutters, so that we might see any one +going toward the town. A milkman, he said, passed the house very early +every morning. When the shutters were opened we were all amazed that the +night should have passed so quickly. + +The tall burglar and the young man now began to exhibit a good deal of +anxiety. + +"I should like very much to know," said the former, "what you intend to +do in regard to us. It cannot be that you think of placing that young +gentleman and myself in the hands of the law. Of course, this man," +pointing to the stout burglar, "cannot expect anything but a just +punishment of his crimes; but after what we have told you, you must +certainly be convinced that our connection with the affair is entirely +blameless, and should be considered as a piece of very bad luck." + +"That," said I, "is a matter which will receive all the consideration it +needs." + +At this moment David announced the milkman. Counselling my man to keep +strict guard over the prisoners, I went out to the road, stopped the +milkman, and gave him a message which I was certain would insure the +prompt arrival at my house of sufficient force to take safe charge of +the burglars. Excited with the importance of the commission, he whipped +up his horse and dashed away. + +When I returned to the house I besought my wife and Aunt Martha to go to +bed, that they might yet get some hours of sleep; but both refused. They +did not feel in the least like sleep, and there was a subject on which +they wished to consult with me in the dining-room. + +"Now," said Aunt Martha, when the door had been closed, "these men have +freely told us their stories; whether they are entirely true or not, +must, of course, be a matter of opinion; but they have laid their cases +before us, and we should not place them all in the hands of the officers +of the law without giving them due consideration, and arriving at a +decision which shall be satisfactory to ourselves." + +"Let us take them in order," said I. "What do you think of the tall +man's case?" + +"I think he is a thief and manufacturer of falsehoods," said my wife +promptly. + +"I am afraid," said Aunt Martha, "that he is not altogether innocent; +but there is one thing greatly in his favour,--when he told of the +feelings which overcame him when he saw that little child sleeping +peacefully in its bed in the house which he had unintentionally robbed, +I felt there must be good points in that man's nature. What do you think +of him?" + +"I think he is worst of the lot," I answered, "and as there are now two +votes against him, he must go to the lock-up. And now what of the stout +fellow?" I asked. + +"Oh, he is a burglar by his own confession," said my wife; "there can be +no doubt of that." + +"I am afraid you are right," said Aunt Martha. + +"I know she is," said I, "and James Barlow, or whatever his name may be, +shall be delivered to the constable." + +"Of course, there can be no difference of opinion in regard to the young +man," said Aunt Martha quickly. "Both the others admitted that he had +nothing to do with this affair except as a journalist, and although I do +not think he ought to get his realistic ideas in that way, I would +consider it positively wicked to send him into court in company with +those other men. Consider the position in which he would be placed +before the world. Consider his young wife." + +"I cannot say," said my wife, "that I am inclined to believe all parts +of his story." + +"I suppose," said I, laughing, "that you particularly refer to the +invisible dog-snake." + +"I'm not so sure about all that," she answered. "Since the labours of +the psychic researchers began, we have heard of a great many strange +things; but it is evident that he is a young man of education and +culture, and in all probability a journalist or literary man. I do not +think he should be sent to the lock-up with common criminals." + +"There!" cried Aunt Martha, "two in his favour. He must be released. +It's a poor rule that does not work both ways." + +I stood for a few moments undecided. If left to myself, I would have +sent the trio to the county town, where, if any one of them could prove +his innocence, he could do so before the constitutional authorities; but +having submitted the matter to my wife and aunt, I could not well +override their decision. As for what the young man said, I gave it no +weight whatever, for of course he would say the best he could for +himself. But the testimony of the others had weight. When they both +declared that he was not a burglar, but merely a journalist, engaged in +what he supposed to be his duty, it would seem to be a cruel thing to +stamp him as a criminal by putting him in charge of the constables. + +But my indecision soon came to an end, for Aunt Martha declared that no +time should be lost in setting the young man free, for should the +people in town arrive and see him sitting bound with the others it would +ruin his character forever. My wife agreed. + +"Whatever there may be of truth in his story," she said, "one of two +things is certain,--either he has had most wonderful experiences out of +which he may construct realistic novels which will give him fortune and +reputation, or he has a startling imagination, which, if used in the +production of works in the romantic school, will be of the same +advantage to his future. Looking upon it, even in this light and without +any reference to his family and the possible effects on his own moral +nature, we shall assume a great responsibility in deliberately +subjecting such a person to criminal prosecution and perhaps +conviction." + +This was enough. "Well," said I, "we will release the young fellow and +send the two other rascals to jail." + +"That was not well expressed," said my wife, "but we will not criticise +words at present." + +We returned to the library and I announced my decision. When he heard it +the stout burglar exhibited no emotion. His expression indicated that, +having been caught, he expected to be sent to jail, and that was the end +of it. Perhaps he had been through this experience so often that he had +become used to it. The tall man, however, took the announcement in a +very different way. His face grew dark and his eyes glittered. "You are +making a great mistake," he said to me, "a very great mistake, and you +will have to bear the consequences." + +"Very good," said I, "I will remember that remark when your trial comes +on." + +The behaviour of the young man was unexceptional. He looked upon us with +a face full of happy gratitude, and, as he thanked us for the kind +favour and the justice which we had shown him, his eyes seemed dim with +tears. Aunt Martha was much affected. + +"I wonder if his mother is living," she whispered to me. "A wife is a +great deal, but a mother is more. If I had thought of her sooner I would +have spoken more strongly in his favour. And now you should untie him at +once and let him go home. His wife must be getting terribly anxious." + +The young man overheard this last remark. + +"You will confer a great favour on me, sir," he said, "if you will let +me depart as soon as possible. I feel a great repugnance to be seen in +company with these men, as you may imagine, from wearing a mask on +coming here. If I leave immediately I think I can catch the first train +from your station." + +I considered the situation. If I did what I was asked, there would be +two bound burglars to guard, three women and a child to protect, an +uncertain stranger at liberty, and only David and myself to attend to +the whole business. "No, sir," said I, "I shall not untie you until the +officers I sent for are near at hand; then I will release you, and you +can leave the house by the back way without being seen by them. There +are other morning trains which will take you into the city early +enough." + +"I think you are a little hard on him," remarked Aunt Martha, but the +young man made no complaint. + +"I will trust myself to you, sir," he said. + +The officers arrived much sooner than I expected. There were five of +them, including the Chief of Police, and they were accompanied by +several volunteer assistants, among whom was the milkman who had been +my messenger. This morning his customers might wait for their milk, for +all business must give way before such an important piece of sightseeing +as this. + +I had barely time to untie the young man and take him to the back of the +house before the officers and their followers had entered the front +door. There was now a great deal of questioning, a great deal of +explanation, a great deal of discussion as to whether my way of catching +burglars was advisable or not, and a good deal of talk about the best +method of taking the men to town. Some of the officers were in favour of +releasing the two men, and then deciding in what manner they should be +taken to town; and if this plan had been adopted, I believe that these +two alert and practical rascals would have taken themselves out of my +house without the assistance of the officers, or at least would have +caused a great deal of trouble and perhaps injury in endeavouring to do +so. + +But the Chief of Police was of my mind, and before the men were entirely +released from the ropes by which I had tied them, they were securely +manacled. + +A requisition made on David and myself to appear as witnesses, the two +men were taken from the house to the wagons in which the officers and +their followers had come. My wife and Aunt Martha had gone upstairs +before the arrival of the police, and were watching the outside +proceeding from a window. + +Standing in the hallway, I glanced into the dining-room, and was +surprised to see the young man still standing by a side door. I had +thought him gone, but perhaps it was wise in him to remain, and not show +himself upon the road until the coast was entirely clear. He did not see +me, and was looking backward into the kitchen, a cheerful and animated +expression upon his face. This expression did not strike me pleasantly. +He had escaped a great danger, it was true, but it was no reason for +this rather obtrusive air of exultation. Just then Alice came into the +dining-room from the kitchen, and the young man stepped back, so that +she did not notice him. As she passed he gently threw his arm quietly +around her neck and kissed her. + +At that very instant, even before the girl had time to exclaim, in +rushed David from the outer side door. + +"I've been watching you, you rascal," he shouted; "you're done for +now!" and he threw his strong arms around the man, pinioning his arms to +his side. + +The young fellow gave a great jerk, and began to struggle powerfully. +His face turned black with rage; he swore, he kicked. He made the most +frenzied efforts to free himself, but David's arms were strong, his soul +was full of jealous fury, and in a moment I had come to his assistance. +Each of us taking the young fellow by an arm, we ran him into the +hallway and out of the front door, Alice aiding us greatly by putting +her hands against the man's back and pushing most forcibly. + +"Here's another one," cried David. "I'll appear against him. He's the +worst of the lot." + +Without knowing what it all meant, the Chief clapped the nippers on our +prisoner, justly believing that if burglars were about to show +themselves so unexpectedly, the best thing to do was to handcuff them as +fast as they appeared, and then to ask questions. The reasons for not +having produced this man before, and for producing him now, were not +very satisfactory to the officer. + +"Have you any more in the cellar?" he asked. "If so, I should like to +take a look at them before I start away." + +At this moment Aunt Martha made her appearance at the front door. + +"What are you going to do with that young man?" she asked sharply. "What +right have you to put irons upon him?" + +"Aunt Martha," said I, stepping back to her, "what do you think he has +done?" + +"I don't know," said she; "how should I know? All I know is that we +agreed to set him free." + +I addressed her solemnly: "David and I believe him to be utterly +depraved. He availed himself of the first moments of his liberation to +kiss Alice." Aunt Martha looked at me with wide-open eyes, and then her +brows contracted. + +"He did, did he?" said she. "And that is the kind of a man he is. Very +good. Let him go to jail with the others. I don't believe one word about +his young wife. If kissing respectable young women is the way he studies +Realism the quicker he goes to jail the better," and with that she +walked into the house. + +When the men had been placed in the two vehicles in which the police had +come, the Chief and I made an examination of the premises, and we found +that the house had been entered by a kitchen window, in exactly the +manner which the tall burglar had described. Outside of this window, +close to the wall, we found a leathern bag, containing what the Chief +declared to be an excellent assortment of burglars' tools. The officers +and their prisoners now drove away, and we were left to a long morning +nap, if we were so fortunate as to get it, and a late breakfast. + +In the course of the trial of the three men who had entered my house +some interesting points in regard to them were brought out. Several +detectives and policemen from New York were present, and their testimony +proved that my three burglars were men of eminence in their profession, +and that which most puzzled the metropolitan detectives was to discover +why these men should have been willing to devote their high talents to +the comparatively insignificant business of breaking into a suburban +dwelling. + +The tall man occupied a position of peculiar eminence in criminal +circles. He was what might be called a criminal manager. He would take +contracts for the successful execution of certain crimes,--bank +robberies, for instance,--and while seldom taking part in the actual +work of a burglary or similar operation, he would plan all the details +of the affair, and select and direct his agents with great skill and +judgment. He had never been arrested before, and the detectives were +delighted, believing they would now have an opportunity of tracing to +him a series of very important criminal operations that had taken place +in New York and some other large cities. He was known as Lewis Mandit, +and this was believed to be his real name. + +The stout man was a first-class professional burglar and nothing more, +and was in the employ of Mandit. The young man was a decidedly uncommon +personage. He was of a good family, had been educated at one of our +principal colleges, had travelled, and was in every way qualified to +make a figure in society. He had been a newspaper man, and a writer for +leading periodicals, and had shown considerable literary ability; but a +life of honest industry did not suit his tastes, and he had now adopted +knavery as a regular profession. + +This man, who was known among his present associates as Sparky, still +showed himself occasionally in newspaper offices, and was generally +supposed to be a correspondent for a Western journal; but his real +business position was that of Mandit's head man. + +Sparky was an expert in many branches of crime. He was an excellent +forger, a skilful lock-picker, an ingenious planner of shady projects, +and had given a great deal of earnest study to the subject of the +loopholes of the law. He had a high reputation in criminal circles for +his ability in getting his fellow-rascals out of jail. There was reason +to believe that in the past year no less than nine men, some condemned +to terms of imprisonment, and some held for trial, had escaped by means +of assistance given them by Sparky. + +His methods of giving help to jail-birds were various. Sometimes liberty +was conferred through the agency of saws and ropes, at other times +through that of a habeas corpus and an incontestible alibi. His means +were adapted to the circumstances of the case, and it was believed that +if Sparky could be induced to take up the case of a captured rogue, the +man had better chance of finding himself free than the law had of +keeping him behind bars, especially if his case were treated before it +had passed into its more chronic stages. + +Sparky's success was greatly due to his extremely specious manner, and +his power of playing the part that the occasion demanded. In this +particular he was even the superior of Mandit, who was an adept in this +line. These two men found no difficulty in securing the services of +proficient burglars, safe-robbers, and the like; for, in addition to the +high rewards paid these men, they were in a manner insured against +permanent imprisonment in case of misfortune. It was always arranged +that, if any of their enterprises came to grief, and if either Mandit or +Sparky should happen to be arrested, the working miscreants should +substantiate any story their superiors might choose to tell of +themselves, and, if necessary, to take upon themselves the whole +responsibility of the crime. In this case their speedy release was to be +looked upon as assured. + +A great deal of evidence in regard to the character and practices of +these two men came from the stout burglar, commonly known as Barney +Fitch. When he found that nothing was to be expected from his two +astute employers, and that they were in as bad a place as himself, he +promptly turned State's evidence, and told all that he knew about them. + +It was through the testimony of this man that the motive for the +attempted robbery of my house was found out. It had no connection +whatever with the other burglaries of our neighbourhood, those, +probably, having been committed by low-class thieves, who had not broken +into my house simply because my doors and windows had been so well +secured; nor had our boy, George William, any share whatever in the +protection of the household. + +The burglary was undertaken solely for the purpose of getting possession +of some important law papers, which were to be used in a case in which I +was concerned, which soon would be tried. If these papers could be +secured by the opposite party, the side on which I was engaged would +have no case at all, and a suit involving a great deal of property must +drop. With this end in view the unscrupulous defendants in the case had +employed Mandit to procure the papers; and that astute criminal manager +had not only arranged all the details of the affair, but had gone +himself to the scene of action in order to see that there should be no +mistake in carrying out the details of this most important piece of +business. + +The premises had been thoroughly reconnoitred by Sparky, who, a few days +before the time fixed for the burglary, had visited my house in the +capacity of an agent of a telescopic bookcase, which could be extended +as new volumes were required, therefore need never exhibit empty +shelves. The young man had been included in the party on account of his +familiarity with legal documents, it being, of course, of paramount +importance that the right papers should be secured. His ingenuity was +also to be used to cover up, if possible, all evidence that the house +had been entered at all, it being desirable to make it appear to the +court that I had never had these documents in my possession, and that +they never existed. + +Had it not been for a very natural desire for refreshment that +interfered with their admirably laid plans, it is probable that the +mechanical skill of Mandit would have been equal to the noiseless +straightening of the bent bolt, and the obliteration of the scratches +and dents made by the attempts upon other shutters, and that Sparky, +after relocking all open desks or cabinets, and after the exit of the +others, would have closed and fastened the kitchen shutters, and would +then have left the house by means of an open window in the upper hall +and the roof of a piazza. + +Thus it was that these three men, so eminent in their different spheres +of earnest endeavour, came to visit my comparatively humble abode; and +thus it was that they not only came to that abode, but to the deepest +grief. They were "wanted" in so many quarters, and on so many charges, +that before they had finished serving out their various sentences their +ability to wickedly avail themselves of the property of others would +have suffered greatly from disuse, and the period of life left them for +the further exercise of those abilities would be inconveniently limited. + +I was assured by a prominent detective that it had been a long time +since two such dangerous criminals as Mandit and Sparky had fallen into +the hands of the law. These men, by means of very competent outside +assistance, made a stout fight for acquittal on some of the charges +brought against them; but when they found that further effort of this +kind would be unavailing, and that they would be sentenced to long terms +of imprisonment, they threw off their masks of outraged probity and +stood out in their true characters of violent and brutal ruffians. +Barney Fitch, the cracksman, was a senior warden compared to them. + +It was a long time before my Aunt Martha recovered from her +disappointment in regard to the youngest burglar. + +"Of course I was mistaken," she said. "That sort of thing will happen; +but I really had good grounds for believing him to be a truthful person, +so I am not ashamed for having taken him for what he said he was. I have +now no doubt before he fell in his wicked ways that he was a very good +writer, and might have become a novelist or a magazine author; but his +case is a very sad proof that the study of Realism may be carried too +far," and she heaved a sigh. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10948 *** diff --git a/10948-8.txt b/10948-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e3f1f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10948-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3645 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stories of the Three Burglars + +Author: Frank Richard Stockton + +Release Date: February 5, 2004 [EBook #10948] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + +[Illustration: Frank R. Stockton] + + +The Stories +of the +Three Burglars + + +By +FRANK R. STOCKTON + + +1889 + + + + +THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS. + + +I am a householder in a pleasant country neighbourhood, about twenty +miles from New York. My family consists of myself and wife, our boy, +George William, aged two, two maid-servants, and a man; but in the +summer we have frequent visitors, and at the time of which I am about to +write my Aunt Martha was staying with us. + +My house is large and pleasant, and we have neighbours near enough for +social purposes and yet not too near or too many to detract from the +rural aspect of our surroundings. But we do not live in a paradise; we +are occasionally troubled by mosquitoes and burglars. + +Against the first of these annoyances we have always been able to guard +ourselves, at least in a measure, and our man and the cook declare that +they have become so used to them that they do not mind them; but to +guard against burglars is much more difficult, and to become used to +them would, I think, require a great deal of practice. + +For several months before the period of this narrative our neighbourhood +had been subject to visits from burglars. From time to time houses had +been entered and robbed, and the offenders had never been detected. + +We had no police force, not even a village organization. There was a +small railway station near our house, and six miles away was the county +town. For fire and police protection each household was obliged to +depend upon itself. + +Before the beginning of the burglarious enterprises in our midst, we had +not felt the need of much protection in this direction; sometimes +poultry was stolen, but this was a rare occurrence, and, although +windows and doors were generally fastened for the night, this labour was +often considered much more troublesome than necessary. But now a great +change had taken place in the feelings of our community. When the first +robbery occurred the neighbours were inclined to laugh about it, and to +say that Captain Hubbard's habit of sitting up after the rest of his +family had gone to bed and then retiring and forgetting to close the +front door had invited the entrance of a passing tramp. But when a +second and a third house, where windows and doors had not been left +open, had been entered, and, in a measure, despoiled, people ceased to +laugh; and if there had been any merriment at all on the subject, it +would have been caused by the extraordinary and remarkable precautions +taken against the entrance of thieves by night. The loaded pistol became +the favourite companion of the head of the house; those who had no +watch-dogs bought them; there were new locks, new bolts, new fastenings. +At one time there was a mounted patrol of young men, which, however, was +soon broken up by their mothers. But this trouble was unavailing, for at +intervals the burglaries continued. + +As a matter of course a great many theories were broached as to the +reasons for this disturbance in our hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. We +were at such a distance from the ordinary centres of crime that it was +generally considered that professional burglars would hardly take the +trouble to get to us or to get away from us, and that, therefore, the +offences were probably committed by unsuspected persons living in this +part of the country who had easy means of determining which houses were +worth breaking into and what method of entrance would be most feasible. +In this way some families, hitherto regarded as respectable families, +had fallen under suspicion. + +So far, mine was the only house of any importance within the distance of +a mile from the station which had not in some way suffered from +burglars. In one or two of these cases the offenders had been frightened +away before they had done any other injury than the breaking of a +window-shutter; but we had been spared any visitation whatever. After a +time we began to consider that this was an invidious distinction. Of +course we did not desire that robbers should break into our house and +steal, but it was a sort of implied insult that robbers should think +that our house was not worth breaking into. We contrived, however, to +bear up under this implied contempt and even under the facetious +imputations of some of our lively neighbours, who declared that it +looked very suspicious that we should lose nothing, and even continue to +add to our worldly goods, while everybody else was suffering from +abstractions. + +I did not, however, allow any relaxation in my vigilance in the +protection of my house and family. My time to suffer had not yet +arrived, and it might not arrive at all; but if it did come it should +not be my fault. I therefore carefully examined all the new precautions +my neighbours had taken against the entrance of thieves, and where I +approved of them I adopted them. + +Of some of these my wife and I did not approve. For instance, a tin pan +containing iron spoons, the dinner bell, and a miscellaneous collection +of hardware balanced on the top stair of the staircase, and so connected +with fine cords that a thief coming up the stairs would send it rattling +and bounding to the bottom, was looked upon by us with great disfavour. +The descent of the pan, whether by innocent accident or the approach of +a burglar, might throw our little boy into a fit, to say nothing of the +terrible fright it would give my Aunt Martha, who was a maiden lady of +middle age, and not accustomed to a clatter in the night. A bull-dog in +the house my wife would not have, nor, indeed, a dog of any kind. George +William was not yet old enough to play with dogs, especially a sharp +one; and if the dog was not sharp it was of no use to have him in the +house. To the ordinary burglar-alarm she strongly objected. She had been +in houses where these things went off of their own accord, occasioning +great consternation; and, besides, she said that if thieves got into the +house she did not want to know it and she did not want me to know it; +the quicker they found what they came for and went away with it the +better. Of course, she wished them kept out, if such a thing were +possible; but if they did get in, our duty as parents of the dearest +little boy was non-interference. She insisted, however, that the room in +which the loveliest of children slept, and which was also occupied by +ourselves, should be made absolutely burglar proof; and this object, by +means of extraordinary bolts and chains, I flattered myself I +accomplished. My Aunt Martha had a patent contrivance for fastening a +door that she always used, whether at home or travelling, and in whose +merit she placed implicit confidence. Therefore we did not feel it +necessary to be anxious about her; and the servants slept at the top of +the house, where thieves would not be likely to go. + +"They may continue to slight us by their absence," said my wife, "but I +do not believe that they will be able to frighten us by their presence." + +I was not, however, so easily contented as my wife. Of course I wished +to do everything possible to protect George William and the rest of the +family, but I was also very anxious to protect our property in all parts +of the house. Therefore, in addition to everything else I had done, I +devised a scheme for interfering with the plans of men who should +feloniously break into our home. + +After a consultation with a friend, who was a physician greatly +interested in the study of narcotic drugs, I procured a mixture which +was almost tasteless and without peculiar odour, and of which a small +quantity would in less than a minute throw an ordinary man into a state +of unconsciousness. The potion was, however, no more dangerous in its +effects than that quantity of ardent spirits which would cause entire +insensibility. After the lapse of several hours, the person under the +influence of the drug would recover consciousness without assistance. +But in order to provide against all contingencies my friend prepared a +powerful antidote, which would almost immediately revive one who had +been made unconscious by our potion. + +The scheme that I had devised may possibly have been put into use by +others. But of this I know not. I thought it a good scheme and +determined to experiment with it, and, if possible, to make a trap which +should catch a burglar. I would reveal this plan to no one but my friend +the physician and my wife. Secrecy would be an important element in its +success. + +Our library was a large and pleasant room on the ground floor of the +house, and here I set my trap. It was my habit to remain in this room an +hour or so after the rest of the family had gone to bed, and, as I was +an early riser, I was always in it again before it was necessary for a +servant to enter it in the morning. + +Before leaving the library for the night I placed in a conspicuous +position in the room a small table, on which was a tray holding two +decanters partially filled with wine, in the one red and in the other +white. There was also upon the tray an open box of biscuit and three +wine-glasses, two of them with a little wine at the bottom. I took pains +to make it appear that these refreshments had been recently partaken of. +There were biscuit crumbs upon the tray, and a drop or two of wine was +freshly spilled upon it every time the trap was set. The table, thus +arranged, was left in the room during the night, and early in the +morning I put the tray and its contents into a closet and locked it up. + +A portion of my narcotic preparation was thoroughly mixed with the +contents of each of the decanters in such proportions that a glass of +the wine would be sufficient to produce the desired effect. + +It was my opinion that there were few men who, after a night walk and +perhaps some labour in forcibly opening a door or a window-shutter, +would not cease for a moment in pursuance of their self-imposed task to +partake of the refreshments so conveniently left behind them by the +occupants of the house when they retired to rest. Should my surmises be +correct, I might reasonably expect, should my house be broken into, to +find an unconscious burglar in the library when I went down in the +morning. And I was sure, and my wife agreed with me, that if I should +find a burglar in that room or any other part of the house, it was +highly desirable that he should be an unconscious one. + +Night after night I set my burglar trap, and morning after morning I +locked it up in the closet. I cannot say that I was exactly disappointed +that no opportunity offered to test the value of my plan, but it did +seem a pity that I should take so much trouble for nothing. It had been +some weeks since any burglaries had been committed in the neighbourhood, +and it was the general opinion that the miscreants had considered this +field worked out and had transferred their labours to a better-paying +place. The insult of having been considered unworthy the attention of +the knights of the midnight jimmy remained with us, but as all our goods +and chattels also remained with us we could afford to brook the +indignity. + +As the trap cost nothing my wife did not object to my setting it every +night for the present. Something might happen, she remarked, and it was +just as well to be prepared in more ways than one; but there was a point +upon which she was very positive. + +"When George William is old enough to go about the house by himself," +she said, "those decanters must not be left exposed upon the table. Of +course I do not expect him to go about the house drinking wine and +everything that he finds, but there is no knowing what a child in the +first moments of his investigative existence may do." + +For myself, I became somewhat tired of acting my part in this little +farce every night and morning, but when I have undertaken anything of +this sort I am slow to drop it. + +It was about three weeks since I had begun to set my trap when I was +awakened in the night by a sudden noise. I sat up in bed, and as I did +so my wife said to me sleepily,-- + +"What is that? Was it thunder? There it is again!" she exclaimed, +starting up. "What a crash! It must have struck somewhere." I did not +answer. It was not thunder. It was something in the house, and it +flashed into my mind that perhaps my trap had been sprung. I got out of +bed and began rapidly to dress. + +"What are you going to do?" anxiously asked my wife. + +"I'm going to see what has happened," said I. At that moment there was +another noise. This was like two or three heavy footsteps, followed by a +sudden thump; but it was not so loud as the others. + +"John," cried my wife, "don't stir an inch, it's burglars!" and she +sprang out of bed and seized me by the arm. + +"I must go down," I said; "but there is really no reason for your being +frightened. I shall call David, and shall carry my pistol, so there is +really no danger. If there are thieves in the house they have probably +decamped by this time--that is, if they are able to do so, for of course +they must know that noise would awaken the soundest sleepers." + +My wife looked at me and then slowly withdrew her hands from my arm. + +"You promise me," she said, "if you find a burglar downstairs in the +possession of his senses you will immediately come back to me and George +William?" + +I promised her, and, slipping on some clothes, I went out into the +second-story hall. I carried no light. Before I had reached the bottom +of the back stairs I heard David, my man, coming down. To be sure it was +he and not a burglar I spoke to him in a low voice, my pistol raised in +case of an unsatisfactory reply. + +"I heard that noise, sir," he whispered, "and was going down to see +about it." + +"Are you ready if it's thieves?" I whispered. + +"I have got the biscuit-beater," he replied. + +"Come on, then," said I, and we went downstairs. + +I had left no light in the library, but there was one there now, and it +shone through the open door into the hallway. We stopped and listened. +There was no sound, and then slowly and cautiously we approached the +door of the library. The scene I beheld astounded me, and involuntarily +I sprang back a step or two. So did David; but in an instant we saw that +there was no need of retreat or defence. Stretched upon the floor, not +far from the doorway, lay a tall man, his face upturned to the light of +a bull's-eye lantern which stood by the mantel-piece. His eyes were +shut, and it was evident that he was perfectly insensible. Near by, in +the wreck of the small table, glasses, and decanters, lay another man, +apparently of heavier build. He also was as still as a corpse. A little +further back, half sitting on the floor, with the upper part of his body +resting against the lounge, was another man with a black mask over his +face. + +"Are they dead?" exclaimed David, in an undertone of horror. + +"No," said I, "they are not dead; they have been caught in my trap." + +And I must admit that the consciousness of this created a proud +exultation of spirit within me. I had overmatched these rascals; they +were prostrated before me. If one of them moved, David and I could kill +him. But I did not believe there would be any killing, nor any moving +for the present. + +In a high whisper, which could have been heard distinctly all over the +house, my wife now called to me from the top of the stairs. "What is +it?" she said. "What has happened?" + +I stepped quickly to the stairway. + +"Everything is all right," I said in a loud, distinct voice, intended +to assure my wife that there was no necessity for caution or alarm. "I +will be with you presently." + +"I am glad to hear that nothing is the matter," said Aunt Martha, now +for the first time opening her door. "I was afraid something had +happened." + +But I had business to attend to before I could go upstairs. In thinking +over and arranging this plan for the capture of burglars, I had +carefully considered its various processes, and had provided against all +the contingencies I could think of; therefore I was not now obliged to +deliberate what I should do. "Keep your eye on them," said I to David, +"and if one of them moves be ready for him. The first thing to do is to +tie them hand and foot." + +I quickly lighted a lamp, and then took from another shelf of the closet +a large coil of strong cotton rope, which I had provided for such an +occasion as the present. + +"Now," said I to David, "I will tie them while you stand by to knock +over any one of them who attempts to get up." + +The instrument with which David was prepared to carry out my orders was +a formidable one. In the days of my youth my family was very fond of +"Maryland biscuit," which owes much of its delicacy to the fact that +before baking it is pounded and beaten by a piece of heavy iron. Some +people used one kind of a beater and some another, but we had had made +for the purpose a heavy iron club a little over a foot long, large and +heavy at one end and a handle at the other. In my present household +Maryland biscuits were never made, but I had preserved this iron beater +as a memento of my boyhood, and when the burglaries began in our +vicinity I gave it to David to keep in his room, to be used as a weapon +if necessary. I did not allow him to have a pistol, having a regard for +my own safety in a sudden night alarm, and nothing could be more +formidable in a hand-to-hand encounter than this skull-crushing club. + +I began with the tall man, and rapidly tied his feet together with many +twists of the rope and as many knots. I then turned him over and tied +his elbows behind him in the same secure way. I had given so much +thought to the best method of securing a man by cords, that I do not +think this fellow could possibly have released himself when I had +finished with him. + +David was obeying my orders and keeping a strict watch on the prostrate +men; but his emotions of amazement were so great that he could not keep +them down. + +"What is the matter with them, sir?" he said. "How did they come so?" + +"There is no time for talking now," I answered. "I will tell you all +about it when the men have been secured." I now turned my attention to +the man who was partly resting against the lounge. I first tied his +feet, and before letting him down to the floor, so as to get to his +arms, I removed his hat and his mask, which was made of black muslin. I +was surprised to see the beardless face of a young and very good-looking +man. He was well dressed, and had the general appearance of a person +belonging to theatrical circles. When his arms had been tied, I told +David he might lay down his biscuit-beater, and help me with the third +man, who was badly mixed up with the _débris_ of the refreshments. We +hauled him out and tied him up. He was rather a short man, but very +heavy, and I could see no signs of his having been hurt by the smash-up +he made in falling. + +We now proceeded to search the insensible burglars for arms. Upon the +tall man we found a large revolver, a heavy billy, which seemed as if it +had seen service, and a long-bladed knife. The stout man carried two +double-barrelled pistols, and upon one of the fingers of his right hand +wore a brass ring with a murderous-looking iron protuberance upon it, +which, when driven forward by his powerful arm, was probably more +dangerous than a billy. Upon the younger man we found no arms at all, +and his hip pocket contained nothing but a small handbook on civil +engineering. + +I now briefly explained to David the nature of the trap which had caught +the burglars. He gazed upon me with a face glowing with amazed +admiration. + +"What a head you have got, sir!" he exclaimed. "I don't believe there is +another man in this State who would have thought of that. And what are +you going to do with them now, sir; hang 'em? That's what ought to be +done with them, the hounds!" + +"All I shall do," I answered, "will be to keep them till daylight, and +then I shall send word to the sheriff at Kennertown, and have him send +officers for them." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed David, "they are in the worst kind of a box." + +Now my wife called me again. "What in the world are you doing down +there?" she called; "why don't you come upstairs?" + +This annoyed me, for I was not yet ready to go upstairs. I wished to +resuscitate these fellows, for their stupor was so profound that I began +to fear that perhaps they had taken too much of the drug and ought to be +brought to their senses as speedily as possible. This feeling was due +more to my desire that serious injuries should not occur to the rascals +while in my house than to any concern for them. + +"My dear," said I, stepping to the bottom of the stairs, "I have some +things to attend to down here which will occupy me a few minutes longer; +then I will come up to you." + +"I can't imagine what the things are," she said, "but I suppose I can +wait," and she went into her room and closed her door after her. + +I now began to consider what was to be done with the burglars after they +had been resuscitated. My first impulse was to rid the house of them by +carrying them out of doors and bringing them to their senses there. But +there was an objection to this plan. They would be pretty heavy fellows +to carry, and as it would be absolutely necessary to watch them until +they could be given into the charge of the officers of the law, I did +not want to stay out of doors to do this, for the night air was raw and +chilly, and I therefore determined to keep them in the house. And as +they could be resuscitated better in a sitting position, they must be +set up in some way or other. I consulted David on the subject. + +"You might put 'em up with their backs agin the wall, sir," said he, +"but the dirty beasts would spoil the paper. I wouldn't keep them in a +decent room like this. I'd haul 'em out into the kitchen, anyway." + +But as they were already in the library I decided to let them stay +there, and to get them as speedily as possible into some position in +which they might remain. I bethought me of a heavy wooden settle or +bench with back and arms which stood on the side piazza. With David's +help I brought this into the room and placed it with its back to the +window. + +"Now, then," said I to David, "we will put them on this bench, and I +will tie them fast to it. We cannot be too careful in securing them, for +if one of them were to get loose, even without arms, there is no knowing +what trouble he might make." + +"Well, sir," said David, "if I'm to handle them at all, I'd rather have +them dead, as I hope they are, than have them alive; but you needn't be +afraid, sir, that any one of them will get loose. If I see any signs of +that I'll crack the rascal's skull in a jiffy." + +It required a great deal of tugging and lifting to get those three men +on the bench, but we got them there side by side, their heads hanging +listlessly, some one way, some another. I then tied each one of them +firmly to the bench. + +I had scarcely finished this when I again heard my wife's voice from the +top of the stairs. + +"If any pipes have burst," she called down, "tell David not to catch the +water in the new milk-pans." + +"Very well," I replied, "I'll see to it," and was rejoiced to hear again +the shutting of the bedroom door. + +I now saturated a sponge with the powerful preparation which Dr. Marks +had prepared as an antidote, and held it under the nose of the tall +burglar. In less than twenty seconds he made a slight quivering in his +face as if he were about to sneeze, and very soon he did sneeze +slightly. Then he sneezed violently, raised his head, and opened his +eyes. For a moment he gazed blankly before him, and then looked stupidly +at David and at me. But in an instant there flashed into his face the +look of a wild beast. His quick, glittering eye took in the whole +situation at a glance. With a furious oath he threw himself forward with +such a powerful movement that he nearly lifted the bench. + +"Stop that," said David, who stood near him with his iron club uplifted. +"If you do that again I'll let you feel this." + +The man looked at him with a fiery flash in his eyes, and then he looked +at me, as I stood holding the muzzle of my pistol within two feet of his +face. The black and red faded out of his countenance. He became pale. He +glanced at his companions bound and helpless. His expression now changed +entirely. The fury of the wild beast was succeeded by a look of +frightened subjection. Gazing very anxiously at my pistol, he said, in a +voice which, though agitated, was low and respectful:-- + +"What does this mean? What are you going to do? Will you please turn +away the muzzle of that pistol?" + +I took no notice of this indication of my steadiness of hand, and +answered:-- + +"I am going to bring these other scoundrels to their senses, and early +in the morning the three of you will be on your way to jail, where I +hope you may remain for the rest of your lives." + +"If you don't get killed on your way there," said David, in whose +nervous hand the heavy biscuit-beater was almost as dangerous as my +pistol. + +The stout man who sat in the middle of the bench was twice as long in +reviving as had been his companion, who watched the operation with +intense interest. When the burly scoundrel finally became conscious, he +sat for a few minutes gazing at the floor with a silly grin; then he +raised his head and looked first at one of his companions and then at +the other, gazed for an instant at me and David, tried to move his feet, +gave a pull at one arm and then at the other, and when he found he was +bound hard and fast, his face turned as red as fire and he opened his +mouth, whether to swear or yell I know not. I had already closed the +door, and before the man had uttered more than a premonitory sound, +David had clapped the end of his bludgeon against his mouth. + +"Taste that," he said, "and you know what you will get if you disturb +this family with any of your vile cursin' and swearin'." + +"Look here," said the tall man, suddenly turning to the other with an +air of authority, "keep your mouth shut and don't speak till you're +spoken to. Mind that, now, or these gentlemen will make it the worse for +you." + +David grinned as he took away his club. + +"I'd gentlemen you," he said, "if I could get half a chance to do it." + +The face of the heavy burglar maintained its redness, but he kept his +mouth shut. + +When the younger man was restored to his senses, his full consciousness +and power of perception seemed to come to him in an instant. His eyes +flashed from right to left, he turned deadly white, and then merely +moving his arms and legs enough to make himself aware that he was bound, +he sat perfectly still and said not a word. + +I now felt that I must go and acquaint my wife with what had happened, +or otherwise she would be coming downstairs to see what was keeping me +so long. David declared that he was perfectly able to keep guard over +them, and I ran upstairs. David afterward told me that as soon as I left +the room the tall burglar endeavoured to bribe him to cut their ropes, +and told him if he was afraid to stay behind after doing this he would +get him a much better situation than this could possibly be. But as +David threatened personal injury to the speaker if he uttered another +word of the kind, the tall man said no more; but the stout man became +very violent and angry, threatening all sorts of vengeance on my +unfortunate man. David said he was beginning to get angry, when the tall +man, who seemed to have much influence over the other fellow, ordered +him to keep quiet, as the gentleman with the iron club no doubt thought +he was doing right. The young fellow never said a word. + +When I told my wife that I had caught three burglars, and they were +fast bound in the library, she nearly fainted; and when I had revived +her she begged me to promise that I would not go downstairs again until +the police had carried away the horrible wretches. But I assured her +that it was absolutely necessary for me to return to the library. She +then declared that she would go with me, and if anything happened she +would share my fate. "Besides," she said, "if they are tied fast so they +can't move, I should like to see what they look like. I never saw a +burglar." + +I did not wish my wife to go downstairs, but as I knew there would be no +use in objecting, I consented. She hastily dressed herself, making me +wait for her; and when she left the room she locked the door on the +sleeping George William, in order that no one should get at him during +her absence. As we passed the head of the stairs, the door of my Aunt +Martha's room opened, and there she stood, completely dressed, with her +bonnet on, and a little leather bag in her hand. + +"I heard so much talking and so much going up and down stairs that I +thought I had better be ready to do whatever had to be done. Is it +fire?" + +"No," said my wife; "it's three burglars tied in a bunch in the library. +I am going down to see them." + +My Aunt Martha gasped, and looked as if she were going to sit down on +the floor. + +"Goodness gracious!" she said, "if you're going I'll go too. I can't let +you go alone, and I never did see a burglar." + +I hurried down and left the two ladies on the stairs until I was sure +everything was still safe; and when I saw that there had been no change +in the state of affairs, I told them to come down. + +When my wife and Aunt Martha timidly looked in at the library door, the +effect upon them and the burglars was equally interesting. The ladies +each gave a start and a little scream, and huddled themselves close to +me, and the three burglars gazed at them with faces that expressed more +astonishment than any I had ever seen before. The stout fellow gave vent +to a smothered exclamation, and the face of the young man flushed, but +not one of them spoke. + +"Are you sure they are tied fast?" whispered my Aunt Martha to me. + +"Perfectly," I answered; "if I had not been sure I should not have +allowed you to come down." + +Thereupon the ladies picked up courage and stepped further into the +room. + +"Did you and David catch them?" asked my aunt; "and how in the world did +you do it?" + +"I'll tell you all about that another time," I said, "and you had better +go upstairs as soon as you two have seen what sort of people are these +cowardly burglars who sneak or break into the houses of respectable +people at night, and rob and steal and ruin other people's property with +no more conscience or human feeling than is possessed by the rats which +steal your corn, or the polecats which kill your chickens." + +"I can scarcely believe," said Aunt Martha, "that that young man is a +real burglar." + +At these words the eyes of the fellow spoken of glowed as he fixed them +on Aunt Martha, but he did not say a word, and the paleness which had +returned to his face did not change. + +"Have they told you who they are?" asked my wife. + +"I haven't asked them," I said. "And now don't you think you had better +go upstairs?" + +"It seems to me," said Aunt Martha, "that those ropes must hurt them." + +The tall man now spoke. "Indeed they do, madam," he said in a low voice +and very respectful manner, "they are very tight." + +I told David to look at all the cords and see if any of them were too +tightly drawn. + +"It's all nonsense, sir," said he, when he had finished the examination; +"not one of the ropes is a bit too tight. All they want is a chance to +pull out their ugly hands." + +"Of course," said Aunt Martha, "if it would be unsafe to loosen the +knots I wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent to prison?" + +"Yes," said I; "as soon as the day breaks I shall send down for the +police." + +I now heard a slight sound at the door, and turning, saw Alice, our maid +of the house, who was peeping in at the door. Alice was a modest girl, +and quite pretty. + +"I heard the noise and the talking, sir," she said, "and when I found +the ladies had gone down to see what it was, I thought I would come +too." + +"And where is the cook," asked my wife; "don't she want to see +burglars?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Alice, very emphatically. "As soon as I told +her what it was she covered up her head with the bedclothes and +declared, ma'am, that she would never get up until they were entirely +gone out of the house." + +At this the stout man grinned. + +"I wish you'd all cover up your heads," he said. The tall man looked at +him severely, and he said no more. + +David did not move from his post near the three burglars, but he turned +toward Alice and looked at her. We knew that he had tender feelings +toward the girl, and I think that he did not approve of her being there. + +"Have they stolen anything?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"They have not had any chance to take anything away," I said; and my +wife remarked that whether they had stolen anything or not, they had +made a dreadful mess on the floor, and had broken the table. They should +certainly be punished. + +At this she made a motion as if she would leave the room, and an +anxious expression immediately came on the face of the tall man, who had +evidently been revolving something in his mind. + +"Madam," he said, "we are very sorry that we have broken your table, and +that we have damaged some of your glass and your carpet. I assure you, +however, that nothing of the kind would have happened but for that +drugged wine, which was doubtless intended for a medicine, and not a +beverage; but weary and chilled as we were when we arrived, madam, we +were glad to partake of it, supposing it ordinary wine." + +I could not help showing a little pride at the success of my scheme. + +"The refreshment was intended for fellows of your class, and I am very +glad you accepted it." + +The tall man did not answer me, but he again addressed my wife. + +"Madam," he said, "if you ladies would remain and listen to me a few +moments, I am sure I would make you aware that there is much to +extenuate the apparent offence which I have committed to-night." + +My wife did not answer him, but turning to me said, smiling, "If he +alludes to their drinking your wine he need not apologize." + +The man looked at her with an expression as if her words had pained him. + +"Madam," he said, "if you consent to listen to my explanations and the +story of this affair, I am sure your feelings toward me would not be so +harsh." + +"Now, then," said my Aunt Martha, "if he has a story to tell he ought to +be allowed to tell it, even in a case like this. Nobody should be judged +until he has said what he thinks he ought to say. Let us hear his +story." + +I laughed. "Any statement he may make," I said, "will probably deserve a +much stronger name than stories." + +"I think that what you say is true," remarked my wife; "but still if he +has a story to tell I should like to hear it." + +I think I heard David give a little grunt; but he was too well bred to +say anything. + +"Very well," said I, "if you choose to sit up and hear him talk, it is +your affair. I shall be obliged to remain here anyway, and will not +object to anything that will help to pass away the time. But these men +must not be the only ones who are seated. David, you and Alice can clear +away that broken table and the rest of the stuff, and then we might as +well sit down and make ourselves comfortable." + +Alice, with cloth and brush, approached very timidly the scene of the +disaster; but the younger burglar, who was nearest to her, gazed upon +her with such a gentle and quiet air that she did not seem to be +frightened. When she and David had put the room in fair order, I placed +two easy-chairs for my wife and Aunt Martha at a moderate distance from +the burglars, and took another myself a little nearer to them, and then +told David to seat himself near the other end of the bench, and Alice +took a chair at a little distance from the ladies. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to the burglars, "I would like very much +to hear what any one of you can say in extenuation of having broken into +a gentleman's house by night." + +Without hesitation the tall man began his speech. He had a long and +rather lean, close-shaven face, which at present bore the expression of +an undertaker conducting a funeral. Although it was my aunt who had +shown the greatest desire to hear his story, he addressed himself to my +wife. I think he imagined that she was the more influential person of +the two. + +"Madam," said he, "I am glad of the opportunity of giving you and your +family an idea of the difficulties and miseries which beset a large +class of your fellow-beings of whom you seldom have any chance of +knowing anything at all, but of whom you hear all sorts of the most +misleading accounts. Now, I am a poor man. I have suffered the greatest +miseries that poverty can inflict. I am here, suspected of having +committed a crime. It is possible that I may be put to considerable +difficulty and expense in proving my innocence." + +"I shouldn't wonder," I interrupted. To this remark he paid no +attention. + +"Considering all this," he continued, "you may not suppose, madam, that +as a boy I was brought up most respectably and properly. My mother was a +religious woman, and my father was a boat-builder. I was sent to school, +and my mother has often told me that I was a good scholar. But she died +when I was about sixteen, and I am sure had this not happened I should +never have been even suspected of breaking the laws of my country. Not +long after her death my father appeared to lose interest in his +business, and took to rowing about the river instead of building boats +for other people to row. Very often he went out at night, and I used to +wonder why he should care to be on the water in the darkness, and +sometimes in the rain. One evening at supper he said to me: 'Thomas, you +ought to know how to row in the dark as well as in the daytime. I am +going up the river to-night, and you can come with me.' + +"It was about my ordinary bedtime when we took a boat with two pair of +oars, and we pulled up the river about three miles above the city." + +"What city?" I asked. + +"The city where I was born, sir," he said, "and the name of which I must +be excused from mentioning for reasons connected with my only surviving +parent. There were houses on the river bank, but they were not very near +each other. Some of them had lights in them, but most of them were dark, +as it must have been after eleven o'clock. Before one of them my father +stopped rowing for a moment and looked at it pretty hard. It seemed to +be all dark, but as we pulled on a little I saw a light in the back of +the house. + +"My father said nothing, but we kept on, though pulling very easy for a +mile or two, and then we turned and floated down with the tide. 'You +might as well rest, Thomas,' said he, 'for you have worked pretty hard.' + +"We floated slowly, for the tide was just beginning to turn, and when we +got near the house which I mentioned, I noticed that there was no light +in it. When we were about opposite to it father suddenly looked up and +said, not speaking very loud, 'By George! if that isn't Williamson +Green's house. I wasn't thinking of it when we rowed up, and passed it +without taking notice of it. I am sorry for that, for I wanted to see +Williamson, and now I expect he has gone to bed.' + +"'Who is Mr. Green?' I asked. + +"'He is an old friend of mine,' said my father, 'and I haven't seen him +for some little while now. About four months ago he borrowed of me a +sextant, quadrant, and chronometer. They were instruments I took from +old Captain Barney in payment of some work I did for him. I wasn't +usin' them, and Williamson had bought a catboat and was studying +navigation; but he has given up that fad now and has promised me over +and over to send me back my instruments, but he has never done it. If +I'd thought of it I would have stopped and got 'em of him; but I didn't +think, and now I expect he has gone to bed. However, I'll row in shore +and see; perhaps he's up yet.' + +"You see, ma'am," said the speaker to my wife, "I'm tellin' you all +these particulars because I am very anxious you should understand +exactly how everything happened on this night, which was the +turning-point of my life." + +"Very good," said Aunt Martha; "we want to hear all the particulars." + +"Well, then," continued the burglar, "we pulled up to a stone wall which +was at the bottom of Green's place and made fast, and father he got out +and went up to the house. After a good while he came back and said that +he was pretty sure Williamson Green had gone to bed, and as it wouldn't +do to waken people up from their sleep to ask them for nautical +instruments they had borrowed, he sat down for a minute on the top of +the wall, and then he slapped his knee, not making much noise, though. + +"'By George!' he said, 'an idea has just struck me. I can play the +prettiest trick on Williamson that ever was played on mortal man. Those +instruments are all in a box locked up, and I know just where he keeps +it. I saw it not long ago, when I went to his house to talk about a +yacht he wants built. They are on a table in the comer of his bedroom. +He was taking me through the house to show me the improvements he had +made, and he said to me:-- + +"'"Martin, there's your instruments. I won't trouble you to take them +with you, because they're heavy and you're not going straight home, but +I'll bring them to you day after to-morrow, when I shall be goin' your +way." + +"'Now, then,' said my father, 'the trick I'm thinkin' of playing on +Williamson is this: I'd like to take that box of instruments out of his +room without his knowing it and carry them home, having the boat here +convenient; and then in a day or two to write to him and tell him I must +have 'em, because I have a special use for 'em. Of course he'll be +awfully cut up, not having them to send back; and when he comes down to +my place to talk about it, and after hearing all he has to say, I'll +show him the box. He'll be the most dumbfoundedest man in this State; +and if I don't choose to tell him he'll never know to his dying day how +I got that box. And if he lies awake at night, trying to think how I got +it, it will serve him right for keeping my property from me so long.' + +"'But, father,' said I, 'if the people have gone to bed you can't get +into the house to play him your trick.' + +"'That can be managed,' says he; 'I'm rather old for climbing myself, +but I know a way by which you, Thomas, can get in easy enough. At the +back of the house is a trellis with a grape-vine running over it, and +the top of it is just under one of the second-story windows. You can +climb up that trellis, Thomas, and lift up that window-sash very +carefully, so's not to make no noise, and get in. Then you'll be in a +back room, with a door right in front of you which opens into Mr. and +Mrs. Green's bedroom. There's always a little night lamp burning in it, +by which you can see to get about. In the corner, on your right as you +go into the room, is a table with my instrument-box standing on it. The +box is pretty heavy, and there is a handle on top to carry it by. You +needn't be afraid to go in, for by this time they are both sound asleep, +and you can pick up the box and walk out as gingerly as a cat, having of +course taken your shoes off before you went in. Then you can hand the +box out the back window to me,--I can climb up high enough to reach +it,--and you can scuttle down, and we'll be off, having the best rig on +Williamson Green that I ever heard of in my born days.' + +"I was a very active boy, used to climbing and all that sort of thing, +and I had no doubt that I could easily get into the house; but I did not +fancy my father's scheme. + +"'Suppose,' I said, 'that Mr. Williamson Green should wake up and see +me; what could I say? How could I explain my situation?' + +"'You needn't say anything,' said my father. 'If he wakes up blow out +the light and scoot. If you happen to have the box in your hand drop it +out the back window and then slip down after it. He won't see us; but +if he does he cannot catch us before we get to the boat; but if he +should, however, I'll have to explain the matter to him, and the joke +will be against me; but I shall get my instruments, which is the main +point, after all.' + +"I did not argue with my father, for he was a man who hated to be +differed with, and I agreed to help him carry out his little joke. We +took off our shoes and walked quietly to the back of the house. My +father stood below, and I climbed up the trellis under the back window, +which he pointed out. The window-sash was down all but a little crack to +let in air, and I raised it so slowly and gently that I made no noise. +Then without any trouble at all I got into the room. + +"I found myself in a moderate-sized chamber, into which a faint light +came from a door opposite the window. Having been several hours out in +the night my eyes had become so accustomed to darkness that this light +was comparatively strong and I could see everything. + +"Looking about me my eyes fell on a little bedstead, on which lay one of +the most beautiful infants I ever beheld in my life. Its golden hair +lay in ringlets upon the pillow. Its eyes were closed, but its soft +cheeks had in them a rosy tinge which almost equalled the colour of its +dainty little lips, slightly opened as it softly breathed and dreamed." +At this point I saw my wife look quickly at the bedroom key she had in +her hand. I knew she was thinking of George William. + +"I stood entranced," continued the burglar, "gazing upon this babe, for +I was very fond of children; but I remembered that I must not waste +time, and stepped softly into the next room. There I beheld Mr. and Mrs. +Williamson Green in bed, both fast asleep, the gentleman breathing a +little hard. In a corner, just where my father told me I should find it, +stood the box upon the table. + +"But I could not immediately pick it up and depart. The beautiful room +in which I found myself was a revelation to me. Until that moment I had +not known that I had tastes and sympathies of a higher order than might +have been expected of the youthful son of a boat-builder. Those artistic +furnishings aroused within a love of the beautiful which I did not know +I possessed. The carpets, the walls, the pictures, the hangings in the +windows, the furniture, the ornaments,--everything, in fact, impressed +me with such a delight that I did not wish to move or go away. + +"Into my young soul there came a longing. 'Oh!' I said to myself, 'that +my parents had belonged to the same social grade as that worthy couple +reposing in that bed; and oh! that I, in my infancy, had been as +beautiful and as likely to be so carefully nurtured and cultured as that +sweet babe in the next room.' I almost heaved a sigh as I thought of the +difference between these surroundings and my own, but I checked myself; +it would not do to made a noise and spoil my father's joke. + +"There were a great many things in that luxurious apartment which it +would have delighted me to look upon and examine, but I forbore." + +"I wish I'd been there," said the stout man; "there wouldn't have been +any forbearin'." + +The speaker turned sharply upon him. + +"Don't you interrupt me again," he said angrily. Then, instantly +resuming his deferential tone, he continued the story. + +"But I had come there by the command of my parent, and this command must +be obeyed without trifling or loss of time. My father did not approve of +trifling or loss of time. I moved quietly toward the table in the +corner, on which stood my father's box. I was just about to put my hand +upon it when I heard a slight movement behind me. I gave a start and +glanced backward. It was Mr. Williamson Green turning over in his bed; +what if he should awake? His back was now toward me, and my impulse was +to fly and leave everything behind me; but my father had ordered me to +bring the box, and he expected his orders to be obeyed. I had often been +convinced of that. + +"I stood perfectly motionless for a minute or so, and when the gentleman +recommenced his regular and very audible breathing I felt it safe to +proceed with my task. Taking hold of the box I found it was much heavier +than I expected it to be; but I moved gently away with it and passed +into the back room. + +"There I could not refrain from stopping a moment by the side of the +sleeping babe, upon whose cherub-like face the light of the night lamp +dimly shone. The little child was still sleeping sweetly, and my impulse +was to stop and kiss it; but I knew that this would be wrong. The infant +might awake and utter a cry and my father's joke be spoiled. I moved to +the open window, and with some trouble, and, I think, without any noise, +I succeeded in getting out upon the trellis with the box under my arm. +The descent was awkward, but my father was a tall man, and, reaching +upward, relieved me of my burden before I got to the ground. + +"'I didn't remember it was so heavy,' he whispered, 'or I should have +given you a rope to lower it down by. If you had dropped it and spoiled +my instruments, and made a lot of noise besides, I should have been +angry enough.' + +"I was very glad my father was not angry, and following him over the +greensward we quickly reached the boat, where the box was stowed away +under the bow to keep it from injury. + +"We pushed off as quietly as possible and rowed swiftly down the river. +When we had gone about a mile I suddenly dropped my oar with an +exclamation of dismay. + +"'What's the matter?' cried my father. + +"'Oh, I have done a dreadful thing!' I said. 'Oh, father, I must go +back!' + +"I am sorry to say that at this my father swore. + +"'What do you want to go back for?' he said. + +"'Just to think of it! I have left open the window in which that +beautiful child was sleeping. If it should take cold and die from the +damp air of the river blowing upon it I should never forgive myself. Oh, +if I had only thought of climbing up the trellis again and pulling down +that sash! I am sure I could go back and do it without making the least +noise.' My father gave a grunt; but what the grunt meant I do not know, +and for a few moments he was silent, and then he said:-- + +"'Thomas, you cannot go back; the distance is too great, the tide is +against us, and it is time that you and I were both in our beds. Nothing +may happen to that baby; but, attend to my words now, if any harm should +come to that child it will go hard with you. If it should die it would +be of no use for you to talk about practical jokes. You would be held +responsible for its death. I was going to say to you that it might be as +well for you not to say anything about this little venture until I had +seen how Williamson Green took the joke. Some people get angry with very +little reason, although I hardly believe he's that sort of a man; but +now things are different. He thinks all the world of that child, which +is the only one they've got; and if you want to stay outside of jail or +the house of refuge I warn you never to say a word of where you have +been this night.' + +"With this he began to row again, and I followed his example, but with a +very heavy heart. All that night I dreamt of the little child with the +damp night winds blowing in upon it." + +"Did you ever hear if it caught cold?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"No," replied the burglar, "I never did. I mentioned the matter to my +father, and he said that he had great fears upon the subject, for +although he had written to Williamson Green, asking him to return the +instruments, he had not seen him or heard from him, and he was afraid +that the child had died or was dangerously sick. Shortly after that my +father sent me on a little trip to the Long Island coast to collect some +bills from people for whom he had done work. He gave me money to stay a +week or two at the seashore, saying that the change would do me good; +and it was while I was away on this delightful holiday that an event +occurred which had a most disastrous effect upon my future life. My +father was arrested for burglary! + +"It appeared--and I cannot tell you how shocked I was when I discovered +the truth--that the box which I had carried away did not contain +nautical instruments, but was filled with valuable plate and jewels. My +unfortunate father heard from a man who had been discharged from the +service of the family whose house he had visited--whose name, by the +way, was not Green--where the box containing the valuables mentioned was +always placed at night, and he had also received accurate information in +regard to the situation of the rooms and the best method of gaining +access to them. + +"I believe that some arrangement had been made between my father and +this discharged servant in regard to a division of the contents of the +box, and it was on account of a disagreement on this subject that the +man became very angry, and after pocketing what my father thought was +his fair share he departed to unknown regions, leaving behind a note to +the police which led to my father's arrest." + +"That was a mean trick," said Aunt Martha. + +The burglar looked at her gratefully. + +"In the lower spheres of life, madam, such things often happen. Some of +the plate and jewels were found in my father's possession, and he was +speedily tried and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. And now, +can you imagine, ladies," said the tall burglar, apparently having +become satisfied to address himself to Aunt Martha, as well as my wife, +"the wretched position in which I found myself? I was upbraided as the +son of a thief. I soon found myself without home, without occupation, +and, alas! without good reputation. I was careful not to mention my +voluntary connection with my father's crime for fear that should I do so +I might be compelled to make a statement which might increase the +severity of his punishment. For this reason I did not dare to make +inquiries concerning the child in whom I had taken such an interest, +and whose little life I had, perhaps, imperilled. I never knew, ladies, +whether that infant grew up or not. + +"But I, alas! grew up to a life of hardship and degradation. It would be +impossible for persons in your sphere of life to understand what I now +was obliged to suffer. Suitable employment I could not obtain, because I +was the son of a burglar. With a father in the State prison, it was of +no use for me to apply for employment at any respectable place of +business. I laboured at one thing and another, sometimes engaging in the +most menial employments. I also had been educated and brought up by my +dear mother for a very different career. Sometimes I managed to live +fairly well, sometimes I suffered. Always I suffered from the stigma of +my father's crime, always in the eyes of the community in which I +lived--a community, I am sorry to say, incapable, as a rule, of making +correct judgments in delicate cases like these--I was looked upon as +belonging to the ranks of the dishonest. It was a hard lot, and +sometimes almost impossible to bear up under. + +"I have spoken at length, ladies, in order that you may understand my +true position; and I wish to say that I have never felt the crushing +weight of my father's disgrace more deeply than I felt it last evening. +This man," nodding toward the stout burglar, "came to me shortly after I +had eaten my supper, which happened to be a frugal one, and said to +me:-- + +"'Thomas, I have some business to attend to to-night, in which you can +help me if you choose. I know you are a good mechanic.' + +"'If it is work that will pay me,' I answered, 'I should be very glad to +do it, for I am greatly in need of money.' + +"'It will pay,' said he; and I agreed to assist him. + +"As we were walking to the station, as the business to be attended to +was out of town, this man, whose name is James Barlow, talked to me in +such a way that I began to suspect that he intended to commit a +burglary, and openly charged him with this evil purpose. 'You may call +it burglary or anything else you please,' said he; 'property is very +unequally divided in this world, and it is my business in life to make +wrong things right as far as I can. I am going to the house of a man +who has a great deal more than he needs, and I haven't anything like as +much as I need; and so I intend to take some of his overplus,--not very +much, for when I leave his house he will still be a rich man, and I'll +be a poor one. But for a time my family will not starve.' + +"'Argue as you please, James Barlow,' I said, 'what you are going to do +is nothing less than burglary.' + +"'Of course it is,' said he; 'but it's all right, all the same. There +are a lot of people, Thomas, who are not as particular about these +things as they used to be, and there is no use for you to seem better +than your friends and acquaintances. Now, to show there are not so many +bigots as there used to be, there's a young man going to meet us at the +station who is greatly interested in the study of social problems. He is +going along with us just to look into this sort of thing and study it. +It is impossible for him to understand people of our class, or do +anything to make their condition better, if he does not thoroughly +investigate their methods of life and action. He's going along just as a +student, nothing more; and he may be down on the whole thing for all I +know. He pays me five dollars for the privilege of accompanying me, and +whether he likes it or not is his business. I want you to go along as a +mechanic, and if your conscience won't let you take any share in the +profit, I'll just pay you for your time.' + +"'James Barlow,' said I, 'I am going with you, but for a purpose far +different from that you desire. I shall keep by your side, and if I can +dissuade you from committing the crime you intend I shall do so; but if +I fail in this, and you deliberately break into a house for purposes of +robbery, I shall arouse the inmates and frustrate your crime.' Now, +James Barlow," said he, turning to the stout man with a severe +expression on his strongly marked face, "is not what I have said +perfectly true? Did you not say to me every word which I have just +repeated?" + +The stout man looked at the other in a very odd way. His face seemed to +broaden and redden, and he merely closed his eyes as he promptly +answered:-- + +"That's just what I said, every blasted word of it. You've told it fair +and square, leavin' off nothin' and puttin' in nothin'. You've told the +true facts out and out, up and down, without a break." + +"Now, ladies," continued the tall man, "you see my story is +corroborated, and I will conclude it by saying that when this house, in +spite of my protest, had been opened, I entered with the others with the +firm intention of stepping into a hallway or some other suitable place +and announcing in a loud voice that the house was about to be robbed. As +soon as I found the family aroused and my purpose accomplished, I +intended to depart as quickly as possible, for, on account of the shadow +cast upon me by my father's crime, I must never be found even in the +vicinity of criminal action. But as I was passing through this room I +could not resist the invitation of Barlow to partake of the refreshments +which we saw upon the table. I was faint from fatigue and insufficient +nourishment. It seemed a very little thing to taste a drop of wine in a +house where I was about to confer a great benefit. I yielded to the +temptation, and now I am punished. Partaking even that little which did +not belong to me, I find myself placed in my present embarrassing +position." + +"You are right there," said I, "it must be embarrassing; but before we +have any more reflections, there are some practical points about which +I wish you would inform me. How did that wicked man, Mr. Barlow I think +you called him, get into this house?" + +The tall man looked at me for a moment, as if in doubt what he should +say; and then his expression of mingled hopelessness and contrition +changed into one of earnest frankness. + +"I will tell you, sir, exactly," he said; "I have no wish to conceal +anything. I have long wanted to have an opportunity to inform occupants +of houses, especially those in the suburbs, of the insufficiency of +their window fastenings. Familiar with mechanic devices as I am, and +accustomed to think of such things, the precautions of householders +sometimes move me to laughter. Your outer doors, front and back, are of +heavy wood, chained, locked, and bolted, often double locked and bolted; +but your lower windows are closed in the first place by the lightest +kind of shutters, which are very seldom fastened at all, and in the +second place by a little contrivance connecting the two sashes, which is +held in place by a couple of baby screws. If these contrivances are of +the best kind and cannot be opened from the outside with a knife-blade +or piece of tin, the burglar puts a chisel or jimmy under the lower sash +and gently presses it upward, when the baby screws come out as easily as +if they were babies' milk-teeth. Not for a moment does the burglar +trouble himself about the front door, with its locks and chains and +bolts. He goes to the window, with its baby screws, which might as well +be left open as shut, for all the hindrance it is to his entrance; and +if he meddled with the door at all, it is simply to open it from the +inside, so that when he is ready to depart he may do so easily." + +"But all that does not apply to my windows," I said. "They are not +fastened that way." + +"No, sir," said the man, "your lower shutters are solid and strong as +your doors. This is right, for if shutters are intended to obstruct +entrance to a house they should be as strong as the doors. When James +Barlow first reached this house he tried his jimmy on one of the +shutters in this main building, but he could not open it. The heavy bolt +inside was too strong for him. Then he tried another near by with the +same result. You will find the shutters splintered at the bottom. Then +he walked to the small addition at the back of the house, where the +kitchen is located. Here the shutters were smaller, and of course the +inside bolts were smaller. Everything in harmony. Builders are so +careful now-a-days to have everything in harmony. When Barlow tried his +jimmy on one of these shutters the bolt resisted for a time, but its +harmonious proportions caused it to bend, and it was soon drawn from its +staples and the shutter opened, and of course the sash was opened as I +told you sashes are opened." + +"Well," said I, "shutters and sashes of mine shall never be opened in +that way again." + +"It was with that object that I spoke to you," said the tall man. "I +wish you to understand the faults of your fastenings, and any +information I can give you which will better enable you to protect your +house, I shall be glad to give, as a slight repayment for the injury I +may have helped to do to you in the way of broken glass and spoiled +carpet. I have made window fastenings an especial study, and, if you +employ me for the purpose, I'll guarantee that I will put your house +into a condition which will be absolutely burglar proof. If I do not do +this to your satisfaction, I will not ask to be paid a cent." + +"We will not consider that proposition now," I said, "for you may have +other engagements which would interfere with the proposed job." I was +about to say that I thought we had enough of this sort of story, when +Aunt Martha interrupted me. + +"It seems to me," she said, speaking to the tall burglar, "that you have +instincts, and perhaps convictions, of what is right and proper; but it +is plain that you allow yourself to be led and influenced by +unprincipled companions. You should avoid even the outskirts of evil. +You may not know that the proposed enterprise is a bad one, but you +should not take part in it unless you know that it is a good one. In +such cases you should be rigid." + +The man turned toward my aunt, and looked steadfastly at her, and as he +gazed his face grew sadder and sadder. + +"Rigid," he repeated; "that is hard." + +"Yes," I remarked, "that is one of the meanings of the word." + +Paying no attention to me, he continued:-- + +"Madam," said he, with a deep pathos in his voice, "no one can be +better aware than I am that I have made many mistakes in the course of +my life; but that quality on which I think I have reason to be satisfied +with myself is my rigidity when I know a thing is wrong. There occurs to +me now an instance in my career which will prove to you what I say. + +"I knew a man by the name of Spotkirk, who had invented a liniment for +the cure of boils. He made a great success with his liniment, which he +called Boilene, and at the time I speak of he was a very rich man. + +"One day Spotkirk came to me and told me he wanted me to do a piece of +business for him, for which he would pay me twenty-five dollars. I was +glad to hear this, for I was greatly in need of money, and I asked him +what it was he wanted me to do. + +"'You know Timothy Barker,' said he. 'Well, Timothy and I have had a +misunderstanding, and I want you to be a referee or umpire between us, +to set things straight.' + +"'Very good,' said I, 'and what is the point of difference?' + +"'I'll put the whole thing before you.' said he, 'for of course you +must understand it or you can't talk properly to Timothy. Now, you see, +in the manufacture of my Boilene I need a great quantity of good yellow +gravel, and Timothy Barker has got a gravel pit of that kind. Two years +ago I agreed with Timothy that he should furnish me with all the gravel +I should want for one-eighth of one per cent. of the profits on the +Boilene. We didn't sign no papers, for which I am sorry, but that was +the agreement; and now Timothy says that one-eighth of one per cent. +isn't enough. He has gone wild about it, and actually wants ten per +cent., and threatens to sue me if I don't give it to him.' + +"'Are you obliged to have gravel? Wouldn't something else do for your +purpose?' + +"'There's nothing as cheap,' said Spotkirk. 'You see I have to have lots +and lots of it. Every day I fill a great tank with the gravel and let +water onto it. This soaks through the gravel, and comes out a little +pipe in the bottom of the tank of a beautiful yellow color; sometimes it +is too dark, and then I have to thin it with more water.' + +"'Then you bottle it,' I said. + +"'Yes,' said Spotkirk; 'then there is all the expense and labour of +bottling it.' + +"'Then you put nothing more into it,' said I. + +"'What more goes into it before it's corked,' said Spotkirk, 'is my +business. That's my secret, and nobody's been able to find it out. +People have had Boilene analyzed by chemists, but they can't find out +the hidden secret of its virtue. There's one thing that everybody who +has used it does know, and that is that it is a sure cure for boils. If +applied for two or three days according to directions, and at the proper +stage, the boil is sure to disappear. As a proof of its merit I have +sold seven hundred and forty-eight thousand bottles this year.' + +"'At a dollar a bottle?' said I. + +"'That is the retail price,' said he. + +"'Now, then, Mr. Spotkirk,' said I, 'it will not be easy to convince +Timothy Barker that one-eighth of one per cent. is enough for him. I +suppose he hauls his gravel to your factory?' + +"'Hauling's got nothing to do with it,' said he; 'gravel is only ten +cents a load anywhere, and if I choose I could put my factory right in +the middle of a gravel pit. Timothy Barker has nothing to complain of. + +"'But he knows you are making a lot of money,' said I, 'and it will be a +hard job to talk him over. Mr. Spotkirk, it's worth every cent of fifty +dollars.' + +"'Now look here,' said he; 'if you get Barker to sign a paper that will +suit me, I'll give you fifty dollars. I'd rather do that than have him +bring a suit. If the matter comes up in the courts those rascally +lawyers will be trying to find out what I put into my Boilene, and that +sort of thing would be sure to hurt my business. It won't be so hard to +get a hold on Barker if you go to work the right way. You can just let +him understand that you know all about that robbery at Bonsall's +clothing-store, where he kept the stolen goods in his barn, covered up +with hay, for nearly a week. It would be a good thing for Timothy Barker +to understand that somebody else beside me knows about that business, +and if you bring it in right, it will fetch him around, sure.' + +"I kept quiet for a minute or two, and then I said:-- + +"'Mr. Spotkirk, this is an important business. I can't touch it under a +hundred dollars.' He looked hard at me, and then he said:-- + +"'Do it right, and a hundred dollars is yours.' + +"After that I went to see Timothy Barker, and had a talk with him. +Timothy was boiling over, and considered himself the worst-cheated man +in the world. He had only lately found out how Spotkirk made his +Boilene, and what a big sale he had for it, and he was determined to +have more of the profits. + +"'Just look at it!' he shouted; 'when Spotkirk has washed out my gravel +it's worth more than it was before, and he sells it for twenty-five +cents a load to put on gentlemen's places. Even out of that he makes a +hundred and fifty per cent. profit.' + +"I talked a good deal more with Timothy Barker, and found out a good +many things about Spotkirk's dealings with him, and then in an off-hand +manner I mentioned the matter of the stolen goods in his barn, just as +if I had known all about it from the very first. At this Timothy stopped +shouting, and became as meek as a mouse. He said nobody was as sorry as +he was when he found the goods concealed in his barn had been stolen, +and that if he had known it before the thieves took them away he should +have informed the authorities; and then he went on to tell me how he got +so poor and so hard up by giving his whole time to digging and hauling +gravel for Spotkirk, and neglecting his little farm, that he did not +know what was going to become of him and his family if he couldn't make +better terms with Spotkirk for the future, and he asked me very +earnestly to help him in this business if I could. + +"Now, then, I set myself to work to consider this business. Here was a +rich man oppressing a poor one, and here was this rich man offering me +one hundred dollars--which in my eyes was a regular fortune--to help him +get things so fixed that he could keep on oppressing the poor one. Now, +then, here was a chance for me to show my principles. Here was a chance +for me to show myself what you, madam, call rigid; and rigid I was. I +just set that dazzling one hundred dollars aside, much as I wanted it. +Much as I actually needed it, I wouldn't look at it, or think of it. I +just said to myself, 'If you can do any good in this matter, do it for +the poor man;' and I did do it for Timothy Barker with his poor wife and +seven children, only two of them old enough to help him in the gravel +pit. I went to Spotkirk and I talked to him, and I let him see that if +Timothy Barker showed up the Boilene business, as he threatened to do, +it would be a bad day for the Spotkirk family. He tried hard to talk me +over to his side, but I was rigid, madam, I was rigid, and the business +ended in my getting seven per cent. of the profits of Boilene for that +poor man, Timothy Barker, and his large family; and their domestic +prosperity is entirely due--I say it without hesitation--to my efforts +on their behalf, and to my rigidity in standing up for the poor against +the rich." + +"Of course," I here remarked, "you don't care to mention anything about +the money you squeezed out of Timothy Barker by means of your knowledge +that he had been a receiver of stolen goods, and I suppose the Boilene +man gave you something to get the percentage brought down from ten per +cent. to seven." + +The tall burglar turned and looked at me with an air of saddened +resignation. + +"Of course," said he, "it is of no use for a man in my position to +endeavour to set himself right in the eyes of one who is prejudiced +against him. My hope is that those present who are not prejudiced will +give my statements the consideration they deserve." + +"Which they certainly will do," I continued. Turning to my wife and Aunt +Martha, "As you have heard this fine story, I think it is time for you +to retire." + +"I do not wish to retire," promptly returned Aunt Martha. "I was never +more awake in my life, and couldn't go asleep if I tried. What we have +heard may or may not be true, but it furnishes subjects for +reflection--serious reflection. I wish very much to hear what that man +in the middle of the bench has to say for himself; I am sure he has a +story." + +"Yes, ma'am," said the stout man, with animation, "I've got one, and I'd +like nothin' better than to tell it to you if you'll give me a little +somethin' to wet my lips with--a little beer, or whiskey and water, or +anything you have convenient." + +"Whiskey and water!" said Aunt Martha with severity. "I should think +not. It seems to me you have had all the intoxicating liquors in this +house that you would want." + +"But I don't think you're the kind of person who'd doctor the liquor. +This is the first gentleman's house where I ever found anything of that +kind." + +"The worse for the gentleman," I remarked. The man grunted. + +"Well, ma'am," he said, "call it anything you please--milk, cider, or, +if you have nothin' else, I'll take water. I can't talk without +somethin' soaky." + +My wife rose. "If we are to listen to another story," she said, "I want +something to keep up my strength. I shall go into the dining-room and +make some tea, and Aunt Martha can give these men some of that if she +likes." + +The ladies now left the room, followed by Alice. Presently they called +me, and, leaving the burglars in charge of the vigilant David, I went to +them. I found them making tea. + +"I have been upstairs to see if George William is all right, and now I +want you to tell me what you think of that man's story," said my wife. + +"I don't think it a story at all," said I. "I call it a lie. A story is +a relation which purports to be fiction, no matter how much like truth +it may be, and is intended to be received as fiction. A lie is a false +statement made with the intention to deceive, and that is what I believe +we have heard to-night." + +"I agree with you exactly," said my wife. + +"It may be," said Aunt Martha, "that the man's story is true. There are +some things about it which make me think so; but if he is really a +criminal he must have had trials and temptations which led him into his +present mode of life. We should consider that." + +"I have been studying him," I said, "and I think he is a born rascal, +who ought to have been hung long ago." + +My aunt looked at me. "John," she said, "if you believe people are born +criminals, they ought to be executed in their infancy. It could be done +painlessly by electricity, and society would be the gainer, although you +lawyers would be the losers. But I do not believe in your doctrine. If +the children of the poor were properly brought up and educated, fewer of +them would grow to be criminals." + +"I don't think this man suffered for want of education," said my wife; +"he used very good language; that was one of the first things that led +me to suspect him. It is not likely that sons of boat-builders speak so +correctly and express themselves so well." + +"Of course, I cannot alter your opinions," said Aunt Martha, "but the +story interested me, and I very much wish to hear what that other man +has to say for himself." + +"Very well," said I, "you shall hear it; but I must drink my tea and go +back to the prisoners." + +"And I," said Aunt Martha, "will take some tea to them. They may be bad +men, but they must not suffer." + +I had been in the library but a few moments when Aunt Martha entered, +followed by Alice, who bore a tray containing three very large cups of +tea and some biscuit. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to me, "if you will untie their hands, I +will give them some tea." + +At these words each burglar turned his eyes on me with a quick glance. I +laughed. + +"Hardly," said I. "I would not be willing to undertake the task of +tying them up again, unless, indeed, they will consent to drink some +more of my wine." + +"Which we won't do," said the middle burglar, "and that's flat." + +"Then they must drink this tea with their hands tied," said Aunt Martha, +in a tone of reproachful resignation, and, taking a cup from the tray, +she approached the stout man and held it up to his lips. At this act of +extreme kindness we were all amused, even the burglar's companions +smiled, and David so far forgot himself as to burst into a laugh, which, +however, he quickly checked. The stout burglar, however, saw nothing to +laugh at. He drank the tea, and never drew breath until the cup was +emptied. + +"I forgot," said my aunt, as she removed the cup from his lips, "to ask +you whether you took much or little sugar." + +"Don't make no difference to me," answered the man; "tea isn't malt +liquor; it's poor stuff any way, and it doesn't matter to me whether +it's got sugar in it or not, but it's moistenin', and that's what I +want. Now, madam, I'll just say to you, if ever I break into a room +where you're sleepin', I'll see that you don't come to no harm, even if +you sit up in bed and holler." + +"Thank you," said Aunt Martha; "but I hope you will never again be +concerned in that sort of business." + +He grinned. "That depends on circumstances," said he. + +Aunt Martha now offered the tall man some tea, but he thanked her very +respectfully, and declined. The young man also said that he did not care +for tea, but that if the maid--looking at Alice--would give him a glass +of water he would be obliged. This was the first time he had spoken. His +voice was low and of a pleasing tone. David's face grew dark, and we +could see that he objected to this service from Alice. + +"I will give him the water myself," said Aunt Martha. This she did, and +I noticed that the man's thirst was very soon satisfied. When David had +been refreshed, and biscuits refused by the burglars, who could not very +well eat them with their hands tied, we all sat down, and the stout man +began his story. I give it as he told it, omitting some coarse and rough +expressions, and a good deal of slang which would be unintelligible to +the general reader. + +"There's no use," said the burglar, "for me to try and make any of you +believe that I'm a pious gentleman under a cloud, for I know I don't +look like it, and wouldn't be likely to make out a case." + +At this the tall man looked at him very severely. + +"I don't mean to say," he continued, "that my friend here tried anything +like that. Every word he said was perfectly true, as I could personally +testify if I was called upon the stand, and what I'm goin' to tell you +is likewise solid fact. + +"My father was a cracksman, and a first-rate one, too; he brought me up +to the business, beginning when I was very small. I don't remember +havin' any mother, so I'll leave her out. My old man was very +particular; he liked to see things done right. One day I was with him, +and we saw a tinner nailing a new leader or tin water-spout to the side +of a house. + +"'Look here, young man,' says Dad, 'you're makin' a pretty poor job of +that. You don't put in enough nails, and they ain't half drove in. +Supposin' there was a fire in that house some night, and the family had +to come down by the spout, and your nails would give way, and they'd +break their necks. What would you think then? And I can tell you what it +is, young man, I can appear ag'in you for doing poor work.' + +"The tinner grumbled, but he used more nails and drove 'em tight, Dad +and me standin' by, an' looking at him. One rainy night not long after +this Dad took me out with him and we stopped in front of this house. +'Now, Bobbie,' said he, 'I want you to climb into that open second-story +window, and then slip down stairs and open the front door for me; the +family's at dinner.' + +"'How am I to get up, Dad?' said I. + +"'Oh, you can go up the spout,' says he; 'I'll warrant that it will hold +you. I've seen to it that it was put on good and strong.' + +"I tried it, and as far as I can remember I never went up a safer +spout." + +"And you opened the front door?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"Indeed I did, ma'am," said the burglar, "you wouldn't catch me makin' +no mistakes in that line. + +"After a while I got too heavy to climb spouts, and I took to the +regular business, and did well at it, too." + +"Do you mean to say," asked Aunt Martha, "that you willingly and +premeditatedly became a thief and midnight robber?" + +"That's what I am, ma'am," said he; "I don't make no bones about it. I'm +a number one, double-extra, back-springed, copper-fastened burglar, with +all the attachments and noiseless treadle. That's what I am, and no +mistake. There's all kinds of businesses in this world, and there's got +to be people to work at every one of 'em; and when a fellow takes any +particular line, his business is to do it well; that's my motto. When I +break into a house I make it a point to clean it out first-class, and +not to carry away no trash, nuther. Of course, I've had my ups and my +downs, like other people,--preachers and doctors and storekeepers,--they +all have them, and I guess the downs are more amusin' than the ups, at +least to outsiders. I've just happened to think of one of them, and I'll +let you have it. + +"There was a man I knew named Jerry Hammond, that was a contractor, and +sometimes he had pretty big jobs on hand, buildin' or road-makin' or +somethin' or other. He'd contract to do anything, would Jerry, no matter +whether he'd ever done it before or not. I got to know his times and +seasons for collecting money, and I laid for him." + +"Abominable meanness!" exclaimed my wife. + +"It's all business," said the stout man, quite unabashed. "You don't +catch a doctor refusin' to practise on a friend, or a lawyer, nuther, +and in our line of business it's the same thing. It was about the end of +October, nigh four years ago, that I found out that Jerry had a lot of +money on hand. He'd been collectin' it from different parties, and had +got home too late in the day to put it in the bank, so says I to myself, +this is your time, old fellow, and you'd better make hay while the sun +shines. I was a little afraid to crack Jerry's house by myself, for he's +a strong old fellow, so I got a man named Putty Henderson to go along +with me. Putty was a big fellow and very handy with a jimmy; but he was +awful contrary-minded, and he wouldn't agree to clean out Jerry until I +promised to go halves with him. This wasn't fair, for it wasn't his job, +and a quarter would have been lots for him. + +"But there wasn't no use arguin', and along we went, and about one +o'clock we was standin' alongside Jerry's bed, where he was fast asleep. +He was a bachelor, and lived pretty much by himself. I give him a punch +to waken him up, for we'd made up our minds that that was the way to +work this job. It wouldn't pay us to go around huntin' for Jerry's +money. He was such a sharp old fellow, it was six to four we'd never +find it. He sat up in bed with a jump like a hop-toad, and looked first +at one and then at the other of us. We both had masks on, and it wasn't +puzzlin' to guess what we was there fur. + +"'Jerry Hammond,' says I, speakin' rather rough and husky, 'we knows +that you've got a lot o' money in this house, and we've come fur it. We +mean business, and there's no use foolin'. You can give it to us quiet +and easy, and keep a whole head on your shoulders, or we'll lay you out +ready fur a wake and help ourselves to the funds; and now you pays your +money and you can take your choice how you do it. There's nothin' +shabby about us, but we mean business. Don't we, pard?'--'That's so,' +says Putty. + +"'Look here,' says Jerry, jest as cool as if he had been sittin' outside +on his own curbstone, 'I know you two men and no mistake. You're Tommy +Randall, and you're Putty Henderson, so you might as well take off them +masks.'--'Which I am glad to do,' says I, 'for I hate 'em,' and I put +mine in my pocket, and Putty he took off his." + +"Excuse me," said Aunt Martha, interrupting at this point, "but when Mr. +Hammond mentioned the name of Tommy Randall, to whom did he refer?" + +"I can explain that, madam," said the tall burglar, quickly. "This man +by his criminal course of life has got himself into a good many scrapes, +and is frequently obliged to change his name. Since I accidentally +became acquainted with him he has had several aliases, and I think that +he very often forgets that his real name is James Barlow." + +"That's so," said the stout man, "there never was a more correct person +than this industrious and unfortunate man sittin' by me. I am dreadful +forgetful, and sometimes I disremember what belongs to me and what +don't. Names the same as other things. + +"'Well, now, Jerry,' says I, 'you needn't think you're goin' to make +anythin' by knowin' us. You've got to fork over your cash all the same, +and if you think to make anything by peachin' on us after we've cleared +out and left you peaceful in your bed, you're mistook so far as I'm +concerned; for I've made the track clear to get out of this town before +daybreak, and I don't know when I'll come back. This place is gettin' a +little too hot for me, and you're my concludin' exercise.' Jerry he sat +still for a minute, considerin.' He wasn't no fool, and he knowed that +there wasn't no use gettin' scared, nor cussin', nor hollerin'. What's +more, he knowed that we was there to get his money, and if he didn't +fork it over he'd get himself laid out, and that was worse than losin' +money any day. 'Now, boys, says he, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll +make you an offer; a fair and square offer. What money I've got I'll +divide even with you, each of us takin' a third, and I'll try to make up +what I lose out of my next contract. Now nothin' could be no squarer +than that.'--'How much money have you got, Jerry?' says I, 'that's the +first thing to know.'--'I've got thirty-one hundred dollars even,' says +he, 'and that will be one thousand and thirty-three dollars and +thirty-three cents apiece. I've got bills to pay to-morrow for lumber +and bricks, and my third will pay 'em. If I don't I'll go to pieces. You +don't want to see me break up business, do you?'--'Now, Jerry,' says I, +'that won't do. You haven't got enough to divide into three parts. Putty +and me agree to go halves with what we get out of you, and when I lay +out a piece of business I don't make no changes. Half of that money is +for me, and half is for Putty. So just hand it out, and don't let's have +no more jabberin'.' + +"Jerry he looked at me pretty hard, and then says he: 'You're about the +close-fisted and meanest man I ever met with. Here I offer you a third +part of my money, and all you've got to do is to take it and go away +peaceable. I'd be willin' to bet two to one that it's more than you +expected to get, and yet you are not satisfied; now, I'll be hanged if +I'm going to do business with you.'--'You can be hanged if you like,' +says I, 'but you'll do the business all the same.'--'No, I won't,' says +he, and he turns to Putty Henderson. 'Now, Putty,' says he, 'you've got +a pile more sense that this pal of yourn, and I'm goin' to see if I +can't do business with you. Now, you and me together can lick this Tommy +Randall just as easy as not, and if you'll help me do it I'll not only +divide the money with you, but I'll give you fifty dollars extra, so +that instead of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars--that's all he'd given +you, if he didn't cheat you--you'll have sixteen hundred, and I'll have +fifteen hundred instead of the thousand and thirty-three dollars which I +would have had left if my first offer had been took. So, Putty, what do +you say to that?' Now, Putty, he must have been a little sore with me on +account of the arguments we'd had about dividin', and he was mighty glad +besides to get the chance of makin' fifty dollars extry, and so he said +it was all right, and he'd agree. Then I thought it was about time for +me to take in some of my sail, and says I: 'Jerry, that's a pretty good +joke, and you can take my hat as soon as I get a new one, but of course +I don't mean to be hard on you, and if you really have bills to pay +to-morrow I'll take a third, and Putty'll take another, and we'll go +away peaceful.'--'No, you won't,' sings out Jerry, and with that he +jumps out of bed right at me, and Putty Henderson he comes at me from +the other side, and, between the two, they gave me the worst lickin' I +ever got in my born days, and then they dragged me down stairs and +kicked me out the front door, and I had hardly time to pick myself up +before I saw a policeman about a block off, and if he hadn't been a fat +one he'd had me sure. It wouldn't have been pleasant, for I was a good +deal wanted about that time. + +"So you see, ladies and gents, that it's true what I said,--things don't +always go right in our line of business no more than any other one." + +"I think you were served exactly right," said Aunt Martha; "and I wonder +such an experience did not induce you to reform." + +"It did, ma'am, it did," said the burglar. "I made a vow that night that +if ever again I had to call in any one to help me in business of that +kind I wouldn't go pards with him. I'd pay him so much for the job, and +I'd take the risks, and I've stuck to it. + +"But even that don't always work. Luck sometimes goes ag'in' a man, +even when he's working by himself. I remember a thing of that kind that +was beastly hard on me. A gentleman employed me to steal his daughter." + +"What!" exclaimed my wife and Aunt Martha. "Steal his own daughter! What +do you mean by that?" + +"That's what it was," said the stout burglar; "no more nor less. I was +recommended to the gent as a reliable party for that sort of thing, and +I met him to talk it over, and then he told me just how the case stood. +He and his wife were separated, and the daughter, about eleven years +old, had been given to her by the court, and she put it into a boardin' +school, and the gent he was goin' to Europe, and he wanted to get the +little gal and take her with him. He tried to get her once, but it +slipped up, and so there wasn't no good in his showin' hisself at the +school any more, which was in the country, and he knowed that if he +expected to get the gal he'd have to hire a professional to attend to +it. + +"Now, when I heard what he had to say, I put on the strictly pious, and, +says I, 'that's a pretty bad thing you're askin' me to do, sir, to +carry away a little gal from its lovin' mother, and more 'an that, to +take it from a school where it's gettin' all the benefits of +eddication.'--'Eddication,' says he; 'that's all stuff. What eddication +the gal gets at a school like that isn't worth a row of pins, and when +they go away they don't know nothin' useful, nor even anything tip-top +ornamental. All they've learned is the pianer and higher mathematics. As +for anythin' useful, they're nowhere. There isn't one of them could +bound New Jersey or tell you when Washington crossed the +Delaware.'--'That may be, sir,' says I, 'but them higher branches comes +useful. If Washington really did cross the Delaware, your little gal +could ask somebody when it was, but she couldn't ask 'em how the pianer +was played, nor what the whole multiplication table came to added up. +Them things she'd have to learn how to do for herself. I give you my +word, sir, I couldn't take a little gal from a school, where she was +gettin' a number one eddication, silver forks and towels extry.' The +gent looked pretty glum, for he was to sail the next day, and if I +didn't do the job for him he didn't know who would, and he said that he +was sorry to see that I was goin' back on him after the recommend I'd +had, and I said that I wouldn't go back on him if it wasn't for my +conscience. I was ready to do any common piece of business, but this +stealin' away little gals from lovin' mothers was a leetle too much for +me. 'Well,' says he, 'there ain't no time to be lost, and how much more +will satisfy your conscience?' When I said a hundred dollars, we struck +the bargain. + +"Well, we cut and dried that business pretty straight. I took a cab and +went out to the school, and the gent he got the key of a house that was +to let about three miles from the school, and he was to stay there and +look at that empty house until I brought him the gal, when he was to pay +me and take her away. I'd like to have had more time, so that I could go +out and see how the land laid, but there wasn't no more time, and I had +to do the best I could. The gent told me they all went a walkin' every +afternoon, and that if I laid low that would be the best time to get +her, and I must just fetch her along, no matter who hollered. + +"I didn't know exactly how I was going to manage it, but I took along +with me a big bag that was made for the conveyance of an extinct +millionaire, but which had never been used, owin' to beforehand +arrangements which had been made with the party's family. + +"I left the cab behind a bit of woods, not far from the school, and then +I laid low, and pretty soon I seed 'em all coming out, in a double line, +with the teacher behind 'em, for a walk. I had a description of the +little gal as was wanted, and as they come nearer I made her out easy. +She was the only real light-haired one in the lot. I hid behind some +bushes in the side of the road, and when they come up, and the +light-haired little gal was just opposite to me, I jumped out of the +bushes and made a dash at her. Whoop! what a row there was in one +second! Such a screamin' and screechin' of gals, such a pilin' on top +each other, and the teacher on top the whole of 'em, bangin' with her +umbrella; they pulled at the gal and they pulled at me, an' they yelled +and they howled, and I never was in such a row and hope I never shall be +again, and I grabbed that girl by her frock, and I tumbled some over one +way and some another, and I got the umbrella over my head, but I didn't +mind it, and I clapped that bag over the little gal, and I jerked, up +her feet and let her slip into it, and then I took her up like a bag of +meal, and put across the field, with the whole kit and boodle after me. +But I guess most of 'em must have tumbled down in hysterics, judgin' +from the screechin', and I got up to the cab and away we went. Well, +when we got to the house where I was to meet the gent, he began straight +off to blow at me. 'What do you mean,' he yelled, 'bringin' my daughter +in a bag?'--'It's the only way to do it, sir,' says I; 'they can't +holler and they can't kick, and people passin' by don't know what you've +got,' and so sayin' I untied the strings, put the little gal on her +feet, and pulled off the bag, and then I'd be hanged if I ever saw a man +so ragin' mad as he was. 'What do I want with that gal?' he cried; +'that's not my daughter. That girl's hair is as black as a coal, and +she's a Jew besides.' As soon as I sot my eyes on the little varmint it +come over me that I got the thing crooked, and in the scrimmage I let go +of the right gal and grabbed another. + +"I don't see how a man could help makin' mistakes with that +school-teacher's umbrella whanging away at his knowledge box, but I +wasn't goin' to let on. 'She ain't no Jew, nuther,' says I, 'and she's +your daughter, too; you needn't try to play no tricks on me. Pay me my +money and take her away as quick as you can, that's my advice, or before +you know it you'll be nabbed.'--'Pay ye!' he yelled; 'do you think I'd +pay you anything for that little Jew?'--'She's just as much a Christian +as you are,' says I. 'Ain't you a Christian, little gal? and is'nt this +gentleman your father? and ain't you surprised that he wants to give you +back to be put in the bag?' I said this hopin' she'd have sense enough +to say he was her father so's to get rid of me. + +"The wretched gal had been clean dumbfounded when she was took out of +the bag, and hadn't done nothin' so far but blubber and cry, and try to +get away, which she couldn't, because I held her frock; but now she ups +and screams he wasn't her father, and she'd never seen him before, and +then he storms and swears, and tells me to take her back where I got +her, and I tell him I'll see him hanged first, and what I want is my +money; she screams, and he swears he'll not pay me a cent, and I squares +off and says that I'll thrash him out of his skin, and then he calls in +his coachman, and they both make at me, and I backs out the door to get +my cabby to stand by me, and I found that he'd cut out, havin' most +likely got frightened, afraid of bein' mixed up in trouble. Then I seed +on the high road, some half a mile away, some men comin' gallopin', and +the gent he looked out and seed 'em, too, and then says he to me, +'You'll jist take that little Jew gal back where you got her from; she's +no use to me; I'm goin';' and at that I hollered for my money, and made +a grab at him, but the coachman he tripped me over backward, and before +I could git up again they was both off with the horses on a run. + +"I was so mad I couldn't speak, but there wasn't no time for foolin', +and I hadn't made up my mind which door I should cut out of, when the +fellows on horseback went ridin' past as hard as they could go. They +must have seed the carriage drivin' away, and thought for sure it had +the gal in it, and they was after it, lickety-split. + +"When they was clean gone I looked round for the little gal, but +couldn't see her, but all a-sudden she came out of the fireplace, where +she'd been hidin'. She'd got over her cryin', and over her scare, too, +judgin' from her looks. 'I'm glad he's gone,' says she, 'and I'm mighty +glad, too, that Mr. Haskins and them other men didn't see me.'--'Who's +they?' says I.--'They's neighbors,' says she;' if they knew I was here +they'd took me back.'--'Well, you little minx,' say I, 'isn't that what +you want?'--'No,' says she. 'I didn't want to go with that man, for I +don't know him, and I hate him, but I don't want to go back to that +school. I hate it worse than anything in the whole world. You haven't no +idea what a horrid place it is. They just work you to death, and don't +give you half enough to eat. My constitution won't stand it. I've told +Pop that, and he thinks so too, but Marm, she don't believe in it, and +my stayin' there is all her doin'. I've been wantin' to get away for +ever so long, but I didn't want to be took off in a bag; but now that +I'm out of that horrid hole I don't want to go back, and if you'll take +me home to Pop, I know he won't let me go back, and he'll pay you real +handsome besides.'--'Who's your Pop?' says I.--'He's Mr. Groppeltacker, +of Groppeltacker & Mintz, corset findings, seven hundred and something +or other, I forget the number now, Broadway. Oh, Pop does a lot of +business, I tell you, and he's got lots of money. He sends corset +findings to South America, and Paris, and Chicago, and Madagascar, and +the uttermost parts of the earth. I've heard him say that often, and you +needn't be afraid of his not bein' able to pay you. A lot more than that +man would have paid you for his little gal, if you'd catched the right +one. So if you take me to Pop, and get me there safe and sound, it will +be an awful good speck for you.' + +"Now, I begins to think to myself that perhaps there was somethin' in +what that little Jew gal was sayin', and that I might make something out +of the gal after all. I didn't count on gettin' a big pile out of old +Groppeltacker,--it wasn't likely he was that kind of a man,--but +whatever I did get would be clean profit, and I might as well try it on. +He couldn't make no charge ag'in me fur bringin' him his daughter, if +she asked me to do it; so says I to her, 'Now, if I take you home to +your Pop, will you promise on your word an' honour, that you won't say +nothin' about my carryin' you off in a bag, and say that you seed me +walkin' along the road and liked my looks, and told me you were +sufferin', and asked me to take you home to your kind parents, where you +might be took proper care of; and that I said I wasn't goin' that way, +but I'd do it out of pure Christian charity, and nothin' more nor less, +and here you was? And then, of course, you can tell him he ought to do +the handsome thing by me.'--'I'll do that,' says she, 'and I tell how +you talked to me awful kind for more than an hour, tryin' to keep me to +stay at the school, and it wasn't till I got down on my knees and weeped +that you agreed to take me to my kind father.'--'All right,' says I, 'I +might as well take you along, but we'll have to go back by the railroad +and foot it, at least two miles, to the station, and I don't know about +walkin' across the country with a little girl dressed as fine as you +are. I might get myself suspicioned.'--'That's so,' says she; 'we might +meet somebody that'd know me,' and then she wriggled up her little +forehead and began to think. I never did see such a little gal as sharp +as that one was; needles was nothin' to her. In about a minute she says, +'Where's that bag of yourn?'--'Here it is,' says I; and then she took it +and looked at it up and down, with her head cocked on one side. 'If I'd +somethin' to cut that bag with,' says she, 'I could fix myself up so +that nobody'd know me, don't care who it was.'--'I don't want that bag +cut,' says I; 'it's an extry good bag; it was made for a particular +purpose, and cost money.'--'Pop will pay expenses,' says she; 'how much +did it cost?'--'It was four dollars cash,' said I.--'They cheated you +like everything,' says she; 'you could get a bag like that any day for a +dollar and seventy-five cents. Will you let it go at that?'--'All +right,' says I, for I was tickled to see how sharp that little Jew gal +was, and ten to one I'd throwed away the bag before we got to town; so +she pulled a little book out of her pocket with a pencil stuck in it, +and turnin' over to a blank page she put down, 'Bag, one dollar and +seventy-five;' then she borrows my big knife, and holdin' the top of the +bag up ag'in her belt, she made me stick a pin in it about a +hand's-breadth from the floor; then she took the knife and cut the bag +clean across, me a-holdin' one side of it; then she took the top end of +that bag and slipped it on her, over her head and shoulders, and tied +the drawin' strings in it round her waist, and it hung around her just +like a skirt, nearly touchin' the ground; then she split open the rest +of the bag, and made a kind of shawl out of it, puttin' it into shape +with a lot o' pins, and pinnin' it on herself real clever. She had lots +of pins in her belt, and she told me that she never passed a pin in that +school without pickin' it up, and that she had four hundred and +fifty-nine of them now in her room, which she was mighty sorry to leave +behind, and that these she had now was this day's pickin' up. + +"When she got done workin' at herself you couldn't see not a ribbon nor +a hem of her fine clothes; it was all black skirt and shawl, and she'd +put up her sleeve, so that when her arm stuck out it was bare. Then she +took all the ribbons and flowers off her hat, and crumpled it up, and +when she tied it on what a guy she was. 'Now,' says she, 'I can go +barefoot.'--'Which you won't,' says I, 'for you'll get your feet all +cut, but you can muddy your shoes,' which she did, I pumpin' on 'em, so +that the dust in the back yard would stick. Then we starts off across +the country, and, upon my word, I was pretty nigh ashamed to be seen +walkin' with such a little scarecrow. When I bought the tickets at the +station she asked me how much they was, and put it down in her book. +When we got into the cars the people all looked hard at her, and I +reckon they thought some kind of a home had been burnt down, and this +was one of the orphans that had been saved. But they didn't say nothin', +and she fixed herself as comfortable as you please; and before long a +boy came through the car with fruit in a basket, and then says she to +me, 'I want two apples.' The boy had gone past us, but I got up and +followed him and bought her two apples. 'How much did you give for +them?' says she, when I come back.--'They was two for five cents,' says +I.--'Well,' says she, 'they do stick you dreadful. Two for three cents +is all papa or I pays for apples like them,' and she took out her little +book and put down, 'Apples, three cents.'--'Very well, miss,' says I, +'but if you want any more refreshments you buy 'em yourself.'--'I think +I'd better,' says she, and she went to work eatin' them two apples. She +hadn't more than got through with 'em when the boy came around ag'in. 'I +want a banana,' says she; 'lend me five cents,' which I did, and she put +down, 'Cash, five cents.' Then the boy come up, and says she, 'How much +are your bananas?'--'Five cents,' said he.--'For two?' says she.--'No,' +says he, 'for one.'--'What do you take me for?' says she. 'I've bought +bananas before. I'll give you three cents for that one,' pointin' to the +biggest in the lot.--'I can't do that,' said the boy; 'the price is five +cents.'--'I'd like a banana,' says she, 'but I don't pay more'n three +cents; take it or leave it,' and with that the boy went on. 'Now,' says +I, 'you've gouged yourself out of a banana.'--'Not a bit of it,' says +she; 'he'll be back;' and in two minutes he was back, and said she might +have it for three cents. 'Have you got two coppers?' said she. 'Let me +see 'em.' He said he had, and showed 'em to her, and she took 'em and +the banana, and then give him five cents, and then she didn't give the +change to me, but put it in her pocket. 'Now,' says she, 'if you'd buy +things that way, you'd be rich in time.' + +"When we got to the city we took the elevated and went up town to +Forty-eighth street, and then walked over to her father's house. It was +a big one, on one of the cross streets. When we got there, she told me +to wait a minute, and, lookin' around to see that nobody was comin', she +slipped off the skirt and the cape she had made and rolled 'em up in a +bundle. 'It don't matter about my hat and shoes,' says she, 'but they +wouldn't know me in such duds.' Then, handin' me the bundle, she said, +'For twenty-five cents you can get that bag mended just as good as new, +so you can take it, and it will save us a dollar and a half.'--'No, you +don't,' says I, for I'd had enough of her stinginess. 'I don't touch +that bag ag'in, and I made up my mind that minute to charge the old man +five dollars' worth. When the front door was opened, the servant gal +looked as if she couldn't believe her eyes, but my young woman was as +cool as you please, and she had me showed into a room off the hall, and +then she went up-stairs. + +"I sat a-waitin' a long time, which gave me a good chance to look around +at things. The room was real handsome, and I took a peep at the window +fastenin's and the lay of the doors, thinkin' the knowledge might come +in handy some time. Right in front of me on a table was a little yellow +mouse, and it struck me as I looked at it that that must be gold. I +listened if anybody was comin', and then I picked it up to see if it +really was. I thought I heard the door-bell ring just then, and shut it +up in my hand quick, but nobody went to the door; and then I looked at +the little mouse, and if it wasn't pure gold it was the best imitation +ever I see, so I slipped it quietly in my pocket to look at it ag'in +when I had time. + +"Pretty soon old Groppeltacker come in, shut the door, and sot down. 'So +you brought my daughter back,' says he.--'Yes,' says I.--'And you expect +to be paid for it,' says he.--'Yes,' says I, 'I do.'--'How much do you +ask for your services?' says he. Now, this was a sort of a staggerer, +for I hadn't made up my mind how much I was goin' to ask; but there +wasn't time for no more thinkin' about it, and so says I, plum, 'A +hundred dollars, and there was some expenses besides.'--'Well, well,' +says he, 'that seems like a good deal, just for bringin' a little gal +from school. It couldn't have took you more'n a couple of hours.'--'I +don't charge for time,' says I, 'it's for the risks and the science of +the thing. There's mighty few men in this town could have brought your +daughter home as neat as I did.'--'Well, well,' says he, rubbin' his +hands, 'I expect I'll have to pay for the whole term of the school, +whether she's there or not, and the business will come heavy on me. +Don't you think sixty dollars would pay you?' Now, I know when you deal +with this sort of a man there's always a good deal of difference +splittin'; and so, says I, 'No, it won't. I might take ninety dollars, +but that's the very lowest peg.'--'The very lowest?' says he, gettin' up +and walkin' about a little; and then I thought I heard the door-bell +ring again, and I was dreadful afraid somebody would come and call off +the old man before he finished the bargain. 'Well,' says I, 'we'll call +it eighty-five and expenses, and there I'll stop.' + +"Groppeltacker, now he set down ag'in and looked hard at me. 'I didn't +ask you to bring my daughter back,' says he, speakin' gruff, and very +different from the way he spoke before, 'and what's more, I didn't want +her back, and what's more yet, I'm not goin' to pay you a red +cent.'--'Now, look a-here,' says I, mighty sharp, 'none o' that, old +man; fork over the money or I'll lay you out stiff as a poker, and help +myself. I'm not a fellow to be fooled with, and there's nobody in this +house can stop me.' Old Groppeltacker, he didn't turn a hair, but just +sot there, and says he, 'Before you blow any more, suppose you take my +little gold mouse out of your pocket and hand it to me.' I must say I +was took back at this, but I spoke back, as bold as brass, and said I +never seed his gold mouse. 'O, ho!' says he, 'what you didn't see was +the electric button under the table cover which rung a bell when the +mouse was picked up. That's what I call my mouse-trap.' + +"At this I jist b'iled over. 'Now,' says I, 'just you hand out every +cent you've got, and your watch, too; not another word.' And I jumped up +and clapped my hand on my pistol in my hip-pocket, and just at that +minute there was a click and the nippers were on me, and there was a big +policeman with his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't speak, I was so +b'ilin' and so dumbfounded both at once. Old Groppeltacker he just +leaned back and he laughed. 'You came in,' he said to the cop,'jest the +second I rang, and as soft as a cat, and the first thing that I want +you to do is to take that gold mouse out of his pocket, and I'll be on +hand whenever you let me know I'm wanted.' The cop he took the gold +mouse out of my pocket, and says he, 'I know this fellow, and if I'm not +mistook, they'll be more charges than yourn made ag'in him.' There +wasn't no chance to show fight, so I didn't do it, but I says to old +Groppeltacker, 'There's my expenses, you've got to pay them, +anyway.'--'All right,' says he, 'jist you send in your bill marked +correct, by my daughter, and I'll settle it,' and he laughed again, and +the cop he took me off. Well, ladies and gents, that little piece of +business, together with some other old scores, took me to Sing Sing for +three years, and it tain't six months since I got out, so you can see +for yourselves what hard times a fellow in my line of business sometimes +has." + +"Well," said Aunt Martha, "I don't approve of the Groppeltacker sort of +people, but if there were more of that kind I believe there would be +fewer of your kind. That story shows you in such a bad light that I +believe it's true." + +"Every word of it," said the man. "I wish it wasn't." + +And now I spoke. "Since you claim to be a truth-telling being," I said +to the stout burglar, "suppose you tell me why you never attempted +before to break into my house. Every considerable dwelling in this +neighbourhood has been entered, and I have no doubt you are the men who +committed all the burglaries." + +"No, sir," said he; "not men, I am the man who did 'em all; but these +two friends of mine was never with me before in a bit of business like +this. 'Tain't in their line. I have had pals with me, but they was +professionals. These ain't cracksmen, they don't know nothin' about it; +but this one is handy at tools, and that's the reason I brung him along, +but you see he kicked, and was goin' to give me away, and this young +gentleman"-- + +"Never mind about that young gentleman," I said; "I have a certain +curiosity to know why my house was not entered when the others were." + +"Well," said he, "I don't mind tellin' yer how that was. It was on +account of your baby. We don't like to crack a house where there's a +pretty small baby that's liable to wake up and howl any minute, and +rouse up the rest of the family. There's no workin' in a house with +comfort when there's such a young one about. I'll tell you what it is, +all your burglar-alarms and your dogs ain't worth nuthin' alongside of a +baby for guardin' a house. If a cracksman ain't careful the alarms will +go off, and if he don't know how to manage dogs, the dogs will bark. But +by George, sir, there ain't no providin' ag'in a baby. He'll howl any +time, and nobody can tell when, so I waited till your baby was a little +more settled in its ways and slept soundly, and then we come along, and +here we are." + +This statement very much surprised me, and did not elate me. Without +saying so to any one, I had flattered myself that the burglars had heard +of my precautions, and of my excellent stock of firearms, and perhaps +had got a notion that I would be an intrepid man to deal with, and it +was somewhat humiliating to find that it was our baby the burglars were +afraid of, and not myself. My wife was amazed. + +"Can it be possible," she said, "that these people know so much about +our baby, and that George William has been protecting this house?" + +"It makes my flesh creep," said Aunt Martha. "Do you know everything +about all of us?" + +"Wish I did, ma'am," said the stout burglar; "wish I'd known about that +beastly liquor." + +"Well, we've had enough of this," said I, rising; "and, my dear, you and +Aunt Martha must be ready to go to bed, and David and I will keep guard +over these fellows until morning." + +At this instant the youngest burglar spoke. His face wore a very anxious +expression. + +"May I ask, sir," he said, "what you intend to do with me in the +morning?" + +"I have already said," I answered, "that I shall then hand over all of +you to the officers of justice of this country." + +"But, sir," said the young man, "you will surely except me. I am not at +all concerned in this matter, and it would be of the greatest possible +injury to me to be mixed up in it, or to be mentioned in public reports +as an associate of a criminal. I'm not acquainted with the gentleman at +the other end of the bench, but I have every reason to believe from what +he said to me that he intended to notify you if this James Barlow +proceeded to any open act. For myself, I beg you will allow me to state +who and what I am, and to tell you by what a strange concatenation of +circumstances I happen to find myself in my present position--one which, +I assure you, causes me the greatest embarrassment and anxiety." + +"We've had enough story-telling for one night," said I, "and you had +better reserve your statement for the magistrate." + +Here Aunt Martha put in her voice. + +"That is not fair," she said, "two of them have been allowed to speak, +and this one has just as much right to be heard as the others. What do +you say, Cornelia?" + +I hoped that my wife would put herself on my side, and would say that we +had enough of this sort of thing; but female curiosity is an unknown +quantity, and she unhesitatingly replied that she would like to hear the +young man's story. I sat down in despair. It was useless to endeavour to +withstand this yearning for personal information,--one of the curses, I +may say, of our present civilization. The young man gave no time for +change of opinion, but immediately began. His voice was rich and rather +low, and his manner exceedingly pleasing and gentle. + +"I wish to state in the first place," said he, "that I am a reporter +for the press. In the exercise of my vocation I have frequently found +myself in peculiar and unpleasant positions, but never before have I +been in a situation so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this. In the +course of my studies and experiences I have found that in literature and +journalism, as well as in art, one can make a true picture only of what +one has seen. Imagination is all very well, often grand and beautiful; +but imaginative authors show us their inner selves and not our outer +world; there is to-day a demand for the real, and it is a demand which +will be satisfied with nothing but the truth. I have determined, as far +as in me lies, to endeavour to supply this demand, and I have devoted +myself to the study of Realism. + +"With this end in view, I have made it a rule never to describe anything +I have not personally seen and examined. If we would thoroughly +understand and appreciate our fellow-beings we must know what they do +and how they do it; otherwise we cannot give them credit for their +virtues, or judge them properly for their faults. If I could prevent +crime I would annihilate it, and when it ceased to exist the necessity +for describing it would also cease. But it does exist. It is a powerful +element in the life of the human race. Being known and acknowledged +everywhere, it should be understood; therefore it should be described. +The grand reality of which we are a part can never be truly comprehended +until we comprehend all its parts. But I will not philosophize. I have +devoted myself to Realism, and in order to be a conscientious student I +study it in all its branches. I am frequently called upon to write +accounts of burglars and burglaries, and in order thoroughly to +understand these people and their method of action I determined, as soon +as the opportunity should offer itself, to accompany a burglarious +expedition. My sole object was the acquisition of knowledge of the +subject,--knowledge which to me would be valuable, and, I may say, +essential. I engaged this man, James Barlow, to take me with him the +first time he should have on hand an affair of this kind, and thus it is +that you find me here to-night in this company. As I came here for the +purpose of earnest and thorough investigation, I will frankly admit that +I would not have interfered with his processes, but at the same time I +would have seen that no material injuries should result to any members +of this family." + +"That was very kind of you," I said, at which my wife looked at me +somewhat reproachingly. + +"If he really intended it," she remarked, "and I do not see why that was +not the case, it was kind in him." + +"As for me," said Aunt Martha, very sympathetically, "I think that the +study of Realism may be carried a great deal too far. I do not think +that there is the slightest necessity for people to know anything about +burglars. If people keep talking and reading about diseases they will +get them, and if they keep talking and reading about crimes they will +find that iniquity is catching, the same as some other things. Besides, +this realistic description gets to be very tiresome. If you really want +to be a writer, young man, why don't you try your hand on some original +composition? Then you might write something which would be interesting." + +"Ah, madam," said the young man, casting his eyes on the floor, "it +would be far beyond my power to write anything more wonderful than what +I have known and seen! If I may tell you some of the things which have +happened to me, you will understand why I have become convinced that in +this world of realities imagination must always take a second place." + +"Of course we want to hear your story," said Aunt Martha; "that is what +we are here for." + +"If I was unbound," said the young man, looking at me, "I could speak +more freely." + +"No doubt of it," said I; "but perhaps you might run away before you +finished your story. I wouldn't have that happen for the world." + +"Don't make fun of him," said Aunt Martha. "I was going to ask you to +cut him loose, but after what you say I think it would perhaps be just +as well to keep them all tied until the narratives are completed." + +With a sigh of resignation the young man began his story. + +"I am American born, but my father, who was a civil engineer and of high +rank in his profession, was obliged, when I was quite a small boy, to go +to Austria, where he had made extensive contracts for the building of +railroads. In that country I spent the greater part of my boyhood and +youth. There I was educated in the best schools, my father sparing no +money to have me taught everything that a gentleman should know. My +mother died when I was a mere infant, and as my father's vocation made +it necessary for him to travel a great deal, my life was often a lonely +one. For society I depended entirely upon my fellow-scholars, my tutors, +and masters. It was my father's intention, however, that when I had +finished my studies I should go to one of the great capitals, there to +mix with the world. + +"But when this period arrived I was in no haste to avail myself of the +advantages he offered me. My tastes were studious, my disposition +contemplative, and I was a lover of rural life. + +"My father had leased an old castle in Carinthia, not far from the +mountains, and here he kept his books and charts, and here he came for +recreation and study whenever his arduous duties gave him a little +breathing-spell. For several months I had lived at this castle, happy +when my father was with me and happy when I was alone. I expected soon +to go to Vienna, where my father would introduce me to some of his +influential friends. But day by day I postponed the journey. + +"Walking one morning a few miles from the castle, I saw at the edge of a +piece of woodland a female figure seated beneath a tree. Approaching +nearer, I perceived that she was young, and that she was sketching. I +was surprised, for I knew that in this part of the world young women, at +least those of the upper classes, to which the costume and tastes of +this one showed her to belong, were not allowed to wander about the +country by themselves; but although I stood still and watched the young +lady for some time, no companion appeared upon the scene. + +"The path I had intended to take led past the piece of woodland, and I +saw no reason why I should diverge from my proposed course. I +accordingly proceeded, and when I reached the young lady I bowed and +raised my hat. I think that for some time she had perceived my approach, +and she looked up at me with a face that was half merry, half +inquisitive, and perfectly charming. I cannot describe the effect which +her expression had upon me. I had never seen her before, but her look +was not such a one as she would bestow upon a stranger. I had the most +powerful desire to stop and speak to her, but having no right to do so, +I should have passed on, had she not said to me, in the best of English, +'Good-morning, sir.' Then I stopped, you may be sure. I was so +accustomed to speak to those I meet in either French or German that I +involuntarily said to her,'_Bon jour, Mademoiselle_.'--'You need not +speak French,' she said; 'I am neither English nor American, but I speak +English. Are you the gentleman who lives in Wulrick Castle? If so, we +are neighbours, and I wish you would tell me why you live there all the +time alone.' + +"At this I sat down by her. 'I am that person,' I said, and handed her +my card. 'But before I say any more, please tell me who you are.'--'I am +Marie Dorfler. My father's house is on the other side of this piece of +woodland; you cannot see it from here; this is part of his estate. And +now tell me why you live all by yourself in that old ruin.'--'It is not +altogether a ruin,' I answered; 'part of it is in very good condition.' +And then I proceeded to give her an account of my method of life and my +reasons for it. 'It is interesting,' she said, 'but it is very odd.'--'I +do not think it half so odd,' I answered, 'as that you should be here by +yourself.'--'That is truly an out-of-the-way sort of thing,' she said; +'but just now I am doing out-of-the-way things. If I do not do them now, +I shall never have the opportunity again. In two weeks I shall be +married, and then I shall go to Prague, and everything will be by line +and rule. No more delightful rambles by myself. No more sitting quietly +in the woods watching the little birds and hares. No more making a +sketch just where I please, no matter whether the ground be damp or +not.'--'I wonder that you are allowed to do these things now,' I +said.--'I am not allowed,' she answered. 'I do them in hours when I am +supposed to be painting flower pieces in an upper room.'--'But when +you're married,' I said, 'your husband will be your companion in such +rambles.'--'Hardly,' she said, shrugging her shoulders; 'he will be +forty-seven on the thirteenth of next month, which I believe is July, +and he is a great deal more grizzled than my father, who is past fifty. +He is very particular about all sorts of things, as I suppose he has to +be, as he is a Colonel of infantry. Nobody could possibly disapprove of +my present performances more than he would.' I could not help +ejaculating, 'Why, then, do you marry him?' She smiled at my +earnestness. 'Oh, that is all arranged,' she said, 'and I have nothing +to do with it. I have known for more than a year that I'm to marry +Colonel Kaldhein, but I cannot say that I have given myself much concern +about it until recently. It now occurs to me that if I expect to amuse +myself in the way I best like I must lose no time doing so.' I looked at +the girl with earnest interest. 'It appears to me,' said I, 'that your +ways of amusing yourself are very much like mine.'--'That is true,' she +said, looking up with animation, 'they are. Is it not delightful to be +free, to go where you like, and do what you please, without any one to +advise or interfere with you?'--'It is delightful,' said I; and for half +an hour we sat and talked about these delights and kindred subjects. She +was much interested in our castle, and urged me to make a sketch of it, +so that she may know what it now looked like. She had seen it when a +little girl, but never since, and had been afraid to wander very far in +this direction by herself. I told her that it would be far better for +her to see the castle with her own eyes, and that I could conduct her to +an eminence, not half a mile away, where she could have an excellent +view of it. This plan greatly pleased her; but looking at her watch she +said that it would be too late for her to go that morning, but if I +happened to come that way the next day, and she should be there to +finish her sketch, she would be delighted to have me show her the +eminence." + +"I think," interrupted Aunt Martha, "that she was a very imprudent young +woman." + +"That may be," he replied, "but you must remember, madam, that up to +this time the young lady had been subjected to the most conventional +trammels, and that her young nature had just burst out into temporary +freedom and true life. It was the caged bird's flight into the bright +summer air." + +"Just the kind of birds," said Aunt Martha, "that shouldn't be allowed +to fly, at least until they are used to it. But you can go on with your +story." + +"Well," said the young man, "the next day we met I took her to the +piece of high ground I had mentioned, and she sketched the castle. After +that we met again and again, nearly every day. This sort of story tells +itself. I became madly in love with her, and I am sure she liked me very +well; at all events I was a companion of her own age and tastes, and +such a one, she assured me, she had never known before, and probably +would never know again." + +"There was some excuse for her," said Aunt Martha; "but still she had no +right to act in that way, especially as she was so soon to be married." + +"I do not think that she reasoned much upon the subject," said the young +man, "and I am sure I did not. We made no plans. Every day we thought +only of what we were doing or saying, and not at all what we had done or +would do. We were very happy. + +"One morning I was sitting by Marie in the very place where I had first +met her, when we heard some one rapidly approaching. Looking up I saw a +tall man in military uniform. 'Heavens!' cried Marie, 'it is Colonel +Kaldhein.' + +"The situation was one of which an expectant bridegroom would not be +likely to ask many questions. Marie was seated on a low stone with her +drawing-block in her lap. She was finishing the sketch on which she was +engaged when I first saw her, and I was kneeling close to her, looking +over her work and making various suggestions, and I think my countenance +must have indicated that I found it very pleasant to make suggestions in +that way to such a pretty girl. Our heads were very close together. +Sometimes we looked at the paper, sometimes we looked at each other. But +in the instant I caught sight of the Colonel the situation had changed. +I rose to my feet, and Marie began to pick up the drawing materials, +which were lying about her. + +"Colonel Kaldhein came forward almost at a run. His eyes blazed through +his gold spectacles, and his close-cut reddish beard seemed to be +singeing with the fires of rage. I had but an instant for observation, +for he came directly up to me, and with a tremendous objurgation he +struck me full in the face with such force that the blow stretched me +upon the ground. + +"I was almost stunned; but I heard a scream from Marie, a storm of +angry words from Kaldhein, and I felt sure he was about to inflict +further injury. He was a much stronger man than I was, and probably was +armed. With a sudden instinct of self-preservation I rolled down a +little declivity on the edge of which I had fallen, and staggering to my +feet, plunged into a thicket and fled. Even had I been in the full +possession of my senses, I knew that under the circumstances I would +have been of no benefit to Marie had I remained upon the scene. The last +thing I heard was a shout from Kaldhein, in which he declared that he +would kill me yet. For some days I did not go out of my castle. My face +was bruised, my soul was dejected. I knew there was no possible chance +that I should meet Marie, and that there was a chance that I might meet +the angry Colonel. An altercation at this time would be very annoying +and painful to the lady, no matter what the result, and I considered it +my duty to do everything that was possible to avoid a meeting with +Kaldhein. Therefore, as I have said, I shut myself up within the walls +of old Wulrick, and gave strict orders to my servants to admit no one. + +"It was at this time that the strangest events of my life occurred. +Sitting in an upper room, gazing out of the window, over the fields, +through which I had walked so happily but two days before to meet the +lady whom I had begun to think of as my Marie, I felt the head of a dog +laid gently in my lap. Without turning my head I caressed the animal, +and stroked the long hair on his neck. + +"My hound Ajax was a dear companion to me in this old castle, although I +never took him in my walks, as he was apt to get into mischief, and when +I turned my head to look at him he was gone; but strange to say, the +hand which had been stroking the dog felt as if it were still resting on +his neck. + +"Quickly drawing my hand toward me it struck the head of the dog, and, +moving it backward and forward, I felt the ears and nose of the animal, +and then became conscious that its head was still resting upon my knee. + +"I started back. Had I been stricken with blindness? But no; turning my +head, I could plainly see everything in the room. The scene from the +window was as distinct as it ever had been. I sprang to my feet, and, +as I stood wondering what this strange thing could mean, the dog brushed +up against me and licked my hand. Then the idea suddenly flashed into my +mind that by some occult influence Ajax had been rendered invisible. + +"I dashed down-stairs, and although I could neither see nor hear it, I +felt that the dog was following me. Rushing into the open air, I saw one +of my men. 'Where is Ajax?' I cried. 'A very strange thing has happened, +sir,' he said, 'and I should have come to tell you of it, had I not been +unwilling to disturb your studies. About two hours ago Ajax was lying +here in the courtyard; suddenly he sprang to his feet with a savage +growl. His hair stood straight upon his back, his tail was stiff, and +his lips were drawn back, showing his great teeth. I turned to see what +had enraged him, but there was absolutely nothing, sir,--nothing in the +world. And never did I see Ajax so angry. But this lasted only for an +instant. Ajax suddenly backed, his tail dropped between his legs, his +head hung down, and with a dreadful howl he turned, and, leaping the +wall of the courtyard, he disappeared. I have since been watching for +his return. The gate is open, and as soon as he enters I shall chain +him, for I fear the dog is mad.' + +"I did not dare to utter the thoughts that were in my mind, but, bidding +the man inform me the moment Ajax returned, I reëntered the castle and +sat down in the great hall. + +"The dog was beside me; his head again lay upon my knees. With a feeling +of awe, yet strangely enough without fear, I carefully passed my hand +over the animal's head. I felt his ears, his nose, his jaws, and his +neck. They were not the head, the ears, the nose, the jaws, or the neck +of Ajax! + +"I had heard of animals, and even human beings, who were totally +invisible, but who still retained their form, their palpability, and all +the powers and functions of life. I had heard of houses haunted by +invisible animals; I had read De Kay's story of the maiden Manmat'ha, +whose coming her lover perceived by the parting of the tall grain in the +field of ripe wheat through which she passed, but whose form, although +it might be folded in his arms, was yet as invisible to his sight as the +summer air. I did not doubt for a moment that the animal that had come +to me was one of those strange beings. I lifted his head; it was heavy. +I took hold of a paw which he readily gave me; he had every attribute of +a real dog, except that he could not be seen." + +"I call that perfectly horrible," said Aunt Martha with a sort of a +gasp. + +"Perhaps," said the young man, "you would prefer that I should not +continue." + +At this both my wife and Aunt Martha declared that he must go on, and +even I did not object to hearing the rest of the story. + +"Well," said the young man, "Ajax never came back. It is generally +believed that dogs can see things which are invisible to us, and I am +afraid that my faithful hound was frightened, perhaps to death, when he +found that the animal whose entrance into the courtyard he had perceived +was a supernatural thing. + +"But if I needed a canine companion I had one, for by day or night this +invisible dog never left me. When I slept he lay on the floor by the +side of my bed; if I put down my hand I could always feel his head, and +often he would stand up and press his nose against me, as if to assure +me that he was there. This strange companionship continued for several +days, and I became really attached to the invisible animal. His constant +companionship seemed to indicate that he had come to guard me, and that +he was determined to do it thoroughly. I felt so much confidence in his +protection, although I knew not how it could be exerted, that one +morning I decided to take a walk, and with my hand on the head of the +dog, to make sure that he was with me, I strolled into the open country. + +"I had walked about a mile, and was approaching a group of large trees, +when suddenly from behind one of them the tall figure of a man appeared. +In an instant I knew it to be Colonel Kaldhein; his was a face which +could not easily be forgotten. Without a word he raised a pistol which +he held in his hand and fired at me. The ball whistled over my head. + +"I stopped short, startled, and frightened almost out of my senses. I +was unarmed, and had no place of refuge. It was plain that the man was +determined to kill me. + +"Quickly recocking his pistol, Kaldhein raised it again. I involuntarily +shrank back, expecting death; but before he could fire his arm suddenly +dropped, and the pistol was discharged into the ground. Then began a +strange scene. The man shouted, kicked, and beat up and down with his +arms; his pistol fell from his hand, he sprang from side to side, he +turned around, he struggled and yelled. + +"I stood astounded. For an instant I supposed the man had been overtaken +by some sort of fit; but in a flash the truth came to me,--Kaldhein was +being attacked by my protector, the invisible dog. + +"Horrified by this conviction, my first impulse was to save the man; +and, without knowing what I was going to do, I stepped quickly toward +him, but stumbling over something I did not see I fell sprawling. Before +I could regain my feet I saw Kaldhein fall backward to the ground, where +a scene took place, so terrible that I shall not attempt to describe it. +When, with trembling steps, I approached, the man was dead. The +invisible dog had almost torn him to pieces. + +"I could do nothing. I did not remain upon the spot another minute, but +hurried home to the castle. As I rapidly walked on I felt the dog beside +me, and, putting my hand upon him, I felt that he was panting terribly. +For three days I did not leave the house. + +"About the end of this time I was sitting in an upper room of the +castle, reflecting upon the recent dreadful event, when the thought +struck me that the invisible dog, who was by my side, apparently asleep, +must be of an unusually powerful build to overcome so easily such a +strong man as Kaldhein. I felt a desire to know how large the creature +really was, and, as I had never touched any portion of his body back of +his shoulders, I now passed my hand along his back. I was amazed at his +length, and when I had moved my hand at least seven feet from his head +it still rested upon his body. And then the form of that body began to +change in a manner which terrified me; but impelled by a horrible but +irresistible curiosity, my hand moved on. + +"But I no longer touched the body of a dog; the form beneath my hand was +cylindrical, apparently about a foot in diameter. As my hand moved on +the diameter diminished, and the skin of the creature became cold and +clammy. I was feeling the body of a snake! + +"I now had reached the open door of the room. The body of the snake +extended through it. It went on to the top of the stairs; these I began +to descend, my heart beating fast with terror, my face blanched, I am +sure, but my hand still moving along the body of the awful creature. I +had studied zoology, giving a good deal of attention to reptiles, and I +knew that, judged by the ordinary ratio of diminution of the bodies of +serpents, this one must extend a long distance down the stairs. + +"But I had not descended more than a dozen steps before I felt a shiver +beneath my hand, and then a jerk, and the next moment the snake's body +was violently drawn upward. I withdrew my hand and started to one side, +and then, how, I know not, I became aware that the dog part of the +creature was coming downstairs. + +"I now became possessed by a wild terror. The creature must be furious +that I had discovered his real form. He had always been careful to keep +his head toward me. I should be torn to pieces as Kaldhein had been! +Down the stairs I dashed, across the courtyard, and toward a lofty old +tower, which stood in one corner of the castle. I ran up the winding +stairs of this with a speed which belongs only to a frantically +terrified creature, until I reached the fourth story, where I dashed +through an open doorway, slammed behind me an iron door, which shut with +a spring, and fell gasping upon the floor. + +"In less than a minute I was aware, by a slight rattling of the +grate-hinges, that something was pushing against the door; but I did not +move. I knew that I was safe. The room in which I lay was a prison +dungeon, and in it, in the olden times, it is said, men had been left to +perish. Escape or communication with the outer world was impossible. A +little light and air came through a narrow slit in the wall, and the +door could not be forced. + +"I knew that the invisible dog, or whatever it was, could not get in +unless the door was open. I had frequently noticed that when he entered +a room it was through an open door, and I sometimes knew of his approach +by seeing an unlatched door open without visible cause; so, feeling +secure for the present, I lay and gasped and panted. + +"After the lapse of a few hours, however, I was seized by a new terror. +How was I ever to get out of this horrible dungeon? Even if I made up my +mind to face the dog, trusting that he had recovered from his momentary +anger, I had no means of opening the door, and as to making any one hear +me I knew that was impossible. + +"I had no hope that my servants would seek me here. I had not seen any +one when I ran into the tower, and if they should discover that I was in +this dungeon, how could they open the door? The key was in my father's +possession. He had taken it to Vienna to exhibit it as a curiosity to +some of his mechanical friends. He believed that there was not such +another key in the world. I was in the habit of making long absences +from the castle, and if I should be looked for I believed that the tower +would be the last place visited. + +"Night came on; the little light in the room vanished, and, hungry, +thirsty, and almost hopeless, I fell asleep. + +"During the night there was a most dreadful storm. The thunder roared, +the lightning flashed through the slit in the wall, and the wind blew +with such terrific violence that the tower shook and trembled. After a +time I heard a tremendous crash as of falling walls, and then another, +and now I felt the wind blowing into my prison. + +"There was no further sleep for me. Trembling with a fearful +apprehension of what might happen next, I cowered against the wall until +the day broke, and then I perceived that in front of me was a great hole +in the wall of the dungeon, which extended for more than a yard above +the floor. I sat and gazed at this until the light became stronger, and +then I cautiously approached the aperture and looked out. Nearly the +whole of the castle lay in ruins before me! + +"It was easy to see what had happened. The storm had demolished the +crumbling walls of the old building, and the tower, itself frail and +tottering, stood alone, high above the prostrate ruins. If the winds +should again arise it must fall, and at any moment its shaken +foundations might give way beneath it. + +"Through the hole in the wall, which had been caused by the tearing away +of some of the connection between the tower and main building, I could +look down on the ground below, covered with masses of jagged stone; but +there was no way in which I could get down. I could not descend that +perpendicular wall. If I leaped out, death would be certain. + +"As I crouched at the opening I felt the head of a dog pushed against +me. A spasm of terror ran through me, but the moment the creature began +to lick my hands I knew that I had nothing to fear from him. Instantly +my courage returned. I felt that he was my protector. I patted his head +and he renewed his caresses. + +"Passing my hand over him, I found he was holding himself in his present +position by means of his forelegs, which were stretched out upon the +floor. What a dog this must be, who could climb a wall! But I gave no +time to conjectures of this sort. How could I avail myself of his +assistance? In what manner could he enable me to escape from that +dangerous tower? + +"Suddenly a thought came to me. I remembered the snake part of him. +Judging from the ratio of diminution, which I have mentioned before, +that part, if hanging down, must reach nearly, if not quite, to the +ground. By taking advantage of this means of descent I might be saved, +but the feat would require dexterity and an immense amount of faith. +This serpent-like portion of the animal was invisible. How could I know +how long it was! + +"But there was no time for consideration; the wind had again arisen, and +was blowing with fury. The tower shook beneath me; at any moment it +might fall. If I should again escape from death, through the assistance +of my invisible friend, I must avail myself of that assistance +instantly. + +"I stopped and felt the animal. He still hung by part of his body and by +his forelegs to the floor of the dungeon, and by reaching out I could +feel that the rest of him extended downward. I therefore seized his body +in my arms, threw myself out of the aperture, and began to slide down. + +"In a very short time I found that I had reached the snake portion of +the creature, and, throwing my arms and legs around it, I endeavoured +with all my strength to prevent a too rapid descent; but in spite of all +my efforts, my downward progress was faster than I would have wished it +to be. But there was no stopping; I must slip down. + +"In these moments of rapid descent my mind was filled with wild anxiety +concerning the serpent-like form to which I was clinging. I remembered +in a flash that there were snakes whose caudal extremity dwindled away +suddenly into a point. This one might do so, and at any instant I might +come to the end of the tail and drop upon the jagged stones below. + +"Calculation after calculation of the ratio of diminution flashed +through my mind during that awful descent. My whole soul was centred +upon one point. When would this support end? When would I drop? + +"Fortunately I was on the leeward side of the tower, and I was not swung +about by the wind. Steadily I descended, and steadily the diameter of +the form I grasped diminished; soon I could grasp it in my hand; then +with a terrified glance I looked below. I was still at a sickening +distance from the ground. I shut my eyes. I slipped down, down, down. +The tail became like a thick rope which I encircled with each hand. It +became thinner and thinner. It grew so small that I could not hold it; +but as I felt it slip from my fingers my feet rested on a pile of +stones. + +"Bewildered and almost exhausted, I stumbled over the ruins, gained the +unencumbered ground, and ran as far from the tower as I could, sinking +down at last against the trunk of a tree in a neighbouring field. +Scarcely had I reached this spot when the fury of the wind-storm +appeared to redouble, and before the wild and shrieking blast the tower +bent and then fell with a crash upon the other ruins. + +"The first thought that came into my mind when I beheld the dreadful +spectacle concerned the creature who had twice saved my life. Had he +escaped, or was he crushed beneath that mass of stone? I felt on either +side to discover if he were near me, but he was not. Had he given his +life for mine? + +"Had I been stronger I would have searched for him; I would have +clambered among the ruins to see if I could discover his mangled form. +If I could but reach his faithful head I would stroke and caress it, +living or dead. But excitement, fatigue, and want of food had made me so +weak that I could do nothing but sit upon the ground with my back +against the tree. + +"While thus resting I perceived that the whole of the tower had not +been demolished by the storm. Some of the rooms in which we had lived, +having been built at a later date than the rest of the great edifice, +had resisted the power of the wind and were still standing. + +"From the direction of the uninjured portion of the castle I now saw +approaching a light-coloured object, which seemed to be floating in the +air about a foot from the ground. As it came nearer I saw that it was a +basket, and I immediately understood the situation. My faithful friend +was alive, and was bringing me some refreshments. + +"On came the basket, rising and falling with the bounds of the dog. It +was truly an odd spectacle, but a very welcome one. In a few moments the +basket was deposited at my side, and I was caressing the head of the +faithful dog. In the basket I found a bottle of wine and some bread and +meat, which the good creature had doubtless discovered in the kitchen of +the castle, and it was not long before I was myself again. The storm had +now almost passed away, and I arose and went to my own rooms, my friend +and protector still keeping close to my side. + +"On the morning of the next day, as I sat wondering what had happened +to my servants, and whether my father had been apprised of the disaster +to the castle, I felt something pulling at the skirt of my coat. I put +out my hand and found that it was the invisible dog. Imagining that he +wished me to follow him, I arose, and, obeying the impulse given me by +his gentle strain upon my coat, I followed him out of the door, across +the courtyard, and into the open country. We went on for a considerable +distance. A gentle touch of my coat admonished me when I turned from the +direction in which it was desired that I should go. + +"After a walk of about half an hour I approached a great oak-tree, with +low, wide-spreading branches. Some one was sitting beneath it. Imagining +the truth, I rushed forward. It was Marie! + +"It was needless for us to say anything, to explain the state of our +feelings toward each other. That tale was told by the delight with which +we met. When I asked her how she came to be there, she told me that +about an hour before, while sitting in front of her father's mansion, +she had felt something gently pulling at her skirts; and, although at +first frightened, she was at length impelled to obey the impulse, and, +without knowing whether it was the wind or some supernatural force which +had led her here, she had come. + +"We had a great deal to say to each other. She told me that she had been +longing to send me a message to warn me that Colonel Kaldhein would +certainly kill me the next time he saw me; but she had no means of +sending me such a message, for the Colonel had had her actions closely +watched. + +"When the news came of Kaldhein's death she at first feared that I had +killed him, and would therefore be obliged to fly the country; but when +it was known that he had been almost torn to pieces by wild beasts, she, +like every one else, was utterly amazed, and could not understand the +matter at all. None but the most ferocious creatures could have +inflicted the injuries of which the man had died, and where those +creatures came from no one knew. Some people thought that a pack of +blood-hounds might have broken loose from some of the estates of the +surrounding country, and, in the course of their wild journeyings, might +have met with the Colonel, and fallen upon him. Others surmised that a +bear had come down from the mountains; but the fact was that nobody knew +anything about it. + +"I did not attempt to acquaint Marie with the truth. At that moment the +invisible dog was lying at my side, and I feared if I mentioned his +existence to Marie she might fly in terror. To me there was only one +important phase of the affair, and that was that Marie was now free, +that she might be mine. + +"Before we parted we were affianced lovers, pledged to marry as soon as +possible. I wrote to my father, asking for his permission to wed the +lady. But in his reply he utterly forbade any such marriage. Marie also +discovered that her parents would not permit a union with a foreigner, +and would indeed oppose her marriage with any one at this time. + +"However, as usual, love triumphed, and after surmounting many +difficulties we were married and fled to America. Since that time I have +been obliged to support myself and my wife, for my father will give me +no assistance. He had proposed a very different career for me, and was +extremely angry when he found his plans had been completely destroyed. +But we are hopeful, we work hard, and hope that we may yet be able to +support ourselves comfortably without aid from any one. We are young, we +are strong, we trust each other, and have a firm faith in our success. + +"I had only one regret in leaving Europe, and that was that my faithful +friend, the noble and devoted invisible dog, was obliged to remain on +the other side of the Atlantic. Why this was so I do not know, but +perhaps it was for the best. I never told my wife of his existence, and +if she had accidentally discovered it, I know not what might have been +the effects upon her nervous system. + +"The dog accompanied me through Austria, Switzerland, and France to +Havre, from which port we sailed. I took leave of him on the gang-plank. +He licked my hands, and I caressed and stroked him. People might have +thought that my actions denoted insanity, but every one was so greatly +occupied in these last moments before departure, that perhaps I was not +noticed. Just as I left him and hastened on board, a sailor fell +overboard from the gang-plank. He was quickly rescued, but could not +imagine why he had fallen. I believe, however, that he was tripped up by +the snake part of my friend as he convulsively rushed away." + +The young man ceased, and gazed pensively upon the floor. + +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Martha, "if those are the sort of +experiences you had, I don't wonder that Realism was wonderful enough +for you. The invisible creature was very good to you, I am sure, but I +am glad it did not come with you to America." + +David, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, now interrupted +further comments by stating that it was daylight, and if I thought well +of it, he would open the window-shutters, so that we might see any one +going toward the town. A milkman, he said, passed the house very early +every morning. When the shutters were opened we were all amazed that the +night should have passed so quickly. + +The tall burglar and the young man now began to exhibit a good deal of +anxiety. + +"I should like very much to know," said the former, "what you intend to +do in regard to us. It cannot be that you think of placing that young +gentleman and myself in the hands of the law. Of course, this man," +pointing to the stout burglar, "cannot expect anything but a just +punishment of his crimes; but after what we have told you, you must +certainly be convinced that our connection with the affair is entirely +blameless, and should be considered as a piece of very bad luck." + +"That," said I, "is a matter which will receive all the consideration it +needs." + +At this moment David announced the milkman. Counselling my man to keep +strict guard over the prisoners, I went out to the road, stopped the +milkman, and gave him a message which I was certain would insure the +prompt arrival at my house of sufficient force to take safe charge of +the burglars. Excited with the importance of the commission, he whipped +up his horse and dashed away. + +When I returned to the house I besought my wife and Aunt Martha to go to +bed, that they might yet get some hours of sleep; but both refused. They +did not feel in the least like sleep, and there was a subject on which +they wished to consult with me in the dining-room. + +"Now," said Aunt Martha, when the door had been closed, "these men have +freely told us their stories; whether they are entirely true or not, +must, of course, be a matter of opinion; but they have laid their cases +before us, and we should not place them all in the hands of the officers +of the law without giving them due consideration, and arriving at a +decision which shall be satisfactory to ourselves." + +"Let us take them in order," said I. "What do you think of the tall +man's case?" + +"I think he is a thief and manufacturer of falsehoods," said my wife +promptly. + +"I am afraid," said Aunt Martha, "that he is not altogether innocent; +but there is one thing greatly in his favour,--when he told of the +feelings which overcame him when he saw that little child sleeping +peacefully in its bed in the house which he had unintentionally robbed, +I felt there must be good points in that man's nature. What do you think +of him?" + +"I think he is worst of the lot," I answered, "and as there are now two +votes against him, he must go to the lock-up. And now what of the stout +fellow?" I asked. + +"Oh, he is a burglar by his own confession," said my wife; "there can be +no doubt of that." + +"I am afraid you are right," said Aunt Martha. + +"I know she is," said I, "and James Barlow, or whatever his name may be, +shall be delivered to the constable." + +"Of course, there can be no difference of opinion in regard to the young +man," said Aunt Martha quickly. "Both the others admitted that he had +nothing to do with this affair except as a journalist, and although I do +not think he ought to get his realistic ideas in that way, I would +consider it positively wicked to send him into court in company with +those other men. Consider the position in which he would be placed +before the world. Consider his young wife." + +"I cannot say," said my wife, "that I am inclined to believe all parts +of his story." + +"I suppose," said I, laughing, "that you particularly refer to the +invisible dog-snake." + +"I'm not so sure about all that," she answered. "Since the labours of +the psychic researchers began, we have heard of a great many strange +things; but it is evident that he is a young man of education and +culture, and in all probability a journalist or literary man. I do not +think he should be sent to the lock-up with common criminals." + +"There!" cried Aunt Martha, "two in his favour. He must be released. +It's a poor rule that does not work both ways." + +I stood for a few moments undecided. If left to myself, I would have +sent the trio to the county town, where, if any one of them could prove +his innocence, he could do so before the constitutional authorities; but +having submitted the matter to my wife and aunt, I could not well +override their decision. As for what the young man said, I gave it no +weight whatever, for of course he would say the best he could for +himself. But the testimony of the others had weight. When they both +declared that he was not a burglar, but merely a journalist, engaged in +what he supposed to be his duty, it would seem to be a cruel thing to +stamp him as a criminal by putting him in charge of the constables. + +But my indecision soon came to an end, for Aunt Martha declared that no +time should be lost in setting the young man free, for should the +people in town arrive and see him sitting bound with the others it would +ruin his character forever. My wife agreed. + +"Whatever there may be of truth in his story," she said, "one of two +things is certain,--either he has had most wonderful experiences out of +which he may construct realistic novels which will give him fortune and +reputation, or he has a startling imagination, which, if used in the +production of works in the romantic school, will be of the same +advantage to his future. Looking upon it, even in this light and without +any reference to his family and the possible effects on his own moral +nature, we shall assume a great responsibility in deliberately +subjecting such a person to criminal prosecution and perhaps +conviction." + +This was enough. "Well," said I, "we will release the young fellow and +send the two other rascals to jail." + +"That was not well expressed," said my wife, "but we will not criticise +words at present." + +We returned to the library and I announced my decision. When he heard it +the stout burglar exhibited no emotion. His expression indicated that, +having been caught, he expected to be sent to jail, and that was the end +of it. Perhaps he had been through this experience so often that he had +become used to it. The tall man, however, took the announcement in a +very different way. His face grew dark and his eyes glittered. "You are +making a great mistake," he said to me, "a very great mistake, and you +will have to bear the consequences." + +"Very good," said I, "I will remember that remark when your trial comes +on." + +The behaviour of the young man was unexceptional. He looked upon us with +a face full of happy gratitude, and, as he thanked us for the kind +favour and the justice which we had shown him, his eyes seemed dim with +tears. Aunt Martha was much affected. + +"I wonder if his mother is living," she whispered to me. "A wife is a +great deal, but a mother is more. If I had thought of her sooner I would +have spoken more strongly in his favour. And now you should untie him at +once and let him go home. His wife must be getting terribly anxious." + +The young man overheard this last remark. + +"You will confer a great favour on me, sir," he said, "if you will let +me depart as soon as possible. I feel a great repugnance to be seen in +company with these men, as you may imagine, from wearing a mask on +coming here. If I leave immediately I think I can catch the first train +from your station." + +I considered the situation. If I did what I was asked, there would be +two bound burglars to guard, three women and a child to protect, an +uncertain stranger at liberty, and only David and myself to attend to +the whole business. "No, sir," said I, "I shall not untie you until the +officers I sent for are near at hand; then I will release you, and you +can leave the house by the back way without being seen by them. There +are other morning trains which will take you into the city early +enough." + +"I think you are a little hard on him," remarked Aunt Martha, but the +young man made no complaint. + +"I will trust myself to you, sir," he said. + +The officers arrived much sooner than I expected. There were five of +them, including the Chief of Police, and they were accompanied by +several volunteer assistants, among whom was the milkman who had been +my messenger. This morning his customers might wait for their milk, for +all business must give way before such an important piece of sightseeing +as this. + +I had barely time to untie the young man and take him to the back of the +house before the officers and their followers had entered the front +door. There was now a great deal of questioning, a great deal of +explanation, a great deal of discussion as to whether my way of catching +burglars was advisable or not, and a good deal of talk about the best +method of taking the men to town. Some of the officers were in favour of +releasing the two men, and then deciding in what manner they should be +taken to town; and if this plan had been adopted, I believe that these +two alert and practical rascals would have taken themselves out of my +house without the assistance of the officers, or at least would have +caused a great deal of trouble and perhaps injury in endeavouring to do +so. + +But the Chief of Police was of my mind, and before the men were entirely +released from the ropes by which I had tied them, they were securely +manacled. + +A requisition made on David and myself to appear as witnesses, the two +men were taken from the house to the wagons in which the officers and +their followers had come. My wife and Aunt Martha had gone upstairs +before the arrival of the police, and were watching the outside +proceeding from a window. + +Standing in the hallway, I glanced into the dining-room, and was +surprised to see the young man still standing by a side door. I had +thought him gone, but perhaps it was wise in him to remain, and not show +himself upon the road until the coast was entirely clear. He did not see +me, and was looking backward into the kitchen, a cheerful and animated +expression upon his face. This expression did not strike me pleasantly. +He had escaped a great danger, it was true, but it was no reason for +this rather obtrusive air of exultation. Just then Alice came into the +dining-room from the kitchen, and the young man stepped back, so that +she did not notice him. As she passed he gently threw his arm quietly +around her neck and kissed her. + +At that very instant, even before the girl had time to exclaim, in +rushed David from the outer side door. + +"I've been watching you, you rascal," he shouted; "you're done for +now!" and he threw his strong arms around the man, pinioning his arms to +his side. + +The young fellow gave a great jerk, and began to struggle powerfully. +His face turned black with rage; he swore, he kicked. He made the most +frenzied efforts to free himself, but David's arms were strong, his soul +was full of jealous fury, and in a moment I had come to his assistance. +Each of us taking the young fellow by an arm, we ran him into the +hallway and out of the front door, Alice aiding us greatly by putting +her hands against the man's back and pushing most forcibly. + +"Here's another one," cried David. "I'll appear against him. He's the +worst of the lot." + +Without knowing what it all meant, the Chief clapped the nippers on our +prisoner, justly believing that if burglars were about to show +themselves so unexpectedly, the best thing to do was to handcuff them as +fast as they appeared, and then to ask questions. The reasons for not +having produced this man before, and for producing him now, were not +very satisfactory to the officer. + +"Have you any more in the cellar?" he asked. "If so, I should like to +take a look at them before I start away." + +At this moment Aunt Martha made her appearance at the front door. + +"What are you going to do with that young man?" she asked sharply. "What +right have you to put irons upon him?" + +"Aunt Martha," said I, stepping back to her, "what do you think he has +done?" + +"I don't know," said she; "how should I know? All I know is that we +agreed to set him free." + +I addressed her solemnly: "David and I believe him to be utterly +depraved. He availed himself of the first moments of his liberation to +kiss Alice." Aunt Martha looked at me with wide-open eyes, and then her +brows contracted. + +"He did, did he?" said she. "And that is the kind of a man he is. Very +good. Let him go to jail with the others. I don't believe one word about +his young wife. If kissing respectable young women is the way he studies +Realism the quicker he goes to jail the better," and with that she +walked into the house. + +When the men had been placed in the two vehicles in which the police had +come, the Chief and I made an examination of the premises, and we found +that the house had been entered by a kitchen window, in exactly the +manner which the tall burglar had described. Outside of this window, +close to the wall, we found a leathern bag, containing what the Chief +declared to be an excellent assortment of burglars' tools. The officers +and their prisoners now drove away, and we were left to a long morning +nap, if we were so fortunate as to get it, and a late breakfast. + +In the course of the trial of the three men who had entered my house +some interesting points in regard to them were brought out. Several +detectives and policemen from New York were present, and their testimony +proved that my three burglars were men of eminence in their profession, +and that which most puzzled the metropolitan detectives was to discover +why these men should have been willing to devote their high talents to +the comparatively insignificant business of breaking into a suburban +dwelling. + +The tall man occupied a position of peculiar eminence in criminal +circles. He was what might be called a criminal manager. He would take +contracts for the successful execution of certain crimes,--bank +robberies, for instance,--and while seldom taking part in the actual +work of a burglary or similar operation, he would plan all the details +of the affair, and select and direct his agents with great skill and +judgment. He had never been arrested before, and the detectives were +delighted, believing they would now have an opportunity of tracing to +him a series of very important criminal operations that had taken place +in New York and some other large cities. He was known as Lewis Mandit, +and this was believed to be his real name. + +The stout man was a first-class professional burglar and nothing more, +and was in the employ of Mandit. The young man was a decidedly uncommon +personage. He was of a good family, had been educated at one of our +principal colleges, had travelled, and was in every way qualified to +make a figure in society. He had been a newspaper man, and a writer for +leading periodicals, and had shown considerable literary ability; but a +life of honest industry did not suit his tastes, and he had now adopted +knavery as a regular profession. + +This man, who was known among his present associates as Sparky, still +showed himself occasionally in newspaper offices, and was generally +supposed to be a correspondent for a Western journal; but his real +business position was that of Mandit's head man. + +Sparky was an expert in many branches of crime. He was an excellent +forger, a skilful lock-picker, an ingenious planner of shady projects, +and had given a great deal of earnest study to the subject of the +loopholes of the law. He had a high reputation in criminal circles for +his ability in getting his fellow-rascals out of jail. There was reason +to believe that in the past year no less than nine men, some condemned +to terms of imprisonment, and some held for trial, had escaped by means +of assistance given them by Sparky. + +His methods of giving help to jail-birds were various. Sometimes liberty +was conferred through the agency of saws and ropes, at other times +through that of a habeas corpus and an incontestible alibi. His means +were adapted to the circumstances of the case, and it was believed that +if Sparky could be induced to take up the case of a captured rogue, the +man had better chance of finding himself free than the law had of +keeping him behind bars, especially if his case were treated before it +had passed into its more chronic stages. + +Sparky's success was greatly due to his extremely specious manner, and +his power of playing the part that the occasion demanded. In this +particular he was even the superior of Mandit, who was an adept in this +line. These two men found no difficulty in securing the services of +proficient burglars, safe-robbers, and the like; for, in addition to the +high rewards paid these men, they were in a manner insured against +permanent imprisonment in case of misfortune. It was always arranged +that, if any of their enterprises came to grief, and if either Mandit or +Sparky should happen to be arrested, the working miscreants should +substantiate any story their superiors might choose to tell of +themselves, and, if necessary, to take upon themselves the whole +responsibility of the crime. In this case their speedy release was to be +looked upon as assured. + +A great deal of evidence in regard to the character and practices of +these two men came from the stout burglar, commonly known as Barney +Fitch. When he found that nothing was to be expected from his two +astute employers, and that they were in as bad a place as himself, he +promptly turned State's evidence, and told all that he knew about them. + +It was through the testimony of this man that the motive for the +attempted robbery of my house was found out. It had no connection +whatever with the other burglaries of our neighbourhood, those, +probably, having been committed by low-class thieves, who had not broken +into my house simply because my doors and windows had been so well +secured; nor had our boy, George William, any share whatever in the +protection of the household. + +The burglary was undertaken solely for the purpose of getting possession +of some important law papers, which were to be used in a case in which I +was concerned, which soon would be tried. If these papers could be +secured by the opposite party, the side on which I was engaged would +have no case at all, and a suit involving a great deal of property must +drop. With this end in view the unscrupulous defendants in the case had +employed Mandit to procure the papers; and that astute criminal manager +had not only arranged all the details of the affair, but had gone +himself to the scene of action in order to see that there should be no +mistake in carrying out the details of this most important piece of +business. + +The premises had been thoroughly reconnoitred by Sparky, who, a few days +before the time fixed for the burglary, had visited my house in the +capacity of an agent of a telescopic bookcase, which could be extended +as new volumes were required, therefore need never exhibit empty +shelves. The young man had been included in the party on account of his +familiarity with legal documents, it being, of course, of paramount +importance that the right papers should be secured. His ingenuity was +also to be used to cover up, if possible, all evidence that the house +had been entered at all, it being desirable to make it appear to the +court that I had never had these documents in my possession, and that +they never existed. + +Had it not been for a very natural desire for refreshment that +interfered with their admirably laid plans, it is probable that the +mechanical skill of Mandit would have been equal to the noiseless +straightening of the bent bolt, and the obliteration of the scratches +and dents made by the attempts upon other shutters, and that Sparky, +after relocking all open desks or cabinets, and after the exit of the +others, would have closed and fastened the kitchen shutters, and would +then have left the house by means of an open window in the upper hall +and the roof of a piazza. + +Thus it was that these three men, so eminent in their different spheres +of earnest endeavour, came to visit my comparatively humble abode; and +thus it was that they not only came to that abode, but to the deepest +grief. They were "wanted" in so many quarters, and on so many charges, +that before they had finished serving out their various sentences their +ability to wickedly avail themselves of the property of others would +have suffered greatly from disuse, and the period of life left them for +the further exercise of those abilities would be inconveniently limited. + +I was assured by a prominent detective that it had been a long time +since two such dangerous criminals as Mandit and Sparky had fallen into +the hands of the law. These men, by means of very competent outside +assistance, made a stout fight for acquittal on some of the charges +brought against them; but when they found that further effort of this +kind would be unavailing, and that they would be sentenced to long terms +of imprisonment, they threw off their masks of outraged probity and +stood out in their true characters of violent and brutal ruffians. +Barney Fitch, the cracksman, was a senior warden compared to them. + +It was a long time before my Aunt Martha recovered from her +disappointment in regard to the youngest burglar. + +"Of course I was mistaken," she said. "That sort of thing will happen; +but I really had good grounds for believing him to be a truthful person, +so I am not ashamed for having taken him for what he said he was. I have +now no doubt before he fell in his wicked ways that he was a very good +writer, and might have become a novelist or a magazine author; but his +case is a very sad proof that the study of Realism may be carried too +far," and she heaved a sigh. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + +***** This file should be named 10948-8.txt or 10948-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10948/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Stockton. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 12pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced; } + BODY {margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 4%; } + .figure + {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; + text-align: center; } + .figure img + {border: none;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stories of the Three Burglars + +Author: Frank Richard Stockton + +Release Date: February 5, 2004 [EBook #10948] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="figure"> +<img width="50%" src="frontis.jpg" +alt="Frank R. Stockton" /><br /> +</p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>The Stories of the Three Burglars</h1> +<h2>By FRANK R. STOCKTON </h2> +<p> </p> +<center> +<b>1889</b> +</center> + +<p> </p> +<hr> +<p> </p> + +<h3> +THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +I am a householder in a pleasant country neighbourhood, about twenty +miles from New York. My family consists of myself and wife, our boy, +George William, aged two, two maid-servants, and a man; but in the +summer we have frequent visitors, and at the time of which I am about to +write my Aunt Martha was staying with us. +</p> +<p> +My house is large and pleasant, and we have neighbours near enough for +social purposes and yet not too near or too many to detract from the +rural aspect of our surroundings. But we do not live in a paradise; we +are occasionally troubled by mosquitoes and burglars. +</p> +<p> +Against the first of these annoyances we have always been able to guard +ourselves, at least in a measure, and our man and the cook declare that +they have become so used to them that they do not mind them; but to +guard against burglars is much more difficult, and to become used to +them would, I think, require a great deal of practice. +</p> +<p> +For several months before the period of this narrative our neighbourhood +had been subject to visits from burglars. From time to time houses had +been entered and robbed, and the offenders had never been detected. +</p> +<p> +We had no police force, not even a village organization. There was a +small railway station near our house, and six miles away was the county +town. For fire and police protection each household was obliged to +depend upon itself. +</p> +<p> +Before the beginning of the burglarious enterprises in our midst, we had +not felt the need of much protection in this direction; sometimes +poultry was stolen, but this was a rare occurrence, and, although +windows and doors were generally fastened for the night, this labour was +often considered much more troublesome than necessary. But now a great +change had taken place in the feelings of our community. When the first +robbery occurred the neighbours were inclined to laugh about it, and to +say that Captain Hubbard's habit of sitting up after the rest of his +family had gone to bed and then retiring and forgetting to close the +front door had invited the entrance of a passing tramp. But when a +second and a third house, where windows and doors had not been left +open, had been entered, and, in a measure, despoiled, people ceased to +laugh; and if there had been any merriment at all on the subject, it +would have been caused by the extraordinary and remarkable precautions +taken against the entrance of thieves by night. The loaded pistol became +the favourite companion of the head of the house; those who had no +watch-dogs bought them; there were new locks, new bolts, new fastenings. +At one time there was a mounted patrol of young men, which, however, was +soon broken up by their mothers. But this trouble was unavailing, for at +intervals the burglaries continued. +</p> +<p> +As a matter of course a great many theories were broached as to the +reasons for this disturbance in our hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. We +were at such a distance from the ordinary centres of crime that it was +generally considered that professional burglars would hardly take the +trouble to get to us or to get away from us, and that, therefore, the +offences were probably committed by unsuspected persons living in this +part of the country who had easy means of determining which houses were +worth breaking into and what method of entrance would be most feasible. +In this way some families, hitherto regarded as respectable families, +had fallen under suspicion. +</p> +<p> +So far, mine was the only house of any importance within the distance of +a mile from the station which had not in some way suffered from +burglars. In one or two of these cases the offenders had been frightened +away before they had done any other injury than the breaking of a +window-shutter; but we had been spared any visitation whatever. After a +time we began to consider that this was an invidious distinction. Of +course we did not desire that robbers should break into our house and +steal, but it was a sort of implied insult that robbers should think +that our house was not worth breaking into. We contrived, however, to +bear up under this implied contempt and even under the facetious +imputations of some of our lively neighbours, who declared that it +looked very suspicious that we should lose nothing, and even continue to +add to our worldly goods, while everybody else was suffering from +abstractions. +</p> +<p> +I did not, however, allow any relaxation in my vigilance in the +protection of my house and family. My time to suffer had not yet +arrived, and it might not arrive at all; but if it did come it should +not be my fault. I therefore carefully examined all the new precautions +my neighbours had taken against the entrance of thieves, and where I +approved of them I adopted them. +</p> +<p> +Of some of these my wife and I did not approve. For instance, a tin pan +containing iron spoons, the dinner bell, and a miscellaneous collection +of hardware balanced on the top stair of the staircase, and so connected +with fine cords that a thief coming up the stairs would send it rattling +and bounding to the bottom, was looked upon by us with great disfavour. +The descent of the pan, whether by innocent accident or the approach of +a burglar, might throw our little boy into a fit, to say nothing of the +terrible fright it would give my Aunt Martha, who was a maiden lady of +middle age, and not accustomed to a clatter in the night. A bull-dog in +the house my wife would not have, nor, indeed, a dog of any kind. George +William was not yet old enough to play with dogs, especially a sharp +one; and if the dog was not sharp it was of no use to have him in the +house. To the ordinary burglar-alarm she strongly objected. She had been +in houses where these things went off of their own accord, occasioning +great consternation; and, besides, she said that if thieves got into the +house she did not want to know it and she did not want me to know it; +the quicker they found what they came for and went away with it the +better. Of course, she wished them kept out, if such a thing were +possible; but if they did get in, our duty as parents of the dearest +little boy was non-interference. She insisted, however, that the room in +which the loveliest of children slept, and which was also occupied by +ourselves, should be made absolutely burglar proof; and this object, by +means of extraordinary bolts and chains, I flattered myself I +accomplished. My Aunt Martha had a patent contrivance for fastening a +door that she always used, whether at home or travelling, and in whose +merit she placed implicit confidence. Therefore we did not feel it +necessary to be anxious about her; and the servants slept at the top of +the house, where thieves would not be likely to go. +</p> +<p> +"They may continue to slight us by their absence," said my wife, "but I +do not believe that they will be able to frighten us by their presence." +</p> +<p> +I was not, however, so easily contented as my wife. Of course I wished +to do everything possible to protect George William and the rest of the +family, but I was also very anxious to protect our property in all parts +of the house. Therefore, in addition to everything else I had done, I +devised a scheme for interfering with the plans of men who should +feloniously break into our home. +</p> +<p> +After a consultation with a friend, who was a physician greatly +interested in the study of narcotic drugs, I procured a mixture which +was almost tasteless and without peculiar odour, and of which a small +quantity would in less than a minute throw an ordinary man into a state +of unconsciousness. The potion was, however, no more dangerous in its +effects than that quantity of ardent spirits which would cause entire +insensibility. After the lapse of several hours, the person under the +influence of the drug would recover consciousness without assistance. +But in order to provide against all contingencies my friend prepared a +powerful antidote, which would almost immediately revive one who had +been made unconscious by our potion. +</p> +<p> +The scheme that I had devised may possibly have been put into use by +others. But of this I know not. I thought it a good scheme and +determined to experiment with it, and, if possible, to make a trap which +should catch a burglar. I would reveal this plan to no one but my friend +the physician and my wife. Secrecy would be an important element in its +success. +</p> +<p> +Our library was a large and pleasant room on the ground floor of the +house, and here I set my trap. It was my habit to remain in this room an +hour or so after the rest of the family had gone to bed, and, as I was +an early riser, I was always in it again before it was necessary for a +servant to enter it in the morning. +</p> +<p> +Before leaving the library for the night I placed in a conspicuous +position in the room a small table, on which was a tray holding two +decanters partially filled with wine, in the one red and in the other +white. There was also upon the tray an open box of biscuit and three +wine-glasses, two of them with a little wine at the bottom. I took pains +to make it appear that these refreshments had been recently partaken of. +There were biscuit crumbs upon the tray, and a drop or two of wine was +freshly spilled upon it every time the trap was set. The table, thus +arranged, was left in the room during the night, and early in the +morning I put the tray and its contents into a closet and locked it up. +</p> +<p> +A portion of my narcotic preparation was thoroughly mixed with the +contents of each of the decanters in such proportions that a glass of +the wine would be sufficient to produce the desired effect. +</p> +<p> +It was my opinion that there were few men who, after a night walk and +perhaps some labour in forcibly opening a door or a window-shutter, +would not cease for a moment in pursuance of their self-imposed task to +partake of the refreshments so conveniently left behind them by the +occupants of the house when they retired to rest. Should my surmises be +correct, I might reasonably expect, should my house be broken into, to +find an unconscious burglar in the library when I went down in the +morning. And I was sure, and my wife agreed with me, that if I should +find a burglar in that room or any other part of the house, it was +highly desirable that he should be an unconscious one. +</p> +<p> +Night after night I set my burglar trap, and morning after morning I +locked it up in the closet. I cannot say that I was exactly disappointed +that no opportunity offered to test the value of my plan, but it did +seem a pity that I should take so much trouble for nothing. It had been +some weeks since any burglaries had been committed in the neighbourhood, +and it was the general opinion that the miscreants had considered this +field worked out and had transferred their labours to a better-paying +place. The insult of having been considered unworthy the attention of +the knights of the midnight jimmy remained with us, but as all our goods +and chattels also remained with us we could afford to brook the +indignity. +</p> +<p> +As the trap cost nothing my wife did not object to my setting it every +night for the present. Something might happen, she remarked, and it was +just as well to be prepared in more ways than one; but there was a point +upon which she was very positive. +</p> +<p> +"When George William is old enough to go about the house by himself," +she said, "those decanters must not be left exposed upon the table. Of +course I do not expect him to go about the house drinking wine and +everything that he finds, but there is no knowing what a child in the +first moments of his investigative existence may do." +</p> +<p> +For myself, I became somewhat tired of acting my part in this little +farce every night and morning, but when I have undertaken anything of +this sort I am slow to drop it. +</p> +<p> +It was about three weeks since I had begun to set my trap when I was +awakened in the night by a sudden noise. I sat up in bed, and as I did +so my wife said to me sleepily,— +</p> +<p> +"What is that? Was it thunder? There it is again!" she exclaimed, +starting up. "What a crash! It must have struck somewhere." I did not +answer. It was not thunder. It was something in the house, and it +flashed into my mind that perhaps my trap had been sprung. I got out of +bed and began rapidly to dress. +</p> +<p> +"What are you going to do?" anxiously asked my wife. +</p> +<p> +"I'm going to see what has happened," said I. At that moment there was +another noise. This was like two or three heavy footsteps, followed by a +sudden thump; but it was not so loud as the others. +</p> +<p> +"John," cried my wife, "don't stir an inch, it's burglars!" and she +sprang out of bed and seized me by the arm. +</p> +<p> +"I must go down," I said; "but there is really no reason for your being +frightened. I shall call David, and shall carry my pistol, so there is +really no danger. If there are thieves in the house they have probably +decamped by this time—that is, if they are able to do so, for of course +they must know that noise would awaken the soundest sleepers." +</p> +<p> +My wife looked at me and then slowly withdrew her hands from my arm. +</p> +<p> +"You promise me," she said, "if you find a burglar downstairs in the +possession of his senses you will immediately come back to me and George +William?" +</p> +<p> +I promised her, and, slipping on some clothes, I went out into the +second-story hall. I carried no light. Before I had reached the bottom +of the back stairs I heard David, my man, coming down. To be sure it was +he and not a burglar I spoke to him in a low voice, my pistol raised in +case of an unsatisfactory reply. +</p> +<p> +"I heard that noise, sir," he whispered, "and was going down to see +about it." +</p> +<p> +"Are you ready if it's thieves?" I whispered. +</p> +<p> +"I have got the biscuit-beater," he replied. +</p> +<p> +"Come on, then," said I, and we went downstairs. +</p> +<p> +I had left no light in the library, but there was one there now, and it +shone through the open door into the hallway. We stopped and listened. +There was no sound, and then slowly and cautiously we approached the +door of the library. The scene I beheld astounded me, and involuntarily +I sprang back a step or two. So did David; but in an instant we saw that +there was no need of retreat or defence. Stretched upon the floor, not +far from the doorway, lay a tall man, his face upturned to the light of +a bull's-eye lantern which stood by the mantel-piece. His eyes were +shut, and it was evident that he was perfectly insensible. Near by, in +the wreck of the small table, glasses, and decanters, lay another man, +apparently of heavier build. He also was as still as a corpse. A little +further back, half sitting on the floor, with the upper part of his body +resting against the lounge, was another man with a black mask over his +face. +</p> +<p> +"Are they dead?" exclaimed David, in an undertone of horror. +</p> +<p> +"No," said I, "they are not dead; they have been caught in my trap." +</p> +<p> +And I must admit that the consciousness of this created a proud +exultation of spirit within me. I had overmatched these rascals; they +were prostrated before me. If one of them moved, David and I could kill +him. But I did not believe there would be any killing, nor any moving +for the present. +</p> +<p> +In a high whisper, which could have been heard distinctly all over the +house, my wife now called to me from the top of the stairs. "What is +it?" she said. "What has happened?" +</p> +<p> +I stepped quickly to the stairway. +</p> +<p> +"Everything is all right," I said in a loud, distinct voice, intended +to assure my wife that there was no necessity for caution or alarm. "I +will be with you presently." +</p> +<p> +"I am glad to hear that nothing is the matter," said Aunt Martha, now +for the first time opening her door. "I was afraid something had +happened." +</p> +<p> +But I had business to attend to before I could go upstairs. In thinking +over and arranging this plan for the capture of burglars, I had +carefully considered its various processes, and had provided against all +the contingencies I could think of; therefore I was not now obliged to +deliberate what I should do. "Keep your eye on them," said I to David, +"and if one of them moves be ready for him. The first thing to do is to +tie them hand and foot." +</p> +<p> +I quickly lighted a lamp, and then took from another shelf of the closet +a large coil of strong cotton rope, which I had provided for such an +occasion as the present. +</p> +<p> +"Now," said I to David, "I will tie them while you stand by to knock +over any one of them who attempts to get up." +</p> +<p> +The instrument with which David was prepared to carry out my orders was +a formidable one. In the days of my youth my family was very fond of +"Maryland biscuit," which owes much of its delicacy to the fact that +before baking it is pounded and beaten by a piece of heavy iron. Some +people used one kind of a beater and some another, but we had had made +for the purpose a heavy iron club a little over a foot long, large and +heavy at one end and a handle at the other. In my present household +Maryland biscuits were never made, but I had preserved this iron beater +as a memento of my boyhood, and when the burglaries began in our +vicinity I gave it to David to keep in his room, to be used as a weapon +if necessary. I did not allow him to have a pistol, having a regard for +my own safety in a sudden night alarm, and nothing could be more +formidable in a hand-to-hand encounter than this skull-crushing club. +</p> +<p> +I began with the tall man, and rapidly tied his feet together with many +twists of the rope and as many knots. I then turned him over and tied +his elbows behind him in the same secure way. I had given so much +thought to the best method of securing a man by cords, that I do not +think this fellow could possibly have released himself when I had +finished with him. +</p> +<p> +David was obeying my orders and keeping a strict watch on the prostrate +men; but his emotions of amazement were so great that he could not keep +them down. +</p> +<p> +"What is the matter with them, sir?" he said. "How did they come so?" +</p> +<p> +"There is no time for talking now," I answered. "I will tell you all +about it when the men have been secured." I now turned my attention to +the man who was partly resting against the lounge. I first tied his +feet, and before letting him down to the floor, so as to get to his +arms, I removed his hat and his mask, which was made of black muslin. I +was surprised to see the beardless face of a young and very good-looking +man. He was well dressed, and had the general appearance of a person +belonging to theatrical circles. When his arms had been tied, I told +David he might lay down his biscuit-beater, and help me with the third +man, who was badly mixed up with the <i>débris</i> of the refreshments. We +hauled him out and tied him up. He was rather a short man, but very +heavy, and I could see no signs of his having been hurt by the smash-up +he made in falling. +</p> +<p> +We now proceeded to search the insensible burglars for arms. Upon the +tall man we found a large revolver, a heavy billy, which seemed as if it +had seen service, and a long-bladed knife. The stout man carried two +double-barrelled pistols, and upon one of the fingers of his right hand +wore a brass ring with a murderous-looking iron protuberance upon it, +which, when driven forward by his powerful arm, was probably more +dangerous than a billy. Upon the younger man we found no arms at all, +and his hip pocket contained nothing but a small handbook on civil +engineering. +</p> +<p> +I now briefly explained to David the nature of the trap which had caught +the burglars. He gazed upon me with a face glowing with amazed +admiration. +</p> +<p> +"What a head you have got, sir!" he exclaimed. "I don't believe there is +another man in this State who would have thought of that. And what are +you going to do with them now, sir; hang 'em? That's what ought to be +done with them, the hounds!" +</p> +<p> +"All I shall do," I answered, "will be to keep them till daylight, and +then I shall send word to the sheriff at Kennertown, and have him send +officers for them." +</p> +<p> +"Upon my word," exclaimed David, "they are in the worst kind of a box." +</p> +<p> +Now my wife called me again. "What in the world are you doing down +there?" she called; "why don't you come upstairs?" +</p> +<p> +This annoyed me, for I was not yet ready to go upstairs. I wished to +resuscitate these fellows, for their stupor was so profound that I began +to fear that perhaps they had taken too much of the drug and ought to be +brought to their senses as speedily as possible. This feeling was due +more to my desire that serious injuries should not occur to the rascals +while in my house than to any concern for them. +</p> +<p> +"My dear," said I, stepping to the bottom of the stairs, "I have some +things to attend to down here which will occupy me a few minutes longer; +then I will come up to you." +</p> +<p> +"I can't imagine what the things are," she said, "but I suppose I can +wait," and she went into her room and closed her door after her. +</p> +<p> +I now began to consider what was to be done with the burglars after they +had been resuscitated. My first impulse was to rid the house of them by +carrying them out of doors and bringing them to their senses there. But +there was an objection to this plan. They would be pretty heavy fellows +to carry, and as it would be absolutely necessary to watch them until +they could be given into the charge of the officers of the law, I did +not want to stay out of doors to do this, for the night air was raw and +chilly, and I therefore determined to keep them in the house. And as +they could be resuscitated better in a sitting position, they must be +set up in some way or other. I consulted David on the subject. +</p> +<p> +"You might put 'em up with their backs agin the wall, sir," said he, +"but the dirty beasts would spoil the paper. I wouldn't keep them in a +decent room like this. I'd haul 'em out into the kitchen, anyway." +</p> +<p> +But as they were already in the library I decided to let them stay +there, and to get them as speedily as possible into some position in +which they might remain. I bethought me of a heavy wooden settle or +bench with back and arms which stood on the side piazza. With David's +help I brought this into the room and placed it with its back to the +window. +</p> +<p> +"Now, then," said I to David, "we will put them on this bench, and I +will tie them fast to it. We cannot be too careful in securing them, for +if one of them were to get loose, even without arms, there is no knowing +what trouble he might make." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir," said David, "if I'm to handle them at all, I'd rather have +them dead, as I hope they are, than have them alive; but you needn't be +afraid, sir, that any one of them will get loose. If I see any signs of +that I'll crack the rascal's skull in a jiffy." +</p> +<p> +It required a great deal of tugging and lifting to get those three men +on the bench, but we got them there side by side, their heads hanging +listlessly, some one way, some another. I then tied each one of them +firmly to the bench. +</p> +<p> +I had scarcely finished this when I again heard my wife's voice from the +top of the stairs. +</p> +<p> +"If any pipes have burst," she called down, "tell David not to catch the +water in the new milk-pans." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," I replied, "I'll see to it," and was rejoiced to hear again +the shutting of the bedroom door. +</p> +<p> +I now saturated a sponge with the powerful preparation which Dr. Marks +had prepared as an antidote, and held it under the nose of the tall +burglar. In less than twenty seconds he made a slight quivering in his +face as if he were about to sneeze, and very soon he did sneeze +slightly. Then he sneezed violently, raised his head, and opened his +eyes. For a moment he gazed blankly before him, and then looked stupidly +at David and at me. But in an instant there flashed into his face the +look of a wild beast. His quick, glittering eye took in the whole +situation at a glance. With a furious oath he threw himself forward with +such a powerful movement that he nearly lifted the bench. +</p> +<p> +"Stop that," said David, who stood near him with his iron club uplifted. +"If you do that again I'll let you feel this." +</p> +<p> +The man looked at him with a fiery flash in his eyes, and then he looked +at me, as I stood holding the muzzle of my pistol within two feet of his +face. The black and red faded out of his countenance. He became pale. He +glanced at his companions bound and helpless. His expression now changed +entirely. The fury of the wild beast was succeeded by a look of +frightened subjection. Gazing very anxiously at my pistol, he said, in a +voice which, though agitated, was low and respectful:— +</p> +<p> +"What does this mean? What are you going to do? Will you please turn +away the muzzle of that pistol?" +</p> +<p> +I took no notice of this indication of my steadiness of hand, and +answered:— +</p> +<p> +"I am going to bring these other scoundrels to their senses, and early +in the morning the three of you will be on your way to jail, where I +hope you may remain for the rest of your lives." +</p> +<p> +"If you don't get killed on your way there," said David, in whose +nervous hand the heavy biscuit-beater was almost as dangerous as my +pistol. +</p> +<p> +The stout man who sat in the middle of the bench was twice as long in +reviving as had been his companion, who watched the operation with +intense interest. When the burly scoundrel finally became conscious, he +sat for a few minutes gazing at the floor with a silly grin; then he +raised his head and looked first at one of his companions and then at +the other, gazed for an instant at me and David, tried to move his feet, +gave a pull at one arm and then at the other, and when he found he was +bound hard and fast, his face turned as red as fire and he opened his +mouth, whether to swear or yell I know not. I had already closed the +door, and before the man had uttered more than a premonitory sound, +David had clapped the end of his bludgeon against his mouth. +</p> +<p> +"Taste that," he said, "and you know what you will get if you disturb +this family with any of your vile cursin' and swearin'." +</p> +<p> +"Look here," said the tall man, suddenly turning to the other with an +air of authority, "keep your mouth shut and don't speak till you're +spoken to. Mind that, now, or these gentlemen will make it the worse for +you." +</p> +<p> +David grinned as he took away his club. +</p> +<p> +"I'd gentlemen you," he said, "if I could get half a chance to do it." +</p> +<p> +The face of the heavy burglar maintained its redness, but he kept his +mouth shut. +</p> +<p> +When the younger man was restored to his senses, his full consciousness +and power of perception seemed to come to him in an instant. His eyes +flashed from right to left, he turned deadly white, and then merely +moving his arms and legs enough to make himself aware that he was bound, +he sat perfectly still and said not a word. +</p> +<p> +I now felt that I must go and acquaint my wife with what had happened, +or otherwise she would be coming downstairs to see what was keeping me +so long. David declared that he was perfectly able to keep guard over +them, and I ran upstairs. David afterward told me that as soon as I left +the room the tall burglar endeavoured to bribe him to cut their ropes, +and told him if he was afraid to stay behind after doing this he would +get him a much better situation than this could possibly be. But as +David threatened personal injury to the speaker if he uttered another +word of the kind, the tall man said no more; but the stout man became +very violent and angry, threatening all sorts of vengeance on my +unfortunate man. David said he was beginning to get angry, when the tall +man, who seemed to have much influence over the other fellow, ordered +him to keep quiet, as the gentleman with the iron club no doubt thought +he was doing right. The young fellow never said a word. +</p> +<p> +When I told my wife that I had caught three burglars, and they were +fast bound in the library, she nearly fainted; and when I had revived +her she begged me to promise that I would not go downstairs again until +the police had carried away the horrible wretches. But I assured her +that it was absolutely necessary for me to return to the library. She +then declared that she would go with me, and if anything happened she +would share my fate. "Besides," she said, "if they are tied fast so they +can't move, I should like to see what they look like. I never saw a +burglar." +</p> +<p> +I did not wish my wife to go downstairs, but as I knew there would be no +use in objecting, I consented. She hastily dressed herself, making me +wait for her; and when she left the room she locked the door on the +sleeping George William, in order that no one should get at him during +her absence. As we passed the head of the stairs, the door of my Aunt +Martha's room opened, and there she stood, completely dressed, with her +bonnet on, and a little leather bag in her hand. +</p> +<p> +"I heard so much talking and so much going up and down stairs that I +thought I had better be ready to do whatever had to be done. Is it +fire?" +</p> +<p> +"No," said my wife; "it's three burglars tied in a bunch in the library. +I am going down to see them." +</p> +<p> +My Aunt Martha gasped, and looked as if she were going to sit down on +the floor. +</p> +<p> +"Goodness gracious!" she said, "if you're going I'll go too. I can't let +you go alone, and I never did see a burglar." +</p> +<p> +I hurried down and left the two ladies on the stairs until I was sure +everything was still safe; and when I saw that there had been no change +in the state of affairs, I told them to come down. +</p> +<p> +When my wife and Aunt Martha timidly looked in at the library door, the +effect upon them and the burglars was equally interesting. The ladies +each gave a start and a little scream, and huddled themselves close to +me, and the three burglars gazed at them with faces that expressed more +astonishment than any I had ever seen before. The stout fellow gave vent +to a smothered exclamation, and the face of the young man flushed, but +not one of them spoke. +</p> +<p> +"Are you sure they are tied fast?" whispered my Aunt Martha to me. +</p> +<p> +"Perfectly," I answered; "if I had not been sure I should not have +allowed you to come down." +</p> +<p> +Thereupon the ladies picked up courage and stepped further into the +room. +</p> +<p> +"Did you and David catch them?" asked my aunt; "and how in the world did +you do it?" +</p> +<p> +"I'll tell you all about that another time," I said, "and you had better +go upstairs as soon as you two have seen what sort of people are these +cowardly burglars who sneak or break into the houses of respectable +people at night, and rob and steal and ruin other people's property with +no more conscience or human feeling than is possessed by the rats which +steal your corn, or the polecats which kill your chickens." +</p> +<p> +"I can scarcely believe," said Aunt Martha, "that that young man is a +real burglar." +</p> +<p> +At these words the eyes of the fellow spoken of glowed as he fixed them +on Aunt Martha, but he did not say a word, and the paleness which had +returned to his face did not change. +</p> +<p> +"Have they told you who they are?" asked my wife. +</p> +<p> +"I haven't asked them," I said. "And now don't you think you had better +go upstairs?" +</p> +<p> +"It seems to me," said Aunt Martha, "that those ropes must hurt them." +</p> +<p> +The tall man now spoke. "Indeed they do, madam," he said in a low voice +and very respectful manner, "they are very tight." +</p> +<p> +I told David to look at all the cords and see if any of them were too +tightly drawn. +</p> +<p> +"It's all nonsense, sir," said he, when he had finished the examination; +"not one of the ropes is a bit too tight. All they want is a chance to +pull out their ugly hands." +</p> +<p> +"Of course," said Aunt Martha, "if it would be unsafe to loosen the +knots I wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent to prison?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said I; "as soon as the day breaks I shall send down for the +police." +</p> +<p> +I now heard a slight sound at the door, and turning, saw Alice, our maid +of the house, who was peeping in at the door. Alice was a modest girl, +and quite pretty. +</p> +<p> +"I heard the noise and the talking, sir," she said, "and when I found +the ladies had gone down to see what it was, I thought I would come +too." +</p> +<p> +"And where is the cook," asked my wife; "don't she want to see +burglars?" +</p> +<p> +"Not a bit of it," answered Alice, very emphatically. "As soon as I told +her what it was she covered up her head with the bedclothes and +declared, ma'am, that she would never get up until they were entirely +gone out of the house." +</p> +<p> +At this the stout man grinned. +</p> +<p> +"I wish you'd all cover up your heads," he said. The tall man looked at +him severely, and he said no more. +</p> +<p> +David did not move from his post near the three burglars, but he turned +toward Alice and looked at her. We knew that he had tender feelings +toward the girl, and I think that he did not approve of her being there. +</p> +<p> +"Have they stolen anything?" asked Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +"They have not had any chance to take anything away," I said; and my +wife remarked that whether they had stolen anything or not, they had +made a dreadful mess on the floor, and had broken the table. They should +certainly be punished. +</p> +<p> +At this she made a motion as if she would leave the room, and an +anxious expression immediately came on the face of the tall man, who had +evidently been revolving something in his mind. +</p> +<p> +"Madam," he said, "we are very sorry that we have broken your table, and +that we have damaged some of your glass and your carpet. I assure you, +however, that nothing of the kind would have happened but for that +drugged wine, which was doubtless intended for a medicine, and not a +beverage; but weary and chilled as we were when we arrived, madam, we +were glad to partake of it, supposing it ordinary wine." +</p> +<p> +I could not help showing a little pride at the success of my scheme. +</p> +<p> +"The refreshment was intended for fellows of your class, and I am very +glad you accepted it." +</p> +<p> +The tall man did not answer me, but he again addressed my wife. +</p> +<p> +"Madam," he said, "if you ladies would remain and listen to me a few +moments, I am sure I would make you aware that there is much to +extenuate the apparent offence which I have committed to-night." +</p> +<p> +My wife did not answer him, but turning to me said, smiling, "If he +alludes to their drinking your wine he need not apologize." +</p> +<p> +The man looked at her with an expression as if her words had pained him. +</p> +<p> +"Madam," he said, "if you consent to listen to my explanations and the +story of this affair, I am sure your feelings toward me would not be so +harsh." +</p> +<p> +"Now, then," said my Aunt Martha, "if he has a story to tell he ought to +be allowed to tell it, even in a case like this. Nobody should be judged +until he has said what he thinks he ought to say. Let us hear his +story." +</p> +<p> +I laughed. "Any statement he may make," I said, "will probably deserve a +much stronger name than stories." +</p> +<p> +"I think that what you say is true," remarked my wife; "but still if he +has a story to tell I should like to hear it." +</p> +<p> +I think I heard David give a little grunt; but he was too well bred to +say anything. +</p> +<p> +"Very well," said I, "if you choose to sit up and hear him talk, it is +your affair. I shall be obliged to remain here anyway, and will not +object to anything that will help to pass away the time. But these men +must not be the only ones who are seated. David, you and Alice can clear +away that broken table and the rest of the stuff, and then we might as +well sit down and make ourselves comfortable." +</p> +<p> +Alice, with cloth and brush, approached very timidly the scene of the +disaster; but the younger burglar, who was nearest to her, gazed upon +her with such a gentle and quiet air that she did not seem to be +frightened. When she and David had put the room in fair order, I placed +two easy-chairs for my wife and Aunt Martha at a moderate distance from +the burglars, and took another myself a little nearer to them, and then +told David to seat himself near the other end of the bench, and Alice +took a chair at a little distance from the ladies. +</p> +<p> +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to the burglars, "I would like very much +to hear what any one of you can say in extenuation of having broken into +a gentleman's house by night." +</p> +<p> +Without hesitation the tall man began his speech. He had a long and +rather lean, close-shaven face, which at present bore the expression of +an undertaker conducting a funeral. Although it was my aunt who had +shown the greatest desire to hear his story, he addressed himself to my +wife. I think he imagined that she was the more influential person of +the two. +</p> +<p> +"Madam," said he, "I am glad of the opportunity of giving you and your +family an idea of the difficulties and miseries which beset a large +class of your fellow-beings of whom you seldom have any chance of +knowing anything at all, but of whom you hear all sorts of the most +misleading accounts. Now, I am a poor man. I have suffered the greatest +miseries that poverty can inflict. I am here, suspected of having +committed a crime. It is possible that I may be put to considerable +difficulty and expense in proving my innocence." +</p> +<p> +"I shouldn't wonder," I interrupted. To this remark he paid no +attention. +</p> +<p> +"Considering all this," he continued, "you may not suppose, madam, that +as a boy I was brought up most respectably and properly. My mother was a +religious woman, and my father was a boat-builder. I was sent to school, +and my mother has often told me that I was a good scholar. But she died +when I was about sixteen, and I am sure had this not happened I should +never have been even suspected of breaking the laws of my country. Not +long after her death my father appeared to lose interest in his +business, and took to rowing about the river instead of building boats +for other people to row. Very often he went out at night, and I used to +wonder why he should care to be on the water in the darkness, and +sometimes in the rain. One evening at supper he said to me: 'Thomas, you +ought to know how to row in the dark as well as in the daytime. I am +going up the river to-night, and you can come with me.' +</p> +<p> +"It was about my ordinary bedtime when we took a boat with two pair of +oars, and we pulled up the river about three miles above the city." +</p> +<p> +"What city?" I asked. +</p> +<p> +"The city where I was born, sir," he said, "and the name of which I must +be excused from mentioning for reasons connected with my only surviving +parent. There were houses on the river bank, but they were not very near +each other. Some of them had lights in them, but most of them were dark, +as it must have been after eleven o'clock. Before one of them my father +stopped rowing for a moment and looked at it pretty hard. It seemed to +be all dark, but as we pulled on a little I saw a light in the back of +the house. +</p> +<p> +"My father said nothing, but we kept on, though pulling very easy for a +mile or two, and then we turned and floated down with the tide. 'You +might as well rest, Thomas,' said he, 'for you have worked pretty hard.' +</p> +<p> +"We floated slowly, for the tide was just beginning to turn, and when we +got near the house which I mentioned, I noticed that there was no light +in it. When we were about opposite to it father suddenly looked up and +said, not speaking very loud, 'By George! if that isn't Williamson +Green's house. I wasn't thinking of it when we rowed up, and passed it +without taking notice of it. I am sorry for that, for I wanted to see +Williamson, and now I expect he has gone to bed.' +</p> +<p> +"'Who is Mr. Green?' I asked. +</p> +<p> +"'He is an old friend of mine,' said my father, 'and I haven't seen him +for some little while now. About four months ago he borrowed of me a +sextant, quadrant, and chronometer. They were instruments I took from +old Captain Barney in payment of some work I did for him. I wasn't +usin' them, and Williamson had bought a catboat and was studying +navigation; but he has given up that fad now and has promised me over +and over to send me back my instruments, but he has never done it. If +I'd thought of it I would have stopped and got 'em of him; but I didn't +think, and now I expect he has gone to bed. However, I'll row in shore +and see; perhaps he's up yet.' +</p> +<p> +"You see, ma'am," said the speaker to my wife, "I'm tellin' you all +these particulars because I am very anxious you should understand +exactly how everything happened on this night, which was the +turning-point of my life." +</p> +<p> +"Very good," said Aunt Martha; "we want to hear all the particulars." +</p> +<p> +"Well, then," continued the burglar, "we pulled up to a stone wall which +was at the bottom of Green's place and made fast, and father he got out +and went up to the house. After a good while he came back and said that +he was pretty sure Williamson Green had gone to bed, and as it wouldn't +do to waken people up from their sleep to ask them for nautical +instruments they had borrowed, he sat down for a minute on the top of +the wall, and then he slapped his knee, not making much noise, though. +</p> +<p> +"'By George!' he said, 'an idea has just struck me. I can play the +prettiest trick on Williamson that ever was played on mortal man. Those +instruments are all in a box locked up, and I know just where he keeps +it. I saw it not long ago, when I went to his house to talk about a +yacht he wants built. They are on a table in the comer of his bedroom. +He was taking me through the house to show me the improvements he had +made, and he said to me:— +</p> +<p> +"'"Martin, there's your instruments. I won't trouble you to take them +with you, because they're heavy and you're not going straight home, but +I'll bring them to you day after to-morrow, when I shall be goin' your +way." +</p> +<p> +"'Now, then,' said my father, 'the trick I'm thinkin' of playing on +Williamson is this: I'd like to take that box of instruments out of his +room without his knowing it and carry them home, having the boat here +convenient; and then in a day or two to write to him and tell him I must +have 'em, because I have a special use for 'em. Of course he'll be +awfully cut up, not having them to send back; and when he comes down to +my place to talk about it, and after hearing all he has to say, I'll +show him the box. He'll be the most dumbfoundedest man in this State; +and if I don't choose to tell him he'll never know to his dying day how +I got that box. And if he lies awake at night, trying to think how I got +it, it will serve him right for keeping my property from me so long.' +</p> +<p> +"'But, father,' said I, 'if the people have gone to bed you can't get +into the house to play him your trick.' +</p> +<p> +"'That can be managed,' says he; 'I'm rather old for climbing myself, +but I know a way by which you, Thomas, can get in easy enough. At the +back of the house is a trellis with a grape-vine running over it, and +the top of it is just under one of the second-story windows. You can +climb up that trellis, Thomas, and lift up that window-sash very +carefully, so's not to make no noise, and get in. Then you'll be in a +back room, with a door right in front of you which opens into Mr. and +Mrs. Green's bedroom. There's always a little night lamp burning in it, +by which you can see to get about. In the corner, on your right as you +go into the room, is a table with my instrument-box standing on it. The +box is pretty heavy, and there is a handle on top to carry it by. You +needn't be afraid to go in, for by this time they are both sound asleep, +and you can pick up the box and walk out as gingerly as a cat, having of +course taken your shoes off before you went in. Then you can hand the +box out the back window to me,—I can climb up high enough to reach +it,—and you can scuttle down, and we'll be off, having the best rig on +Williamson Green that I ever heard of in my born days.' +</p> +<p> +"I was a very active boy, used to climbing and all that sort of thing, +and I had no doubt that I could easily get into the house; but I did not +fancy my father's scheme. +</p> +<p> +"'Suppose,' I said, 'that Mr. Williamson Green should wake up and see +me; what could I say? How could I explain my situation?' +</p> +<p> +"'You needn't say anything,' said my father. 'If he wakes up blow out +the light and scoot. If you happen to have the box in your hand drop it +out the back window and then slip down after it. He won't see us; but +if he does he cannot catch us before we get to the boat; but if he +should, however, I'll have to explain the matter to him, and the joke +will be against me; but I shall get my instruments, which is the main +point, after all.' +</p> +<p> +"I did not argue with my father, for he was a man who hated to be +differed with, and I agreed to help him carry out his little joke. We +took off our shoes and walked quietly to the back of the house. My +father stood below, and I climbed up the trellis under the back window, +which he pointed out. The window-sash was down all but a little crack to +let in air, and I raised it so slowly and gently that I made no noise. +Then without any trouble at all I got into the room. +</p> +<p> +"I found myself in a moderate-sized chamber, into which a faint light +came from a door opposite the window. Having been several hours out in +the night my eyes had become so accustomed to darkness that this light +was comparatively strong and I could see everything. +</p> +<p> +"Looking about me my eyes fell on a little bedstead, on which lay one of +the most beautiful infants I ever beheld in my life. Its golden hair +lay in ringlets upon the pillow. Its eyes were closed, but its soft +cheeks had in them a rosy tinge which almost equalled the colour of its +dainty little lips, slightly opened as it softly breathed and dreamed." +At this point I saw my wife look quickly at the bedroom key she had in +her hand. I knew she was thinking of George William. +</p> +<p> +"I stood entranced," continued the burglar, "gazing upon this babe, for +I was very fond of children; but I remembered that I must not waste +time, and stepped softly into the next room. There I beheld Mr. and Mrs. +Williamson Green in bed, both fast asleep, the gentleman breathing a +little hard. In a corner, just where my father told me I should find it, +stood the box upon the table. +</p> +<p> +"But I could not immediately pick it up and depart. The beautiful room +in which I found myself was a revelation to me. Until that moment I had +not known that I had tastes and sympathies of a higher order than might +have been expected of the youthful son of a boat-builder. Those artistic +furnishings aroused within a love of the beautiful which I did not know +I possessed. The carpets, the walls, the pictures, the hangings in the +windows, the furniture, the ornaments,—everything, in fact, impressed +me with such a delight that I did not wish to move or go away. +</p> +<p> +"Into my young soul there came a longing. 'Oh!' I said to myself, 'that +my parents had belonged to the same social grade as that worthy couple +reposing in that bed; and oh! that I, in my infancy, had been as +beautiful and as likely to be so carefully nurtured and cultured as that +sweet babe in the next room.' I almost heaved a sigh as I thought of the +difference between these surroundings and my own, but I checked myself; +it would not do to made a noise and spoil my father's joke. +</p> +<p> +"There were a great many things in that luxurious apartment which it +would have delighted me to look upon and examine, but I forbore." +</p> +<p> +"I wish I'd been there," said the stout man; "there wouldn't have been +any forbearin'." +</p> +<p> +The speaker turned sharply upon him. +</p> +<p> +"Don't you interrupt me again," he said angrily. Then, instantly +resuming his deferential tone, he continued the story. +</p> +<p> +"But I had come there by the command of my parent, and this command must +be obeyed without trifling or loss of time. My father did not approve of +trifling or loss of time. I moved quietly toward the table in the +corner, on which stood my father's box. I was just about to put my hand +upon it when I heard a slight movement behind me. I gave a start and +glanced backward. It was Mr. Williamson Green turning over in his bed; +what if he should awake? His back was now toward me, and my impulse was +to fly and leave everything behind me; but my father had ordered me to +bring the box, and he expected his orders to be obeyed. I had often been +convinced of that. +</p> +<p> +"I stood perfectly motionless for a minute or so, and when the gentleman +recommenced his regular and very audible breathing I felt it safe to +proceed with my task. Taking hold of the box I found it was much heavier +than I expected it to be; but I moved gently away with it and passed +into the back room. +</p> +<p> +"There I could not refrain from stopping a moment by the side of the +sleeping babe, upon whose cherub-like face the light of the night lamp +dimly shone. The little child was still sleeping sweetly, and my impulse +was to stop and kiss it; but I knew that this would be wrong. The infant +might awake and utter a cry and my father's joke be spoiled. I moved to +the open window, and with some trouble, and, I think, without any noise, +I succeeded in getting out upon the trellis with the box under my arm. +The descent was awkward, but my father was a tall man, and, reaching +upward, relieved me of my burden before I got to the ground. +</p> +<p> +"'I didn't remember it was so heavy,' he whispered, 'or I should have +given you a rope to lower it down by. If you had dropped it and spoiled +my instruments, and made a lot of noise besides, I should have been +angry enough.' +</p> +<p> +"I was very glad my father was not angry, and following him over the +greensward we quickly reached the boat, where the box was stowed away +under the bow to keep it from injury. +</p> +<p> +"We pushed off as quietly as possible and rowed swiftly down the river. +When we had gone about a mile I suddenly dropped my oar with an +exclamation of dismay. +</p> +<p> +"'What's the matter?' cried my father. +</p> +<p> +"'Oh, I have done a dreadful thing!' I said. 'Oh, father, I must go +back!' +</p> +<p> +"I am sorry to say that at this my father swore. +</p> +<p> +"'What do you want to go back for?' he said. +</p> +<p> +"'Just to think of it! I have left open the window in which that +beautiful child was sleeping. If it should take cold and die from the +damp air of the river blowing upon it I should never forgive myself. Oh, +if I had only thought of climbing up the trellis again and pulling down +that sash! I am sure I could go back and do it without making the least +noise.' My father gave a grunt; but what the grunt meant I do not know, +and for a few moments he was silent, and then he said:— +</p> +<p> +"'Thomas, you cannot go back; the distance is too great, the tide is +against us, and it is time that you and I were both in our beds. Nothing +may happen to that baby; but, attend to my words now, if any harm should +come to that child it will go hard with you. If it should die it would +be of no use for you to talk about practical jokes. You would be held +responsible for its death. I was going to say to you that it might be as +well for you not to say anything about this little venture until I had +seen how Williamson Green took the joke. Some people get angry with very +little reason, although I hardly believe he's that sort of a man; but +now things are different. He thinks all the world of that child, which +is the only one they've got; and if you want to stay outside of jail or +the house of refuge I warn you never to say a word of where you have +been this night.' +</p> +<p> +"With this he began to row again, and I followed his example, but with a +very heavy heart. All that night I dreamt of the little child with the +damp night winds blowing in upon it." +</p> +<p> +"Did you ever hear if it caught cold?" asked Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +"No," replied the burglar, "I never did. I mentioned the matter to my +father, and he said that he had great fears upon the subject, for +although he had written to Williamson Green, asking him to return the +instruments, he had not seen him or heard from him, and he was afraid +that the child had died or was dangerously sick. Shortly after that my +father sent me on a little trip to the Long Island coast to collect some +bills from people for whom he had done work. He gave me money to stay a +week or two at the seashore, saying that the change would do me good; +and it was while I was away on this delightful holiday that an event +occurred which had a most disastrous effect upon my future life. My +father was arrested for burglary! +</p> +<p> +"It appeared—and I cannot tell you how shocked I was when I discovered +the truth—that the box which I had carried away did not contain +nautical instruments, but was filled with valuable plate and jewels. My +unfortunate father heard from a man who had been discharged from the +service of the family whose house he had visited—whose name, by the +way, was not Green—where the box containing the valuables mentioned was +always placed at night, and he had also received accurate information in +regard to the situation of the rooms and the best method of gaining +access to them. +</p> +<p> +"I believe that some arrangement had been made between my father and +this discharged servant in regard to a division of the contents of the +box, and it was on account of a disagreement on this subject that the +man became very angry, and after pocketing what my father thought was +his fair share he departed to unknown regions, leaving behind a note to +the police which led to my father's arrest." +</p> +<p> +"That was a mean trick," said Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +The burglar looked at her gratefully. +</p> +<p> +"In the lower spheres of life, madam, such things often happen. Some of +the plate and jewels were found in my father's possession, and he was +speedily tried and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. And now, +can you imagine, ladies," said the tall burglar, apparently having +become satisfied to address himself to Aunt Martha, as well as my wife, +"the wretched position in which I found myself? I was upbraided as the +son of a thief. I soon found myself without home, without occupation, +and, alas! without good reputation. I was careful not to mention my +voluntary connection with my father's crime for fear that should I do so +I might be compelled to make a statement which might increase the +severity of his punishment. For this reason I did not dare to make +inquiries concerning the child in whom I had taken such an interest, +and whose little life I had, perhaps, imperilled. I never knew, ladies, +whether that infant grew up or not. +</p> +<p> +"But I, alas! grew up to a life of hardship and degradation. It would be +impossible for persons in your sphere of life to understand what I now +was obliged to suffer. Suitable employment I could not obtain, because I +was the son of a burglar. With a father in the State prison, it was of +no use for me to apply for employment at any respectable place of +business. I laboured at one thing and another, sometimes engaging in the +most menial employments. I also had been educated and brought up by my +dear mother for a very different career. Sometimes I managed to live +fairly well, sometimes I suffered. Always I suffered from the stigma of +my father's crime, always in the eyes of the community in which I +lived—a community, I am sorry to say, incapable, as a rule, of making +correct judgments in delicate cases like these—I was looked upon as +belonging to the ranks of the dishonest. It was a hard lot, and +sometimes almost impossible to bear up under. +</p> +<p> +"I have spoken at length, ladies, in order that you may understand my +true position; and I wish to say that I have never felt the crushing +weight of my father's disgrace more deeply than I felt it last evening. +This man," nodding toward the stout burglar, "came to me shortly after I +had eaten my supper, which happened to be a frugal one, and said to +me:— +</p> +<p> +"'Thomas, I have some business to attend to to-night, in which you can +help me if you choose. I know you are a good mechanic.' +</p> +<p> +"'If it is work that will pay me,' I answered, 'I should be very glad to +do it, for I am greatly in need of money.' +</p> +<p> +"'It will pay,' said he; and I agreed to assist him. +</p> +<p> +"As we were walking to the station, as the business to be attended to +was out of town, this man, whose name is James Barlow, talked to me in +such a way that I began to suspect that he intended to commit a +burglary, and openly charged him with this evil purpose. 'You may call +it burglary or anything else you please,' said he; 'property is very +unequally divided in this world, and it is my business in life to make +wrong things right as far as I can. I am going to the house of a man +who has a great deal more than he needs, and I haven't anything like as +much as I need; and so I intend to take some of his overplus,—not very +much, for when I leave his house he will still be a rich man, and I'll +be a poor one. But for a time my family will not starve.' +</p> +<p> +"'Argue as you please, James Barlow,' I said, 'what you are going to do +is nothing less than burglary.' +</p> +<p> +"'Of course it is,' said he; 'but it's all right, all the same. There +are a lot of people, Thomas, who are not as particular about these +things as they used to be, and there is no use for you to seem better +than your friends and acquaintances. Now, to show there are not so many +bigots as there used to be, there's a young man going to meet us at the +station who is greatly interested in the study of social problems. He is +going along with us just to look into this sort of thing and study it. +It is impossible for him to understand people of our class, or do +anything to make their condition better, if he does not thoroughly +investigate their methods of life and action. He's going along just as a +student, nothing more; and he may be down on the whole thing for all I +know. He pays me five dollars for the privilege of accompanying me, and +whether he likes it or not is his business. I want you to go along as a +mechanic, and if your conscience won't let you take any share in the +profit, I'll just pay you for your time.' +</p> +<p> +"'James Barlow,' said I, 'I am going with you, but for a purpose far +different from that you desire. I shall keep by your side, and if I can +dissuade you from committing the crime you intend I shall do so; but if +I fail in this, and you deliberately break into a house for purposes of +robbery, I shall arouse the inmates and frustrate your crime.' Now, +James Barlow," said he, turning to the stout man with a severe +expression on his strongly marked face, "is not what I have said +perfectly true? Did you not say to me every word which I have just +repeated?" +</p> +<p> +The stout man looked at the other in a very odd way. His face seemed to +broaden and redden, and he merely closed his eyes as he promptly +answered:— +</p> +<p> +"That's just what I said, every blasted word of it. You've told it fair +and square, leavin' off nothin' and puttin' in nothin'. You've told the +true facts out and out, up and down, without a break." +</p> +<p> +"Now, ladies," continued the tall man, "you see my story is +corroborated, and I will conclude it by saying that when this house, in +spite of my protest, had been opened, I entered with the others with the +firm intention of stepping into a hallway or some other suitable place +and announcing in a loud voice that the house was about to be robbed. As +soon as I found the family aroused and my purpose accomplished, I +intended to depart as quickly as possible, for, on account of the shadow +cast upon me by my father's crime, I must never be found even in the +vicinity of criminal action. But as I was passing through this room I +could not resist the invitation of Barlow to partake of the refreshments +which we saw upon the table. I was faint from fatigue and insufficient +nourishment. It seemed a very little thing to taste a drop of wine in a +house where I was about to confer a great benefit. I yielded to the +temptation, and now I am punished. Partaking even that little which did +not belong to me, I find myself placed in my present embarrassing +position." +</p> +<p> +"You are right there," said I, "it must be embarrassing; but before we +have any more reflections, there are some practical points about which +I wish you would inform me. How did that wicked man, Mr. Barlow I think +you called him, get into this house?" +</p> +<p> +The tall man looked at me for a moment, as if in doubt what he should +say; and then his expression of mingled hopelessness and contrition +changed into one of earnest frankness. +</p> +<p> +"I will tell you, sir, exactly," he said; "I have no wish to conceal +anything. I have long wanted to have an opportunity to inform occupants +of houses, especially those in the suburbs, of the insufficiency of +their window fastenings. Familiar with mechanic devices as I am, and +accustomed to think of such things, the precautions of householders +sometimes move me to laughter. Your outer doors, front and back, are of +heavy wood, chained, locked, and bolted, often double locked and bolted; +but your lower windows are closed in the first place by the lightest +kind of shutters, which are very seldom fastened at all, and in the +second place by a little contrivance connecting the two sashes, which is +held in place by a couple of baby screws. If these contrivances are of +the best kind and cannot be opened from the outside with a knife-blade +or piece of tin, the burglar puts a chisel or jimmy under the lower sash +and gently presses it upward, when the baby screws come out as easily as +if they were babies' milk-teeth. Not for a moment does the burglar +trouble himself about the front door, with its locks and chains and +bolts. He goes to the window, with its baby screws, which might as well +be left open as shut, for all the hindrance it is to his entrance; and +if he meddled with the door at all, it is simply to open it from the +inside, so that when he is ready to depart he may do so easily." +</p> +<p> +"But all that does not apply to my windows," I said. "They are not +fastened that way." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," said the man, "your lower shutters are solid and strong as +your doors. This is right, for if shutters are intended to obstruct +entrance to a house they should be as strong as the doors. When James +Barlow first reached this house he tried his jimmy on one of the +shutters in this main building, but he could not open it. The heavy bolt +inside was too strong for him. Then he tried another near by with the +same result. You will find the shutters splintered at the bottom. Then +he walked to the small addition at the back of the house, where the +kitchen is located. Here the shutters were smaller, and of course the +inside bolts were smaller. Everything in harmony. Builders are so +careful now-a-days to have everything in harmony. When Barlow tried his +jimmy on one of these shutters the bolt resisted for a time, but its +harmonious proportions caused it to bend, and it was soon drawn from its +staples and the shutter opened, and of course the sash was opened as I +told you sashes are opened." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said I, "shutters and sashes of mine shall never be opened in +that way again." +</p> +<p> +"It was with that object that I spoke to you," said the tall man. "I +wish you to understand the faults of your fastenings, and any +information I can give you which will better enable you to protect your +house, I shall be glad to give, as a slight repayment for the injury I +may have helped to do to you in the way of broken glass and spoiled +carpet. I have made window fastenings an especial study, and, if you +employ me for the purpose, I'll guarantee that I will put your house +into a condition which will be absolutely burglar proof. If I do not do +this to your satisfaction, I will not ask to be paid a cent." +</p> +<p> +"We will not consider that proposition now," I said, "for you may have +other engagements which would interfere with the proposed job." I was +about to say that I thought we had enough of this sort of story, when +Aunt Martha interrupted me. +</p> +<p> +"It seems to me," she said, speaking to the tall burglar, "that you have +instincts, and perhaps convictions, of what is right and proper; but it +is plain that you allow yourself to be led and influenced by +unprincipled companions. You should avoid even the outskirts of evil. +You may not know that the proposed enterprise is a bad one, but you +should not take part in it unless you know that it is a good one. In +such cases you should be rigid." +</p> +<p> +The man turned toward my aunt, and looked steadfastly at her, and as he +gazed his face grew sadder and sadder. +</p> +<p> +"Rigid," he repeated; "that is hard." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," I remarked, "that is one of the meanings of the word." +</p> +<p> +Paying no attention to me, he continued:— +</p> +<p> +"Madam," said he, with a deep pathos in his voice, "no one can be +better aware than I am that I have made many mistakes in the course of +my life; but that quality on which I think I have reason to be satisfied +with myself is my rigidity when I know a thing is wrong. There occurs to +me now an instance in my career which will prove to you what I say. +</p> +<p> +"I knew a man by the name of Spotkirk, who had invented a liniment for +the cure of boils. He made a great success with his liniment, which he +called Boilene, and at the time I speak of he was a very rich man. +</p> +<p> +"One day Spotkirk came to me and told me he wanted me to do a piece of +business for him, for which he would pay me twenty-five dollars. I was +glad to hear this, for I was greatly in need of money, and I asked him +what it was he wanted me to do. +</p> +<p> +"'You know Timothy Barker,' said he. 'Well, Timothy and I have had a +misunderstanding, and I want you to be a referee or umpire between us, +to set things straight.' +</p> +<p> +"'Very good,' said I, 'and what is the point of difference?' +</p> +<p> +"'I'll put the whole thing before you.' said he, 'for of course you +must understand it or you can't talk properly to Timothy. Now, you see, +in the manufacture of my Boilene I need a great quantity of good yellow +gravel, and Timothy Barker has got a gravel pit of that kind. Two years +ago I agreed with Timothy that he should furnish me with all the gravel +I should want for one-eighth of one per cent. of the profits on the +Boilene. We didn't sign no papers, for which I am sorry, but that was +the agreement; and now Timothy says that one-eighth of one per cent. +isn't enough. He has gone wild about it, and actually wants ten per +cent., and threatens to sue me if I don't give it to him.' +</p> +<p> +"'Are you obliged to have gravel? Wouldn't something else do for your +purpose?' +</p> +<p> +"'There's nothing as cheap,' said Spotkirk. 'You see I have to have lots +and lots of it. Every day I fill a great tank with the gravel and let +water onto it. This soaks through the gravel, and comes out a little +pipe in the bottom of the tank of a beautiful yellow color; sometimes it +is too dark, and then I have to thin it with more water.' +</p> +<p> +"'Then you bottle it,' I said. +</p> +<p> +"'Yes,' said Spotkirk; 'then there is all the expense and labour of +bottling it.' +</p> +<p> +"'Then you put nothing more into it,' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'What more goes into it before it's corked,' said Spotkirk, 'is my +business. That's my secret, and nobody's been able to find it out. +People have had Boilene analyzed by chemists, but they can't find out +the hidden secret of its virtue. There's one thing that everybody who +has used it does know, and that is that it is a sure cure for boils. If +applied for two or three days according to directions, and at the proper +stage, the boil is sure to disappear. As a proof of its merit I have +sold seven hundred and forty-eight thousand bottles this year.' +</p> +<p> +"'At a dollar a bottle?' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'That is the retail price,' said he. +</p> +<p> +"'Now, then, Mr. Spotkirk,' said I, 'it will not be easy to convince +Timothy Barker that one-eighth of one per cent. is enough for him. I +suppose he hauls his gravel to your factory?' +</p> +<p> +"'Hauling's got nothing to do with it,' said he; 'gravel is only ten +cents a load anywhere, and if I choose I could put my factory right in +the middle of a gravel pit. Timothy Barker has nothing to complain of. +</p> +<p> +"'But he knows you are making a lot of money,' said I, 'and it will be a +hard job to talk him over. Mr. Spotkirk, it's worth every cent of fifty +dollars.' +</p> +<p> +"'Now look here,' said he; 'if you get Barker to sign a paper that will +suit me, I'll give you fifty dollars. I'd rather do that than have him +bring a suit. If the matter comes up in the courts those rascally +lawyers will be trying to find out what I put into my Boilene, and that +sort of thing would be sure to hurt my business. It won't be so hard to +get a hold on Barker if you go to work the right way. You can just let +him understand that you know all about that robbery at Bonsall's +clothing-store, where he kept the stolen goods in his barn, covered up +with hay, for nearly a week. It would be a good thing for Timothy Barker +to understand that somebody else beside me knows about that business, +and if you bring it in right, it will fetch him around, sure.' +</p> +<p> +"I kept quiet for a minute or two, and then I said:— +</p> +<p> +"'Mr. Spotkirk, this is an important business. I can't touch it under a +hundred dollars.' He looked hard at me, and then he said:— +</p> +<p> +"'Do it right, and a hundred dollars is yours.' +</p> +<p> +"After that I went to see Timothy Barker, and had a talk with him. +Timothy was boiling over, and considered himself the worst-cheated man +in the world. He had only lately found out how Spotkirk made his +Boilene, and what a big sale he had for it, and he was determined to +have more of the profits. +</p> +<p> +"'Just look at it!' he shouted; 'when Spotkirk has washed out my gravel +it's worth more than it was before, and he sells it for twenty-five +cents a load to put on gentlemen's places. Even out of that he makes a +hundred and fifty per cent. profit.' +</p> +<p> +"I talked a good deal more with Timothy Barker, and found out a good +many things about Spotkirk's dealings with him, and then in an off-hand +manner I mentioned the matter of the stolen goods in his barn, just as +if I had known all about it from the very first. At this Timothy stopped +shouting, and became as meek as a mouse. He said nobody was as sorry as +he was when he found the goods concealed in his barn had been stolen, +and that if he had known it before the thieves took them away he should +have informed the authorities; and then he went on to tell me how he got +so poor and so hard up by giving his whole time to digging and hauling +gravel for Spotkirk, and neglecting his little farm, that he did not +know what was going to become of him and his family if he couldn't make +better terms with Spotkirk for the future, and he asked me very +earnestly to help him in this business if I could. +</p> +<p> +"Now, then, I set myself to work to consider this business. Here was a +rich man oppressing a poor one, and here was this rich man offering me +one hundred dollars—which in my eyes was a regular fortune—to help him +get things so fixed that he could keep on oppressing the poor one. Now, +then, here was a chance for me to show my principles. Here was a chance +for me to show myself what you, madam, call rigid; and rigid I was. I +just set that dazzling one hundred dollars aside, much as I wanted it. +Much as I actually needed it, I wouldn't look at it, or think of it. I +just said to myself, 'If you can do any good in this matter, do it for +the poor man;' and I did do it for Timothy Barker with his poor wife and +seven children, only two of them old enough to help him in the gravel +pit. I went to Spotkirk and I talked to him, and I let him see that if +Timothy Barker showed up the Boilene business, as he threatened to do, +it would be a bad day for the Spotkirk family. He tried hard to talk me +over to his side, but I was rigid, madam, I was rigid, and the business +ended in my getting seven per cent. of the profits of Boilene for that +poor man, Timothy Barker, and his large family; and their domestic +prosperity is entirely due—I say it without hesitation—to my efforts +on their behalf, and to my rigidity in standing up for the poor against +the rich." +</p> +<p> +"Of course," I here remarked, "you don't care to mention anything about +the money you squeezed out of Timothy Barker by means of your knowledge +that he had been a receiver of stolen goods, and I suppose the Boilene +man gave you something to get the percentage brought down from ten per +cent. to seven." +</p> +<p> +The tall burglar turned and looked at me with an air of saddened +resignation. +</p> +<p> +"Of course," said he, "it is of no use for a man in my position to +endeavour to set himself right in the eyes of one who is prejudiced +against him. My hope is that those present who are not prejudiced will +give my statements the consideration they deserve." +</p> +<p> +"Which they certainly will do," I continued. Turning to my wife and Aunt +Martha, "As you have heard this fine story, I think it is time for you +to retire." +</p> +<p> +"I do not wish to retire," promptly returned Aunt Martha. "I was never +more awake in my life, and couldn't go asleep if I tried. What we have +heard may or may not be true, but it furnishes subjects for +reflection—serious reflection. I wish very much to hear what that man +in the middle of the bench has to say for himself; I am sure he has a +story." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, ma'am," said the stout man, with animation, "I've got one, and I'd +like nothin' better than to tell it to you if you'll give me a little +somethin' to wet my lips with—a little beer, or whiskey and water, or +anything you have convenient." +</p> +<p> +"Whiskey and water!" said Aunt Martha with severity. "I should think +not. It seems to me you have had all the intoxicating liquors in this +house that you would want." +</p> +<p> +"But I don't think you're the kind of person who'd doctor the liquor. +This is the first gentleman's house where I ever found anything of that +kind." +</p> +<p> +"The worse for the gentleman," I remarked. The man grunted. +</p> +<p> +"Well, ma'am," he said, "call it anything you please—milk, cider, or, +if you have nothin' else, I'll take water. I can't talk without +somethin' soaky." +</p> +<p> +My wife rose. "If we are to listen to another story," she said, "I want +something to keep up my strength. I shall go into the dining-room and +make some tea, and Aunt Martha can give these men some of that if she +likes." +</p> +<p> +The ladies now left the room, followed by Alice. Presently they called +me, and, leaving the burglars in charge of the vigilant David, I went to +them. I found them making tea. +</p> +<p> +"I have been upstairs to see if George William is all right, and now I +want you to tell me what you think of that man's story," said my wife. +</p> +<p> +"I don't think it a story at all," said I. "I call it a lie. A story is +a relation which purports to be fiction, no matter how much like truth +it may be, and is intended to be received as fiction. A lie is a false +statement made with the intention to deceive, and that is what I believe +we have heard to-night." +</p> +<p> +"I agree with you exactly," said my wife. +</p> +<p> +"It may be," said Aunt Martha, "that the man's story is true. There are +some things about it which make me think so; but if he is really a +criminal he must have had trials and temptations which led him into his +present mode of life. We should consider that." +</p> +<p> +"I have been studying him," I said, "and I think he is a born rascal, +who ought to have been hung long ago." +</p> +<p> +My aunt looked at me. "John," she said, "if you believe people are born +criminals, they ought to be executed in their infancy. It could be done +painlessly by electricity, and society would be the gainer, although you +lawyers would be the losers. But I do not believe in your doctrine. If +the children of the poor were properly brought up and educated, fewer of +them would grow to be criminals." +</p> +<p> +"I don't think this man suffered for want of education," said my wife; +"he used very good language; that was one of the first things that led +me to suspect him. It is not likely that sons of boat-builders speak so +correctly and express themselves so well." +</p> +<p> +"Of course, I cannot alter your opinions," said Aunt Martha, "but the +story interested me, and I very much wish to hear what that other man +has to say for himself." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," said I, "you shall hear it; but I must drink my tea and go +back to the prisoners." +</p> +<p> +"And I," said Aunt Martha, "will take some tea to them. They may be bad +men, but they must not suffer." +</p> +<p> +I had been in the library but a few moments when Aunt Martha entered, +followed by Alice, who bore a tray containing three very large cups of +tea and some biscuit. +</p> +<p> +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to me, "if you will untie their hands, I +will give them some tea." +</p> +<p> +At these words each burglar turned his eyes on me with a quick glance. I +laughed. +</p> +<p> +"Hardly," said I. "I would not be willing to undertake the task of +tying them up again, unless, indeed, they will consent to drink some +more of my wine." +</p> +<p> +"Which we won't do," said the middle burglar, "and that's flat." +</p> +<p> +"Then they must drink this tea with their hands tied," said Aunt Martha, +in a tone of reproachful resignation, and, taking a cup from the tray, +she approached the stout man and held it up to his lips. At this act of +extreme kindness we were all amused, even the burglar's companions +smiled, and David so far forgot himself as to burst into a laugh, which, +however, he quickly checked. The stout burglar, however, saw nothing to +laugh at. He drank the tea, and never drew breath until the cup was +emptied. +</p> +<p> +"I forgot," said my aunt, as she removed the cup from his lips, "to ask +you whether you took much or little sugar." +</p> +<p> +"Don't make no difference to me," answered the man; "tea isn't malt +liquor; it's poor stuff any way, and it doesn't matter to me whether +it's got sugar in it or not, but it's moistenin', and that's what I +want. Now, madam, I'll just say to you, if ever I break into a room +where you're sleepin', I'll see that you don't come to no harm, even if +you sit up in bed and holler." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said Aunt Martha; "but I hope you will never again be +concerned in that sort of business." +</p> +<p> +He grinned. "That depends on circumstances," said he. +</p> +<p> +Aunt Martha now offered the tall man some tea, but he thanked her very +respectfully, and declined. The young man also said that he did not care +for tea, but that if the maid—looking at Alice—would give him a glass +of water he would be obliged. This was the first time he had spoken. His +voice was low and of a pleasing tone. David's face grew dark, and we +could see that he objected to this service from Alice. +</p> +<p> +"I will give him the water myself," said Aunt Martha. This she did, and +I noticed that the man's thirst was very soon satisfied. When David had +been refreshed, and biscuits refused by the burglars, who could not very +well eat them with their hands tied, we all sat down, and the stout man +began his story. I give it as he told it, omitting some coarse and rough +expressions, and a good deal of slang which would be unintelligible to +the general reader. +</p> +<p> +"There's no use," said the burglar, "for me to try and make any of you +believe that I'm a pious gentleman under a cloud, for I know I don't +look like it, and wouldn't be likely to make out a case." +</p> +<p> +At this the tall man looked at him very severely. +</p> +<p> +"I don't mean to say," he continued, "that my friend here tried anything +like that. Every word he said was perfectly true, as I could personally +testify if I was called upon the stand, and what I'm goin' to tell you +is likewise solid fact. +</p> +<p> +"My father was a cracksman, and a first-rate one, too; he brought me up +to the business, beginning when I was very small. I don't remember +havin' any mother, so I'll leave her out. My old man was very +particular; he liked to see things done right. One day I was with him, +and we saw a tinner nailing a new leader or tin water-spout to the side +of a house. +</p> +<p> +"'Look here, young man,' says Dad, 'you're makin' a pretty poor job of +that. You don't put in enough nails, and they ain't half drove in. +Supposin' there was a fire in that house some night, and the family had +to come down by the spout, and your nails would give way, and they'd +break their necks. What would you think then? And I can tell you what it +is, young man, I can appear ag'in you for doing poor work.' +</p> +<p> +"The tinner grumbled, but he used more nails and drove 'em tight, Dad +and me standin' by, an' looking at him. One rainy night not long after +this Dad took me out with him and we stopped in front of this house. +'Now, Bobbie,' said he, 'I want you to climb into that open second-story +window, and then slip down stairs and open the front door for me; the +family's at dinner.' +</p> +<p> +"'How am I to get up, Dad?' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'Oh, you can go up the spout,' says he; 'I'll warrant that it will hold +you. I've seen to it that it was put on good and strong.' +</p> +<p> +"I tried it, and as far as I can remember I never went up a safer +spout." +</p> +<p> +"And you opened the front door?" asked Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +"Indeed I did, ma'am," said the burglar, "you wouldn't catch me makin' +no mistakes in that line. +</p> +<p> +"After a while I got too heavy to climb spouts, and I took to the +regular business, and did well at it, too." +</p> +<p> +"Do you mean to say," asked Aunt Martha, "that you willingly and +premeditatedly became a thief and midnight robber?" +</p> +<p> +"That's what I am, ma'am," said he; "I don't make no bones about it. I'm +a number one, double-extra, back-springed, copper-fastened burglar, with +all the attachments and noiseless treadle. That's what I am, and no +mistake. There's all kinds of businesses in this world, and there's got +to be people to work at every one of 'em; and when a fellow takes any +particular line, his business is to do it well; that's my motto. When I +break into a house I make it a point to clean it out first-class, and +not to carry away no trash, nuther. Of course, I've had my ups and my +downs, like other people,—preachers and doctors and storekeepers,—they +all have them, and I guess the downs are more amusin' than the ups, at +least to outsiders. I've just happened to think of one of them, and I'll +let you have it. +</p> +<p> +"There was a man I knew named Jerry Hammond, that was a contractor, and +sometimes he had pretty big jobs on hand, buildin' or road-makin' or +somethin' or other. He'd contract to do anything, would Jerry, no matter +whether he'd ever done it before or not. I got to know his times and +seasons for collecting money, and I laid for him." +</p> +<p> +"Abominable meanness!" exclaimed my wife. +</p> +<p> +"It's all business," said the stout man, quite unabashed. "You don't +catch a doctor refusin' to practise on a friend, or a lawyer, nuther, +and in our line of business it's the same thing. It was about the end of +October, nigh four years ago, that I found out that Jerry had a lot of +money on hand. He'd been collectin' it from different parties, and had +got home too late in the day to put it in the bank, so says I to myself, +this is your time, old fellow, and you'd better make hay while the sun +shines. I was a little afraid to crack Jerry's house by myself, for he's +a strong old fellow, so I got a man named Putty Henderson to go along +with me. Putty was a big fellow and very handy with a jimmy; but he was +awful contrary-minded, and he wouldn't agree to clean out Jerry until I +promised to go halves with him. This wasn't fair, for it wasn't his job, +and a quarter would have been lots for him. +</p> +<p> +"But there wasn't no use arguin', and along we went, and about one +o'clock we was standin' alongside Jerry's bed, where he was fast asleep. +He was a bachelor, and lived pretty much by himself. I give him a punch +to waken him up, for we'd made up our minds that that was the way to +work this job. It wouldn't pay us to go around huntin' for Jerry's +money. He was such a sharp old fellow, it was six to four we'd never +find it. He sat up in bed with a jump like a hop-toad, and looked first +at one and then at the other of us. We both had masks on, and it wasn't +puzzlin' to guess what we was there fur. +</p> +<p> +"'Jerry Hammond,' says I, speakin' rather rough and husky, 'we knows +that you've got a lot o' money in this house, and we've come fur it. We +mean business, and there's no use foolin'. You can give it to us quiet +and easy, and keep a whole head on your shoulders, or we'll lay you out +ready fur a wake and help ourselves to the funds; and now you pays your +money and you can take your choice how you do it. There's nothin' +shabby about us, but we mean business. Don't we, pard?'—'That's so,' +says Putty. +</p> +<p> +"'Look here,' says Jerry, jest as cool as if he had been sittin' outside +on his own curbstone, 'I know you two men and no mistake. You're Tommy +Randall, and you're Putty Henderson, so you might as well take off them +masks.'—'Which I am glad to do,' says I, 'for I hate 'em,' and I put +mine in my pocket, and Putty he took off his." +</p> +<p> +"Excuse me," said Aunt Martha, interrupting at this point, "but when Mr. +Hammond mentioned the name of Tommy Randall, to whom did he refer?" +</p> +<p> +"I can explain that, madam," said the tall burglar, quickly. "This man +by his criminal course of life has got himself into a good many scrapes, +and is frequently obliged to change his name. Since I accidentally +became acquainted with him he has had several aliases, and I think that +he very often forgets that his real name is James Barlow." +</p> +<p> +"That's so," said the stout man, "there never was a more correct person +than this industrious and unfortunate man sittin' by me. I am dreadful +forgetful, and sometimes I disremember what belongs to me and what +don't. Names the same as other things. +</p> +<p> +"'Well, now, Jerry,' says I, 'you needn't think you're goin' to make +anythin' by knowin' us. You've got to fork over your cash all the same, +and if you think to make anything by peachin' on us after we've cleared +out and left you peaceful in your bed, you're mistook so far as I'm +concerned; for I've made the track clear to get out of this town before +daybreak, and I don't know when I'll come back. This place is gettin' a +little too hot for me, and you're my concludin' exercise.' Jerry he sat +still for a minute, considerin.' He wasn't no fool, and he knowed that +there wasn't no use gettin' scared, nor cussin', nor hollerin'. What's +more, he knowed that we was there to get his money, and if he didn't +fork it over he'd get himself laid out, and that was worse than losin' +money any day. 'Now, boys, says he, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll +make you an offer; a fair and square offer. What money I've got I'll +divide even with you, each of us takin' a third, and I'll try to make up +what I lose out of my next contract. Now nothin' could be no squarer +than that.'—'How much money have you got, Jerry?' says I, 'that's the +first thing to know.'—'I've got thirty-one hundred dollars even,' says +he, 'and that will be one thousand and thirty-three dollars and +thirty-three cents apiece. I've got bills to pay to-morrow for lumber +and bricks, and my third will pay 'em. If I don't I'll go to pieces. You +don't want to see me break up business, do you?'—'Now, Jerry,' says I, +'that won't do. You haven't got enough to divide into three parts. Putty +and me agree to go halves with what we get out of you, and when I lay +out a piece of business I don't make no changes. Half of that money is +for me, and half is for Putty. So just hand it out, and don't let's have +no more jabberin'.' +</p> +<p> +"Jerry he looked at me pretty hard, and then says he: 'You're about the +close-fisted and meanest man I ever met with. Here I offer you a third +part of my money, and all you've got to do is to take it and go away +peaceable. I'd be willin' to bet two to one that it's more than you +expected to get, and yet you are not satisfied; now, I'll be hanged if +I'm going to do business with you.'—'You can be hanged if you like,' +says I, 'but you'll do the business all the same.'—'No, I won't,' says +he, and he turns to Putty Henderson. 'Now, Putty,' says he, 'you've got +a pile more sense that this pal of yourn, and I'm goin' to see if I +can't do business with you. Now, you and me together can lick this Tommy +Randall just as easy as not, and if you'll help me do it I'll not only +divide the money with you, but I'll give you fifty dollars extra, so +that instead of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars—that's all he'd given +you, if he didn't cheat you—you'll have sixteen hundred, and I'll have +fifteen hundred instead of the thousand and thirty-three dollars which I +would have had left if my first offer had been took. So, Putty, what do +you say to that?' Now, Putty, he must have been a little sore with me on +account of the arguments we'd had about dividin', and he was mighty glad +besides to get the chance of makin' fifty dollars extry, and so he said +it was all right, and he'd agree. Then I thought it was about time for +me to take in some of my sail, and says I: 'Jerry, that's a pretty good +joke, and you can take my hat as soon as I get a new one, but of course +I don't mean to be hard on you, and if you really have bills to pay +to-morrow I'll take a third, and Putty'll take another, and we'll go +away peaceful.'—'No, you won't,' sings out Jerry, and with that he jumps +out of bed right at me, and Putty Henderson he comes at me from the +other side, and, between the two, they gave me the worst lickin' I ever +got in my born days, and then they dragged me down stairs and kicked me +out the front door, and I had hardly time to pick myself up before I saw +a policeman about a block off, and if he hadn't been a fat one he'd had +me sure. It wouldn't have been pleasant, for I was a good deal wanted +about that time. +</p> +<p> +"So you see, ladies and gents, that it's true what I said,—things don't +always go right in our line of business no more than any other one." +</p> +<p> +"I think you were served exactly right," said Aunt Martha; "and I wonder +such an experience did not induce you to reform." +</p> +<p> +"It did, ma'am, it did," said the burglar. "I made a vow that night that +if ever again I had to call in any one to help me in business of that +kind I wouldn't go pards with him. I'd pay him so much for the job, and +I'd take the risks, and I've stuck to it. +</p> +<p> +"But even that don't always work. Luck sometimes goes ag'in' a man, +even when he's working by himself. I remember a thing of that kind that +was beastly hard on me. A gentleman employed me to steal his daughter." +</p> +<p> +"What!" exclaimed my wife and Aunt Martha. "Steal his own daughter! What +do you mean by that?" +</p> +<p> +"That's what it was," said the stout burglar; "no more nor less. I was +recommended to the gent as a reliable party for that sort of thing, and +I met him to talk it over, and then he told me just how the case stood. +He and his wife were separated, and the daughter, about eleven years +old, had been given to her by the court, and she put it into a boardin' +school, and the gent he was goin' to Europe, and he wanted to get the +little gal and take her with him. He tried to get her once, but it +slipped up, and so there wasn't no good in his showin' hisself at the +school any more, which was in the country, and he knowed that if he +expected to get the gal he'd have to hire a professional to attend to +it. +</p> +<p> +"Now, when I heard what he had to say, I put on the strictly pious, and, +says I, 'that's a pretty bad thing you're askin' me to do, sir, to +carry away a little gal from its lovin' mother, and more 'an that, to +take it from a school where it's gettin' all the benefits of +eddication.'—'Eddication,' says he; 'that's all stuff. What eddication +the gal gets at a school like that isn't worth a row of pins, and when +they go away they don't know nothin' useful, nor even anything tip-top +ornamental. All they've learned is the pianer and higher mathematics. As +for anythin' useful, they're nowhere. There isn't one of them could +bound New Jersey or tell you when Washington crossed the +Delaware.'—'That may be, sir,' says I, 'but them higher branches comes +useful. If Washington really did cross the Delaware, your little gal +could ask somebody when it was, but she couldn't ask 'em how the pianer +was played, nor what the whole multiplication table came to added up. +Them things she'd have to learn how to do for herself. I give you my +word, sir, I couldn't take a little gal from a school, where she was +gettin' a number one eddication, silver forks and towels extry.' The +gent looked pretty glum, for he was to sail the next day, and if I +didn't do the job for him he didn't know who would, and he said that he +was sorry to see that I was goin' back on him after the recommend I'd +had, and I said that I wouldn't go back on him if it wasn't for my +conscience. I was ready to do any common piece of business, but this +stealin' away little gals from lovin' mothers was a leetle too much for +me. 'Well,' says he, 'there ain't no time to be lost, and how much more +will satisfy your conscience?' When I said a hundred dollars, we struck +the bargain. +</p> +<p> +"Well, we cut and dried that business pretty straight. I took a cab and +went out to the school, and the gent he got the key of a house that was +to let about three miles from the school, and he was to stay there and +look at that empty house until I brought him the gal, when he was to pay +me and take her away. I'd like to have had more time, so that I could go +out and see how the land laid, but there wasn't no more time, and I had +to do the best I could. The gent told me they all went a walkin' every +afternoon, and that if I laid low that would be the best time to get +her, and I must just fetch her along, no matter who hollered. +</p> +<p> +"I didn't know exactly how I was going to manage it, but I took along +with me a big bag that was made for the conveyance of an extinct +millionaire, but which had never been used, owin' to beforehand +arrangements which had been made with the party's family. +</p> +<p> +"I left the cab behind a bit of woods, not far from the school, and then +I laid low, and pretty soon I seed 'em all coming out, in a double line, +with the teacher behind 'em, for a walk. I had a description of the +little gal as was wanted, and as they come nearer I made her out easy. +She was the only real light-haired one in the lot. I hid behind some +bushes in the side of the road, and when they come up, and the +light-haired little gal was just opposite to me, I jumped out of the +bushes and made a dash at her. Whoop! what a row there was in one +second! Such a screamin' and screechin' of gals, such a pilin' on top +each other, and the teacher on top the whole of 'em, bangin' with her +umbrella; they pulled at the gal and they pulled at me, an' they yelled +and they howled, and I never was in such a row and hope I never shall be +again, and I grabbed that girl by her frock, and I tumbled some over one +way and some another, and I got the umbrella over my head, but I didn't +mind it, and I clapped that bag over the little gal, and I jerked, up +her feet and let her slip into it, and then I took her up like a bag of +meal, and put across the field, with the whole kit and boodle after me. +But I guess most of 'em must have tumbled down in hysterics, judgin' +from the screechin', and I got up to the cab and away we went. Well, +when we got to the house where I was to meet the gent, he began straight +off to blow at me. 'What do you mean,' he yelled, 'bringin' my daughter +in a bag?'—'It's the only way to do it, sir,' says I; 'they can't holler +and they can't kick, and people passin' by don't know what you've got,' +and so sayin' I untied the strings, put the little gal on her feet, and +pulled off the bag, and then I'd be hanged if I ever saw a man so ragin' +mad as he was. 'What do I want with that gal?' he cried; 'that's not my +daughter. That girl's hair is as black as a coal, and she's a Jew +besides.' As soon as I sot my eyes on the little varmint it come over me +that I got the thing crooked, and in the scrimmage I let go of the right +gal and grabbed another. +</p> +<p> +"I don't see how a man could help makin' mistakes with that +school-teacher's umbrella whanging away at his knowledge box, but I +wasn't goin' to let on. 'She ain't no Jew, nuther,' says I, 'and she's +your daughter, too; you needn't try to play no tricks on me. Pay me my +money and take her away as quick as you can, that's my advice, or before +you know it you'll be nabbed.'—'Pay ye!' he yelled; 'do you think I'd +pay you anything for that little Jew?'—'She's just as much a Christian +as you are,' says I. 'Ain't you a Christian, little gal? and is'nt this +gentleman your father? and ain't you surprised that he wants to give you +back to be put in the bag?' I said this hopin' she'd have sense enough +to say he was her father so's to get rid of me. +</p> +<p> +"The wretched gal had been clean dumbfounded when she was took out of +the bag, and hadn't done nothin' so far but blubber and cry, and try to +get away, which she couldn't, because I held her frock; but now she ups +and screams he wasn't her father, and she'd never seen him before, and +then he storms and swears, and tells me to take her back where I got +her, and I tell him I'll see him hanged first, and what I want is my +money; she screams, and he swears he'll not pay me a cent, and I squares +off and says that I'll thrash him out of his skin, and then he calls in +his coachman, and they both make at me, and I backs out the door to get +my cabby to stand by me, and I found that he'd cut out, havin' most +likely got frightened, afraid of bein' mixed up in trouble. Then I seed +on the high road, some half a mile away, some men comin' gallopin', and +the gent he looked out and seed 'em, too, and then says he to me, +'You'll jist take that little Jew gal back where you got her from; she's +no use to me; I'm goin';' and at that I hollered for my money, and made +a grab at him, but the coachman he tripped me over backward, and before +I could git up again they was both off with the horses on a run. +</p> +<p> +"I was so mad I couldn't speak, but there wasn't no time for foolin', +and I hadn't made up my mind which door I should cut out of, when the +fellows on horseback went ridin' past as hard as they could go. They +must have seed the carriage drivin' away, and thought for sure it had +the gal in it, and they was after it, lickety-split. +</p> +<p> +"When they was clean gone I looked round for the little gal, but +couldn't see her, but all a-sudden she came out of the fireplace, where +she'd been hidin'. She'd got over her cryin', and over her scare, too, +judgin' from her looks. 'I'm glad he's gone,' says she, 'and I'm mighty +glad, too, that Mr. Haskins and them other men didn't see me.'—'Who's +they?' says I.—'They's neighbors,' says she;' if they knew I was here +they'd took me back.'—'Well, you little minx,' say I, 'isn't that what +you want?'—'No,' says she. 'I didn't want to go with that man, for I +don't know him, and I hate him, but I don't want to go back to that +school. I hate it worse than anything in the whole world. You haven't no +idea what a horrid place it is. They just work you to death, and don't +give you half enough to eat. My constitution won't stand it. I've told +Pop that, and he thinks so too, but Marm, she don't believe in it, and +my stayin' there is all her doin'. I've been wantin' to get away for +ever so long, but I didn't want to be took off in a bag; but now that +I'm out of that horrid hole I don't want to go back, and if you'll take +me home to Pop, I know he won't let me go back, and he'll pay you real +handsome besides.'—'Who's your Pop?' says I.—'He's Mr. Groppeltacker, +of Groppeltacker & Mintz, corset findings, seven hundred and something +or other, I forget the number now, Broadway. Oh, Pop does a lot of +business, I tell you, and he's got lots of money. He sends corset +findings to South America, and Paris, and Chicago, and Madagascar, and +the uttermost parts of the earth. I've heard him say that often, and you +needn't be afraid of his not bein' able to pay you. A lot more than that +man would have paid you for his little gal, if you'd catched the right +one. So if you take me to Pop, and get me there safe and sound, it will +be an awful good speck for you.' +</p> +<p> +"Now, I begins to think to myself that perhaps there was somethin' in +what that little Jew gal was sayin', and that I might make something out +of the gal after all. I didn't count on gettin' a big pile out of old +Groppeltacker,—it wasn't likely he was that kind of a man,—but +whatever I did get would be clean profit, and I might as well try it on. +He couldn't make no charge ag'in me fur bringin' him his daughter, if +she asked me to do it; so says I to her, 'Now, if I take you home to +your Pop, will you promise on your word an' honour, that you won't say +nothin' about my carryin' you off in a bag, and say that you seed me +walkin' along the road and liked my looks, and told me you were +sufferin', and asked me to take you home to your kind parents, where you +might be took proper care of; and that I said I wasn't goin' that way, +but I'd do it out of pure Christian charity, and nothin' more nor less, +and here you was? And then, of course, you can tell him he ought to do +the handsome thing by me.'—'I'll do that,' says she, 'and I tell how +you talked to me awful kind for more than an hour, tryin' to keep me to +stay at the school, and it wasn't till I got down on my knees and weeped +that you agreed to take me to my kind father.'—'All right,' says I, 'I +might as well take you along, but we'll have to go back by the railroad +and foot it, at least two miles, to the station, and I don't know about +walkin' across the country with a little girl dressed as fine as you +are. I might get myself suspicioned.'—'That's so,' says she; 'we might +meet somebody that'd know me,' and then she wriggled up her little +forehead and began to think. I never did see such a little gal as sharp +as that one was; needles was nothin' to her. In about a minute she says, +'Where's that bag of yourn?'—'Here it is,' says I; and then she took it +and looked at it up and down, with her head cocked on one side. 'If I'd +somethin' to cut that bag with,' says she, 'I could fix myself up so +that nobody'd know me, don't care who it was.'—'I don't want that bag +cut,' says I; 'it's an extry good bag; it was made for a particular +purpose, and cost money.'—'Pop will pay expenses,' says she; 'how much +did it cost?'—'It was four dollars cash,' said I.—'They cheated you +like everything,' says she; 'you could get a bag like that any day for a +dollar and seventy-five cents. Will you let it go at that?'—'All +right,' says I, for I was tickled to see how sharp that little Jew gal +was, and ten to one I'd throwed away the bag before we got to town; so +she pulled a little book out of her pocket with a pencil stuck in it, +and turnin' over to a blank page she put down, 'Bag, one dollar and +seventy-five;' then she borrows my big knife, and holdin' the top of the +bag up ag'in her belt, she made me stick a pin in it about a +hand's-breadth from the floor; then she took the knife and cut the bag +clean across, me a-holdin' one side of it; then she took the top end of +that bag and slipped it on her, over her head and shoulders, and tied +the drawin' strings in it round her waist, and it hung around her just +like a skirt, nearly touchin' the ground; then she split open the rest +of the bag, and made a kind of shawl out of it, puttin' it into shape +with a lot o' pins, and pinnin' it on herself real clever. She had lots +of pins in her belt, and she told me that she never passed a pin in that +school without pickin' it up, and that she had four hundred and +fifty-nine of them now in her room, which she was mighty sorry to leave +behind, and that these she had now was this day's pickin' up. +</p> +<p> +"When she got done workin' at herself you couldn't see not a ribbon nor +a hem of her fine clothes; it was all black skirt and shawl, and she'd +put up her sleeve, so that when her arm stuck out it was bare. Then she +took all the ribbons and flowers off her hat, and crumpled it up, and +when she tied it on what a guy she was. 'Now,' says she, 'I can go +barefoot.'—'Which you won't,' says I, 'for you'll get your feet all +cut, but you can muddy your shoes,' which she did, I pumpin' on 'em, so +that the dust in the back yard would stick. Then we starts off across +the country, and, upon my word, I was pretty nigh ashamed to be seen +walkin' with such a little scarecrow. When I bought the tickets at the +station she asked me how much they was, and put it down in her book. +When we got into the cars the people all looked hard at her, and I +reckon they thought some kind of a home had been burnt down, and this +was one of the orphans that had been saved. But they didn't say nothin', +and she fixed herself as comfortable as you please; and before long a +boy came through the car with fruit in a basket, and then says she to +me, 'I want two apples.' The boy had gone past us, but I got up and +followed him and bought her two apples. 'How much did you give for +them?' says she, when I come back.—'They was two for five cents,' says +I.—'Well,' says she, 'they do stick you dreadful. Two for three cents +is all papa or I pays for apples like them,' and she took out her little +book and put down, 'Apples, three cents.'—'Very well, miss,' says I, +'but if you want any more refreshments you buy 'em yourself.'—'I think +I'd better,' says she, and she went to work eatin' them two apples. She +hadn't more than got through with 'em when the boy came around ag'in. 'I +want a banana,' says she; 'lend me five cents,' which I did, and she put +down, 'Cash, five cents.' Then the boy come up, and says she, 'How much +are your bananas?'—'Five cents,' said he.—'For two?' says she.—'No,' +says he, 'for one.'—'What do you take me for?' says she. 'I've bought +bananas before. I'll give you three cents for that one,' pointin' to the +biggest in the lot.—'I can't do that,' said the boy; 'the price is five +cents.'—'I'd like a banana,' says she, 'but I don't pay more'n three +cents; take it or leave it,' and with that the boy went on. 'Now,' says +I, 'you've gouged yourself out of a banana.'—'Not a bit of it,' says +she; 'he'll be back;' and in two minutes he was back, and said she might +have it for three cents. 'Have you got two coppers?' said she. 'Let me +see 'em.' He said he had, and showed 'em to her, and she took 'em and +the banana, and then give him five cents, and then she didn't give the +change to me, but put it in her pocket. 'Now,' says she, 'if you'd buy +things that way, you'd be rich in time.' +</p> +<p> +"When we got to the city we took the elevated and went up town to +Forty-eighth street, and then walked over to her father's house. It was +a big one, on one of the cross streets. When we got there, she told me +to wait a minute, and, lookin' around to see that nobody was comin', she +slipped off the skirt and the cape she had made and rolled 'em up in a +bundle. 'It don't matter about my hat and shoes,' says she, 'but they +wouldn't know me in such duds.' Then, handin' me the bundle, she said, +'For twenty-five cents you can get that bag mended just as good as new, +so you can take it, and it will save us a dollar and a half.'—'No, you +don't,' says I, for I'd had enough of her stinginess. 'I don't touch +that bag ag'in, and I made up my mind that minute to charge the old man +five dollars' worth. When the front door was opened, the servant gal +looked as if she couldn't believe her eyes, but my young woman was as +cool as you please, and she had me showed into a room off the hall, and +then she went up-stairs. +</p> +<p> +"I sat a-waitin' a long time, which gave me a good chance to look around +at things. The room was real handsome, and I took a peep at the window +fastenin's and the lay of the doors, thinkin' the knowledge might come +in handy some time. Right in front of me on a table was a little yellow +mouse, and it struck me as I looked at it that that must be gold. I +listened if anybody was comin', and then I picked it up to see if it +really was. I thought I heard the door-bell ring just then, and shut it +up in my hand quick, but nobody went to the door; and then I looked at +the little mouse, and if it wasn't pure gold it was the best imitation +ever I see, so I slipped it quietly in my pocket to look at it ag'in +when I had time. +</p> +<p> +"Pretty soon old Groppeltacker come in, shut the door, and sot down. 'So +you brought my daughter back,' says he.—'Yes,' says I.—'And you expect +to be paid for it,' says he.—'Yes,' says I, 'I do.'—'How much do you +ask for your services?' says he. Now, this was a sort of a staggerer, +for I hadn't made up my mind how much I was goin' to ask; but there +wasn't time for no more thinkin' about it, and so says I, plum, 'A +hundred dollars, and there was some expenses besides.'—'Well, well,' +says he, 'that seems like a good deal, just for bringin' a little gal +from school. It couldn't have took you more'n a couple of hours.'—'I +don't charge for time,' says I, 'it's for the risks and the science of +the thing. There's mighty few men in this town could have brought your +daughter home as neat as I did.'—'Well, well,' says he, rubbin' his +hands, 'I expect I'll have to pay for the whole term of the school, +whether she's there or not, and the business will come heavy on me. +Don't you think sixty dollars would pay you?' Now, I know when you deal +with this sort of a man there's always a good deal of difference +splittin'; and so, says I, 'No, it won't. I might take ninety dollars, +but that's the very lowest peg.'—'The very lowest?' says he, gettin' up +and walkin' about a little; and then I thought I heard the door-bell +ring again, and I was dreadful afraid somebody would come and call off +the old man before he finished the bargain. 'Well,' says I, 'we'll call +it eighty-five and expenses, and there I'll stop.' +</p> +<p> +"Groppeltacker, now he set down ag'in and looked hard at me. 'I didn't +ask you to bring my daughter back,' says he, speakin' gruff, and very +different from the way he spoke before, 'and what's more, I didn't want +her back, and what's more yet, I'm not goin' to pay you a red +cent.'—'Now, look a-here,' says I, mighty sharp, 'none o' that, old +man; fork over the money or I'll lay you out stiff as a poker, and help +myself. I'm not a fellow to be fooled with, and there's nobody in this +house can stop me.' Old Groppeltacker, he didn't turn a hair, but just +sot there, and says he, 'Before you blow any more, suppose you take my +little gold mouse out of your pocket and hand it to me.' I must say I +was took back at this, but I spoke back, as bold as brass, and said I +never seed his gold mouse. 'O, ho!' says he, 'what you didn't see was +the electric button under the table cover which rung a bell when the +mouse was picked up. That's what I call my mouse-trap.' +</p> +<p> +"At this I jist b'iled over. 'Now,' says I, 'just you hand out every +cent you've got, and your watch, too; not another word.' And I jumped up +and clapped my hand on my pistol in my hip-pocket, and just at that +minute there was a click and the nippers were on me, and there was a big +policeman with his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't speak, I was so +b'ilin' and so dumbfounded both at once. Old Groppeltacker he just +leaned back and he laughed. 'You came in,' he said to the cop,'jest the +second I rang, and as soft as a cat, and the first thing that I want +you to do is to take that gold mouse out of his pocket, and I'll be on +hand whenever you let me know I'm wanted.' The cop he took the gold +mouse out of my pocket, and says he, 'I know this fellow, and if I'm not +mistook, they'll be more charges than yourn made ag'in him.' There +wasn't no chance to show fight, so I didn't do it, but I says to old +Groppeltacker, 'There's my expenses, you've got to pay them, +anyway.'—'All right,' says he, 'jist you send in your bill marked +correct, by my daughter, and I'll settle it,' and he laughed again, and +the cop he took me off. Well, ladies and gents, that little piece of +business, together with some other old scores, took me to Sing Sing for +three years, and it tain't six months since I got out, so you can see +for yourselves what hard times a fellow in my line of business sometimes +has." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Aunt Martha, "I don't approve of the Groppeltacker sort of +people, but if there were more of that kind I believe there would be +fewer of your kind. That story shows you in such a bad light that I +believe it's true." +</p> +<p> +"Every word of it," said the man. "I wish it wasn't." +</p> +<p> +And now I spoke. "Since you claim to be a truth-telling being," I said +to the stout burglar, "suppose you tell me why you never attempted +before to break into my house. Every considerable dwelling in this +neighbourhood has been entered, and I have no doubt you are the men who +committed all the burglaries." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," said he; "not men, I am the man who did 'em all; but these +two friends of mine was never with me before in a bit of business like +this. 'Tain't in their line. I have had pals with me, but they was +professionals. These ain't cracksmen, they don't know nothin' about it; +but this one is handy at tools, and that's the reason I brung him along, +but you see he kicked, and was goin' to give me away, and this young +gentleman"— +</p> +<p> +"Never mind about that young gentleman," I said; "I have a certain +curiosity to know why my house was not entered when the others were." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said he, "I don't mind tellin' yer how that was. It was on +account of your baby. We don't like to crack a house where there's a +pretty small baby that's liable to wake up and howl any minute, and +rouse up the rest of the family. There's no workin' in a house with +comfort when there's such a young one about. I'll tell you what it is, +all your burglar-alarms and your dogs ain't worth nuthin' alongside of a +baby for guardin' a house. If a cracksman ain't careful the alarms will +go off, and if he don't know how to manage dogs, the dogs will bark. But +by George, sir, there ain't no providin' ag'in a baby. He'll howl any +time, and nobody can tell when, so I waited till your baby was a little +more settled in its ways and slept soundly, and then we come along, and +here we are." +</p> +<p> +This statement very much surprised me, and did not elate me. Without +saying so to any one, I had flattered myself that the burglars had heard +of my precautions, and of my excellent stock of firearms, and perhaps +had got a notion that I would be an intrepid man to deal with, and it +was somewhat humiliating to find that it was our baby the burglars were +afraid of, and not myself. My wife was amazed. +</p> +<p> +"Can it be possible," she said, "that these people know so much about +our baby, and that George William has been protecting this house?" +</p> +<p> +"It makes my flesh creep," said Aunt Martha. "Do you know everything +about all of us?" +</p> +<p> +"Wish I did, ma'am," said the stout burglar; "wish I'd known about that +beastly liquor." +</p> +<p> +"Well, we've had enough of this," said I, rising; "and, my dear, you and +Aunt Martha must be ready to go to bed, and David and I will keep guard +over these fellows until morning." +</p> +<p> +At this instant the youngest burglar spoke. His face wore a very anxious +expression. +</p> +<p> +"May I ask, sir," he said, "what you intend to do with me in the +morning?" +</p> +<p> +"I have already said," I answered, "that I shall then hand over all of +you to the officers of justice of this country." +</p> +<p> +"But, sir," said the young man, "you will surely except me. I am not at +all concerned in this matter, and it would be of the greatest possible +injury to me to be mixed up in it, or to be mentioned in public reports +as an associate of a criminal. I'm not acquainted with the gentleman at +the other end of the bench, but I have every reason to believe from what +he said to me that he intended to notify you if this James Barlow +proceeded to any open act. For myself, I beg you will allow me to state +who and what I am, and to tell you by what a strange concatenation of +circumstances I happen to find myself in my present position—one which, +I assure you, causes me the greatest embarrassment and anxiety." +</p> +<p> +"We've had enough story-telling for one night," said I, "and you had +better reserve your statement for the magistrate." +</p> +<p> +Here Aunt Martha put in her voice. +</p> +<p> +"That is not fair," she said, "two of them have been allowed to speak, +and this one has just as much right to be heard as the others. What do +you say, Cornelia?" +</p> +<p> +I hoped that my wife would put herself on my side, and would say that we +had enough of this sort of thing; but female curiosity is an unknown +quantity, and she unhesitatingly replied that she would like to hear the +young man's story. I sat down in despair. It was useless to endeavour to +withstand this yearning for personal information,—one of the curses, I +may say, of our present civilization. The young man gave no time for +change of opinion, but immediately began. His voice was rich and rather +low, and his manner exceedingly pleasing and gentle. +</p> +<p> +"I wish to state in the first place," said he, "that I am a reporter +for the press. In the exercise of my vocation I have frequently found +myself in peculiar and unpleasant positions, but never before have I +been in a situation so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this. In the +course of my studies and experiences I have found that in literature and +journalism, as well as in art, one can make a true picture only of what +one has seen. Imagination is all very well, often grand and beautiful; +but imaginative authors show us their inner selves and not our outer +world; there is to-day a demand for the real, and it is a demand which +will be satisfied with nothing but the truth. I have determined, as far +as in me lies, to endeavour to supply this demand, and I have devoted +myself to the study of Realism. +</p> +<p> +"With this end in view, I have made it a rule never to describe anything +I have not personally seen and examined. If we would thoroughly +understand and appreciate our fellow-beings we must know what they do +and how they do it; otherwise we cannot give them credit for their +virtues, or judge them properly for their faults. If I could prevent +crime I would annihilate it, and when it ceased to exist the necessity +for describing it would also cease. But it does exist. It is a powerful +element in the life of the human race. Being known and acknowledged +everywhere, it should be understood; therefore it should be described. +The grand reality of which we are a part can never be truly comprehended +until we comprehend all its parts. But I will not philosophize. I have +devoted myself to Realism, and in order to be a conscientious student I +study it in all its branches. I am frequently called upon to write +accounts of burglars and burglaries, and in order thoroughly to +understand these people and their method of action I determined, as soon +as the opportunity should offer itself, to accompany a burglarious +expedition. My sole object was the acquisition of knowledge of the +subject,—knowledge which to me would be valuable, and, I may say, +essential. I engaged this man, James Barlow, to take me with him the +first time he should have on hand an affair of this kind, and thus it is +that you find me here to-night in this company. As I came here for the +purpose of earnest and thorough investigation, I will frankly admit that +I would not have interfered with his processes, but at the same time I +would have seen that no material injuries should result to any members +of this family." +</p> +<p> +"That was very kind of you," I said, at which my wife looked at me +somewhat reproachingly. +</p> +<p> +"If he really intended it," she remarked, "and I do not see why that was +not the case, it was kind in him." +</p> +<p> +"As for me," said Aunt Martha, very sympathetically, "I think that the +study of Realism may be carried a great deal too far. I do not think +that there is the slightest necessity for people to know anything about +burglars. If people keep talking and reading about diseases they will +get them, and if they keep talking and reading about crimes they will +find that iniquity is catching, the same as some other things. Besides, +this realistic description gets to be very tiresome. If you really want +to be a writer, young man, why don't you try your hand on some original +composition? Then you might write something which would be interesting." +</p> +<p> +"Ah, madam," said the young man, casting his eyes on the floor, "it +would be far beyond my power to write anything more wonderful than what +I have known and seen! If I may tell you some of the things which have +happened to me, you will understand why I have become convinced that in +this world of realities imagination must always take a second place." +</p> +<p> +"Of course we want to hear your story," said Aunt Martha; "that is what +we are here for." +</p> +<p> +"If I was unbound," said the young man, looking at me, "I could speak +more freely." +</p> +<p> +"No doubt of it," said I; "but perhaps you might run away before you +finished your story. I wouldn't have that happen for the world." +</p> +<p> +"Don't make fun of him," said Aunt Martha. "I was going to ask you to +cut him loose, but after what you say I think it would perhaps be just +as well to keep them all tied until the narratives are completed." +</p> +<p> +With a sigh of resignation the young man began his story. +</p> +<p> +"I am American born, but my father, who was a civil engineer and of high +rank in his profession, was obliged, when I was quite a small boy, to go +to Austria, where he had made extensive contracts for the building of +railroads. In that country I spent the greater part of my boyhood and +youth. There I was educated in the best schools, my father sparing no +money to have me taught everything that a gentleman should know. My +mother died when I was a mere infant, and as my father's vocation made +it necessary for him to travel a great deal, my life was often a lonely +one. For society I depended entirely upon my fellow-scholars, my tutors, +and masters. It was my father's intention, however, that when I had +finished my studies I should go to one of the great capitals, there to +mix with the world. +</p> +<p> +"But when this period arrived I was in no haste to avail myself of the +advantages he offered me. My tastes were studious, my disposition +contemplative, and I was a lover of rural life. +</p> +<p> +"My father had leased an old castle in Carinthia, not far from the +mountains, and here he kept his books and charts, and here he came for +recreation and study whenever his arduous duties gave him a little +breathing-spell. For several months I had lived at this castle, happy +when my father was with me and happy when I was alone. I expected soon +to go to Vienna, where my father would introduce me to some of his +influential friends. But day by day I postponed the journey. +</p> +<p> +"Walking one morning a few miles from the castle, I saw at the edge of a +piece of woodland a female figure seated beneath a tree. Approaching +nearer, I perceived that she was young, and that she was sketching. I +was surprised, for I knew that in this part of the world young women, at +least those of the upper classes, to which the costume and tastes of +this one showed her to belong, were not allowed to wander about the +country by themselves; but although I stood still and watched the young +lady for some time, no companion appeared upon the scene. +</p> +<p> +"The path I had intended to take led past the piece of woodland, and I +saw no reason why I should diverge from my proposed course. I +accordingly proceeded, and when I reached the young lady I bowed and +raised my hat. I think that for some time she had perceived my approach, +and she looked up at me with a face that was half merry, half +inquisitive, and perfectly charming. I cannot describe the effect which +her expression had upon me. I had never seen her before, but her look +was not such a one as she would bestow upon a stranger. I had the most +powerful desire to stop and speak to her, but having no right to do so, +I should have passed on, had she not said to me, in the best of English, +'Good-morning, sir.' Then I stopped, you may be sure. I was so +accustomed to speak to those I meet in either French or German that I +involuntarily said to her,'<i>Bon jour, Mademoiselle</i>.'—'You need not +speak French,' she said; 'I am neither English nor American, but I speak +English. Are you the gentleman who lives in Wulrick Castle? If so, we +are neighbours, and I wish you would tell me why you live there all the +time alone.' +</p> +<p> +"At this I sat down by her. 'I am that person,' I said, and handed her +my card. 'But before I say any more, please tell me who you are.'—'I am +Marie Dorfler. My father's house is on the other side of this piece of +woodland; you cannot see it from here; this is part of his estate. And +now tell me why you live all by yourself in that old ruin.'—'It is not +altogether a ruin,' I answered; 'part of it is in very good condition.' +And then I proceeded to give her an account of my method of life and my +reasons for it. 'It is interesting,' she said, 'but it is very odd.'—'I +do not think it half so odd,' I answered, 'as that you should be here by +yourself.'—'That is truly an out-of-the-way sort of thing,' she said; +'but just now I am doing out-of-the-way things. If I do not do them now, +I shall never have the opportunity again. In two weeks I shall be +married, and then I shall go to Prague, and everything will be by line +and rule. No more delightful rambles by myself. No more sitting quietly +in the woods watching the little birds and hares. No more making a +sketch just where I please, no matter whether the ground be damp or +not.'—'I wonder that you are allowed to do these things now,' I +said.—'I am not allowed,' she answered. 'I do them in hours when I am +supposed to be painting flower pieces in an upper room.'—'But when +you're married,' I said, 'your husband will be your companion in such +rambles.'—'Hardly,' she said, shrugging her shoulders; 'he will be +forty-seven on the thirteenth of next month, which I believe is July, +and he is a great deal more grizzled than my father, who is past fifty. +He is very particular about all sorts of things, as I suppose he has to +be, as he is a Colonel of infantry. Nobody could possibly disapprove of +my present performances more than he would.' I could not help +ejaculating, 'Why, then, do you marry him?' She smiled at my +earnestness. 'Oh, that is all arranged,' she said, 'and I have nothing +to do with it. I have known for more than a year that I'm to marry +Colonel Kaldhein, but I cannot say that I have given myself much concern +about it until recently. It now occurs to me that if I expect to amuse +myself in the way I best like I must lose no time doing so.' I looked at +the girl with earnest interest. 'It appears to me,' said I, 'that your +ways of amusing yourself are very much like mine.'—'That is true,' she +said, looking up with animation, 'they are. Is it not delightful to be +free, to go where you like, and do what you please, without any one to +advise or interfere with you?'—'It is delightful,' said I; and for half +an hour we sat and talked about these delights and kindred subjects. She +was much interested in our castle, and urged me to make a sketch of it, +so that she may know what it now looked like. She had seen it when a +little girl, but never since, and had been afraid to wander very far in +this direction by herself. I told her that it would be far better for +her to see the castle with her own eyes, and that I could conduct her to +an eminence, not half a mile away, where she could have an excellent +view of it. This plan greatly pleased her; but looking at her watch she +said that it would be too late for her to go that morning, but if I +happened to come that way the next day, and she should be there to +finish her sketch, she would be delighted to have me show her the +eminence." +</p> +<p> +"I think," interrupted Aunt Martha, "that she was a very imprudent young +woman." +</p> +<p> +"That may be," he replied, "but you must remember, madam, that up to +this time the young lady had been subjected to the most conventional +trammels, and that her young nature had just burst out into temporary +freedom and true life. It was the caged bird's flight into the bright +summer air." +</p> +<p> +"Just the kind of birds," said Aunt Martha, "that shouldn't be allowed +to fly, at least until they are used to it. But you can go on with your +story." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said the young man, "the next day we met I took her to the +piece of high ground I had mentioned, and she sketched the castle. +After that we met again and again, nearly every day. This sort of story +tells itself. I became madly in love with her, and I am sure she liked +me very well; at all events I was a companion of her own age and tastes, +and such a one, she assured me, she had never known before, and probably +would never know again." +</p> +<p> +"There was some excuse for her," said Aunt Martha; "but still she had no +right to act in that way, especially as she was so soon to be married." +</p> +<p> +"I do not think that she reasoned much upon the subject," said the young +man, "and I am sure I did not. We made no plans. Every day we thought +only of what we were doing or saying, and not at all what we had done or +would do. We were very happy. +</p> +<p> +"One morning I was sitting by Marie in the very place where I had first +met her, when we heard some one rapidly approaching. Looking up I saw a +tall man in military uniform. 'Heavens!' cried Marie, 'it is Colonel +Kaldhein.' +</p> +<p> +"The situation was one of which an expectant bridegroom would not be +likely to ask many questions. Marie was seated on a low stone with her +drawing-block in her lap. She was finishing the sketch on which she was +engaged when I first saw her, and I was kneeling close to her, looking +over her work and making various suggestions, and I think my countenance +must have indicated that I found it very pleasant to make suggestions in +that way to such a pretty girl. Our heads were very close together. +Sometimes we looked at the paper, sometimes we looked at each other. But +in the instant I caught sight of the Colonel the situation had changed. +I rose to my feet, and Marie began to pick up the drawing materials, +which were lying about her. +</p> +<p> +"Colonel Kaldhein came forward almost at a run. His eyes blazed through +his gold spectacles, and his close-cut reddish beard seemed to be +singeing with the fires of rage. I had but an instant for observation, +for he came directly up to me, and with a tremendous objurgation he +struck me full in the face with such force that the blow stretched me +upon the ground. +</p> +<p> +"I was almost stunned; but I heard a scream from Marie, a storm of +angry words from Kaldhein, and I felt sure he was about to inflict +further injury. He was a much stronger man than I was, and probably was +armed. With a sudden instinct of self-preservation I rolled down a +little declivity on the edge of which I had fallen, and staggering to my +feet, plunged into a thicket and fled. Even had I been in the full +possession of my senses, I knew that under the circumstances I would +have been of no benefit to Marie had I remained upon the scene. The last +thing I heard was a shout from Kaldhein, in which he declared that he +would kill me yet. For some days I did not go out of my castle. My face +was bruised, my soul was dejected. I knew there was no possible chance +that I should meet Marie, and that there was a chance that I might meet +the angry Colonel. An altercation at this time would be very annoying +and painful to the lady, no matter what the result, and I considered it +my duty to do everything that was possible to avoid a meeting with +Kaldhein. Therefore, as I have said, I shut myself up within the walls +of old Wulrick, and gave strict orders to my servants to admit no one. +</p> +<p> +"It was at this time that the strangest events of my life occurred. +Sitting in an upper room, gazing out of the window, over the fields, +through which I had walked so happily but two days before to meet the +lady whom I had begun to think of as my Marie, I felt the head of a dog +laid gently in my lap. Without turning my head I caressed the animal, +and stroked the long hair on his neck. +</p> +<p> +"My hound Ajax was a dear companion to me in this old castle, although I +never took him in my walks, as he was apt to get into mischief, and when +I turned my head to look at him he was gone; but strange to say, the +hand which had been stroking the dog felt as if it were still resting on +his neck. +</p> +<p> +"Quickly drawing my hand toward me it struck the head of the dog, and, +moving it backward and forward, I felt the ears and nose of the animal, +and then became conscious that its head was still resting upon my knee. +</p> +<p> +"I started back. Had I been stricken with blindness? But no; turning my +head, I could plainly see everything in the room. The scene from the +window was as distinct as it ever had been. I sprang to my feet, and, +as I stood wondering what this strange thing could mean, the dog brushed +up against me and licked my hand. Then the idea suddenly flashed into my +mind that by some occult influence Ajax had been rendered invisible. +</p> +<p> +"I dashed down-stairs, and although I could neither see nor hear it, I +felt that the dog was following me. Rushing into the open air, I saw one +of my men. 'Where is Ajax?' I cried. 'A very strange thing has happened, +sir,' he said, 'and I should have come to tell you of it, had I not been +unwilling to disturb your studies. About two hours ago Ajax was lying +here in the courtyard; suddenly he sprang to his feet with a savage +growl. His hair stood straight upon his back, his tail was stiff, and +his lips were drawn back, showing his great teeth. I turned to see what +had enraged him, but there was absolutely nothing, sir,—nothing in the +world. And never did I see Ajax so angry. But this lasted only for an +instant. Ajax suddenly backed, his tail dropped between his legs, his +head hung down, and with a dreadful howl he turned, and, leaping the +wall of the courtyard, he disappeared. I have since been watching for +his return. The gate is open, and as soon as he enters I shall chain +him, for I fear the dog is mad.' +</p> +<p> +"I did not dare to utter the thoughts that were in my mind, but, bidding +the man inform me the moment Ajax returned, I reëntered the castle and +sat down in the great hall. +</p> +<p> +"The dog was beside me; his head again lay upon my knees. With a feeling +of awe, yet strangely enough without fear, I carefully passed my hand +over the animal's head. I felt his ears, his nose, his jaws, and his +neck. They were not the head, the ears, the nose, the jaws, or the neck +of Ajax! +</p> +<p> +"I had heard of animals, and even human beings, who were totally +invisible, but who still retained their form, their palpability, and all +the powers and functions of life. I had heard of houses haunted by +invisible animals; I had read De Kay's story of the maiden Manmat'ha, +whose coming her lover perceived by the parting of the tall grain in the +field of ripe wheat through which she passed, but whose form, although +it might be folded in his arms, was yet as invisible to his sight as the +summer air. I did not doubt for a moment that the animal that had come +to me was one of those strange beings. I lifted his head; it was heavy. +I took hold of a paw which he readily gave me; he had every attribute of +a real dog, except that he could not be seen." +</p> +<p> +"I call that perfectly horrible," said Aunt Martha with a sort of a +gasp. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps," said the young man, "you would prefer that I should not +continue." +</p> +<p> +At this both my wife and Aunt Martha declared that he must go on, and +even I did not object to hearing the rest of the story. +</p> +<p> +"Well," said the young man, "Ajax never came back. It is generally +believed that dogs can see things which are invisible to us, and I am +afraid that my faithful hound was frightened, perhaps to death, when he +found that the animal whose entrance into the courtyard he had perceived +was a supernatural thing. +</p> +<p> +"But if I needed a canine companion I had one, for by day or night this +invisible dog never left me. When I slept he lay on the floor by the +side of my bed; if I put down my hand I could always feel his head, and +often he would stand up and press his nose against me, as if to assure +me that he was there. This strange companionship continued for several +days, and I became really attached to the invisible animal. His constant +companionship seemed to indicate that he had come to guard me, and that +he was determined to do it thoroughly. I felt so much confidence in his +protection, although I knew not how it could be exerted, that one +morning I decided to take a walk, and with my hand on the head of the +dog, to make sure that he was with me, I strolled into the open country. +</p> +<p> +"I had walked about a mile, and was approaching a group of large trees, +when suddenly from behind one of them the tall figure of a man appeared. +In an instant I knew it to be Colonel Kaldhein; his was a face which +could not easily be forgotten. Without a word he raised a pistol which +he held in his hand and fired at me. The ball whistled over my head. +</p> +<p> +"I stopped short, startled, and frightened almost out of my senses. I +was unarmed, and had no place of refuge. It was plain that the man was +determined to kill me. +</p> +<p> +"Quickly recocking his pistol, Kaldhein raised it again. I involuntarily +shrank back, expecting death; but before he could fire his arm suddenly +dropped, and the pistol was discharged into the ground. Then began a +strange scene. The man shouted, kicked, and beat up and down with his +arms; his pistol fell from his hand, he sprang from side to side, he +turned around, he struggled and yelled. +</p> +<p> +"I stood astounded. For an instant I supposed the man had been overtaken +by some sort of fit; but in a flash the truth came to me,—Kaldhein was +being attacked by my protector, the invisible dog. +</p> +<p> +"Horrified by this conviction, my first impulse was to save the man; +and, without knowing what I was going to do, I stepped quickly toward +him, but stumbling over something I did not see I fell sprawling. Before +I could regain my feet I saw Kaldhein fall backward to the ground, where +a scene took place, so terrible that I shall not attempt to describe it. +When, with trembling steps, I approached, the man was dead. The +invisible dog had almost torn him to pieces. +</p> +<p> +"I could do nothing. I did not remain upon the spot another minute, but +hurried home to the castle. As I rapidly walked on I felt the dog beside +me, and, putting my hand upon him, I felt that he was panting terribly. +For three days I did not leave the house. +</p> +<p> +"About the end of this time I was sitting in an upper room of the +castle, reflecting upon the recent dreadful event, when the thought +struck me that the invisible dog, who was by my side, apparently asleep, +must be of an unusually powerful build to overcome so easily such a +strong man as Kaldhein. I felt a desire to know how large the creature +really was, and, as I had never touched any portion of his body back of +his shoulders, I now passed my hand along his back. I was amazed at his +length, and when I had moved my hand at least seven feet from his head +it still rested upon his body. And then the form of that body began to +change in a manner which terrified me; but impelled by a horrible but +irresistible curiosity, my hand moved on. +</p> +<p> +"But I no longer touched the body of a dog; the form beneath my hand was +cylindrical, apparently about a foot in diameter. As my hand moved on +the diameter diminished, and the skin of the creature became cold and +clammy. I was feeling the body of a snake! +</p> +<p> +"I now had reached the open door of the room. The body of the snake +extended through it. It went on to the top of the stairs; these I began +to descend, my heart beating fast with terror, my face blanched, I am +sure, but my hand still moving along the body of the awful creature. I +had studied zoology, giving a good deal of attention to reptiles, and I +knew that, judged by the ordinary ratio of diminution of the bodies of +serpents, this one must extend a long distance down the stairs. +</p> +<p> +"But I had not descended more than a dozen steps before I felt a shiver +beneath my hand, and then a jerk, and the next moment the snake's body +was violently drawn upward. I withdrew my hand and started to one side, +and then, how, I know not, I became aware that the dog part of the +creature was coming downstairs. +</p> +<p> +"I now became possessed by a wild terror. The creature must be furious +that I had discovered his real form. He had always been careful to keep +his head toward me. I should be torn to pieces as Kaldhein had been! +Down the stairs I dashed, across the courtyard, and toward a lofty old +tower, which stood in one corner of the castle. I ran up the winding +stairs of this with a speed which belongs only to a frantically +terrified creature, until I reached the fourth story, where I dashed +through an open doorway, slammed behind me an iron door, which shut with +a spring, and fell gasping upon the floor. +</p> +<p> +"In less than a minute I was aware, by a slight rattling of the +grate-hinges, that something was pushing against the door; but I did not +move. I knew that I was safe. The room in which I lay was a prison +dungeon, and in it, in the olden times, it is said, men had been left to +perish. Escape or communication with the outer world was impossible. A +little light and air came through a narrow slit in the wall, and the +door could not be forced. +</p> +<p> +"I knew that the invisible dog, or whatever it was, could not get in +unless the door was open. I had frequently noticed that when he entered +a room it was through an open door, and I sometimes knew of his approach +by seeing an unlatched door open without visible cause; so, feeling +secure for the present, I lay and gasped and panted. +</p> +<p> +"After the lapse of a few hours, however, I was seized by a new terror. +How was I ever to get out of this horrible dungeon? Even if I made up my +mind to face the dog, trusting that he had recovered from his momentary +anger, I had no means of opening the door, and as to making any one hear +me I knew that was impossible. +</p> +<p> +"I had no hope that my servants would seek me here. I had not seen any +one when I ran into the tower, and if they should discover that I was in +this dungeon, how could they open the door? The key was in my father's +possession. He had taken it to Vienna to exhibit it as a curiosity to +some of his mechanical friends. He believed that there was not such +another key in the world. I was in the habit of making long absences +from the castle, and if I should be looked for I believed that the tower +would be the last place visited. +</p> +<p> +"Night came on; the little light in the room vanished, and, hungry, +thirsty, and almost hopeless, I fell asleep. +</p> +<p> +"During the night there was a most dreadful storm. The thunder roared, +the lightning flashed through the slit in the wall, and the wind blew +with such terrific violence that the tower shook and trembled. After a +time I heard a tremendous crash as of falling walls, and then another, +and now I felt the wind blowing into my prison. +</p> +<p> +"There was no further sleep for me. Trembling with a fearful +apprehension of what might happen next, I cowered against the wall until +the day broke, and then I perceived that in front of me was a great hole +in the wall of the dungeon, which extended for more than a yard above +the floor. I sat and gazed at this until the light became stronger, and +then I cautiously approached the aperture and looked out. Nearly the +whole of the castle lay in ruins before me! +</p> +<p> +"It was easy to see what had happened. The storm had demolished the +crumbling walls of the old building, and the tower, itself frail and +tottering, stood alone, high above the prostrate ruins. If the winds +should again arise it must fall, and at any moment its shaken +foundations might give way beneath it. +</p> +<p> +"Through the hole in the wall, which had been caused by the tearing away +of some of the connection between the tower and main building, I could +look down on the ground below, covered with masses of jagged stone; but +there was no way in which I could get down. I could not descend that +perpendicular wall. If I leaped out, death would be certain. +</p> +<p> +"As I crouched at the opening I felt the head of a dog pushed against +me. A spasm of terror ran through me, but the moment the creature began +to lick my hands I knew that I had nothing to fear from him. Instantly +my courage returned. I felt that he was my protector. I patted his head +and he renewed his caresses. +</p> +<p> +"Passing my hand over him, I found he was holding himself in his present +position by means of his forelegs, which were stretched out upon the +floor. What a dog this must be, who could climb a wall! But I gave no +time to conjectures of this sort. How could I avail myself of his +assistance? In what manner could he enable me to escape from that +dangerous tower? +</p> +<p> +"Suddenly a thought came to me. I remembered the snake part of him. +Judging from the ratio of diminution, which I have mentioned before, +that part, if hanging down, must reach nearly, if not quite, to the +ground. By taking advantage of this means of descent I might be saved, +but the feat would require dexterity and an immense amount of faith. +This serpent-like portion of the animal was invisible. How could I know +how long it was! +</p> +<p> +"But there was no time for consideration; the wind had again arisen, and +was blowing with fury. The tower shook beneath me; at any moment it +might fall. If I should again escape from death, through the assistance +of my invisible friend, I must avail myself of that assistance +instantly. +</p> +<p> +"I stopped and felt the animal. He still hung by part of his body and by +his forelegs to the floor of the dungeon, and by reaching out I could +feel that the rest of him extended downward. I therefore seized his body +in my arms, threw myself out of the aperture, and began to slide down. +</p> +<p> +"In a very short time I found that I had reached the snake portion of +the creature, and, throwing my arms and legs around it, I endeavoured +with all my strength to prevent a too rapid descent; but in spite of all +my efforts, my downward progress was faster than I would have wished it +to be. But there was no stopping; I must slip down. +</p> +<p> +"In these moments of rapid descent my mind was filled with wild anxiety +concerning the serpent-like form to which I was clinging. I remembered +in a flash that there were snakes whose caudal extremity dwindled away +suddenly into a point. This one might do so, and at any instant I might +come to the end of the tail and drop upon the jagged stones below. +</p> +<p> +"Calculation after calculation of the ratio of diminution flashed +through my mind during that awful descent. My whole soul was centred +upon one point. When would this support end? When would I drop? +</p> +<p> +"Fortunately I was on the leeward side of the tower, and I was not swung +about by the wind. Steadily I descended, and steadily the diameter of +the form I grasped diminished; soon I could grasp it in my hand; then +with a terrified glance I looked below. I was still at a sickening +distance from the ground. I shut my eyes. I slipped down, down, down. +The tail became like a thick rope which I encircled with each hand. It +became thinner and thinner. It grew so small that I could not hold it; +but as I felt it slip from my fingers my feet rested on a pile of +stones. +</p> +<p> +"Bewildered and almost exhausted, I stumbled over the ruins, gained the +unencumbered ground, and ran as far from the tower as I could, sinking +down at last against the trunk of a tree in a neighbouring field. +Scarcely had I reached this spot when the fury of the wind-storm +appeared to redouble, and before the wild and shrieking blast the tower +bent and then fell with a crash upon the other ruins. +</p> +<p> +"The first thought that came into my mind when I beheld the dreadful +spectacle concerned the creature who had twice saved my life. Had he +escaped, or was he crushed beneath that mass of stone? I felt on either +side to discover if he were near me, but he was not. Had he given his +life for mine? +</p> +<p> +"Had I been stronger I would have searched for him; I would have +clambered among the ruins to see if I could discover his mangled form. +If I could but reach his faithful head I would stroke and caress it, +living or dead. But excitement, fatigue, and want of food had made me so +weak that I could do nothing but sit upon the ground with my back +against the tree. +</p> +<p> +"While thus resting I perceived that the whole of the tower had not +been demolished by the storm. Some of the rooms in which we had lived, +having been built at a later date than the rest of the great edifice, +had resisted the power of the wind and were still standing. +</p> +<p> +"From the direction of the uninjured portion of the castle I now saw +approaching a light-coloured object, which seemed to be floating in the +air about a foot from the ground. As it came nearer I saw that it was a +basket, and I immediately understood the situation. My faithful friend +was alive, and was bringing me some refreshments. +</p> +<p> +"On came the basket, rising and falling with the bounds of the dog. It +was truly an odd spectacle, but a very welcome one. In a few moments the +basket was deposited at my side, and I was caressing the head of the +faithful dog. In the basket I found a bottle of wine and some bread and +meat, which the good creature had doubtless discovered in the kitchen of +the castle, and it was not long before I was myself again. The storm had +now almost passed away, and I arose and went to my own rooms, my friend +and protector still keeping close to my side. +</p> +<p> +"On the morning of the next day, as I sat wondering what had happened +to my servants, and whether my father had been apprised of the disaster +to the castle, I felt something pulling at the skirt of my coat. I put +out my hand and found that it was the invisible dog. Imagining that he +wished me to follow him, I arose, and, obeying the impulse given me by +his gentle strain upon my coat, I followed him out of the door, across +the courtyard, and into the open country. We went on for a considerable +distance. A gentle touch of my coat admonished me when I turned from the +direction in which it was desired that I should go. +</p> +<p> +"After a walk of about half an hour I approached a great oak-tree, with +low, wide-spreading branches. Some one was sitting beneath it. Imagining +the truth, I rushed forward. It was Marie! +</p> +<p> +"It was needless for us to say anything, to explain the state of our +feelings toward each other. That tale was told by the delight with which +we met. When I asked her how she came to be there, she told me that +about an hour before, while sitting in front of her father's mansion, +she had felt something gently pulling at her skirts; and, although at +first frightened, she was at length impelled to obey the impulse, and, +without knowing whether it was the wind or some supernatural force which +had led her here, she had come. +</p> +<p> +"We had a great deal to say to each other. She told me that she had been +longing to send me a message to warn me that Colonel Kaldhein would +certainly kill me the next time he saw me; but she had no means of +sending me such a message, for the Colonel had had her actions closely +watched. +</p> +<p> +"When the news came of Kaldhein's death she at first feared that I had +killed him, and would therefore be obliged to fly the country; but when +it was known that he had been almost torn to pieces by wild beasts, she, +like every one else, was utterly amazed, and could not understand the +matter at all. None but the most ferocious creatures could have +inflicted the injuries of which the man had died, and where those +creatures came from no one knew. Some people thought that a pack of +blood-hounds might have broken loose from some of the estates of the +surrounding country, and, in the course of their wild journeyings, might +have met with the Colonel, and fallen upon him. Others surmised that a +bear had come down from the mountains; but the fact was that nobody knew +anything about it. +</p> +<p> +"I did not attempt to acquaint Marie with the truth. At that moment the +invisible dog was lying at my side, and I feared if I mentioned his +existence to Marie she might fly in terror. To me there was only one +important phase of the affair, and that was that Marie was now free, +that she might be mine. +</p> +<p> +"Before we parted we were affianced lovers, pledged to marry as soon as +possible. I wrote to my father, asking for his permission to wed the +lady. But in his reply he utterly forbade any such marriage. Marie also +discovered that her parents would not permit a union with a foreigner, +and would indeed oppose her marriage with any one at this time. +</p> +<p> +"However, as usual, love triumphed, and after surmounting many +difficulties we were married and fled to America. Since that time I have +been obliged to support myself and my wife, for my father will give me +no assistance. He had proposed a very different career for me, and was +extremely angry when he found his plans had been completely destroyed. +But we are hopeful, we work hard, and hope that we may yet be able to +support ourselves comfortably without aid from any one. We are young, we +are strong, we trust each other, and have a firm faith in our success. +</p> +<p> +"I had only one regret in leaving Europe, and that was that my faithful +friend, the noble and devoted invisible dog, was obliged to remain on +the other side of the Atlantic. Why this was so I do not know, but +perhaps it was for the best. I never told my wife of his existence, and +if she had accidentally discovered it, I know not what might have been +the effects upon her nervous system. +</p> +<p> +"The dog accompanied me through Austria, Switzerland, and France to +Havre, from which port we sailed. I took leave of him on the gang-plank. +He licked my hands, and I caressed and stroked him. People might have +thought that my actions denoted insanity, but every one was so greatly +occupied in these last moments before departure, that perhaps I was not +noticed. Just as I left him and hastened on board, a sailor fell +overboard from the gang-plank. He was quickly rescued, but could not +imagine why he had fallen. I believe, however, that he was tripped up by +the snake part of my friend as he convulsively rushed away." +</p> +<p> +The young man ceased, and gazed pensively upon the floor. +</p> +<p> +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Martha, "if those are the sort of +experiences you had, I don't wonder that Realism was wonderful enough +for you. The invisible creature was very good to you, I am sure, but I +am glad it did not come with you to America." +</p> +<p> +David, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, now interrupted +further comments by stating that it was daylight, and if I thought well +of it, he would open the window-shutters, so that we might see any one +going toward the town. A milkman, he said, passed the house very early +every morning. When the shutters were opened we were all amazed that the +night should have passed so quickly. +</p> +<p> +The tall burglar and the young man now began to exhibit a good deal of +anxiety. +</p> +<p> +"I should like very much to know," said the former, "what you intend to +do in regard to us. It cannot be that you think of placing that young +gentleman and myself in the hands of the law. Of course, this man," +pointing to the stout burglar, "cannot expect anything but a just +punishment of his crimes; but after what we have told you, you must +certainly be convinced that our connection with the affair is entirely +blameless, and should be considered as a piece of very bad luck." +</p> +<p> +"That," said I, "is a matter which will receive all the consideration +it needs." +</p> +<p> +At this moment David announced the milkman. Counselling my man to keep +strict guard over the prisoners, I went out to the road, stopped the +milkman, and gave him a message which I was certain would insure the +prompt arrival at my house of sufficient force to take safe charge of +the burglars. Excited with the importance of the commission, he whipped +up his horse and dashed away. +</p> +<p> +When I returned to the house I besought my wife and Aunt Martha to go to +bed, that they might yet get some hours of sleep; but both refused. They +did not feel in the least like sleep, and there was a subject on which +they wished to consult with me in the dining-room. +</p> +<p> +"Now," said Aunt Martha, when the door had been closed, "these men have +freely told us their stories; whether they are entirely true or not, +must, of course, be a matter of opinion; but they have laid their cases +before us, and we should not place them all in the hands of the officers +of the law without giving them due consideration, and arriving at a +decision which shall be satisfactory to ourselves." +</p> +<p> +"Let us take them in order," said I. "What do you think of the tall +man's case?" +</p> +<p> +"I think he is a thief and manufacturer of falsehoods," said my wife +promptly. +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid," said Aunt Martha, "that he is not altogether innocent; +but there is one thing greatly in his favour,—when he told of the +feelings which overcame him when he saw that little child sleeping +peacefully in its bed in the house which he had unintentionally robbed, +I felt there must be good points in that man's nature. What do you think +of him?" +</p> +<p> +"I think he is worst of the lot," I answered, "and as there are now two +votes against him, he must go to the lock-up. And now what of the stout +fellow?" I asked. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, he is a burglar by his own confession," said my wife; "there can be +no doubt of that." +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid you are right," said Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +"I know she is," said I, "and James Barlow, or whatever his name may be, +shall be delivered to the constable." +</p> +<p> +"Of course, there can be no difference of opinion in regard to the young +man," said Aunt Martha quickly. "Both the others admitted that he had +nothing to do with this affair except as a journalist, and although I do +not think he ought to get his realistic ideas in that way, I would +consider it positively wicked to send him into court in company with +those other men. Consider the position in which he would be placed +before the world. Consider his young wife." +</p> +<p> +"I cannot say," said my wife, "that I am inclined to believe all parts +of his story." +</p> +<p> +"I suppose," said I, laughing, "that you particularly refer to the +invisible dog-snake." +</p> +<p> +"I'm not so sure about all that," she answered. "Since the labours of +the psychic researchers began, we have heard of a great many strange +things; but it is evident that he is a young man of education and +culture, and in all probability a journalist or literary man. I do not +think he should be sent to the lock-up with common criminals." +</p> +<p> +"There!" cried Aunt Martha, "two in his favour. He must be released. +It's a poor rule that does not work both ways." +</p> +<p> +I stood for a few moments undecided. If left to myself, I would have +sent the trio to the county town, where, if any one of them could prove +his innocence, he could do so before the constitutional authorities; but +having submitted the matter to my wife and aunt, I could not well +override their decision. As for what the young man said, I gave it no +weight whatever, for of course he would say the best he could for +himself. But the testimony of the others had weight. When they both +declared that he was not a burglar, but merely a journalist, engaged in +what he supposed to be his duty, it would seem to be a cruel thing to +stamp him as a criminal by putting him in charge of the constables. +</p> +<p> +But my indecision soon came to an end, for Aunt Martha declared that no +time should be lost in setting the young man free, for should the +people in town arrive and see him sitting bound with the others it would +ruin his character forever. My wife agreed. +</p> +<p> +"Whatever there may be of truth in his story," she said, "one of two +things is certain,—either he has had most wonderful experiences out of +which he may construct realistic novels which will give him fortune and +reputation, or he has a startling imagination, which, if used in the +production of works in the romantic school, will be of the same +advantage to his future. Looking upon it, even in this light and without +any reference to his family and the possible effects on his own moral +nature, we shall assume a great responsibility in deliberately +subjecting such a person to criminal prosecution and perhaps +conviction." +</p> +<p> +This was enough. "Well," said I, "we will release the young fellow and +send the two other rascals to jail." +</p> +<p> +"That was not well expressed," said my wife, "but we will not criticise +words at present." +</p> +<p> +We returned to the library and I announced my decision. When he heard it +the stout burglar exhibited no emotion. His expression indicated that, +having been caught, he expected to be sent to jail, and that was the end +of it. Perhaps he had been through this experience so often that he had +become used to it. The tall man, however, took the announcement in a +very different way. His face grew dark and his eyes glittered. "You are +making a great mistake," he said to me, "a very great mistake, and you +will have to bear the consequences." +</p> +<p> +"Very good," said I, "I will remember that remark when your trial comes +on." +</p> +<p> +The behaviour of the young man was unexceptional. He looked upon us with +a face full of happy gratitude, and, as he thanked us for the kind +favour and the justice which we had shown him, his eyes seemed dim with +tears. Aunt Martha was much affected. +</p> +<p> +"I wonder if his mother is living," she whispered to me. "A wife is a +great deal, but a mother is more. If I had thought of her sooner I would +have spoken more strongly in his favour. And now you should untie him at +once and let him go home. His wife must be getting terribly anxious." +</p> +<p> +The young man overheard this last remark. +</p> +<p> +"You will confer a great favour on me, sir," he said, "if you will let +me depart as soon as possible. I feel a great repugnance to be seen in +company with these men, as you may imagine, from wearing a mask on +coming here. If I leave immediately I think I can catch the first train +from your station." +</p> +<p> +I considered the situation. If I did what I was asked, there would be +two bound burglars to guard, three women and a child to protect, an +uncertain stranger at liberty, and only David and myself to attend to +the whole business. "No, sir," said I, "I shall not untie you until the +officers I sent for are near at hand; then I will release you, and you +can leave the house by the back way without being seen by them. There +are other morning trains which will take you into the city early +enough." +</p> +<p> +"I think you are a little hard on him," remarked Aunt Martha, but the +young man made no complaint. +</p> +<p> +"I will trust myself to you, sir," he said. +</p> +<p> +The officers arrived much sooner than I expected. There were five of +them, including the Chief of Police, and they were accompanied by +several volunteer assistants, among whom was the milkman who had been +my messenger. This morning his customers might wait for their milk, for +all business must give way before such an important piece of sightseeing +as this. +</p> +<p> +I had barely time to untie the young man and take him to the back of the +house before the officers and their followers had entered the front +door. There was now a great deal of questioning, a great deal of +explanation, a great deal of discussion as to whether my way of catching +burglars was advisable or not, and a good deal of talk about the best +method of taking the men to town. Some of the officers were in favour of +releasing the two men, and then deciding in what manner they should be +taken to town; and if this plan had been adopted, I believe that these +two alert and practical rascals would have taken themselves out of my +house without the assistance of the officers, or at least would have +caused a great deal of trouble and perhaps injury in endeavouring to do +so. +</p> +<p> +But the Chief of Police was of my mind, and before the men were entirely +released from the ropes by which I had tied them, they were securely +manacled. +</p> +<p> +A requisition made on David and myself to appear as witnesses, the two +men were taken from the house to the wagons in which the officers and +their followers had come. My wife and Aunt Martha had gone upstairs +before the arrival of the police, and were watching the outside +proceeding from a window. +</p> +<p> +Standing in the hallway, I glanced into the dining-room, and was +surprised to see the young man still standing by a side door. I had +thought him gone, but perhaps it was wise in him to remain, and not show +himself upon the road until the coast was entirely clear. He did not see +me, and was looking backward into the kitchen, a cheerful and animated +expression upon his face. This expression did not strike me pleasantly. +He had escaped a great danger, it was true, but it was no reason for +this rather obtrusive air of exultation. Just then Alice came into the +dining-room from the kitchen, and the young man stepped back, so that +she did not notice him. As she passed he gently threw his arm quietly +around her neck and kissed her. +</p> +<p> +At that very instant, even before the girl had time to exclaim, in +rushed David from the outer side door. +</p> +<p> +"I've been watching you, you rascal," he shouted; "you're done for +now!" and he threw his strong arms around the man, pinioning his arms to +his side. +</p> +<p> +The young fellow gave a great jerk, and began to struggle powerfully. +His face turned black with rage; he swore, he kicked. He made the most +frenzied efforts to free himself, but David's arms were strong, his soul +was full of jealous fury, and in a moment I had come to his assistance. +Each of us taking the young fellow by an arm, we ran him into the +hallway and out of the front door, Alice aiding us greatly by putting +her hands against the man's back and pushing most forcibly. +</p> +<p> +"Here's another one," cried David. "I'll appear against him. He's the +worst of the lot." +</p> +<p> +Without knowing what it all meant, the Chief clapped the nippers on our +prisoner, justly believing that if burglars were about to show +themselves so unexpectedly, the best thing to do was to handcuff them as +fast as they appeared, and then to ask questions. The reasons for not +having produced this man before, and for producing him now, were not +very satisfactory to the officer. +</p> +<p> +"Have you any more in the cellar?" he asked. "If so, I should like to +take a look at them before I start away." +</p> +<p> +At this moment Aunt Martha made her appearance at the front door. +</p> +<p> +"What are you going to do with that young man?" she asked sharply. "What +right have you to put irons upon him?" +</p> +<p> +"Aunt Martha," said I, stepping back to her, "what do you think he has +done?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," said she; "how should I know? All I know is that we +agreed to set him free." +</p> +<p> +I addressed her solemnly: "David and I believe him to be utterly +depraved. He availed himself of the first moments of his liberation to +kiss Alice." Aunt Martha looked at me with wide-open eyes, and then her +brows contracted. +</p> +<p> +"He did, did he?" said she. "And that is the kind of a man he is. Very +good. Let him go to jail with the others. I don't believe one word about +his young wife. If kissing respectable young women is the way he studies +Realism the quicker he goes to jail the better," and with that she +walked into the house. +</p> +<p> +When the men had been placed in the two vehicles in which the police had +come, the Chief and I made an examination of the premises, and we found +that the house had been entered by a kitchen window, in exactly the +manner which the tall burglar had described. Outside of this window, +close to the wall, we found a leathern bag, containing what the Chief +declared to be an excellent assortment of burglars' tools. The officers +and their prisoners now drove away, and we were left to a long morning +nap, if we were so fortunate as to get it, and a late breakfast. +</p> +<p> +In the course of the trial of the three men who had entered my house +some interesting points in regard to them were brought out. Several +detectives and policemen from New York were present, and their testimony +proved that my three burglars were men of eminence in their profession, +and that which most puzzled the metropolitan detectives was to discover +why these men should have been willing to devote their high talents to +the comparatively insignificant business of breaking into a suburban +dwelling. +</p> +<p> +The tall man occupied a position of peculiar eminence in criminal +circles. He was what might be called a criminal manager. He would take +contracts for the successful execution of certain crimes,—bank +robberies, for instance,—and while seldom taking part in the actual +work of a burglary or similar operation, he would plan all the details +of the affair, and select and direct his agents with great skill and +judgment. He had never been arrested before, and the detectives were +delighted, believing they would now have an opportunity of tracing to +him a series of very important criminal operations that had taken place +in New York and some other large cities. He was known as Lewis Mandit, +and this was believed to be his real name. +</p> +<p> +The stout man was a first-class professional burglar and nothing more, +and was in the employ of Mandit. The young man was a decidedly uncommon +personage. He was of a good family, had been educated at one of our +principal colleges, had travelled, and was in every way qualified to +make a figure in society. He had been a newspaper man, and a writer for +leading periodicals, and had shown considerable literary ability; but a +life of honest industry did not suit his tastes, and he had now adopted +knavery as a regular profession. +</p> +<p> +This man, who was known among his present associates as Sparky, still +showed himself occasionally in newspaper offices, and was generally +supposed to be a correspondent for a Western journal; but his real +business position was that of Mandit's head man. +</p> +<p> +Sparky was an expert in many branches of crime. He was an excellent +forger, a skilful lock-picker, an ingenious planner of shady projects, +and had given a great deal of earnest study to the subject of the +loopholes of the law. He had a high reputation in criminal circles for +his ability in getting his fellow-rascals out of jail. There was reason +to believe that in the past year no less than nine men, some condemned +to terms of imprisonment, and some held for trial, had escaped by means +of assistance given them by Sparky. +</p> +<p> +His methods of giving help to jail-birds were various. Sometimes liberty +was conferred through the agency of saws and ropes, at other times +through that of a habeas corpus and an incontestible alibi. His means +were adapted to the circumstances of the case, and it was believed that +if Sparky could be induced to take up the case of a captured rogue, the +man had better chance of finding himself free than the law had of +keeping him behind bars, especially if his case were treated before it +had passed into its more chronic stages. +</p> +<p> +Sparky's success was greatly due to his extremely specious manner, and +his power of playing the part that the occasion demanded. In this +particular he was even the superior of Mandit, who was an adept in this +line. These two men found no difficulty in securing the services of +proficient burglars, safe-robbers, and the like; for, in addition to the +high rewards paid these men, they were in a manner insured against +permanent imprisonment in case of misfortune. It was always arranged +that, if any of their enterprises came to grief, and if either Mandit or +Sparky should happen to be arrested, the working miscreants should +substantiate any story their superiors might choose to tell of +themselves, and, if necessary, to take upon themselves the whole +responsibility of the crime. In this case their speedy release was to be +looked upon as assured. +</p> +<p> +A great deal of evidence in regard to the character and practices of +these two men came from the stout burglar, commonly known as Barney +Fitch. When he found that nothing was to be expected from his two +astute employers, and that they were in as bad a place as himself, he +promptly turned State's evidence, and told all that he knew about them. +</p> +<p> +It was through the testimony of this man that the motive for the +attempted robbery of my house was found out. It had no connection +whatever with the other burglaries of our neighbourhood, those, +probably, having been committed by low-class thieves, who had not broken +into my house simply because my doors and windows had been so well +secured; nor had our boy, George William, any share whatever in the +protection of the household. +</p> +<p> +The burglary was undertaken solely for the purpose of getting possession +of some important law papers, which were to be used in a case in which I +was concerned, which soon would be tried. If these papers could be +secured by the opposite party, the side on which I was engaged would +have no case at all, and a suit involving a great deal of property must +drop. With this end in view the unscrupulous defendants in the case had +employed Mandit to procure the papers; and that astute criminal manager +had not only arranged all the details of the affair, but had gone +himself to the scene of action in order to see that there should be no +mistake in carrying out the details of this most important piece of +business. +</p> +<p> +The premises had been thoroughly reconnoitred by Sparky, who, a few days +before the time fixed for the burglary, had visited my house in the +capacity of an agent of a telescopic bookcase, which could be extended +as new volumes were required, therefore need never exhibit empty +shelves. The young man had been included in the party on account of his +familiarity with legal documents, it being, of course, of paramount +importance that the right papers should be secured. His ingenuity was +also to be used to cover up, if possible, all evidence that the house +had been entered at all, it being desirable to make it appear to the +court that I had never had these documents in my possession, and that +they never existed. +</p> +<p> +Had it not been for a very natural desire for refreshment that +interfered with their admirably laid plans, it is probable that the +mechanical skill of Mandit would have been equal to the noiseless +straightening of the bent bolt, and the obliteration of the scratches +and dents made by the attempts upon other shutters, and that Sparky, +after relocking all open desks or cabinets, and after the exit of the +others, would have closed and fastened the kitchen shutters, and would +then have left the house by means of an open window in the upper hall +and the roof of a piazza. +</p> +<p> +Thus it was that these three men, so eminent in their different spheres +of earnest endeavour, came to visit my comparatively humble abode; and +thus it was that they not only came to that abode, but to the deepest +grief. They were "wanted" in so many quarters, and on so many charges, +that before they had finished serving out their various sentences their +ability to wickedly avail themselves of the property of others would +have suffered greatly from disuse, and the period of life left them for +the further exercise of those abilities would be inconveniently limited. +</p> +<p> +I was assured by a prominent detective that it had been a long time +since two such dangerous criminals as Mandit and Sparky had fallen into +the hands of the law. These men, by means of very competent outside +assistance, made a stout fight for acquittal on some of the charges +brought against them; but when they found that further effort of this +kind would be unavailing, and that they would be sentenced to long terms +of imprisonment, they threw off their masks of outraged probity and +stood out in their true characters of violent and brutal ruffians. +Barney Fitch, the cracksman, was a senior warden compared to them. +</p> +<p> +It was a long time before my Aunt Martha recovered from her +disappointment in regard to the youngest burglar. +</p> +<p> +"Of course I was mistaken," she said. "That sort of thing will happen; +but I really had good grounds for believing him to be a truthful person, +so I am not ashamed for having taken him for what he said he was. I have +now no doubt before he fell in his wicked ways that he was a very good +writer, and might have become a novelist or a magazine author; but his +case is a very sad proof that the study of Realism may be carried too +far," and she heaved a sigh. +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<center> +<b>THE END.</b> +</center> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + +***** This file should be named 10948-h.htm or 10948-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10948/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stories of the Three Burglars + +Author: Frank Richard Stockton + +Release Date: February 5, 2004 [EBook #10948] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + +[Illustration: Frank R. Stockton] + + +The Stories +of the +Three Burglars + + +By +FRANK R. STOCKTON + + +1889 + + + + +THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS. + + +I am a householder in a pleasant country neighbourhood, about twenty +miles from New York. My family consists of myself and wife, our boy, +George William, aged two, two maid-servants, and a man; but in the +summer we have frequent visitors, and at the time of which I am about to +write my Aunt Martha was staying with us. + +My house is large and pleasant, and we have neighbours near enough for +social purposes and yet not too near or too many to detract from the +rural aspect of our surroundings. But we do not live in a paradise; we +are occasionally troubled by mosquitoes and burglars. + +Against the first of these annoyances we have always been able to guard +ourselves, at least in a measure, and our man and the cook declare that +they have become so used to them that they do not mind them; but to +guard against burglars is much more difficult, and to become used to +them would, I think, require a great deal of practice. + +For several months before the period of this narrative our neighbourhood +had been subject to visits from burglars. From time to time houses had +been entered and robbed, and the offenders had never been detected. + +We had no police force, not even a village organization. There was a +small railway station near our house, and six miles away was the county +town. For fire and police protection each household was obliged to +depend upon itself. + +Before the beginning of the burglarious enterprises in our midst, we had +not felt the need of much protection in this direction; sometimes +poultry was stolen, but this was a rare occurrence, and, although +windows and doors were generally fastened for the night, this labour was +often considered much more troublesome than necessary. But now a great +change had taken place in the feelings of our community. When the first +robbery occurred the neighbours were inclined to laugh about it, and to +say that Captain Hubbard's habit of sitting up after the rest of his +family had gone to bed and then retiring and forgetting to close the +front door had invited the entrance of a passing tramp. But when a +second and a third house, where windows and doors had not been left +open, had been entered, and, in a measure, despoiled, people ceased to +laugh; and if there had been any merriment at all on the subject, it +would have been caused by the extraordinary and remarkable precautions +taken against the entrance of thieves by night. The loaded pistol became +the favourite companion of the head of the house; those who had no +watch-dogs bought them; there were new locks, new bolts, new fastenings. +At one time there was a mounted patrol of young men, which, however, was +soon broken up by their mothers. But this trouble was unavailing, for at +intervals the burglaries continued. + +As a matter of course a great many theories were broached as to the +reasons for this disturbance in our hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. We +were at such a distance from the ordinary centres of crime that it was +generally considered that professional burglars would hardly take the +trouble to get to us or to get away from us, and that, therefore, the +offences were probably committed by unsuspected persons living in this +part of the country who had easy means of determining which houses were +worth breaking into and what method of entrance would be most feasible. +In this way some families, hitherto regarded as respectable families, +had fallen under suspicion. + +So far, mine was the only house of any importance within the distance of +a mile from the station which had not in some way suffered from +burglars. In one or two of these cases the offenders had been frightened +away before they had done any other injury than the breaking of a +window-shutter; but we had been spared any visitation whatever. After a +time we began to consider that this was an invidious distinction. Of +course we did not desire that robbers should break into our house and +steal, but it was a sort of implied insult that robbers should think +that our house was not worth breaking into. We contrived, however, to +bear up under this implied contempt and even under the facetious +imputations of some of our lively neighbours, who declared that it +looked very suspicious that we should lose nothing, and even continue to +add to our worldly goods, while everybody else was suffering from +abstractions. + +I did not, however, allow any relaxation in my vigilance in the +protection of my house and family. My time to suffer had not yet +arrived, and it might not arrive at all; but if it did come it should +not be my fault. I therefore carefully examined all the new precautions +my neighbours had taken against the entrance of thieves, and where I +approved of them I adopted them. + +Of some of these my wife and I did not approve. For instance, a tin pan +containing iron spoons, the dinner bell, and a miscellaneous collection +of hardware balanced on the top stair of the staircase, and so connected +with fine cords that a thief coming up the stairs would send it rattling +and bounding to the bottom, was looked upon by us with great disfavour. +The descent of the pan, whether by innocent accident or the approach of +a burglar, might throw our little boy into a fit, to say nothing of the +terrible fright it would give my Aunt Martha, who was a maiden lady of +middle age, and not accustomed to a clatter in the night. A bull-dog in +the house my wife would not have, nor, indeed, a dog of any kind. George +William was not yet old enough to play with dogs, especially a sharp +one; and if the dog was not sharp it was of no use to have him in the +house. To the ordinary burglar-alarm she strongly objected. She had been +in houses where these things went off of their own accord, occasioning +great consternation; and, besides, she said that if thieves got into the +house she did not want to know it and she did not want me to know it; +the quicker they found what they came for and went away with it the +better. Of course, she wished them kept out, if such a thing were +possible; but if they did get in, our duty as parents of the dearest +little boy was non-interference. She insisted, however, that the room in +which the loveliest of children slept, and which was also occupied by +ourselves, should be made absolutely burglar proof; and this object, by +means of extraordinary bolts and chains, I flattered myself I +accomplished. My Aunt Martha had a patent contrivance for fastening a +door that she always used, whether at home or travelling, and in whose +merit she placed implicit confidence. Therefore we did not feel it +necessary to be anxious about her; and the servants slept at the top of +the house, where thieves would not be likely to go. + +"They may continue to slight us by their absence," said my wife, "but I +do not believe that they will be able to frighten us by their presence." + +I was not, however, so easily contented as my wife. Of course I wished +to do everything possible to protect George William and the rest of the +family, but I was also very anxious to protect our property in all parts +of the house. Therefore, in addition to everything else I had done, I +devised a scheme for interfering with the plans of men who should +feloniously break into our home. + +After a consultation with a friend, who was a physician greatly +interested in the study of narcotic drugs, I procured a mixture which +was almost tasteless and without peculiar odour, and of which a small +quantity would in less than a minute throw an ordinary man into a state +of unconsciousness. The potion was, however, no more dangerous in its +effects than that quantity of ardent spirits which would cause entire +insensibility. After the lapse of several hours, the person under the +influence of the drug would recover consciousness without assistance. +But in order to provide against all contingencies my friend prepared a +powerful antidote, which would almost immediately revive one who had +been made unconscious by our potion. + +The scheme that I had devised may possibly have been put into use by +others. But of this I know not. I thought it a good scheme and +determined to experiment with it, and, if possible, to make a trap which +should catch a burglar. I would reveal this plan to no one but my friend +the physician and my wife. Secrecy would be an important element in its +success. + +Our library was a large and pleasant room on the ground floor of the +house, and here I set my trap. It was my habit to remain in this room an +hour or so after the rest of the family had gone to bed, and, as I was +an early riser, I was always in it again before it was necessary for a +servant to enter it in the morning. + +Before leaving the library for the night I placed in a conspicuous +position in the room a small table, on which was a tray holding two +decanters partially filled with wine, in the one red and in the other +white. There was also upon the tray an open box of biscuit and three +wine-glasses, two of them with a little wine at the bottom. I took pains +to make it appear that these refreshments had been recently partaken of. +There were biscuit crumbs upon the tray, and a drop or two of wine was +freshly spilled upon it every time the trap was set. The table, thus +arranged, was left in the room during the night, and early in the +morning I put the tray and its contents into a closet and locked it up. + +A portion of my narcotic preparation was thoroughly mixed with the +contents of each of the decanters in such proportions that a glass of +the wine would be sufficient to produce the desired effect. + +It was my opinion that there were few men who, after a night walk and +perhaps some labour in forcibly opening a door or a window-shutter, +would not cease for a moment in pursuance of their self-imposed task to +partake of the refreshments so conveniently left behind them by the +occupants of the house when they retired to rest. Should my surmises be +correct, I might reasonably expect, should my house be broken into, to +find an unconscious burglar in the library when I went down in the +morning. And I was sure, and my wife agreed with me, that if I should +find a burglar in that room or any other part of the house, it was +highly desirable that he should be an unconscious one. + +Night after night I set my burglar trap, and morning after morning I +locked it up in the closet. I cannot say that I was exactly disappointed +that no opportunity offered to test the value of my plan, but it did +seem a pity that I should take so much trouble for nothing. It had been +some weeks since any burglaries had been committed in the neighbourhood, +and it was the general opinion that the miscreants had considered this +field worked out and had transferred their labours to a better-paying +place. The insult of having been considered unworthy the attention of +the knights of the midnight jimmy remained with us, but as all our goods +and chattels also remained with us we could afford to brook the +indignity. + +As the trap cost nothing my wife did not object to my setting it every +night for the present. Something might happen, she remarked, and it was +just as well to be prepared in more ways than one; but there was a point +upon which she was very positive. + +"When George William is old enough to go about the house by himself," +she said, "those decanters must not be left exposed upon the table. Of +course I do not expect him to go about the house drinking wine and +everything that he finds, but there is no knowing what a child in the +first moments of his investigative existence may do." + +For myself, I became somewhat tired of acting my part in this little +farce every night and morning, but when I have undertaken anything of +this sort I am slow to drop it. + +It was about three weeks since I had begun to set my trap when I was +awakened in the night by a sudden noise. I sat up in bed, and as I did +so my wife said to me sleepily,-- + +"What is that? Was it thunder? There it is again!" she exclaimed, +starting up. "What a crash! It must have struck somewhere." I did not +answer. It was not thunder. It was something in the house, and it +flashed into my mind that perhaps my trap had been sprung. I got out of +bed and began rapidly to dress. + +"What are you going to do?" anxiously asked my wife. + +"I'm going to see what has happened," said I. At that moment there was +another noise. This was like two or three heavy footsteps, followed by a +sudden thump; but it was not so loud as the others. + +"John," cried my wife, "don't stir an inch, it's burglars!" and she +sprang out of bed and seized me by the arm. + +"I must go down," I said; "but there is really no reason for your being +frightened. I shall call David, and shall carry my pistol, so there is +really no danger. If there are thieves in the house they have probably +decamped by this time--that is, if they are able to do so, for of course +they must know that noise would awaken the soundest sleepers." + +My wife looked at me and then slowly withdrew her hands from my arm. + +"You promise me," she said, "if you find a burglar downstairs in the +possession of his senses you will immediately come back to me and George +William?" + +I promised her, and, slipping on some clothes, I went out into the +second-story hall. I carried no light. Before I had reached the bottom +of the back stairs I heard David, my man, coming down. To be sure it was +he and not a burglar I spoke to him in a low voice, my pistol raised in +case of an unsatisfactory reply. + +"I heard that noise, sir," he whispered, "and was going down to see +about it." + +"Are you ready if it's thieves?" I whispered. + +"I have got the biscuit-beater," he replied. + +"Come on, then," said I, and we went downstairs. + +I had left no light in the library, but there was one there now, and it +shone through the open door into the hallway. We stopped and listened. +There was no sound, and then slowly and cautiously we approached the +door of the library. The scene I beheld astounded me, and involuntarily +I sprang back a step or two. So did David; but in an instant we saw that +there was no need of retreat or defence. Stretched upon the floor, not +far from the doorway, lay a tall man, his face upturned to the light of +a bull's-eye lantern which stood by the mantel-piece. His eyes were +shut, and it was evident that he was perfectly insensible. Near by, in +the wreck of the small table, glasses, and decanters, lay another man, +apparently of heavier build. He also was as still as a corpse. A little +further back, half sitting on the floor, with the upper part of his body +resting against the lounge, was another man with a black mask over his +face. + +"Are they dead?" exclaimed David, in an undertone of horror. + +"No," said I, "they are not dead; they have been caught in my trap." + +And I must admit that the consciousness of this created a proud +exultation of spirit within me. I had overmatched these rascals; they +were prostrated before me. If one of them moved, David and I could kill +him. But I did not believe there would be any killing, nor any moving +for the present. + +In a high whisper, which could have been heard distinctly all over the +house, my wife now called to me from the top of the stairs. "What is +it?" she said. "What has happened?" + +I stepped quickly to the stairway. + +"Everything is all right," I said in a loud, distinct voice, intended +to assure my wife that there was no necessity for caution or alarm. "I +will be with you presently." + +"I am glad to hear that nothing is the matter," said Aunt Martha, now +for the first time opening her door. "I was afraid something had +happened." + +But I had business to attend to before I could go upstairs. In thinking +over and arranging this plan for the capture of burglars, I had +carefully considered its various processes, and had provided against all +the contingencies I could think of; therefore I was not now obliged to +deliberate what I should do. "Keep your eye on them," said I to David, +"and if one of them moves be ready for him. The first thing to do is to +tie them hand and foot." + +I quickly lighted a lamp, and then took from another shelf of the closet +a large coil of strong cotton rope, which I had provided for such an +occasion as the present. + +"Now," said I to David, "I will tie them while you stand by to knock +over any one of them who attempts to get up." + +The instrument with which David was prepared to carry out my orders was +a formidable one. In the days of my youth my family was very fond of +"Maryland biscuit," which owes much of its delicacy to the fact that +before baking it is pounded and beaten by a piece of heavy iron. Some +people used one kind of a beater and some another, but we had had made +for the purpose a heavy iron club a little over a foot long, large and +heavy at one end and a handle at the other. In my present household +Maryland biscuits were never made, but I had preserved this iron beater +as a memento of my boyhood, and when the burglaries began in our +vicinity I gave it to David to keep in his room, to be used as a weapon +if necessary. I did not allow him to have a pistol, having a regard for +my own safety in a sudden night alarm, and nothing could be more +formidable in a hand-to-hand encounter than this skull-crushing club. + +I began with the tall man, and rapidly tied his feet together with many +twists of the rope and as many knots. I then turned him over and tied +his elbows behind him in the same secure way. I had given so much +thought to the best method of securing a man by cords, that I do not +think this fellow could possibly have released himself when I had +finished with him. + +David was obeying my orders and keeping a strict watch on the prostrate +men; but his emotions of amazement were so great that he could not keep +them down. + +"What is the matter with them, sir?" he said. "How did they come so?" + +"There is no time for talking now," I answered. "I will tell you all +about it when the men have been secured." I now turned my attention to +the man who was partly resting against the lounge. I first tied his +feet, and before letting him down to the floor, so as to get to his +arms, I removed his hat and his mask, which was made of black muslin. I +was surprised to see the beardless face of a young and very good-looking +man. He was well dressed, and had the general appearance of a person +belonging to theatrical circles. When his arms had been tied, I told +David he might lay down his biscuit-beater, and help me with the third +man, who was badly mixed up with the _debris_ of the refreshments. We +hauled him out and tied him up. He was rather a short man, but very +heavy, and I could see no signs of his having been hurt by the smash-up +he made in falling. + +We now proceeded to search the insensible burglars for arms. Upon the +tall man we found a large revolver, a heavy billy, which seemed as if it +had seen service, and a long-bladed knife. The stout man carried two +double-barrelled pistols, and upon one of the fingers of his right hand +wore a brass ring with a murderous-looking iron protuberance upon it, +which, when driven forward by his powerful arm, was probably more +dangerous than a billy. Upon the younger man we found no arms at all, +and his hip pocket contained nothing but a small handbook on civil +engineering. + +I now briefly explained to David the nature of the trap which had caught +the burglars. He gazed upon me with a face glowing with amazed +admiration. + +"What a head you have got, sir!" he exclaimed. "I don't believe there is +another man in this State who would have thought of that. And what are +you going to do with them now, sir; hang 'em? That's what ought to be +done with them, the hounds!" + +"All I shall do," I answered, "will be to keep them till daylight, and +then I shall send word to the sheriff at Kennertown, and have him send +officers for them." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed David, "they are in the worst kind of a box." + +Now my wife called me again. "What in the world are you doing down +there?" she called; "why don't you come upstairs?" + +This annoyed me, for I was not yet ready to go upstairs. I wished to +resuscitate these fellows, for their stupor was so profound that I began +to fear that perhaps they had taken too much of the drug and ought to be +brought to their senses as speedily as possible. This feeling was due +more to my desire that serious injuries should not occur to the rascals +while in my house than to any concern for them. + +"My dear," said I, stepping to the bottom of the stairs, "I have some +things to attend to down here which will occupy me a few minutes longer; +then I will come up to you." + +"I can't imagine what the things are," she said, "but I suppose I can +wait," and she went into her room and closed her door after her. + +I now began to consider what was to be done with the burglars after they +had been resuscitated. My first impulse was to rid the house of them by +carrying them out of doors and bringing them to their senses there. But +there was an objection to this plan. They would be pretty heavy fellows +to carry, and as it would be absolutely necessary to watch them until +they could be given into the charge of the officers of the law, I did +not want to stay out of doors to do this, for the night air was raw and +chilly, and I therefore determined to keep them in the house. And as +they could be resuscitated better in a sitting position, they must be +set up in some way or other. I consulted David on the subject. + +"You might put 'em up with their backs agin the wall, sir," said he, +"but the dirty beasts would spoil the paper. I wouldn't keep them in a +decent room like this. I'd haul 'em out into the kitchen, anyway." + +But as they were already in the library I decided to let them stay +there, and to get them as speedily as possible into some position in +which they might remain. I bethought me of a heavy wooden settle or +bench with back and arms which stood on the side piazza. With David's +help I brought this into the room and placed it with its back to the +window. + +"Now, then," said I to David, "we will put them on this bench, and I +will tie them fast to it. We cannot be too careful in securing them, for +if one of them were to get loose, even without arms, there is no knowing +what trouble he might make." + +"Well, sir," said David, "if I'm to handle them at all, I'd rather have +them dead, as I hope they are, than have them alive; but you needn't be +afraid, sir, that any one of them will get loose. If I see any signs of +that I'll crack the rascal's skull in a jiffy." + +It required a great deal of tugging and lifting to get those three men +on the bench, but we got them there side by side, their heads hanging +listlessly, some one way, some another. I then tied each one of them +firmly to the bench. + +I had scarcely finished this when I again heard my wife's voice from the +top of the stairs. + +"If any pipes have burst," she called down, "tell David not to catch the +water in the new milk-pans." + +"Very well," I replied, "I'll see to it," and was rejoiced to hear again +the shutting of the bedroom door. + +I now saturated a sponge with the powerful preparation which Dr. Marks +had prepared as an antidote, and held it under the nose of the tall +burglar. In less than twenty seconds he made a slight quivering in his +face as if he were about to sneeze, and very soon he did sneeze +slightly. Then he sneezed violently, raised his head, and opened his +eyes. For a moment he gazed blankly before him, and then looked stupidly +at David and at me. But in an instant there flashed into his face the +look of a wild beast. His quick, glittering eye took in the whole +situation at a glance. With a furious oath he threw himself forward with +such a powerful movement that he nearly lifted the bench. + +"Stop that," said David, who stood near him with his iron club uplifted. +"If you do that again I'll let you feel this." + +The man looked at him with a fiery flash in his eyes, and then he looked +at me, as I stood holding the muzzle of my pistol within two feet of his +face. The black and red faded out of his countenance. He became pale. He +glanced at his companions bound and helpless. His expression now changed +entirely. The fury of the wild beast was succeeded by a look of +frightened subjection. Gazing very anxiously at my pistol, he said, in a +voice which, though agitated, was low and respectful:-- + +"What does this mean? What are you going to do? Will you please turn +away the muzzle of that pistol?" + +I took no notice of this indication of my steadiness of hand, and +answered:-- + +"I am going to bring these other scoundrels to their senses, and early +in the morning the three of you will be on your way to jail, where I +hope you may remain for the rest of your lives." + +"If you don't get killed on your way there," said David, in whose +nervous hand the heavy biscuit-beater was almost as dangerous as my +pistol. + +The stout man who sat in the middle of the bench was twice as long in +reviving as had been his companion, who watched the operation with +intense interest. When the burly scoundrel finally became conscious, he +sat for a few minutes gazing at the floor with a silly grin; then he +raised his head and looked first at one of his companions and then at +the other, gazed for an instant at me and David, tried to move his feet, +gave a pull at one arm and then at the other, and when he found he was +bound hard and fast, his face turned as red as fire and he opened his +mouth, whether to swear or yell I know not. I had already closed the +door, and before the man had uttered more than a premonitory sound, +David had clapped the end of his bludgeon against his mouth. + +"Taste that," he said, "and you know what you will get if you disturb +this family with any of your vile cursin' and swearin'." + +"Look here," said the tall man, suddenly turning to the other with an +air of authority, "keep your mouth shut and don't speak till you're +spoken to. Mind that, now, or these gentlemen will make it the worse for +you." + +David grinned as he took away his club. + +"I'd gentlemen you," he said, "if I could get half a chance to do it." + +The face of the heavy burglar maintained its redness, but he kept his +mouth shut. + +When the younger man was restored to his senses, his full consciousness +and power of perception seemed to come to him in an instant. His eyes +flashed from right to left, he turned deadly white, and then merely +moving his arms and legs enough to make himself aware that he was bound, +he sat perfectly still and said not a word. + +I now felt that I must go and acquaint my wife with what had happened, +or otherwise she would be coming downstairs to see what was keeping me +so long. David declared that he was perfectly able to keep guard over +them, and I ran upstairs. David afterward told me that as soon as I left +the room the tall burglar endeavoured to bribe him to cut their ropes, +and told him if he was afraid to stay behind after doing this he would +get him a much better situation than this could possibly be. But as +David threatened personal injury to the speaker if he uttered another +word of the kind, the tall man said no more; but the stout man became +very violent and angry, threatening all sorts of vengeance on my +unfortunate man. David said he was beginning to get angry, when the tall +man, who seemed to have much influence over the other fellow, ordered +him to keep quiet, as the gentleman with the iron club no doubt thought +he was doing right. The young fellow never said a word. + +When I told my wife that I had caught three burglars, and they were +fast bound in the library, she nearly fainted; and when I had revived +her she begged me to promise that I would not go downstairs again until +the police had carried away the horrible wretches. But I assured her +that it was absolutely necessary for me to return to the library. She +then declared that she would go with me, and if anything happened she +would share my fate. "Besides," she said, "if they are tied fast so they +can't move, I should like to see what they look like. I never saw a +burglar." + +I did not wish my wife to go downstairs, but as I knew there would be no +use in objecting, I consented. She hastily dressed herself, making me +wait for her; and when she left the room she locked the door on the +sleeping George William, in order that no one should get at him during +her absence. As we passed the head of the stairs, the door of my Aunt +Martha's room opened, and there she stood, completely dressed, with her +bonnet on, and a little leather bag in her hand. + +"I heard so much talking and so much going up and down stairs that I +thought I had better be ready to do whatever had to be done. Is it +fire?" + +"No," said my wife; "it's three burglars tied in a bunch in the library. +I am going down to see them." + +My Aunt Martha gasped, and looked as if she were going to sit down on +the floor. + +"Goodness gracious!" she said, "if you're going I'll go too. I can't let +you go alone, and I never did see a burglar." + +I hurried down and left the two ladies on the stairs until I was sure +everything was still safe; and when I saw that there had been no change +in the state of affairs, I told them to come down. + +When my wife and Aunt Martha timidly looked in at the library door, the +effect upon them and the burglars was equally interesting. The ladies +each gave a start and a little scream, and huddled themselves close to +me, and the three burglars gazed at them with faces that expressed more +astonishment than any I had ever seen before. The stout fellow gave vent +to a smothered exclamation, and the face of the young man flushed, but +not one of them spoke. + +"Are you sure they are tied fast?" whispered my Aunt Martha to me. + +"Perfectly," I answered; "if I had not been sure I should not have +allowed you to come down." + +Thereupon the ladies picked up courage and stepped further into the +room. + +"Did you and David catch them?" asked my aunt; "and how in the world did +you do it?" + +"I'll tell you all about that another time," I said, "and you had better +go upstairs as soon as you two have seen what sort of people are these +cowardly burglars who sneak or break into the houses of respectable +people at night, and rob and steal and ruin other people's property with +no more conscience or human feeling than is possessed by the rats which +steal your corn, or the polecats which kill your chickens." + +"I can scarcely believe," said Aunt Martha, "that that young man is a +real burglar." + +At these words the eyes of the fellow spoken of glowed as he fixed them +on Aunt Martha, but he did not say a word, and the paleness which had +returned to his face did not change. + +"Have they told you who they are?" asked my wife. + +"I haven't asked them," I said. "And now don't you think you had better +go upstairs?" + +"It seems to me," said Aunt Martha, "that those ropes must hurt them." + +The tall man now spoke. "Indeed they do, madam," he said in a low voice +and very respectful manner, "they are very tight." + +I told David to look at all the cords and see if any of them were too +tightly drawn. + +"It's all nonsense, sir," said he, when he had finished the examination; +"not one of the ropes is a bit too tight. All they want is a chance to +pull out their ugly hands." + +"Of course," said Aunt Martha, "if it would be unsafe to loosen the +knots I wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent to prison?" + +"Yes," said I; "as soon as the day breaks I shall send down for the +police." + +I now heard a slight sound at the door, and turning, saw Alice, our maid +of the house, who was peeping in at the door. Alice was a modest girl, +and quite pretty. + +"I heard the noise and the talking, sir," she said, "and when I found +the ladies had gone down to see what it was, I thought I would come +too." + +"And where is the cook," asked my wife; "don't she want to see +burglars?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Alice, very emphatically. "As soon as I told +her what it was she covered up her head with the bedclothes and +declared, ma'am, that she would never get up until they were entirely +gone out of the house." + +At this the stout man grinned. + +"I wish you'd all cover up your heads," he said. The tall man looked at +him severely, and he said no more. + +David did not move from his post near the three burglars, but he turned +toward Alice and looked at her. We knew that he had tender feelings +toward the girl, and I think that he did not approve of her being there. + +"Have they stolen anything?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"They have not had any chance to take anything away," I said; and my +wife remarked that whether they had stolen anything or not, they had +made a dreadful mess on the floor, and had broken the table. They should +certainly be punished. + +At this she made a motion as if she would leave the room, and an +anxious expression immediately came on the face of the tall man, who had +evidently been revolving something in his mind. + +"Madam," he said, "we are very sorry that we have broken your table, and +that we have damaged some of your glass and your carpet. I assure you, +however, that nothing of the kind would have happened but for that +drugged wine, which was doubtless intended for a medicine, and not a +beverage; but weary and chilled as we were when we arrived, madam, we +were glad to partake of it, supposing it ordinary wine." + +I could not help showing a little pride at the success of my scheme. + +"The refreshment was intended for fellows of your class, and I am very +glad you accepted it." + +The tall man did not answer me, but he again addressed my wife. + +"Madam," he said, "if you ladies would remain and listen to me a few +moments, I am sure I would make you aware that there is much to +extenuate the apparent offence which I have committed to-night." + +My wife did not answer him, but turning to me said, smiling, "If he +alludes to their drinking your wine he need not apologize." + +The man looked at her with an expression as if her words had pained him. + +"Madam," he said, "if you consent to listen to my explanations and the +story of this affair, I am sure your feelings toward me would not be so +harsh." + +"Now, then," said my Aunt Martha, "if he has a story to tell he ought to +be allowed to tell it, even in a case like this. Nobody should be judged +until he has said what he thinks he ought to say. Let us hear his +story." + +I laughed. "Any statement he may make," I said, "will probably deserve a +much stronger name than stories." + +"I think that what you say is true," remarked my wife; "but still if he +has a story to tell I should like to hear it." + +I think I heard David give a little grunt; but he was too well bred to +say anything. + +"Very well," said I, "if you choose to sit up and hear him talk, it is +your affair. I shall be obliged to remain here anyway, and will not +object to anything that will help to pass away the time. But these men +must not be the only ones who are seated. David, you and Alice can clear +away that broken table and the rest of the stuff, and then we might as +well sit down and make ourselves comfortable." + +Alice, with cloth and brush, approached very timidly the scene of the +disaster; but the younger burglar, who was nearest to her, gazed upon +her with such a gentle and quiet air that she did not seem to be +frightened. When she and David had put the room in fair order, I placed +two easy-chairs for my wife and Aunt Martha at a moderate distance from +the burglars, and took another myself a little nearer to them, and then +told David to seat himself near the other end of the bench, and Alice +took a chair at a little distance from the ladies. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to the burglars, "I would like very much +to hear what any one of you can say in extenuation of having broken into +a gentleman's house by night." + +Without hesitation the tall man began his speech. He had a long and +rather lean, close-shaven face, which at present bore the expression of +an undertaker conducting a funeral. Although it was my aunt who had +shown the greatest desire to hear his story, he addressed himself to my +wife. I think he imagined that she was the more influential person of +the two. + +"Madam," said he, "I am glad of the opportunity of giving you and your +family an idea of the difficulties and miseries which beset a large +class of your fellow-beings of whom you seldom have any chance of +knowing anything at all, but of whom you hear all sorts of the most +misleading accounts. Now, I am a poor man. I have suffered the greatest +miseries that poverty can inflict. I am here, suspected of having +committed a crime. It is possible that I may be put to considerable +difficulty and expense in proving my innocence." + +"I shouldn't wonder," I interrupted. To this remark he paid no +attention. + +"Considering all this," he continued, "you may not suppose, madam, that +as a boy I was brought up most respectably and properly. My mother was a +religious woman, and my father was a boat-builder. I was sent to school, +and my mother has often told me that I was a good scholar. But she died +when I was about sixteen, and I am sure had this not happened I should +never have been even suspected of breaking the laws of my country. Not +long after her death my father appeared to lose interest in his +business, and took to rowing about the river instead of building boats +for other people to row. Very often he went out at night, and I used to +wonder why he should care to be on the water in the darkness, and +sometimes in the rain. One evening at supper he said to me: 'Thomas, you +ought to know how to row in the dark as well as in the daytime. I am +going up the river to-night, and you can come with me.' + +"It was about my ordinary bedtime when we took a boat with two pair of +oars, and we pulled up the river about three miles above the city." + +"What city?" I asked. + +"The city where I was born, sir," he said, "and the name of which I must +be excused from mentioning for reasons connected with my only surviving +parent. There were houses on the river bank, but they were not very near +each other. Some of them had lights in them, but most of them were dark, +as it must have been after eleven o'clock. Before one of them my father +stopped rowing for a moment and looked at it pretty hard. It seemed to +be all dark, but as we pulled on a little I saw a light in the back of +the house. + +"My father said nothing, but we kept on, though pulling very easy for a +mile or two, and then we turned and floated down with the tide. 'You +might as well rest, Thomas,' said he, 'for you have worked pretty hard.' + +"We floated slowly, for the tide was just beginning to turn, and when we +got near the house which I mentioned, I noticed that there was no light +in it. When we were about opposite to it father suddenly looked up and +said, not speaking very loud, 'By George! if that isn't Williamson +Green's house. I wasn't thinking of it when we rowed up, and passed it +without taking notice of it. I am sorry for that, for I wanted to see +Williamson, and now I expect he has gone to bed.' + +"'Who is Mr. Green?' I asked. + +"'He is an old friend of mine,' said my father, 'and I haven't seen him +for some little while now. About four months ago he borrowed of me a +sextant, quadrant, and chronometer. They were instruments I took from +old Captain Barney in payment of some work I did for him. I wasn't +usin' them, and Williamson had bought a catboat and was studying +navigation; but he has given up that fad now and has promised me over +and over to send me back my instruments, but he has never done it. If +I'd thought of it I would have stopped and got 'em of him; but I didn't +think, and now I expect he has gone to bed. However, I'll row in shore +and see; perhaps he's up yet.' + +"You see, ma'am," said the speaker to my wife, "I'm tellin' you all +these particulars because I am very anxious you should understand +exactly how everything happened on this night, which was the +turning-point of my life." + +"Very good," said Aunt Martha; "we want to hear all the particulars." + +"Well, then," continued the burglar, "we pulled up to a stone wall which +was at the bottom of Green's place and made fast, and father he got out +and went up to the house. After a good while he came back and said that +he was pretty sure Williamson Green had gone to bed, and as it wouldn't +do to waken people up from their sleep to ask them for nautical +instruments they had borrowed, he sat down for a minute on the top of +the wall, and then he slapped his knee, not making much noise, though. + +"'By George!' he said, 'an idea has just struck me. I can play the +prettiest trick on Williamson that ever was played on mortal man. Those +instruments are all in a box locked up, and I know just where he keeps +it. I saw it not long ago, when I went to his house to talk about a +yacht he wants built. They are on a table in the comer of his bedroom. +He was taking me through the house to show me the improvements he had +made, and he said to me:-- + +"'"Martin, there's your instruments. I won't trouble you to take them +with you, because they're heavy and you're not going straight home, but +I'll bring them to you day after to-morrow, when I shall be goin' your +way." + +"'Now, then,' said my father, 'the trick I'm thinkin' of playing on +Williamson is this: I'd like to take that box of instruments out of his +room without his knowing it and carry them home, having the boat here +convenient; and then in a day or two to write to him and tell him I must +have 'em, because I have a special use for 'em. Of course he'll be +awfully cut up, not having them to send back; and when he comes down to +my place to talk about it, and after hearing all he has to say, I'll +show him the box. He'll be the most dumbfoundedest man in this State; +and if I don't choose to tell him he'll never know to his dying day how +I got that box. And if he lies awake at night, trying to think how I got +it, it will serve him right for keeping my property from me so long.' + +"'But, father,' said I, 'if the people have gone to bed you can't get +into the house to play him your trick.' + +"'That can be managed,' says he; 'I'm rather old for climbing myself, +but I know a way by which you, Thomas, can get in easy enough. At the +back of the house is a trellis with a grape-vine running over it, and +the top of it is just under one of the second-story windows. You can +climb up that trellis, Thomas, and lift up that window-sash very +carefully, so's not to make no noise, and get in. Then you'll be in a +back room, with a door right in front of you which opens into Mr. and +Mrs. Green's bedroom. There's always a little night lamp burning in it, +by which you can see to get about. In the corner, on your right as you +go into the room, is a table with my instrument-box standing on it. The +box is pretty heavy, and there is a handle on top to carry it by. You +needn't be afraid to go in, for by this time they are both sound asleep, +and you can pick up the box and walk out as gingerly as a cat, having of +course taken your shoes off before you went in. Then you can hand the +box out the back window to me,--I can climb up high enough to reach +it,--and you can scuttle down, and we'll be off, having the best rig on +Williamson Green that I ever heard of in my born days.' + +"I was a very active boy, used to climbing and all that sort of thing, +and I had no doubt that I could easily get into the house; but I did not +fancy my father's scheme. + +"'Suppose,' I said, 'that Mr. Williamson Green should wake up and see +me; what could I say? How could I explain my situation?' + +"'You needn't say anything,' said my father. 'If he wakes up blow out +the light and scoot. If you happen to have the box in your hand drop it +out the back window and then slip down after it. He won't see us; but +if he does he cannot catch us before we get to the boat; but if he +should, however, I'll have to explain the matter to him, and the joke +will be against me; but I shall get my instruments, which is the main +point, after all.' + +"I did not argue with my father, for he was a man who hated to be +differed with, and I agreed to help him carry out his little joke. We +took off our shoes and walked quietly to the back of the house. My +father stood below, and I climbed up the trellis under the back window, +which he pointed out. The window-sash was down all but a little crack to +let in air, and I raised it so slowly and gently that I made no noise. +Then without any trouble at all I got into the room. + +"I found myself in a moderate-sized chamber, into which a faint light +came from a door opposite the window. Having been several hours out in +the night my eyes had become so accustomed to darkness that this light +was comparatively strong and I could see everything. + +"Looking about me my eyes fell on a little bedstead, on which lay one of +the most beautiful infants I ever beheld in my life. Its golden hair +lay in ringlets upon the pillow. Its eyes were closed, but its soft +cheeks had in them a rosy tinge which almost equalled the colour of its +dainty little lips, slightly opened as it softly breathed and dreamed." +At this point I saw my wife look quickly at the bedroom key she had in +her hand. I knew she was thinking of George William. + +"I stood entranced," continued the burglar, "gazing upon this babe, for +I was very fond of children; but I remembered that I must not waste +time, and stepped softly into the next room. There I beheld Mr. and Mrs. +Williamson Green in bed, both fast asleep, the gentleman breathing a +little hard. In a corner, just where my father told me I should find it, +stood the box upon the table. + +"But I could not immediately pick it up and depart. The beautiful room +in which I found myself was a revelation to me. Until that moment I had +not known that I had tastes and sympathies of a higher order than might +have been expected of the youthful son of a boat-builder. Those artistic +furnishings aroused within a love of the beautiful which I did not know +I possessed. The carpets, the walls, the pictures, the hangings in the +windows, the furniture, the ornaments,--everything, in fact, impressed +me with such a delight that I did not wish to move or go away. + +"Into my young soul there came a longing. 'Oh!' I said to myself, 'that +my parents had belonged to the same social grade as that worthy couple +reposing in that bed; and oh! that I, in my infancy, had been as +beautiful and as likely to be so carefully nurtured and cultured as that +sweet babe in the next room.' I almost heaved a sigh as I thought of the +difference between these surroundings and my own, but I checked myself; +it would not do to made a noise and spoil my father's joke. + +"There were a great many things in that luxurious apartment which it +would have delighted me to look upon and examine, but I forbore." + +"I wish I'd been there," said the stout man; "there wouldn't have been +any forbearin'." + +The speaker turned sharply upon him. + +"Don't you interrupt me again," he said angrily. Then, instantly +resuming his deferential tone, he continued the story. + +"But I had come there by the command of my parent, and this command must +be obeyed without trifling or loss of time. My father did not approve of +trifling or loss of time. I moved quietly toward the table in the +corner, on which stood my father's box. I was just about to put my hand +upon it when I heard a slight movement behind me. I gave a start and +glanced backward. It was Mr. Williamson Green turning over in his bed; +what if he should awake? His back was now toward me, and my impulse was +to fly and leave everything behind me; but my father had ordered me to +bring the box, and he expected his orders to be obeyed. I had often been +convinced of that. + +"I stood perfectly motionless for a minute or so, and when the gentleman +recommenced his regular and very audible breathing I felt it safe to +proceed with my task. Taking hold of the box I found it was much heavier +than I expected it to be; but I moved gently away with it and passed +into the back room. + +"There I could not refrain from stopping a moment by the side of the +sleeping babe, upon whose cherub-like face the light of the night lamp +dimly shone. The little child was still sleeping sweetly, and my impulse +was to stop and kiss it; but I knew that this would be wrong. The infant +might awake and utter a cry and my father's joke be spoiled. I moved to +the open window, and with some trouble, and, I think, without any noise, +I succeeded in getting out upon the trellis with the box under my arm. +The descent was awkward, but my father was a tall man, and, reaching +upward, relieved me of my burden before I got to the ground. + +"'I didn't remember it was so heavy,' he whispered, 'or I should have +given you a rope to lower it down by. If you had dropped it and spoiled +my instruments, and made a lot of noise besides, I should have been +angry enough.' + +"I was very glad my father was not angry, and following him over the +greensward we quickly reached the boat, where the box was stowed away +under the bow to keep it from injury. + +"We pushed off as quietly as possible and rowed swiftly down the river. +When we had gone about a mile I suddenly dropped my oar with an +exclamation of dismay. + +"'What's the matter?' cried my father. + +"'Oh, I have done a dreadful thing!' I said. 'Oh, father, I must go +back!' + +"I am sorry to say that at this my father swore. + +"'What do you want to go back for?' he said. + +"'Just to think of it! I have left open the window in which that +beautiful child was sleeping. If it should take cold and die from the +damp air of the river blowing upon it I should never forgive myself. Oh, +if I had only thought of climbing up the trellis again and pulling down +that sash! I am sure I could go back and do it without making the least +noise.' My father gave a grunt; but what the grunt meant I do not know, +and for a few moments he was silent, and then he said:-- + +"'Thomas, you cannot go back; the distance is too great, the tide is +against us, and it is time that you and I were both in our beds. Nothing +may happen to that baby; but, attend to my words now, if any harm should +come to that child it will go hard with you. If it should die it would +be of no use for you to talk about practical jokes. You would be held +responsible for its death. I was going to say to you that it might be as +well for you not to say anything about this little venture until I had +seen how Williamson Green took the joke. Some people get angry with very +little reason, although I hardly believe he's that sort of a man; but +now things are different. He thinks all the world of that child, which +is the only one they've got; and if you want to stay outside of jail or +the house of refuge I warn you never to say a word of where you have +been this night.' + +"With this he began to row again, and I followed his example, but with a +very heavy heart. All that night I dreamt of the little child with the +damp night winds blowing in upon it." + +"Did you ever hear if it caught cold?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"No," replied the burglar, "I never did. I mentioned the matter to my +father, and he said that he had great fears upon the subject, for +although he had written to Williamson Green, asking him to return the +instruments, he had not seen him or heard from him, and he was afraid +that the child had died or was dangerously sick. Shortly after that my +father sent me on a little trip to the Long Island coast to collect some +bills from people for whom he had done work. He gave me money to stay a +week or two at the seashore, saying that the change would do me good; +and it was while I was away on this delightful holiday that an event +occurred which had a most disastrous effect upon my future life. My +father was arrested for burglary! + +"It appeared--and I cannot tell you how shocked I was when I discovered +the truth--that the box which I had carried away did not contain +nautical instruments, but was filled with valuable plate and jewels. My +unfortunate father heard from a man who had been discharged from the +service of the family whose house he had visited--whose name, by the +way, was not Green--where the box containing the valuables mentioned was +always placed at night, and he had also received accurate information in +regard to the situation of the rooms and the best method of gaining +access to them. + +"I believe that some arrangement had been made between my father and +this discharged servant in regard to a division of the contents of the +box, and it was on account of a disagreement on this subject that the +man became very angry, and after pocketing what my father thought was +his fair share he departed to unknown regions, leaving behind a note to +the police which led to my father's arrest." + +"That was a mean trick," said Aunt Martha. + +The burglar looked at her gratefully. + +"In the lower spheres of life, madam, such things often happen. Some of +the plate and jewels were found in my father's possession, and he was +speedily tried and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. And now, +can you imagine, ladies," said the tall burglar, apparently having +become satisfied to address himself to Aunt Martha, as well as my wife, +"the wretched position in which I found myself? I was upbraided as the +son of a thief. I soon found myself without home, without occupation, +and, alas! without good reputation. I was careful not to mention my +voluntary connection with my father's crime for fear that should I do so +I might be compelled to make a statement which might increase the +severity of his punishment. For this reason I did not dare to make +inquiries concerning the child in whom I had taken such an interest, +and whose little life I had, perhaps, imperilled. I never knew, ladies, +whether that infant grew up or not. + +"But I, alas! grew up to a life of hardship and degradation. It would be +impossible for persons in your sphere of life to understand what I now +was obliged to suffer. Suitable employment I could not obtain, because I +was the son of a burglar. With a father in the State prison, it was of +no use for me to apply for employment at any respectable place of +business. I laboured at one thing and another, sometimes engaging in the +most menial employments. I also had been educated and brought up by my +dear mother for a very different career. Sometimes I managed to live +fairly well, sometimes I suffered. Always I suffered from the stigma of +my father's crime, always in the eyes of the community in which I +lived--a community, I am sorry to say, incapable, as a rule, of making +correct judgments in delicate cases like these--I was looked upon as +belonging to the ranks of the dishonest. It was a hard lot, and +sometimes almost impossible to bear up under. + +"I have spoken at length, ladies, in order that you may understand my +true position; and I wish to say that I have never felt the crushing +weight of my father's disgrace more deeply than I felt it last evening. +This man," nodding toward the stout burglar, "came to me shortly after I +had eaten my supper, which happened to be a frugal one, and said to +me:-- + +"'Thomas, I have some business to attend to to-night, in which you can +help me if you choose. I know you are a good mechanic.' + +"'If it is work that will pay me,' I answered, 'I should be very glad to +do it, for I am greatly in need of money.' + +"'It will pay,' said he; and I agreed to assist him. + +"As we were walking to the station, as the business to be attended to +was out of town, this man, whose name is James Barlow, talked to me in +such a way that I began to suspect that he intended to commit a +burglary, and openly charged him with this evil purpose. 'You may call +it burglary or anything else you please,' said he; 'property is very +unequally divided in this world, and it is my business in life to make +wrong things right as far as I can. I am going to the house of a man +who has a great deal more than he needs, and I haven't anything like as +much as I need; and so I intend to take some of his overplus,--not very +much, for when I leave his house he will still be a rich man, and I'll +be a poor one. But for a time my family will not starve.' + +"'Argue as you please, James Barlow,' I said, 'what you are going to do +is nothing less than burglary.' + +"'Of course it is,' said he; 'but it's all right, all the same. There +are a lot of people, Thomas, who are not as particular about these +things as they used to be, and there is no use for you to seem better +than your friends and acquaintances. Now, to show there are not so many +bigots as there used to be, there's a young man going to meet us at the +station who is greatly interested in the study of social problems. He is +going along with us just to look into this sort of thing and study it. +It is impossible for him to understand people of our class, or do +anything to make their condition better, if he does not thoroughly +investigate their methods of life and action. He's going along just as a +student, nothing more; and he may be down on the whole thing for all I +know. He pays me five dollars for the privilege of accompanying me, and +whether he likes it or not is his business. I want you to go along as a +mechanic, and if your conscience won't let you take any share in the +profit, I'll just pay you for your time.' + +"'James Barlow,' said I, 'I am going with you, but for a purpose far +different from that you desire. I shall keep by your side, and if I can +dissuade you from committing the crime you intend I shall do so; but if +I fail in this, and you deliberately break into a house for purposes of +robbery, I shall arouse the inmates and frustrate your crime.' Now, +James Barlow," said he, turning to the stout man with a severe +expression on his strongly marked face, "is not what I have said +perfectly true? Did you not say to me every word which I have just +repeated?" + +The stout man looked at the other in a very odd way. His face seemed to +broaden and redden, and he merely closed his eyes as he promptly +answered:-- + +"That's just what I said, every blasted word of it. You've told it fair +and square, leavin' off nothin' and puttin' in nothin'. You've told the +true facts out and out, up and down, without a break." + +"Now, ladies," continued the tall man, "you see my story is +corroborated, and I will conclude it by saying that when this house, in +spite of my protest, had been opened, I entered with the others with the +firm intention of stepping into a hallway or some other suitable place +and announcing in a loud voice that the house was about to be robbed. As +soon as I found the family aroused and my purpose accomplished, I +intended to depart as quickly as possible, for, on account of the shadow +cast upon me by my father's crime, I must never be found even in the +vicinity of criminal action. But as I was passing through this room I +could not resist the invitation of Barlow to partake of the refreshments +which we saw upon the table. I was faint from fatigue and insufficient +nourishment. It seemed a very little thing to taste a drop of wine in a +house where I was about to confer a great benefit. I yielded to the +temptation, and now I am punished. Partaking even that little which did +not belong to me, I find myself placed in my present embarrassing +position." + +"You are right there," said I, "it must be embarrassing; but before we +have any more reflections, there are some practical points about which +I wish you would inform me. How did that wicked man, Mr. Barlow I think +you called him, get into this house?" + +The tall man looked at me for a moment, as if in doubt what he should +say; and then his expression of mingled hopelessness and contrition +changed into one of earnest frankness. + +"I will tell you, sir, exactly," he said; "I have no wish to conceal +anything. I have long wanted to have an opportunity to inform occupants +of houses, especially those in the suburbs, of the insufficiency of +their window fastenings. Familiar with mechanic devices as I am, and +accustomed to think of such things, the precautions of householders +sometimes move me to laughter. Your outer doors, front and back, are of +heavy wood, chained, locked, and bolted, often double locked and bolted; +but your lower windows are closed in the first place by the lightest +kind of shutters, which are very seldom fastened at all, and in the +second place by a little contrivance connecting the two sashes, which is +held in place by a couple of baby screws. If these contrivances are of +the best kind and cannot be opened from the outside with a knife-blade +or piece of tin, the burglar puts a chisel or jimmy under the lower sash +and gently presses it upward, when the baby screws come out as easily as +if they were babies' milk-teeth. Not for a moment does the burglar +trouble himself about the front door, with its locks and chains and +bolts. He goes to the window, with its baby screws, which might as well +be left open as shut, for all the hindrance it is to his entrance; and +if he meddled with the door at all, it is simply to open it from the +inside, so that when he is ready to depart he may do so easily." + +"But all that does not apply to my windows," I said. "They are not +fastened that way." + +"No, sir," said the man, "your lower shutters are solid and strong as +your doors. This is right, for if shutters are intended to obstruct +entrance to a house they should be as strong as the doors. When James +Barlow first reached this house he tried his jimmy on one of the +shutters in this main building, but he could not open it. The heavy bolt +inside was too strong for him. Then he tried another near by with the +same result. You will find the shutters splintered at the bottom. Then +he walked to the small addition at the back of the house, where the +kitchen is located. Here the shutters were smaller, and of course the +inside bolts were smaller. Everything in harmony. Builders are so +careful now-a-days to have everything in harmony. When Barlow tried his +jimmy on one of these shutters the bolt resisted for a time, but its +harmonious proportions caused it to bend, and it was soon drawn from its +staples and the shutter opened, and of course the sash was opened as I +told you sashes are opened." + +"Well," said I, "shutters and sashes of mine shall never be opened in +that way again." + +"It was with that object that I spoke to you," said the tall man. "I +wish you to understand the faults of your fastenings, and any +information I can give you which will better enable you to protect your +house, I shall be glad to give, as a slight repayment for the injury I +may have helped to do to you in the way of broken glass and spoiled +carpet. I have made window fastenings an especial study, and, if you +employ me for the purpose, I'll guarantee that I will put your house +into a condition which will be absolutely burglar proof. If I do not do +this to your satisfaction, I will not ask to be paid a cent." + +"We will not consider that proposition now," I said, "for you may have +other engagements which would interfere with the proposed job." I was +about to say that I thought we had enough of this sort of story, when +Aunt Martha interrupted me. + +"It seems to me," she said, speaking to the tall burglar, "that you have +instincts, and perhaps convictions, of what is right and proper; but it +is plain that you allow yourself to be led and influenced by +unprincipled companions. You should avoid even the outskirts of evil. +You may not know that the proposed enterprise is a bad one, but you +should not take part in it unless you know that it is a good one. In +such cases you should be rigid." + +The man turned toward my aunt, and looked steadfastly at her, and as he +gazed his face grew sadder and sadder. + +"Rigid," he repeated; "that is hard." + +"Yes," I remarked, "that is one of the meanings of the word." + +Paying no attention to me, he continued:-- + +"Madam," said he, with a deep pathos in his voice, "no one can be +better aware than I am that I have made many mistakes in the course of +my life; but that quality on which I think I have reason to be satisfied +with myself is my rigidity when I know a thing is wrong. There occurs to +me now an instance in my career which will prove to you what I say. + +"I knew a man by the name of Spotkirk, who had invented a liniment for +the cure of boils. He made a great success with his liniment, which he +called Boilene, and at the time I speak of he was a very rich man. + +"One day Spotkirk came to me and told me he wanted me to do a piece of +business for him, for which he would pay me twenty-five dollars. I was +glad to hear this, for I was greatly in need of money, and I asked him +what it was he wanted me to do. + +"'You know Timothy Barker,' said he. 'Well, Timothy and I have had a +misunderstanding, and I want you to be a referee or umpire between us, +to set things straight.' + +"'Very good,' said I, 'and what is the point of difference?' + +"'I'll put the whole thing before you.' said he, 'for of course you +must understand it or you can't talk properly to Timothy. Now, you see, +in the manufacture of my Boilene I need a great quantity of good yellow +gravel, and Timothy Barker has got a gravel pit of that kind. Two years +ago I agreed with Timothy that he should furnish me with all the gravel +I should want for one-eighth of one per cent. of the profits on the +Boilene. We didn't sign no papers, for which I am sorry, but that was +the agreement; and now Timothy says that one-eighth of one per cent. +isn't enough. He has gone wild about it, and actually wants ten per +cent., and threatens to sue me if I don't give it to him.' + +"'Are you obliged to have gravel? Wouldn't something else do for your +purpose?' + +"'There's nothing as cheap,' said Spotkirk. 'You see I have to have lots +and lots of it. Every day I fill a great tank with the gravel and let +water onto it. This soaks through the gravel, and comes out a little +pipe in the bottom of the tank of a beautiful yellow color; sometimes it +is too dark, and then I have to thin it with more water.' + +"'Then you bottle it,' I said. + +"'Yes,' said Spotkirk; 'then there is all the expense and labour of +bottling it.' + +"'Then you put nothing more into it,' said I. + +"'What more goes into it before it's corked,' said Spotkirk, 'is my +business. That's my secret, and nobody's been able to find it out. +People have had Boilene analyzed by chemists, but they can't find out +the hidden secret of its virtue. There's one thing that everybody who +has used it does know, and that is that it is a sure cure for boils. If +applied for two or three days according to directions, and at the proper +stage, the boil is sure to disappear. As a proof of its merit I have +sold seven hundred and forty-eight thousand bottles this year.' + +"'At a dollar a bottle?' said I. + +"'That is the retail price,' said he. + +"'Now, then, Mr. Spotkirk,' said I, 'it will not be easy to convince +Timothy Barker that one-eighth of one per cent. is enough for him. I +suppose he hauls his gravel to your factory?' + +"'Hauling's got nothing to do with it,' said he; 'gravel is only ten +cents a load anywhere, and if I choose I could put my factory right in +the middle of a gravel pit. Timothy Barker has nothing to complain of. + +"'But he knows you are making a lot of money,' said I, 'and it will be a +hard job to talk him over. Mr. Spotkirk, it's worth every cent of fifty +dollars.' + +"'Now look here,' said he; 'if you get Barker to sign a paper that will +suit me, I'll give you fifty dollars. I'd rather do that than have him +bring a suit. If the matter comes up in the courts those rascally +lawyers will be trying to find out what I put into my Boilene, and that +sort of thing would be sure to hurt my business. It won't be so hard to +get a hold on Barker if you go to work the right way. You can just let +him understand that you know all about that robbery at Bonsall's +clothing-store, where he kept the stolen goods in his barn, covered up +with hay, for nearly a week. It would be a good thing for Timothy Barker +to understand that somebody else beside me knows about that business, +and if you bring it in right, it will fetch him around, sure.' + +"I kept quiet for a minute or two, and then I said:-- + +"'Mr. Spotkirk, this is an important business. I can't touch it under a +hundred dollars.' He looked hard at me, and then he said:-- + +"'Do it right, and a hundred dollars is yours.' + +"After that I went to see Timothy Barker, and had a talk with him. +Timothy was boiling over, and considered himself the worst-cheated man +in the world. He had only lately found out how Spotkirk made his +Boilene, and what a big sale he had for it, and he was determined to +have more of the profits. + +"'Just look at it!' he shouted; 'when Spotkirk has washed out my gravel +it's worth more than it was before, and he sells it for twenty-five +cents a load to put on gentlemen's places. Even out of that he makes a +hundred and fifty per cent. profit.' + +"I talked a good deal more with Timothy Barker, and found out a good +many things about Spotkirk's dealings with him, and then in an off-hand +manner I mentioned the matter of the stolen goods in his barn, just as +if I had known all about it from the very first. At this Timothy stopped +shouting, and became as meek as a mouse. He said nobody was as sorry as +he was when he found the goods concealed in his barn had been stolen, +and that if he had known it before the thieves took them away he should +have informed the authorities; and then he went on to tell me how he got +so poor and so hard up by giving his whole time to digging and hauling +gravel for Spotkirk, and neglecting his little farm, that he did not +know what was going to become of him and his family if he couldn't make +better terms with Spotkirk for the future, and he asked me very +earnestly to help him in this business if I could. + +"Now, then, I set myself to work to consider this business. Here was a +rich man oppressing a poor one, and here was this rich man offering me +one hundred dollars--which in my eyes was a regular fortune--to help him +get things so fixed that he could keep on oppressing the poor one. Now, +then, here was a chance for me to show my principles. Here was a chance +for me to show myself what you, madam, call rigid; and rigid I was. I +just set that dazzling one hundred dollars aside, much as I wanted it. +Much as I actually needed it, I wouldn't look at it, or think of it. I +just said to myself, 'If you can do any good in this matter, do it for +the poor man;' and I did do it for Timothy Barker with his poor wife and +seven children, only two of them old enough to help him in the gravel +pit. I went to Spotkirk and I talked to him, and I let him see that if +Timothy Barker showed up the Boilene business, as he threatened to do, +it would be a bad day for the Spotkirk family. He tried hard to talk me +over to his side, but I was rigid, madam, I was rigid, and the business +ended in my getting seven per cent. of the profits of Boilene for that +poor man, Timothy Barker, and his large family; and their domestic +prosperity is entirely due--I say it without hesitation--to my efforts +on their behalf, and to my rigidity in standing up for the poor against +the rich." + +"Of course," I here remarked, "you don't care to mention anything about +the money you squeezed out of Timothy Barker by means of your knowledge +that he had been a receiver of stolen goods, and I suppose the Boilene +man gave you something to get the percentage brought down from ten per +cent. to seven." + +The tall burglar turned and looked at me with an air of saddened +resignation. + +"Of course," said he, "it is of no use for a man in my position to +endeavour to set himself right in the eyes of one who is prejudiced +against him. My hope is that those present who are not prejudiced will +give my statements the consideration they deserve." + +"Which they certainly will do," I continued. Turning to my wife and Aunt +Martha, "As you have heard this fine story, I think it is time for you +to retire." + +"I do not wish to retire," promptly returned Aunt Martha. "I was never +more awake in my life, and couldn't go asleep if I tried. What we have +heard may or may not be true, but it furnishes subjects for +reflection--serious reflection. I wish very much to hear what that man +in the middle of the bench has to say for himself; I am sure he has a +story." + +"Yes, ma'am," said the stout man, with animation, "I've got one, and I'd +like nothin' better than to tell it to you if you'll give me a little +somethin' to wet my lips with--a little beer, or whiskey and water, or +anything you have convenient." + +"Whiskey and water!" said Aunt Martha with severity. "I should think +not. It seems to me you have had all the intoxicating liquors in this +house that you would want." + +"But I don't think you're the kind of person who'd doctor the liquor. +This is the first gentleman's house where I ever found anything of that +kind." + +"The worse for the gentleman," I remarked. The man grunted. + +"Well, ma'am," he said, "call it anything you please--milk, cider, or, +if you have nothin' else, I'll take water. I can't talk without +somethin' soaky." + +My wife rose. "If we are to listen to another story," she said, "I want +something to keep up my strength. I shall go into the dining-room and +make some tea, and Aunt Martha can give these men some of that if she +likes." + +The ladies now left the room, followed by Alice. Presently they called +me, and, leaving the burglars in charge of the vigilant David, I went to +them. I found them making tea. + +"I have been upstairs to see if George William is all right, and now I +want you to tell me what you think of that man's story," said my wife. + +"I don't think it a story at all," said I. "I call it a lie. A story is +a relation which purports to be fiction, no matter how much like truth +it may be, and is intended to be received as fiction. A lie is a false +statement made with the intention to deceive, and that is what I believe +we have heard to-night." + +"I agree with you exactly," said my wife. + +"It may be," said Aunt Martha, "that the man's story is true. There are +some things about it which make me think so; but if he is really a +criminal he must have had trials and temptations which led him into his +present mode of life. We should consider that." + +"I have been studying him," I said, "and I think he is a born rascal, +who ought to have been hung long ago." + +My aunt looked at me. "John," she said, "if you believe people are born +criminals, they ought to be executed in their infancy. It could be done +painlessly by electricity, and society would be the gainer, although you +lawyers would be the losers. But I do not believe in your doctrine. If +the children of the poor were properly brought up and educated, fewer of +them would grow to be criminals." + +"I don't think this man suffered for want of education," said my wife; +"he used very good language; that was one of the first things that led +me to suspect him. It is not likely that sons of boat-builders speak so +correctly and express themselves so well." + +"Of course, I cannot alter your opinions," said Aunt Martha, "but the +story interested me, and I very much wish to hear what that other man +has to say for himself." + +"Very well," said I, "you shall hear it; but I must drink my tea and go +back to the prisoners." + +"And I," said Aunt Martha, "will take some tea to them. They may be bad +men, but they must not suffer." + +I had been in the library but a few moments when Aunt Martha entered, +followed by Alice, who bore a tray containing three very large cups of +tea and some biscuit. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to me, "if you will untie their hands, I +will give them some tea." + +At these words each burglar turned his eyes on me with a quick glance. I +laughed. + +"Hardly," said I. "I would not be willing to undertake the task of +tying them up again, unless, indeed, they will consent to drink some +more of my wine." + +"Which we won't do," said the middle burglar, "and that's flat." + +"Then they must drink this tea with their hands tied," said Aunt Martha, +in a tone of reproachful resignation, and, taking a cup from the tray, +she approached the stout man and held it up to his lips. At this act of +extreme kindness we were all amused, even the burglar's companions +smiled, and David so far forgot himself as to burst into a laugh, which, +however, he quickly checked. The stout burglar, however, saw nothing to +laugh at. He drank the tea, and never drew breath until the cup was +emptied. + +"I forgot," said my aunt, as she removed the cup from his lips, "to ask +you whether you took much or little sugar." + +"Don't make no difference to me," answered the man; "tea isn't malt +liquor; it's poor stuff any way, and it doesn't matter to me whether +it's got sugar in it or not, but it's moistenin', and that's what I +want. Now, madam, I'll just say to you, if ever I break into a room +where you're sleepin', I'll see that you don't come to no harm, even if +you sit up in bed and holler." + +"Thank you," said Aunt Martha; "but I hope you will never again be +concerned in that sort of business." + +He grinned. "That depends on circumstances," said he. + +Aunt Martha now offered the tall man some tea, but he thanked her very +respectfully, and declined. The young man also said that he did not care +for tea, but that if the maid--looking at Alice--would give him a glass +of water he would be obliged. This was the first time he had spoken. His +voice was low and of a pleasing tone. David's face grew dark, and we +could see that he objected to this service from Alice. + +"I will give him the water myself," said Aunt Martha. This she did, and +I noticed that the man's thirst was very soon satisfied. When David had +been refreshed, and biscuits refused by the burglars, who could not very +well eat them with their hands tied, we all sat down, and the stout man +began his story. I give it as he told it, omitting some coarse and rough +expressions, and a good deal of slang which would be unintelligible to +the general reader. + +"There's no use," said the burglar, "for me to try and make any of you +believe that I'm a pious gentleman under a cloud, for I know I don't +look like it, and wouldn't be likely to make out a case." + +At this the tall man looked at him very severely. + +"I don't mean to say," he continued, "that my friend here tried anything +like that. Every word he said was perfectly true, as I could personally +testify if I was called upon the stand, and what I'm goin' to tell you +is likewise solid fact. + +"My father was a cracksman, and a first-rate one, too; he brought me up +to the business, beginning when I was very small. I don't remember +havin' any mother, so I'll leave her out. My old man was very +particular; he liked to see things done right. One day I was with him, +and we saw a tinner nailing a new leader or tin water-spout to the side +of a house. + +"'Look here, young man,' says Dad, 'you're makin' a pretty poor job of +that. You don't put in enough nails, and they ain't half drove in. +Supposin' there was a fire in that house some night, and the family had +to come down by the spout, and your nails would give way, and they'd +break their necks. What would you think then? And I can tell you what it +is, young man, I can appear ag'in you for doing poor work.' + +"The tinner grumbled, but he used more nails and drove 'em tight, Dad +and me standin' by, an' looking at him. One rainy night not long after +this Dad took me out with him and we stopped in front of this house. +'Now, Bobbie,' said he, 'I want you to climb into that open second-story +window, and then slip down stairs and open the front door for me; the +family's at dinner.' + +"'How am I to get up, Dad?' said I. + +"'Oh, you can go up the spout,' says he; 'I'll warrant that it will hold +you. I've seen to it that it was put on good and strong.' + +"I tried it, and as far as I can remember I never went up a safer +spout." + +"And you opened the front door?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"Indeed I did, ma'am," said the burglar, "you wouldn't catch me makin' +no mistakes in that line. + +"After a while I got too heavy to climb spouts, and I took to the +regular business, and did well at it, too." + +"Do you mean to say," asked Aunt Martha, "that you willingly and +premeditatedly became a thief and midnight robber?" + +"That's what I am, ma'am," said he; "I don't make no bones about it. I'm +a number one, double-extra, back-springed, copper-fastened burglar, with +all the attachments and noiseless treadle. That's what I am, and no +mistake. There's all kinds of businesses in this world, and there's got +to be people to work at every one of 'em; and when a fellow takes any +particular line, his business is to do it well; that's my motto. When I +break into a house I make it a point to clean it out first-class, and +not to carry away no trash, nuther. Of course, I've had my ups and my +downs, like other people,--preachers and doctors and storekeepers,--they +all have them, and I guess the downs are more amusin' than the ups, at +least to outsiders. I've just happened to think of one of them, and I'll +let you have it. + +"There was a man I knew named Jerry Hammond, that was a contractor, and +sometimes he had pretty big jobs on hand, buildin' or road-makin' or +somethin' or other. He'd contract to do anything, would Jerry, no matter +whether he'd ever done it before or not. I got to know his times and +seasons for collecting money, and I laid for him." + +"Abominable meanness!" exclaimed my wife. + +"It's all business," said the stout man, quite unabashed. "You don't +catch a doctor refusin' to practise on a friend, or a lawyer, nuther, +and in our line of business it's the same thing. It was about the end of +October, nigh four years ago, that I found out that Jerry had a lot of +money on hand. He'd been collectin' it from different parties, and had +got home too late in the day to put it in the bank, so says I to myself, +this is your time, old fellow, and you'd better make hay while the sun +shines. I was a little afraid to crack Jerry's house by myself, for he's +a strong old fellow, so I got a man named Putty Henderson to go along +with me. Putty was a big fellow and very handy with a jimmy; but he was +awful contrary-minded, and he wouldn't agree to clean out Jerry until I +promised to go halves with him. This wasn't fair, for it wasn't his job, +and a quarter would have been lots for him. + +"But there wasn't no use arguin', and along we went, and about one +o'clock we was standin' alongside Jerry's bed, where he was fast asleep. +He was a bachelor, and lived pretty much by himself. I give him a punch +to waken him up, for we'd made up our minds that that was the way to +work this job. It wouldn't pay us to go around huntin' for Jerry's +money. He was such a sharp old fellow, it was six to four we'd never +find it. He sat up in bed with a jump like a hop-toad, and looked first +at one and then at the other of us. We both had masks on, and it wasn't +puzzlin' to guess what we was there fur. + +"'Jerry Hammond,' says I, speakin' rather rough and husky, 'we knows +that you've got a lot o' money in this house, and we've come fur it. We +mean business, and there's no use foolin'. You can give it to us quiet +and easy, and keep a whole head on your shoulders, or we'll lay you out +ready fur a wake and help ourselves to the funds; and now you pays your +money and you can take your choice how you do it. There's nothin' +shabby about us, but we mean business. Don't we, pard?'--'That's so,' +says Putty. + +"'Look here,' says Jerry, jest as cool as if he had been sittin' outside +on his own curbstone, 'I know you two men and no mistake. You're Tommy +Randall, and you're Putty Henderson, so you might as well take off them +masks.'--'Which I am glad to do,' says I, 'for I hate 'em,' and I put +mine in my pocket, and Putty he took off his." + +"Excuse me," said Aunt Martha, interrupting at this point, "but when Mr. +Hammond mentioned the name of Tommy Randall, to whom did he refer?" + +"I can explain that, madam," said the tall burglar, quickly. "This man +by his criminal course of life has got himself into a good many scrapes, +and is frequently obliged to change his name. Since I accidentally +became acquainted with him he has had several aliases, and I think that +he very often forgets that his real name is James Barlow." + +"That's so," said the stout man, "there never was a more correct person +than this industrious and unfortunate man sittin' by me. I am dreadful +forgetful, and sometimes I disremember what belongs to me and what +don't. Names the same as other things. + +"'Well, now, Jerry,' says I, 'you needn't think you're goin' to make +anythin' by knowin' us. You've got to fork over your cash all the same, +and if you think to make anything by peachin' on us after we've cleared +out and left you peaceful in your bed, you're mistook so far as I'm +concerned; for I've made the track clear to get out of this town before +daybreak, and I don't know when I'll come back. This place is gettin' a +little too hot for me, and you're my concludin' exercise.' Jerry he sat +still for a minute, considerin.' He wasn't no fool, and he knowed that +there wasn't no use gettin' scared, nor cussin', nor hollerin'. What's +more, he knowed that we was there to get his money, and if he didn't +fork it over he'd get himself laid out, and that was worse than losin' +money any day. 'Now, boys, says he, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll +make you an offer; a fair and square offer. What money I've got I'll +divide even with you, each of us takin' a third, and I'll try to make up +what I lose out of my next contract. Now nothin' could be no squarer +than that.'--'How much money have you got, Jerry?' says I, 'that's the +first thing to know.'--'I've got thirty-one hundred dollars even,' says +he, 'and that will be one thousand and thirty-three dollars and +thirty-three cents apiece. I've got bills to pay to-morrow for lumber +and bricks, and my third will pay 'em. If I don't I'll go to pieces. You +don't want to see me break up business, do you?'--'Now, Jerry,' says I, +'that won't do. You haven't got enough to divide into three parts. Putty +and me agree to go halves with what we get out of you, and when I lay +out a piece of business I don't make no changes. Half of that money is +for me, and half is for Putty. So just hand it out, and don't let's have +no more jabberin'.' + +"Jerry he looked at me pretty hard, and then says he: 'You're about the +close-fisted and meanest man I ever met with. Here I offer you a third +part of my money, and all you've got to do is to take it and go away +peaceable. I'd be willin' to bet two to one that it's more than you +expected to get, and yet you are not satisfied; now, I'll be hanged if +I'm going to do business with you.'--'You can be hanged if you like,' +says I, 'but you'll do the business all the same.'--'No, I won't,' says +he, and he turns to Putty Henderson. 'Now, Putty,' says he, 'you've got +a pile more sense that this pal of yourn, and I'm goin' to see if I +can't do business with you. Now, you and me together can lick this Tommy +Randall just as easy as not, and if you'll help me do it I'll not only +divide the money with you, but I'll give you fifty dollars extra, so +that instead of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars--that's all he'd given +you, if he didn't cheat you--you'll have sixteen hundred, and I'll have +fifteen hundred instead of the thousand and thirty-three dollars which I +would have had left if my first offer had been took. So, Putty, what do +you say to that?' Now, Putty, he must have been a little sore with me on +account of the arguments we'd had about dividin', and he was mighty glad +besides to get the chance of makin' fifty dollars extry, and so he said +it was all right, and he'd agree. Then I thought it was about time for +me to take in some of my sail, and says I: 'Jerry, that's a pretty good +joke, and you can take my hat as soon as I get a new one, but of course +I don't mean to be hard on you, and if you really have bills to pay +to-morrow I'll take a third, and Putty'll take another, and we'll go +away peaceful.'--'No, you won't,' sings out Jerry, and with that he +jumps out of bed right at me, and Putty Henderson he comes at me from +the other side, and, between the two, they gave me the worst lickin' I +ever got in my born days, and then they dragged me down stairs and +kicked me out the front door, and I had hardly time to pick myself up +before I saw a policeman about a block off, and if he hadn't been a fat +one he'd had me sure. It wouldn't have been pleasant, for I was a good +deal wanted about that time. + +"So you see, ladies and gents, that it's true what I said,--things don't +always go right in our line of business no more than any other one." + +"I think you were served exactly right," said Aunt Martha; "and I wonder +such an experience did not induce you to reform." + +"It did, ma'am, it did," said the burglar. "I made a vow that night that +if ever again I had to call in any one to help me in business of that +kind I wouldn't go pards with him. I'd pay him so much for the job, and +I'd take the risks, and I've stuck to it. + +"But even that don't always work. Luck sometimes goes ag'in' a man, +even when he's working by himself. I remember a thing of that kind that +was beastly hard on me. A gentleman employed me to steal his daughter." + +"What!" exclaimed my wife and Aunt Martha. "Steal his own daughter! What +do you mean by that?" + +"That's what it was," said the stout burglar; "no more nor less. I was +recommended to the gent as a reliable party for that sort of thing, and +I met him to talk it over, and then he told me just how the case stood. +He and his wife were separated, and the daughter, about eleven years +old, had been given to her by the court, and she put it into a boardin' +school, and the gent he was goin' to Europe, and he wanted to get the +little gal and take her with him. He tried to get her once, but it +slipped up, and so there wasn't no good in his showin' hisself at the +school any more, which was in the country, and he knowed that if he +expected to get the gal he'd have to hire a professional to attend to +it. + +"Now, when I heard what he had to say, I put on the strictly pious, and, +says I, 'that's a pretty bad thing you're askin' me to do, sir, to +carry away a little gal from its lovin' mother, and more 'an that, to +take it from a school where it's gettin' all the benefits of +eddication.'--'Eddication,' says he; 'that's all stuff. What eddication +the gal gets at a school like that isn't worth a row of pins, and when +they go away they don't know nothin' useful, nor even anything tip-top +ornamental. All they've learned is the pianer and higher mathematics. As +for anythin' useful, they're nowhere. There isn't one of them could +bound New Jersey or tell you when Washington crossed the +Delaware.'--'That may be, sir,' says I, 'but them higher branches comes +useful. If Washington really did cross the Delaware, your little gal +could ask somebody when it was, but she couldn't ask 'em how the pianer +was played, nor what the whole multiplication table came to added up. +Them things she'd have to learn how to do for herself. I give you my +word, sir, I couldn't take a little gal from a school, where she was +gettin' a number one eddication, silver forks and towels extry.' The +gent looked pretty glum, for he was to sail the next day, and if I +didn't do the job for him he didn't know who would, and he said that he +was sorry to see that I was goin' back on him after the recommend I'd +had, and I said that I wouldn't go back on him if it wasn't for my +conscience. I was ready to do any common piece of business, but this +stealin' away little gals from lovin' mothers was a leetle too much for +me. 'Well,' says he, 'there ain't no time to be lost, and how much more +will satisfy your conscience?' When I said a hundred dollars, we struck +the bargain. + +"Well, we cut and dried that business pretty straight. I took a cab and +went out to the school, and the gent he got the key of a house that was +to let about three miles from the school, and he was to stay there and +look at that empty house until I brought him the gal, when he was to pay +me and take her away. I'd like to have had more time, so that I could go +out and see how the land laid, but there wasn't no more time, and I had +to do the best I could. The gent told me they all went a walkin' every +afternoon, and that if I laid low that would be the best time to get +her, and I must just fetch her along, no matter who hollered. + +"I didn't know exactly how I was going to manage it, but I took along +with me a big bag that was made for the conveyance of an extinct +millionaire, but which had never been used, owin' to beforehand +arrangements which had been made with the party's family. + +"I left the cab behind a bit of woods, not far from the school, and then +I laid low, and pretty soon I seed 'em all coming out, in a double line, +with the teacher behind 'em, for a walk. I had a description of the +little gal as was wanted, and as they come nearer I made her out easy. +She was the only real light-haired one in the lot. I hid behind some +bushes in the side of the road, and when they come up, and the +light-haired little gal was just opposite to me, I jumped out of the +bushes and made a dash at her. Whoop! what a row there was in one +second! Such a screamin' and screechin' of gals, such a pilin' on top +each other, and the teacher on top the whole of 'em, bangin' with her +umbrella; they pulled at the gal and they pulled at me, an' they yelled +and they howled, and I never was in such a row and hope I never shall be +again, and I grabbed that girl by her frock, and I tumbled some over one +way and some another, and I got the umbrella over my head, but I didn't +mind it, and I clapped that bag over the little gal, and I jerked, up +her feet and let her slip into it, and then I took her up like a bag of +meal, and put across the field, with the whole kit and boodle after me. +But I guess most of 'em must have tumbled down in hysterics, judgin' +from the screechin', and I got up to the cab and away we went. Well, +when we got to the house where I was to meet the gent, he began straight +off to blow at me. 'What do you mean,' he yelled, 'bringin' my daughter +in a bag?'--'It's the only way to do it, sir,' says I; 'they can't +holler and they can't kick, and people passin' by don't know what you've +got,' and so sayin' I untied the strings, put the little gal on her +feet, and pulled off the bag, and then I'd be hanged if I ever saw a man +so ragin' mad as he was. 'What do I want with that gal?' he cried; +'that's not my daughter. That girl's hair is as black as a coal, and +she's a Jew besides.' As soon as I sot my eyes on the little varmint it +come over me that I got the thing crooked, and in the scrimmage I let go +of the right gal and grabbed another. + +"I don't see how a man could help makin' mistakes with that +school-teacher's umbrella whanging away at his knowledge box, but I +wasn't goin' to let on. 'She ain't no Jew, nuther,' says I, 'and she's +your daughter, too; you needn't try to play no tricks on me. Pay me my +money and take her away as quick as you can, that's my advice, or before +you know it you'll be nabbed.'--'Pay ye!' he yelled; 'do you think I'd +pay you anything for that little Jew?'--'She's just as much a Christian +as you are,' says I. 'Ain't you a Christian, little gal? and is'nt this +gentleman your father? and ain't you surprised that he wants to give you +back to be put in the bag?' I said this hopin' she'd have sense enough +to say he was her father so's to get rid of me. + +"The wretched gal had been clean dumbfounded when she was took out of +the bag, and hadn't done nothin' so far but blubber and cry, and try to +get away, which she couldn't, because I held her frock; but now she ups +and screams he wasn't her father, and she'd never seen him before, and +then he storms and swears, and tells me to take her back where I got +her, and I tell him I'll see him hanged first, and what I want is my +money; she screams, and he swears he'll not pay me a cent, and I squares +off and says that I'll thrash him out of his skin, and then he calls in +his coachman, and they both make at me, and I backs out the door to get +my cabby to stand by me, and I found that he'd cut out, havin' most +likely got frightened, afraid of bein' mixed up in trouble. Then I seed +on the high road, some half a mile away, some men comin' gallopin', and +the gent he looked out and seed 'em, too, and then says he to me, +'You'll jist take that little Jew gal back where you got her from; she's +no use to me; I'm goin';' and at that I hollered for my money, and made +a grab at him, but the coachman he tripped me over backward, and before +I could git up again they was both off with the horses on a run. + +"I was so mad I couldn't speak, but there wasn't no time for foolin', +and I hadn't made up my mind which door I should cut out of, when the +fellows on horseback went ridin' past as hard as they could go. They +must have seed the carriage drivin' away, and thought for sure it had +the gal in it, and they was after it, lickety-split. + +"When they was clean gone I looked round for the little gal, but +couldn't see her, but all a-sudden she came out of the fireplace, where +she'd been hidin'. She'd got over her cryin', and over her scare, too, +judgin' from her looks. 'I'm glad he's gone,' says she, 'and I'm mighty +glad, too, that Mr. Haskins and them other men didn't see me.'--'Who's +they?' says I.--'They's neighbors,' says she;' if they knew I was here +they'd took me back.'--'Well, you little minx,' say I, 'isn't that what +you want?'--'No,' says she. 'I didn't want to go with that man, for I +don't know him, and I hate him, but I don't want to go back to that +school. I hate it worse than anything in the whole world. You haven't no +idea what a horrid place it is. They just work you to death, and don't +give you half enough to eat. My constitution won't stand it. I've told +Pop that, and he thinks so too, but Marm, she don't believe in it, and +my stayin' there is all her doin'. I've been wantin' to get away for +ever so long, but I didn't want to be took off in a bag; but now that +I'm out of that horrid hole I don't want to go back, and if you'll take +me home to Pop, I know he won't let me go back, and he'll pay you real +handsome besides.'--'Who's your Pop?' says I.--'He's Mr. Groppeltacker, +of Groppeltacker & Mintz, corset findings, seven hundred and something +or other, I forget the number now, Broadway. Oh, Pop does a lot of +business, I tell you, and he's got lots of money. He sends corset +findings to South America, and Paris, and Chicago, and Madagascar, and +the uttermost parts of the earth. I've heard him say that often, and you +needn't be afraid of his not bein' able to pay you. A lot more than that +man would have paid you for his little gal, if you'd catched the right +one. So if you take me to Pop, and get me there safe and sound, it will +be an awful good speck for you.' + +"Now, I begins to think to myself that perhaps there was somethin' in +what that little Jew gal was sayin', and that I might make something out +of the gal after all. I didn't count on gettin' a big pile out of old +Groppeltacker,--it wasn't likely he was that kind of a man,--but +whatever I did get would be clean profit, and I might as well try it on. +He couldn't make no charge ag'in me fur bringin' him his daughter, if +she asked me to do it; so says I to her, 'Now, if I take you home to +your Pop, will you promise on your word an' honour, that you won't say +nothin' about my carryin' you off in a bag, and say that you seed me +walkin' along the road and liked my looks, and told me you were +sufferin', and asked me to take you home to your kind parents, where you +might be took proper care of; and that I said I wasn't goin' that way, +but I'd do it out of pure Christian charity, and nothin' more nor less, +and here you was? And then, of course, you can tell him he ought to do +the handsome thing by me.'--'I'll do that,' says she, 'and I tell how +you talked to me awful kind for more than an hour, tryin' to keep me to +stay at the school, and it wasn't till I got down on my knees and weeped +that you agreed to take me to my kind father.'--'All right,' says I, 'I +might as well take you along, but we'll have to go back by the railroad +and foot it, at least two miles, to the station, and I don't know about +walkin' across the country with a little girl dressed as fine as you +are. I might get myself suspicioned.'--'That's so,' says she; 'we might +meet somebody that'd know me,' and then she wriggled up her little +forehead and began to think. I never did see such a little gal as sharp +as that one was; needles was nothin' to her. In about a minute she says, +'Where's that bag of yourn?'--'Here it is,' says I; and then she took it +and looked at it up and down, with her head cocked on one side. 'If I'd +somethin' to cut that bag with,' says she, 'I could fix myself up so +that nobody'd know me, don't care who it was.'--'I don't want that bag +cut,' says I; 'it's an extry good bag; it was made for a particular +purpose, and cost money.'--'Pop will pay expenses,' says she; 'how much +did it cost?'--'It was four dollars cash,' said I.--'They cheated you +like everything,' says she; 'you could get a bag like that any day for a +dollar and seventy-five cents. Will you let it go at that?'--'All +right,' says I, for I was tickled to see how sharp that little Jew gal +was, and ten to one I'd throwed away the bag before we got to town; so +she pulled a little book out of her pocket with a pencil stuck in it, +and turnin' over to a blank page she put down, 'Bag, one dollar and +seventy-five;' then she borrows my big knife, and holdin' the top of the +bag up ag'in her belt, she made me stick a pin in it about a +hand's-breadth from the floor; then she took the knife and cut the bag +clean across, me a-holdin' one side of it; then she took the top end of +that bag and slipped it on her, over her head and shoulders, and tied +the drawin' strings in it round her waist, and it hung around her just +like a skirt, nearly touchin' the ground; then she split open the rest +of the bag, and made a kind of shawl out of it, puttin' it into shape +with a lot o' pins, and pinnin' it on herself real clever. She had lots +of pins in her belt, and she told me that she never passed a pin in that +school without pickin' it up, and that she had four hundred and +fifty-nine of them now in her room, which she was mighty sorry to leave +behind, and that these she had now was this day's pickin' up. + +"When she got done workin' at herself you couldn't see not a ribbon nor +a hem of her fine clothes; it was all black skirt and shawl, and she'd +put up her sleeve, so that when her arm stuck out it was bare. Then she +took all the ribbons and flowers off her hat, and crumpled it up, and +when she tied it on what a guy she was. 'Now,' says she, 'I can go +barefoot.'--'Which you won't,' says I, 'for you'll get your feet all +cut, but you can muddy your shoes,' which she did, I pumpin' on 'em, so +that the dust in the back yard would stick. Then we starts off across +the country, and, upon my word, I was pretty nigh ashamed to be seen +walkin' with such a little scarecrow. When I bought the tickets at the +station she asked me how much they was, and put it down in her book. +When we got into the cars the people all looked hard at her, and I +reckon they thought some kind of a home had been burnt down, and this +was one of the orphans that had been saved. But they didn't say nothin', +and she fixed herself as comfortable as you please; and before long a +boy came through the car with fruit in a basket, and then says she to +me, 'I want two apples.' The boy had gone past us, but I got up and +followed him and bought her two apples. 'How much did you give for +them?' says she, when I come back.--'They was two for five cents,' says +I.--'Well,' says she, 'they do stick you dreadful. Two for three cents +is all papa or I pays for apples like them,' and she took out her little +book and put down, 'Apples, three cents.'--'Very well, miss,' says I, +'but if you want any more refreshments you buy 'em yourself.'--'I think +I'd better,' says she, and she went to work eatin' them two apples. She +hadn't more than got through with 'em when the boy came around ag'in. 'I +want a banana,' says she; 'lend me five cents,' which I did, and she put +down, 'Cash, five cents.' Then the boy come up, and says she, 'How much +are your bananas?'--'Five cents,' said he.--'For two?' says she.--'No,' +says he, 'for one.'--'What do you take me for?' says she. 'I've bought +bananas before. I'll give you three cents for that one,' pointin' to the +biggest in the lot.--'I can't do that,' said the boy; 'the price is five +cents.'--'I'd like a banana,' says she, 'but I don't pay more'n three +cents; take it or leave it,' and with that the boy went on. 'Now,' says +I, 'you've gouged yourself out of a banana.'--'Not a bit of it,' says +she; 'he'll be back;' and in two minutes he was back, and said she might +have it for three cents. 'Have you got two coppers?' said she. 'Let me +see 'em.' He said he had, and showed 'em to her, and she took 'em and +the banana, and then give him five cents, and then she didn't give the +change to me, but put it in her pocket. 'Now,' says she, 'if you'd buy +things that way, you'd be rich in time.' + +"When we got to the city we took the elevated and went up town to +Forty-eighth street, and then walked over to her father's house. It was +a big one, on one of the cross streets. When we got there, she told me +to wait a minute, and, lookin' around to see that nobody was comin', she +slipped off the skirt and the cape she had made and rolled 'em up in a +bundle. 'It don't matter about my hat and shoes,' says she, 'but they +wouldn't know me in such duds.' Then, handin' me the bundle, she said, +'For twenty-five cents you can get that bag mended just as good as new, +so you can take it, and it will save us a dollar and a half.'--'No, you +don't,' says I, for I'd had enough of her stinginess. 'I don't touch +that bag ag'in, and I made up my mind that minute to charge the old man +five dollars' worth. When the front door was opened, the servant gal +looked as if she couldn't believe her eyes, but my young woman was as +cool as you please, and she had me showed into a room off the hall, and +then she went up-stairs. + +"I sat a-waitin' a long time, which gave me a good chance to look around +at things. The room was real handsome, and I took a peep at the window +fastenin's and the lay of the doors, thinkin' the knowledge might come +in handy some time. Right in front of me on a table was a little yellow +mouse, and it struck me as I looked at it that that must be gold. I +listened if anybody was comin', and then I picked it up to see if it +really was. I thought I heard the door-bell ring just then, and shut it +up in my hand quick, but nobody went to the door; and then I looked at +the little mouse, and if it wasn't pure gold it was the best imitation +ever I see, so I slipped it quietly in my pocket to look at it ag'in +when I had time. + +"Pretty soon old Groppeltacker come in, shut the door, and sot down. 'So +you brought my daughter back,' says he.--'Yes,' says I.--'And you expect +to be paid for it,' says he.--'Yes,' says I, 'I do.'--'How much do you +ask for your services?' says he. Now, this was a sort of a staggerer, +for I hadn't made up my mind how much I was goin' to ask; but there +wasn't time for no more thinkin' about it, and so says I, plum, 'A +hundred dollars, and there was some expenses besides.'--'Well, well,' +says he, 'that seems like a good deal, just for bringin' a little gal +from school. It couldn't have took you more'n a couple of hours.'--'I +don't charge for time,' says I, 'it's for the risks and the science of +the thing. There's mighty few men in this town could have brought your +daughter home as neat as I did.'--'Well, well,' says he, rubbin' his +hands, 'I expect I'll have to pay for the whole term of the school, +whether she's there or not, and the business will come heavy on me. +Don't you think sixty dollars would pay you?' Now, I know when you deal +with this sort of a man there's always a good deal of difference +splittin'; and so, says I, 'No, it won't. I might take ninety dollars, +but that's the very lowest peg.'--'The very lowest?' says he, gettin' up +and walkin' about a little; and then I thought I heard the door-bell +ring again, and I was dreadful afraid somebody would come and call off +the old man before he finished the bargain. 'Well,' says I, 'we'll call +it eighty-five and expenses, and there I'll stop.' + +"Groppeltacker, now he set down ag'in and looked hard at me. 'I didn't +ask you to bring my daughter back,' says he, speakin' gruff, and very +different from the way he spoke before, 'and what's more, I didn't want +her back, and what's more yet, I'm not goin' to pay you a red +cent.'--'Now, look a-here,' says I, mighty sharp, 'none o' that, old +man; fork over the money or I'll lay you out stiff as a poker, and help +myself. I'm not a fellow to be fooled with, and there's nobody in this +house can stop me.' Old Groppeltacker, he didn't turn a hair, but just +sot there, and says he, 'Before you blow any more, suppose you take my +little gold mouse out of your pocket and hand it to me.' I must say I +was took back at this, but I spoke back, as bold as brass, and said I +never seed his gold mouse. 'O, ho!' says he, 'what you didn't see was +the electric button under the table cover which rung a bell when the +mouse was picked up. That's what I call my mouse-trap.' + +"At this I jist b'iled over. 'Now,' says I, 'just you hand out every +cent you've got, and your watch, too; not another word.' And I jumped up +and clapped my hand on my pistol in my hip-pocket, and just at that +minute there was a click and the nippers were on me, and there was a big +policeman with his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't speak, I was so +b'ilin' and so dumbfounded both at once. Old Groppeltacker he just +leaned back and he laughed. 'You came in,' he said to the cop,'jest the +second I rang, and as soft as a cat, and the first thing that I want +you to do is to take that gold mouse out of his pocket, and I'll be on +hand whenever you let me know I'm wanted.' The cop he took the gold +mouse out of my pocket, and says he, 'I know this fellow, and if I'm not +mistook, they'll be more charges than yourn made ag'in him.' There +wasn't no chance to show fight, so I didn't do it, but I says to old +Groppeltacker, 'There's my expenses, you've got to pay them, +anyway.'--'All right,' says he, 'jist you send in your bill marked +correct, by my daughter, and I'll settle it,' and he laughed again, and +the cop he took me off. Well, ladies and gents, that little piece of +business, together with some other old scores, took me to Sing Sing for +three years, and it tain't six months since I got out, so you can see +for yourselves what hard times a fellow in my line of business sometimes +has." + +"Well," said Aunt Martha, "I don't approve of the Groppeltacker sort of +people, but if there were more of that kind I believe there would be +fewer of your kind. That story shows you in such a bad light that I +believe it's true." + +"Every word of it," said the man. "I wish it wasn't." + +And now I spoke. "Since you claim to be a truth-telling being," I said +to the stout burglar, "suppose you tell me why you never attempted +before to break into my house. Every considerable dwelling in this +neighbourhood has been entered, and I have no doubt you are the men who +committed all the burglaries." + +"No, sir," said he; "not men, I am the man who did 'em all; but these +two friends of mine was never with me before in a bit of business like +this. 'Tain't in their line. I have had pals with me, but they was +professionals. These ain't cracksmen, they don't know nothin' about it; +but this one is handy at tools, and that's the reason I brung him along, +but you see he kicked, and was goin' to give me away, and this young +gentleman"-- + +"Never mind about that young gentleman," I said; "I have a certain +curiosity to know why my house was not entered when the others were." + +"Well," said he, "I don't mind tellin' yer how that was. It was on +account of your baby. We don't like to crack a house where there's a +pretty small baby that's liable to wake up and howl any minute, and +rouse up the rest of the family. There's no workin' in a house with +comfort when there's such a young one about. I'll tell you what it is, +all your burglar-alarms and your dogs ain't worth nuthin' alongside of a +baby for guardin' a house. If a cracksman ain't careful the alarms will +go off, and if he don't know how to manage dogs, the dogs will bark. But +by George, sir, there ain't no providin' ag'in a baby. He'll howl any +time, and nobody can tell when, so I waited till your baby was a little +more settled in its ways and slept soundly, and then we come along, and +here we are." + +This statement very much surprised me, and did not elate me. Without +saying so to any one, I had flattered myself that the burglars had heard +of my precautions, and of my excellent stock of firearms, and perhaps +had got a notion that I would be an intrepid man to deal with, and it +was somewhat humiliating to find that it was our baby the burglars were +afraid of, and not myself. My wife was amazed. + +"Can it be possible," she said, "that these people know so much about +our baby, and that George William has been protecting this house?" + +"It makes my flesh creep," said Aunt Martha. "Do you know everything +about all of us?" + +"Wish I did, ma'am," said the stout burglar; "wish I'd known about that +beastly liquor." + +"Well, we've had enough of this," said I, rising; "and, my dear, you and +Aunt Martha must be ready to go to bed, and David and I will keep guard +over these fellows until morning." + +At this instant the youngest burglar spoke. His face wore a very anxious +expression. + +"May I ask, sir," he said, "what you intend to do with me in the +morning?" + +"I have already said," I answered, "that I shall then hand over all of +you to the officers of justice of this country." + +"But, sir," said the young man, "you will surely except me. I am not at +all concerned in this matter, and it would be of the greatest possible +injury to me to be mixed up in it, or to be mentioned in public reports +as an associate of a criminal. I'm not acquainted with the gentleman at +the other end of the bench, but I have every reason to believe from what +he said to me that he intended to notify you if this James Barlow +proceeded to any open act. For myself, I beg you will allow me to state +who and what I am, and to tell you by what a strange concatenation of +circumstances I happen to find myself in my present position--one which, +I assure you, causes me the greatest embarrassment and anxiety." + +"We've had enough story-telling for one night," said I, "and you had +better reserve your statement for the magistrate." + +Here Aunt Martha put in her voice. + +"That is not fair," she said, "two of them have been allowed to speak, +and this one has just as much right to be heard as the others. What do +you say, Cornelia?" + +I hoped that my wife would put herself on my side, and would say that we +had enough of this sort of thing; but female curiosity is an unknown +quantity, and she unhesitatingly replied that she would like to hear the +young man's story. I sat down in despair. It was useless to endeavour to +withstand this yearning for personal information,--one of the curses, I +may say, of our present civilization. The young man gave no time for +change of opinion, but immediately began. His voice was rich and rather +low, and his manner exceedingly pleasing and gentle. + +"I wish to state in the first place," said he, "that I am a reporter +for the press. In the exercise of my vocation I have frequently found +myself in peculiar and unpleasant positions, but never before have I +been in a situation so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this. In the +course of my studies and experiences I have found that in literature and +journalism, as well as in art, one can make a true picture only of what +one has seen. Imagination is all very well, often grand and beautiful; +but imaginative authors show us their inner selves and not our outer +world; there is to-day a demand for the real, and it is a demand which +will be satisfied with nothing but the truth. I have determined, as far +as in me lies, to endeavour to supply this demand, and I have devoted +myself to the study of Realism. + +"With this end in view, I have made it a rule never to describe anything +I have not personally seen and examined. If we would thoroughly +understand and appreciate our fellow-beings we must know what they do +and how they do it; otherwise we cannot give them credit for their +virtues, or judge them properly for their faults. If I could prevent +crime I would annihilate it, and when it ceased to exist the necessity +for describing it would also cease. But it does exist. It is a powerful +element in the life of the human race. Being known and acknowledged +everywhere, it should be understood; therefore it should be described. +The grand reality of which we are a part can never be truly comprehended +until we comprehend all its parts. But I will not philosophize. I have +devoted myself to Realism, and in order to be a conscientious student I +study it in all its branches. I am frequently called upon to write +accounts of burglars and burglaries, and in order thoroughly to +understand these people and their method of action I determined, as soon +as the opportunity should offer itself, to accompany a burglarious +expedition. My sole object was the acquisition of knowledge of the +subject,--knowledge which to me would be valuable, and, I may say, +essential. I engaged this man, James Barlow, to take me with him the +first time he should have on hand an affair of this kind, and thus it is +that you find me here to-night in this company. As I came here for the +purpose of earnest and thorough investigation, I will frankly admit that +I would not have interfered with his processes, but at the same time I +would have seen that no material injuries should result to any members +of this family." + +"That was very kind of you," I said, at which my wife looked at me +somewhat reproachingly. + +"If he really intended it," she remarked, "and I do not see why that was +not the case, it was kind in him." + +"As for me," said Aunt Martha, very sympathetically, "I think that the +study of Realism may be carried a great deal too far. I do not think +that there is the slightest necessity for people to know anything about +burglars. If people keep talking and reading about diseases they will +get them, and if they keep talking and reading about crimes they will +find that iniquity is catching, the same as some other things. Besides, +this realistic description gets to be very tiresome. If you really want +to be a writer, young man, why don't you try your hand on some original +composition? Then you might write something which would be interesting." + +"Ah, madam," said the young man, casting his eyes on the floor, "it +would be far beyond my power to write anything more wonderful than what +I have known and seen! If I may tell you some of the things which have +happened to me, you will understand why I have become convinced that in +this world of realities imagination must always take a second place." + +"Of course we want to hear your story," said Aunt Martha; "that is what +we are here for." + +"If I was unbound," said the young man, looking at me, "I could speak +more freely." + +"No doubt of it," said I; "but perhaps you might run away before you +finished your story. I wouldn't have that happen for the world." + +"Don't make fun of him," said Aunt Martha. "I was going to ask you to +cut him loose, but after what you say I think it would perhaps be just +as well to keep them all tied until the narratives are completed." + +With a sigh of resignation the young man began his story. + +"I am American born, but my father, who was a civil engineer and of high +rank in his profession, was obliged, when I was quite a small boy, to go +to Austria, where he had made extensive contracts for the building of +railroads. In that country I spent the greater part of my boyhood and +youth. There I was educated in the best schools, my father sparing no +money to have me taught everything that a gentleman should know. My +mother died when I was a mere infant, and as my father's vocation made +it necessary for him to travel a great deal, my life was often a lonely +one. For society I depended entirely upon my fellow-scholars, my tutors, +and masters. It was my father's intention, however, that when I had +finished my studies I should go to one of the great capitals, there to +mix with the world. + +"But when this period arrived I was in no haste to avail myself of the +advantages he offered me. My tastes were studious, my disposition +contemplative, and I was a lover of rural life. + +"My father had leased an old castle in Carinthia, not far from the +mountains, and here he kept his books and charts, and here he came for +recreation and study whenever his arduous duties gave him a little +breathing-spell. For several months I had lived at this castle, happy +when my father was with me and happy when I was alone. I expected soon +to go to Vienna, where my father would introduce me to some of his +influential friends. But day by day I postponed the journey. + +"Walking one morning a few miles from the castle, I saw at the edge of a +piece of woodland a female figure seated beneath a tree. Approaching +nearer, I perceived that she was young, and that she was sketching. I +was surprised, for I knew that in this part of the world young women, at +least those of the upper classes, to which the costume and tastes of +this one showed her to belong, were not allowed to wander about the +country by themselves; but although I stood still and watched the young +lady for some time, no companion appeared upon the scene. + +"The path I had intended to take led past the piece of woodland, and I +saw no reason why I should diverge from my proposed course. I +accordingly proceeded, and when I reached the young lady I bowed and +raised my hat. I think that for some time she had perceived my approach, +and she looked up at me with a face that was half merry, half +inquisitive, and perfectly charming. I cannot describe the effect which +her expression had upon me. I had never seen her before, but her look +was not such a one as she would bestow upon a stranger. I had the most +powerful desire to stop and speak to her, but having no right to do so, +I should have passed on, had she not said to me, in the best of English, +'Good-morning, sir.' Then I stopped, you may be sure. I was so +accustomed to speak to those I meet in either French or German that I +involuntarily said to her,'_Bon jour, Mademoiselle_.'--'You need not +speak French,' she said; 'I am neither English nor American, but I speak +English. Are you the gentleman who lives in Wulrick Castle? If so, we +are neighbours, and I wish you would tell me why you live there all the +time alone.' + +"At this I sat down by her. 'I am that person,' I said, and handed her +my card. 'But before I say any more, please tell me who you are.'--'I am +Marie Dorfler. My father's house is on the other side of this piece of +woodland; you cannot see it from here; this is part of his estate. And +now tell me why you live all by yourself in that old ruin.'--'It is not +altogether a ruin,' I answered; 'part of it is in very good condition.' +And then I proceeded to give her an account of my method of life and my +reasons for it. 'It is interesting,' she said, 'but it is very odd.'--'I +do not think it half so odd,' I answered, 'as that you should be here by +yourself.'--'That is truly an out-of-the-way sort of thing,' she said; +'but just now I am doing out-of-the-way things. If I do not do them now, +I shall never have the opportunity again. In two weeks I shall be +married, and then I shall go to Prague, and everything will be by line +and rule. No more delightful rambles by myself. No more sitting quietly +in the woods watching the little birds and hares. No more making a +sketch just where I please, no matter whether the ground be damp or +not.'--'I wonder that you are allowed to do these things now,' I +said.--'I am not allowed,' she answered. 'I do them in hours when I am +supposed to be painting flower pieces in an upper room.'--'But when +you're married,' I said, 'your husband will be your companion in such +rambles.'--'Hardly,' she said, shrugging her shoulders; 'he will be +forty-seven on the thirteenth of next month, which I believe is July, +and he is a great deal more grizzled than my father, who is past fifty. +He is very particular about all sorts of things, as I suppose he has to +be, as he is a Colonel of infantry. Nobody could possibly disapprove of +my present performances more than he would.' I could not help +ejaculating, 'Why, then, do you marry him?' She smiled at my +earnestness. 'Oh, that is all arranged,' she said, 'and I have nothing +to do with it. I have known for more than a year that I'm to marry +Colonel Kaldhein, but I cannot say that I have given myself much concern +about it until recently. It now occurs to me that if I expect to amuse +myself in the way I best like I must lose no time doing so.' I looked at +the girl with earnest interest. 'It appears to me,' said I, 'that your +ways of amusing yourself are very much like mine.'--'That is true,' she +said, looking up with animation, 'they are. Is it not delightful to be +free, to go where you like, and do what you please, without any one to +advise or interfere with you?'--'It is delightful,' said I; and for half +an hour we sat and talked about these delights and kindred subjects. She +was much interested in our castle, and urged me to make a sketch of it, +so that she may know what it now looked like. She had seen it when a +little girl, but never since, and had been afraid to wander very far in +this direction by herself. I told her that it would be far better for +her to see the castle with her own eyes, and that I could conduct her to +an eminence, not half a mile away, where she could have an excellent +view of it. This plan greatly pleased her; but looking at her watch she +said that it would be too late for her to go that morning, but if I +happened to come that way the next day, and she should be there to +finish her sketch, she would be delighted to have me show her the +eminence." + +"I think," interrupted Aunt Martha, "that she was a very imprudent young +woman." + +"That may be," he replied, "but you must remember, madam, that up to +this time the young lady had been subjected to the most conventional +trammels, and that her young nature had just burst out into temporary +freedom and true life. It was the caged bird's flight into the bright +summer air." + +"Just the kind of birds," said Aunt Martha, "that shouldn't be allowed +to fly, at least until they are used to it. But you can go on with your +story." + +"Well," said the young man, "the next day we met I took her to the +piece of high ground I had mentioned, and she sketched the castle. After +that we met again and again, nearly every day. This sort of story tells +itself. I became madly in love with her, and I am sure she liked me very +well; at all events I was a companion of her own age and tastes, and +such a one, she assured me, she had never known before, and probably +would never know again." + +"There was some excuse for her," said Aunt Martha; "but still she had no +right to act in that way, especially as she was so soon to be married." + +"I do not think that she reasoned much upon the subject," said the young +man, "and I am sure I did not. We made no plans. Every day we thought +only of what we were doing or saying, and not at all what we had done or +would do. We were very happy. + +"One morning I was sitting by Marie in the very place where I had first +met her, when we heard some one rapidly approaching. Looking up I saw a +tall man in military uniform. 'Heavens!' cried Marie, 'it is Colonel +Kaldhein.' + +"The situation was one of which an expectant bridegroom would not be +likely to ask many questions. Marie was seated on a low stone with her +drawing-block in her lap. She was finishing the sketch on which she was +engaged when I first saw her, and I was kneeling close to her, looking +over her work and making various suggestions, and I think my countenance +must have indicated that I found it very pleasant to make suggestions in +that way to such a pretty girl. Our heads were very close together. +Sometimes we looked at the paper, sometimes we looked at each other. But +in the instant I caught sight of the Colonel the situation had changed. +I rose to my feet, and Marie began to pick up the drawing materials, +which were lying about her. + +"Colonel Kaldhein came forward almost at a run. His eyes blazed through +his gold spectacles, and his close-cut reddish beard seemed to be +singeing with the fires of rage. I had but an instant for observation, +for he came directly up to me, and with a tremendous objurgation he +struck me full in the face with such force that the blow stretched me +upon the ground. + +"I was almost stunned; but I heard a scream from Marie, a storm of +angry words from Kaldhein, and I felt sure he was about to inflict +further injury. He was a much stronger man than I was, and probably was +armed. With a sudden instinct of self-preservation I rolled down a +little declivity on the edge of which I had fallen, and staggering to my +feet, plunged into a thicket and fled. Even had I been in the full +possession of my senses, I knew that under the circumstances I would +have been of no benefit to Marie had I remained upon the scene. The last +thing I heard was a shout from Kaldhein, in which he declared that he +would kill me yet. For some days I did not go out of my castle. My face +was bruised, my soul was dejected. I knew there was no possible chance +that I should meet Marie, and that there was a chance that I might meet +the angry Colonel. An altercation at this time would be very annoying +and painful to the lady, no matter what the result, and I considered it +my duty to do everything that was possible to avoid a meeting with +Kaldhein. Therefore, as I have said, I shut myself up within the walls +of old Wulrick, and gave strict orders to my servants to admit no one. + +"It was at this time that the strangest events of my life occurred. +Sitting in an upper room, gazing out of the window, over the fields, +through which I had walked so happily but two days before to meet the +lady whom I had begun to think of as my Marie, I felt the head of a dog +laid gently in my lap. Without turning my head I caressed the animal, +and stroked the long hair on his neck. + +"My hound Ajax was a dear companion to me in this old castle, although I +never took him in my walks, as he was apt to get into mischief, and when +I turned my head to look at him he was gone; but strange to say, the +hand which had been stroking the dog felt as if it were still resting on +his neck. + +"Quickly drawing my hand toward me it struck the head of the dog, and, +moving it backward and forward, I felt the ears and nose of the animal, +and then became conscious that its head was still resting upon my knee. + +"I started back. Had I been stricken with blindness? But no; turning my +head, I could plainly see everything in the room. The scene from the +window was as distinct as it ever had been. I sprang to my feet, and, +as I stood wondering what this strange thing could mean, the dog brushed +up against me and licked my hand. Then the idea suddenly flashed into my +mind that by some occult influence Ajax had been rendered invisible. + +"I dashed down-stairs, and although I could neither see nor hear it, I +felt that the dog was following me. Rushing into the open air, I saw one +of my men. 'Where is Ajax?' I cried. 'A very strange thing has happened, +sir,' he said, 'and I should have come to tell you of it, had I not been +unwilling to disturb your studies. About two hours ago Ajax was lying +here in the courtyard; suddenly he sprang to his feet with a savage +growl. His hair stood straight upon his back, his tail was stiff, and +his lips were drawn back, showing his great teeth. I turned to see what +had enraged him, but there was absolutely nothing, sir,--nothing in the +world. And never did I see Ajax so angry. But this lasted only for an +instant. Ajax suddenly backed, his tail dropped between his legs, his +head hung down, and with a dreadful howl he turned, and, leaping the +wall of the courtyard, he disappeared. I have since been watching for +his return. The gate is open, and as soon as he enters I shall chain +him, for I fear the dog is mad.' + +"I did not dare to utter the thoughts that were in my mind, but, bidding +the man inform me the moment Ajax returned, I reentered the castle and +sat down in the great hall. + +"The dog was beside me; his head again lay upon my knees. With a feeling +of awe, yet strangely enough without fear, I carefully passed my hand +over the animal's head. I felt his ears, his nose, his jaws, and his +neck. They were not the head, the ears, the nose, the jaws, or the neck +of Ajax! + +"I had heard of animals, and even human beings, who were totally +invisible, but who still retained their form, their palpability, and all +the powers and functions of life. I had heard of houses haunted by +invisible animals; I had read De Kay's story of the maiden Manmat'ha, +whose coming her lover perceived by the parting of the tall grain in the +field of ripe wheat through which she passed, but whose form, although +it might be folded in his arms, was yet as invisible to his sight as the +summer air. I did not doubt for a moment that the animal that had come +to me was one of those strange beings. I lifted his head; it was heavy. +I took hold of a paw which he readily gave me; he had every attribute of +a real dog, except that he could not be seen." + +"I call that perfectly horrible," said Aunt Martha with a sort of a +gasp. + +"Perhaps," said the young man, "you would prefer that I should not +continue." + +At this both my wife and Aunt Martha declared that he must go on, and +even I did not object to hearing the rest of the story. + +"Well," said the young man, "Ajax never came back. It is generally +believed that dogs can see things which are invisible to us, and I am +afraid that my faithful hound was frightened, perhaps to death, when he +found that the animal whose entrance into the courtyard he had perceived +was a supernatural thing. + +"But if I needed a canine companion I had one, for by day or night this +invisible dog never left me. When I slept he lay on the floor by the +side of my bed; if I put down my hand I could always feel his head, and +often he would stand up and press his nose against me, as if to assure +me that he was there. This strange companionship continued for several +days, and I became really attached to the invisible animal. His constant +companionship seemed to indicate that he had come to guard me, and that +he was determined to do it thoroughly. I felt so much confidence in his +protection, although I knew not how it could be exerted, that one +morning I decided to take a walk, and with my hand on the head of the +dog, to make sure that he was with me, I strolled into the open country. + +"I had walked about a mile, and was approaching a group of large trees, +when suddenly from behind one of them the tall figure of a man appeared. +In an instant I knew it to be Colonel Kaldhein; his was a face which +could not easily be forgotten. Without a word he raised a pistol which +he held in his hand and fired at me. The ball whistled over my head. + +"I stopped short, startled, and frightened almost out of my senses. I +was unarmed, and had no place of refuge. It was plain that the man was +determined to kill me. + +"Quickly recocking his pistol, Kaldhein raised it again. I involuntarily +shrank back, expecting death; but before he could fire his arm suddenly +dropped, and the pistol was discharged into the ground. Then began a +strange scene. The man shouted, kicked, and beat up and down with his +arms; his pistol fell from his hand, he sprang from side to side, he +turned around, he struggled and yelled. + +"I stood astounded. For an instant I supposed the man had been overtaken +by some sort of fit; but in a flash the truth came to me,--Kaldhein was +being attacked by my protector, the invisible dog. + +"Horrified by this conviction, my first impulse was to save the man; +and, without knowing what I was going to do, I stepped quickly toward +him, but stumbling over something I did not see I fell sprawling. Before +I could regain my feet I saw Kaldhein fall backward to the ground, where +a scene took place, so terrible that I shall not attempt to describe it. +When, with trembling steps, I approached, the man was dead. The +invisible dog had almost torn him to pieces. + +"I could do nothing. I did not remain upon the spot another minute, but +hurried home to the castle. As I rapidly walked on I felt the dog beside +me, and, putting my hand upon him, I felt that he was panting terribly. +For three days I did not leave the house. + +"About the end of this time I was sitting in an upper room of the +castle, reflecting upon the recent dreadful event, when the thought +struck me that the invisible dog, who was by my side, apparently asleep, +must be of an unusually powerful build to overcome so easily such a +strong man as Kaldhein. I felt a desire to know how large the creature +really was, and, as I had never touched any portion of his body back of +his shoulders, I now passed my hand along his back. I was amazed at his +length, and when I had moved my hand at least seven feet from his head +it still rested upon his body. And then the form of that body began to +change in a manner which terrified me; but impelled by a horrible but +irresistible curiosity, my hand moved on. + +"But I no longer touched the body of a dog; the form beneath my hand was +cylindrical, apparently about a foot in diameter. As my hand moved on +the diameter diminished, and the skin of the creature became cold and +clammy. I was feeling the body of a snake! + +"I now had reached the open door of the room. The body of the snake +extended through it. It went on to the top of the stairs; these I began +to descend, my heart beating fast with terror, my face blanched, I am +sure, but my hand still moving along the body of the awful creature. I +had studied zoology, giving a good deal of attention to reptiles, and I +knew that, judged by the ordinary ratio of diminution of the bodies of +serpents, this one must extend a long distance down the stairs. + +"But I had not descended more than a dozen steps before I felt a shiver +beneath my hand, and then a jerk, and the next moment the snake's body +was violently drawn upward. I withdrew my hand and started to one side, +and then, how, I know not, I became aware that the dog part of the +creature was coming downstairs. + +"I now became possessed by a wild terror. The creature must be furious +that I had discovered his real form. He had always been careful to keep +his head toward me. I should be torn to pieces as Kaldhein had been! +Down the stairs I dashed, across the courtyard, and toward a lofty old +tower, which stood in one corner of the castle. I ran up the winding +stairs of this with a speed which belongs only to a frantically +terrified creature, until I reached the fourth story, where I dashed +through an open doorway, slammed behind me an iron door, which shut with +a spring, and fell gasping upon the floor. + +"In less than a minute I was aware, by a slight rattling of the +grate-hinges, that something was pushing against the door; but I did not +move. I knew that I was safe. The room in which I lay was a prison +dungeon, and in it, in the olden times, it is said, men had been left to +perish. Escape or communication with the outer world was impossible. A +little light and air came through a narrow slit in the wall, and the +door could not be forced. + +"I knew that the invisible dog, or whatever it was, could not get in +unless the door was open. I had frequently noticed that when he entered +a room it was through an open door, and I sometimes knew of his approach +by seeing an unlatched door open without visible cause; so, feeling +secure for the present, I lay and gasped and panted. + +"After the lapse of a few hours, however, I was seized by a new terror. +How was I ever to get out of this horrible dungeon? Even if I made up my +mind to face the dog, trusting that he had recovered from his momentary +anger, I had no means of opening the door, and as to making any one hear +me I knew that was impossible. + +"I had no hope that my servants would seek me here. I had not seen any +one when I ran into the tower, and if they should discover that I was in +this dungeon, how could they open the door? The key was in my father's +possession. He had taken it to Vienna to exhibit it as a curiosity to +some of his mechanical friends. He believed that there was not such +another key in the world. I was in the habit of making long absences +from the castle, and if I should be looked for I believed that the tower +would be the last place visited. + +"Night came on; the little light in the room vanished, and, hungry, +thirsty, and almost hopeless, I fell asleep. + +"During the night there was a most dreadful storm. The thunder roared, +the lightning flashed through the slit in the wall, and the wind blew +with such terrific violence that the tower shook and trembled. After a +time I heard a tremendous crash as of falling walls, and then another, +and now I felt the wind blowing into my prison. + +"There was no further sleep for me. Trembling with a fearful +apprehension of what might happen next, I cowered against the wall until +the day broke, and then I perceived that in front of me was a great hole +in the wall of the dungeon, which extended for more than a yard above +the floor. I sat and gazed at this until the light became stronger, and +then I cautiously approached the aperture and looked out. Nearly the +whole of the castle lay in ruins before me! + +"It was easy to see what had happened. The storm had demolished the +crumbling walls of the old building, and the tower, itself frail and +tottering, stood alone, high above the prostrate ruins. If the winds +should again arise it must fall, and at any moment its shaken +foundations might give way beneath it. + +"Through the hole in the wall, which had been caused by the tearing away +of some of the connection between the tower and main building, I could +look down on the ground below, covered with masses of jagged stone; but +there was no way in which I could get down. I could not descend that +perpendicular wall. If I leaped out, death would be certain. + +"As I crouched at the opening I felt the head of a dog pushed against +me. A spasm of terror ran through me, but the moment the creature began +to lick my hands I knew that I had nothing to fear from him. Instantly +my courage returned. I felt that he was my protector. I patted his head +and he renewed his caresses. + +"Passing my hand over him, I found he was holding himself in his present +position by means of his forelegs, which were stretched out upon the +floor. What a dog this must be, who could climb a wall! But I gave no +time to conjectures of this sort. How could I avail myself of his +assistance? In what manner could he enable me to escape from that +dangerous tower? + +"Suddenly a thought came to me. I remembered the snake part of him. +Judging from the ratio of diminution, which I have mentioned before, +that part, if hanging down, must reach nearly, if not quite, to the +ground. By taking advantage of this means of descent I might be saved, +but the feat would require dexterity and an immense amount of faith. +This serpent-like portion of the animal was invisible. How could I know +how long it was! + +"But there was no time for consideration; the wind had again arisen, and +was blowing with fury. The tower shook beneath me; at any moment it +might fall. If I should again escape from death, through the assistance +of my invisible friend, I must avail myself of that assistance +instantly. + +"I stopped and felt the animal. He still hung by part of his body and by +his forelegs to the floor of the dungeon, and by reaching out I could +feel that the rest of him extended downward. I therefore seized his body +in my arms, threw myself out of the aperture, and began to slide down. + +"In a very short time I found that I had reached the snake portion of +the creature, and, throwing my arms and legs around it, I endeavoured +with all my strength to prevent a too rapid descent; but in spite of all +my efforts, my downward progress was faster than I would have wished it +to be. But there was no stopping; I must slip down. + +"In these moments of rapid descent my mind was filled with wild anxiety +concerning the serpent-like form to which I was clinging. I remembered +in a flash that there were snakes whose caudal extremity dwindled away +suddenly into a point. This one might do so, and at any instant I might +come to the end of the tail and drop upon the jagged stones below. + +"Calculation after calculation of the ratio of diminution flashed +through my mind during that awful descent. My whole soul was centred +upon one point. When would this support end? When would I drop? + +"Fortunately I was on the leeward side of the tower, and I was not swung +about by the wind. Steadily I descended, and steadily the diameter of +the form I grasped diminished; soon I could grasp it in my hand; then +with a terrified glance I looked below. I was still at a sickening +distance from the ground. I shut my eyes. I slipped down, down, down. +The tail became like a thick rope which I encircled with each hand. It +became thinner and thinner. It grew so small that I could not hold it; +but as I felt it slip from my fingers my feet rested on a pile of +stones. + +"Bewildered and almost exhausted, I stumbled over the ruins, gained the +unencumbered ground, and ran as far from the tower as I could, sinking +down at last against the trunk of a tree in a neighbouring field. +Scarcely had I reached this spot when the fury of the wind-storm +appeared to redouble, and before the wild and shrieking blast the tower +bent and then fell with a crash upon the other ruins. + +"The first thought that came into my mind when I beheld the dreadful +spectacle concerned the creature who had twice saved my life. Had he +escaped, or was he crushed beneath that mass of stone? I felt on either +side to discover if he were near me, but he was not. Had he given his +life for mine? + +"Had I been stronger I would have searched for him; I would have +clambered among the ruins to see if I could discover his mangled form. +If I could but reach his faithful head I would stroke and caress it, +living or dead. But excitement, fatigue, and want of food had made me so +weak that I could do nothing but sit upon the ground with my back +against the tree. + +"While thus resting I perceived that the whole of the tower had not +been demolished by the storm. Some of the rooms in which we had lived, +having been built at a later date than the rest of the great edifice, +had resisted the power of the wind and were still standing. + +"From the direction of the uninjured portion of the castle I now saw +approaching a light-coloured object, which seemed to be floating in the +air about a foot from the ground. As it came nearer I saw that it was a +basket, and I immediately understood the situation. My faithful friend +was alive, and was bringing me some refreshments. + +"On came the basket, rising and falling with the bounds of the dog. It +was truly an odd spectacle, but a very welcome one. In a few moments the +basket was deposited at my side, and I was caressing the head of the +faithful dog. In the basket I found a bottle of wine and some bread and +meat, which the good creature had doubtless discovered in the kitchen of +the castle, and it was not long before I was myself again. The storm had +now almost passed away, and I arose and went to my own rooms, my friend +and protector still keeping close to my side. + +"On the morning of the next day, as I sat wondering what had happened +to my servants, and whether my father had been apprised of the disaster +to the castle, I felt something pulling at the skirt of my coat. I put +out my hand and found that it was the invisible dog. Imagining that he +wished me to follow him, I arose, and, obeying the impulse given me by +his gentle strain upon my coat, I followed him out of the door, across +the courtyard, and into the open country. We went on for a considerable +distance. A gentle touch of my coat admonished me when I turned from the +direction in which it was desired that I should go. + +"After a walk of about half an hour I approached a great oak-tree, with +low, wide-spreading branches. Some one was sitting beneath it. Imagining +the truth, I rushed forward. It was Marie! + +"It was needless for us to say anything, to explain the state of our +feelings toward each other. That tale was told by the delight with which +we met. When I asked her how she came to be there, she told me that +about an hour before, while sitting in front of her father's mansion, +she had felt something gently pulling at her skirts; and, although at +first frightened, she was at length impelled to obey the impulse, and, +without knowing whether it was the wind or some supernatural force which +had led her here, she had come. + +"We had a great deal to say to each other. She told me that she had been +longing to send me a message to warn me that Colonel Kaldhein would +certainly kill me the next time he saw me; but she had no means of +sending me such a message, for the Colonel had had her actions closely +watched. + +"When the news came of Kaldhein's death she at first feared that I had +killed him, and would therefore be obliged to fly the country; but when +it was known that he had been almost torn to pieces by wild beasts, she, +like every one else, was utterly amazed, and could not understand the +matter at all. None but the most ferocious creatures could have +inflicted the injuries of which the man had died, and where those +creatures came from no one knew. Some people thought that a pack of +blood-hounds might have broken loose from some of the estates of the +surrounding country, and, in the course of their wild journeyings, might +have met with the Colonel, and fallen upon him. Others surmised that a +bear had come down from the mountains; but the fact was that nobody knew +anything about it. + +"I did not attempt to acquaint Marie with the truth. At that moment the +invisible dog was lying at my side, and I feared if I mentioned his +existence to Marie she might fly in terror. To me there was only one +important phase of the affair, and that was that Marie was now free, +that she might be mine. + +"Before we parted we were affianced lovers, pledged to marry as soon as +possible. I wrote to my father, asking for his permission to wed the +lady. But in his reply he utterly forbade any such marriage. Marie also +discovered that her parents would not permit a union with a foreigner, +and would indeed oppose her marriage with any one at this time. + +"However, as usual, love triumphed, and after surmounting many +difficulties we were married and fled to America. Since that time I have +been obliged to support myself and my wife, for my father will give me +no assistance. He had proposed a very different career for me, and was +extremely angry when he found his plans had been completely destroyed. +But we are hopeful, we work hard, and hope that we may yet be able to +support ourselves comfortably without aid from any one. We are young, we +are strong, we trust each other, and have a firm faith in our success. + +"I had only one regret in leaving Europe, and that was that my faithful +friend, the noble and devoted invisible dog, was obliged to remain on +the other side of the Atlantic. Why this was so I do not know, but +perhaps it was for the best. I never told my wife of his existence, and +if she had accidentally discovered it, I know not what might have been +the effects upon her nervous system. + +"The dog accompanied me through Austria, Switzerland, and France to +Havre, from which port we sailed. I took leave of him on the gang-plank. +He licked my hands, and I caressed and stroked him. People might have +thought that my actions denoted insanity, but every one was so greatly +occupied in these last moments before departure, that perhaps I was not +noticed. Just as I left him and hastened on board, a sailor fell +overboard from the gang-plank. He was quickly rescued, but could not +imagine why he had fallen. I believe, however, that he was tripped up by +the snake part of my friend as he convulsively rushed away." + +The young man ceased, and gazed pensively upon the floor. + +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Martha, "if those are the sort of +experiences you had, I don't wonder that Realism was wonderful enough +for you. The invisible creature was very good to you, I am sure, but I +am glad it did not come with you to America." + +David, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, now interrupted +further comments by stating that it was daylight, and if I thought well +of it, he would open the window-shutters, so that we might see any one +going toward the town. A milkman, he said, passed the house very early +every morning. When the shutters were opened we were all amazed that the +night should have passed so quickly. + +The tall burglar and the young man now began to exhibit a good deal of +anxiety. + +"I should like very much to know," said the former, "what you intend to +do in regard to us. It cannot be that you think of placing that young +gentleman and myself in the hands of the law. Of course, this man," +pointing to the stout burglar, "cannot expect anything but a just +punishment of his crimes; but after what we have told you, you must +certainly be convinced that our connection with the affair is entirely +blameless, and should be considered as a piece of very bad luck." + +"That," said I, "is a matter which will receive all the consideration it +needs." + +At this moment David announced the milkman. Counselling my man to keep +strict guard over the prisoners, I went out to the road, stopped the +milkman, and gave him a message which I was certain would insure the +prompt arrival at my house of sufficient force to take safe charge of +the burglars. Excited with the importance of the commission, he whipped +up his horse and dashed away. + +When I returned to the house I besought my wife and Aunt Martha to go to +bed, that they might yet get some hours of sleep; but both refused. They +did not feel in the least like sleep, and there was a subject on which +they wished to consult with me in the dining-room. + +"Now," said Aunt Martha, when the door had been closed, "these men have +freely told us their stories; whether they are entirely true or not, +must, of course, be a matter of opinion; but they have laid their cases +before us, and we should not place them all in the hands of the officers +of the law without giving them due consideration, and arriving at a +decision which shall be satisfactory to ourselves." + +"Let us take them in order," said I. "What do you think of the tall +man's case?" + +"I think he is a thief and manufacturer of falsehoods," said my wife +promptly. + +"I am afraid," said Aunt Martha, "that he is not altogether innocent; +but there is one thing greatly in his favour,--when he told of the +feelings which overcame him when he saw that little child sleeping +peacefully in its bed in the house which he had unintentionally robbed, +I felt there must be good points in that man's nature. What do you think +of him?" + +"I think he is worst of the lot," I answered, "and as there are now two +votes against him, he must go to the lock-up. And now what of the stout +fellow?" I asked. + +"Oh, he is a burglar by his own confession," said my wife; "there can be +no doubt of that." + +"I am afraid you are right," said Aunt Martha. + +"I know she is," said I, "and James Barlow, or whatever his name may be, +shall be delivered to the constable." + +"Of course, there can be no difference of opinion in regard to the young +man," said Aunt Martha quickly. "Both the others admitted that he had +nothing to do with this affair except as a journalist, and although I do +not think he ought to get his realistic ideas in that way, I would +consider it positively wicked to send him into court in company with +those other men. Consider the position in which he would be placed +before the world. Consider his young wife." + +"I cannot say," said my wife, "that I am inclined to believe all parts +of his story." + +"I suppose," said I, laughing, "that you particularly refer to the +invisible dog-snake." + +"I'm not so sure about all that," she answered. "Since the labours of +the psychic researchers began, we have heard of a great many strange +things; but it is evident that he is a young man of education and +culture, and in all probability a journalist or literary man. I do not +think he should be sent to the lock-up with common criminals." + +"There!" cried Aunt Martha, "two in his favour. He must be released. +It's a poor rule that does not work both ways." + +I stood for a few moments undecided. If left to myself, I would have +sent the trio to the county town, where, if any one of them could prove +his innocence, he could do so before the constitutional authorities; but +having submitted the matter to my wife and aunt, I could not well +override their decision. As for what the young man said, I gave it no +weight whatever, for of course he would say the best he could for +himself. But the testimony of the others had weight. When they both +declared that he was not a burglar, but merely a journalist, engaged in +what he supposed to be his duty, it would seem to be a cruel thing to +stamp him as a criminal by putting him in charge of the constables. + +But my indecision soon came to an end, for Aunt Martha declared that no +time should be lost in setting the young man free, for should the +people in town arrive and see him sitting bound with the others it would +ruin his character forever. My wife agreed. + +"Whatever there may be of truth in his story," she said, "one of two +things is certain,--either he has had most wonderful experiences out of +which he may construct realistic novels which will give him fortune and +reputation, or he has a startling imagination, which, if used in the +production of works in the romantic school, will be of the same +advantage to his future. Looking upon it, even in this light and without +any reference to his family and the possible effects on his own moral +nature, we shall assume a great responsibility in deliberately +subjecting such a person to criminal prosecution and perhaps +conviction." + +This was enough. "Well," said I, "we will release the young fellow and +send the two other rascals to jail." + +"That was not well expressed," said my wife, "but we will not criticise +words at present." + +We returned to the library and I announced my decision. When he heard it +the stout burglar exhibited no emotion. His expression indicated that, +having been caught, he expected to be sent to jail, and that was the end +of it. Perhaps he had been through this experience so often that he had +become used to it. The tall man, however, took the announcement in a +very different way. His face grew dark and his eyes glittered. "You are +making a great mistake," he said to me, "a very great mistake, and you +will have to bear the consequences." + +"Very good," said I, "I will remember that remark when your trial comes +on." + +The behaviour of the young man was unexceptional. He looked upon us with +a face full of happy gratitude, and, as he thanked us for the kind +favour and the justice which we had shown him, his eyes seemed dim with +tears. Aunt Martha was much affected. + +"I wonder if his mother is living," she whispered to me. "A wife is a +great deal, but a mother is more. If I had thought of her sooner I would +have spoken more strongly in his favour. And now you should untie him at +once and let him go home. His wife must be getting terribly anxious." + +The young man overheard this last remark. + +"You will confer a great favour on me, sir," he said, "if you will let +me depart as soon as possible. I feel a great repugnance to be seen in +company with these men, as you may imagine, from wearing a mask on +coming here. If I leave immediately I think I can catch the first train +from your station." + +I considered the situation. If I did what I was asked, there would be +two bound burglars to guard, three women and a child to protect, an +uncertain stranger at liberty, and only David and myself to attend to +the whole business. "No, sir," said I, "I shall not untie you until the +officers I sent for are near at hand; then I will release you, and you +can leave the house by the back way without being seen by them. There +are other morning trains which will take you into the city early +enough." + +"I think you are a little hard on him," remarked Aunt Martha, but the +young man made no complaint. + +"I will trust myself to you, sir," he said. + +The officers arrived much sooner than I expected. There were five of +them, including the Chief of Police, and they were accompanied by +several volunteer assistants, among whom was the milkman who had been +my messenger. This morning his customers might wait for their milk, for +all business must give way before such an important piece of sightseeing +as this. + +I had barely time to untie the young man and take him to the back of the +house before the officers and their followers had entered the front +door. There was now a great deal of questioning, a great deal of +explanation, a great deal of discussion as to whether my way of catching +burglars was advisable or not, and a good deal of talk about the best +method of taking the men to town. Some of the officers were in favour of +releasing the two men, and then deciding in what manner they should be +taken to town; and if this plan had been adopted, I believe that these +two alert and practical rascals would have taken themselves out of my +house without the assistance of the officers, or at least would have +caused a great deal of trouble and perhaps injury in endeavouring to do +so. + +But the Chief of Police was of my mind, and before the men were entirely +released from the ropes by which I had tied them, they were securely +manacled. + +A requisition made on David and myself to appear as witnesses, the two +men were taken from the house to the wagons in which the officers and +their followers had come. My wife and Aunt Martha had gone upstairs +before the arrival of the police, and were watching the outside +proceeding from a window. + +Standing in the hallway, I glanced into the dining-room, and was +surprised to see the young man still standing by a side door. I had +thought him gone, but perhaps it was wise in him to remain, and not show +himself upon the road until the coast was entirely clear. He did not see +me, and was looking backward into the kitchen, a cheerful and animated +expression upon his face. This expression did not strike me pleasantly. +He had escaped a great danger, it was true, but it was no reason for +this rather obtrusive air of exultation. Just then Alice came into the +dining-room from the kitchen, and the young man stepped back, so that +she did not notice him. As she passed he gently threw his arm quietly +around her neck and kissed her. + +At that very instant, even before the girl had time to exclaim, in +rushed David from the outer side door. + +"I've been watching you, you rascal," he shouted; "you're done for +now!" and he threw his strong arms around the man, pinioning his arms to +his side. + +The young fellow gave a great jerk, and began to struggle powerfully. +His face turned black with rage; he swore, he kicked. He made the most +frenzied efforts to free himself, but David's arms were strong, his soul +was full of jealous fury, and in a moment I had come to his assistance. +Each of us taking the young fellow by an arm, we ran him into the +hallway and out of the front door, Alice aiding us greatly by putting +her hands against the man's back and pushing most forcibly. + +"Here's another one," cried David. "I'll appear against him. He's the +worst of the lot." + +Without knowing what it all meant, the Chief clapped the nippers on our +prisoner, justly believing that if burglars were about to show +themselves so unexpectedly, the best thing to do was to handcuff them as +fast as they appeared, and then to ask questions. The reasons for not +having produced this man before, and for producing him now, were not +very satisfactory to the officer. + +"Have you any more in the cellar?" he asked. "If so, I should like to +take a look at them before I start away." + +At this moment Aunt Martha made her appearance at the front door. + +"What are you going to do with that young man?" she asked sharply. "What +right have you to put irons upon him?" + +"Aunt Martha," said I, stepping back to her, "what do you think he has +done?" + +"I don't know," said she; "how should I know? All I know is that we +agreed to set him free." + +I addressed her solemnly: "David and I believe him to be utterly +depraved. He availed himself of the first moments of his liberation to +kiss Alice." Aunt Martha looked at me with wide-open eyes, and then her +brows contracted. + +"He did, did he?" said she. "And that is the kind of a man he is. Very +good. Let him go to jail with the others. I don't believe one word about +his young wife. If kissing respectable young women is the way he studies +Realism the quicker he goes to jail the better," and with that she +walked into the house. + +When the men had been placed in the two vehicles in which the police had +come, the Chief and I made an examination of the premises, and we found +that the house had been entered by a kitchen window, in exactly the +manner which the tall burglar had described. Outside of this window, +close to the wall, we found a leathern bag, containing what the Chief +declared to be an excellent assortment of burglars' tools. The officers +and their prisoners now drove away, and we were left to a long morning +nap, if we were so fortunate as to get it, and a late breakfast. + +In the course of the trial of the three men who had entered my house +some interesting points in regard to them were brought out. Several +detectives and policemen from New York were present, and their testimony +proved that my three burglars were men of eminence in their profession, +and that which most puzzled the metropolitan detectives was to discover +why these men should have been willing to devote their high talents to +the comparatively insignificant business of breaking into a suburban +dwelling. + +The tall man occupied a position of peculiar eminence in criminal +circles. He was what might be called a criminal manager. He would take +contracts for the successful execution of certain crimes,--bank +robberies, for instance,--and while seldom taking part in the actual +work of a burglary or similar operation, he would plan all the details +of the affair, and select and direct his agents with great skill and +judgment. He had never been arrested before, and the detectives were +delighted, believing they would now have an opportunity of tracing to +him a series of very important criminal operations that had taken place +in New York and some other large cities. He was known as Lewis Mandit, +and this was believed to be his real name. + +The stout man was a first-class professional burglar and nothing more, +and was in the employ of Mandit. The young man was a decidedly uncommon +personage. He was of a good family, had been educated at one of our +principal colleges, had travelled, and was in every way qualified to +make a figure in society. He had been a newspaper man, and a writer for +leading periodicals, and had shown considerable literary ability; but a +life of honest industry did not suit his tastes, and he had now adopted +knavery as a regular profession. + +This man, who was known among his present associates as Sparky, still +showed himself occasionally in newspaper offices, and was generally +supposed to be a correspondent for a Western journal; but his real +business position was that of Mandit's head man. + +Sparky was an expert in many branches of crime. He was an excellent +forger, a skilful lock-picker, an ingenious planner of shady projects, +and had given a great deal of earnest study to the subject of the +loopholes of the law. He had a high reputation in criminal circles for +his ability in getting his fellow-rascals out of jail. There was reason +to believe that in the past year no less than nine men, some condemned +to terms of imprisonment, and some held for trial, had escaped by means +of assistance given them by Sparky. + +His methods of giving help to jail-birds were various. Sometimes liberty +was conferred through the agency of saws and ropes, at other times +through that of a habeas corpus and an incontestible alibi. His means +were adapted to the circumstances of the case, and it was believed that +if Sparky could be induced to take up the case of a captured rogue, the +man had better chance of finding himself free than the law had of +keeping him behind bars, especially if his case were treated before it +had passed into its more chronic stages. + +Sparky's success was greatly due to his extremely specious manner, and +his power of playing the part that the occasion demanded. In this +particular he was even the superior of Mandit, who was an adept in this +line. These two men found no difficulty in securing the services of +proficient burglars, safe-robbers, and the like; for, in addition to the +high rewards paid these men, they were in a manner insured against +permanent imprisonment in case of misfortune. It was always arranged +that, if any of their enterprises came to grief, and if either Mandit or +Sparky should happen to be arrested, the working miscreants should +substantiate any story their superiors might choose to tell of +themselves, and, if necessary, to take upon themselves the whole +responsibility of the crime. In this case their speedy release was to be +looked upon as assured. + +A great deal of evidence in regard to the character and practices of +these two men came from the stout burglar, commonly known as Barney +Fitch. When he found that nothing was to be expected from his two +astute employers, and that they were in as bad a place as himself, he +promptly turned State's evidence, and told all that he knew about them. + +It was through the testimony of this man that the motive for the +attempted robbery of my house was found out. It had no connection +whatever with the other burglaries of our neighbourhood, those, +probably, having been committed by low-class thieves, who had not broken +into my house simply because my doors and windows had been so well +secured; nor had our boy, George William, any share whatever in the +protection of the household. + +The burglary was undertaken solely for the purpose of getting possession +of some important law papers, which were to be used in a case in which I +was concerned, which soon would be tried. If these papers could be +secured by the opposite party, the side on which I was engaged would +have no case at all, and a suit involving a great deal of property must +drop. With this end in view the unscrupulous defendants in the case had +employed Mandit to procure the papers; and that astute criminal manager +had not only arranged all the details of the affair, but had gone +himself to the scene of action in order to see that there should be no +mistake in carrying out the details of this most important piece of +business. + +The premises had been thoroughly reconnoitred by Sparky, who, a few days +before the time fixed for the burglary, had visited my house in the +capacity of an agent of a telescopic bookcase, which could be extended +as new volumes were required, therefore need never exhibit empty +shelves. The young man had been included in the party on account of his +familiarity with legal documents, it being, of course, of paramount +importance that the right papers should be secured. His ingenuity was +also to be used to cover up, if possible, all evidence that the house +had been entered at all, it being desirable to make it appear to the +court that I had never had these documents in my possession, and that +they never existed. + +Had it not been for a very natural desire for refreshment that +interfered with their admirably laid plans, it is probable that the +mechanical skill of Mandit would have been equal to the noiseless +straightening of the bent bolt, and the obliteration of the scratches +and dents made by the attempts upon other shutters, and that Sparky, +after relocking all open desks or cabinets, and after the exit of the +others, would have closed and fastened the kitchen shutters, and would +then have left the house by means of an open window in the upper hall +and the roof of a piazza. + +Thus it was that these three men, so eminent in their different spheres +of earnest endeavour, came to visit my comparatively humble abode; and +thus it was that they not only came to that abode, but to the deepest +grief. They were "wanted" in so many quarters, and on so many charges, +that before they had finished serving out their various sentences their +ability to wickedly avail themselves of the property of others would +have suffered greatly from disuse, and the period of life left them for +the further exercise of those abilities would be inconveniently limited. + +I was assured by a prominent detective that it had been a long time +since two such dangerous criminals as Mandit and Sparky had fallen into +the hands of the law. These men, by means of very competent outside +assistance, made a stout fight for acquittal on some of the charges +brought against them; but when they found that further effort of this +kind would be unavailing, and that they would be sentenced to long terms +of imprisonment, they threw off their masks of outraged probity and +stood out in their true characters of violent and brutal ruffians. +Barney Fitch, the cracksman, was a senior warden compared to them. + +It was a long time before my Aunt Martha recovered from her +disappointment in regard to the youngest burglar. + +"Of course I was mistaken," she said. "That sort of thing will happen; +but I really had good grounds for believing him to be a truthful person, +so I am not ashamed for having taken him for what he said he was. I have +now no doubt before he fell in his wicked ways that he was a very good +writer, and might have become a novelist or a magazine author; but his +case is a very sad proof that the study of Realism may be carried too +far," and she heaved a sigh. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + +***** This file should be named 10948.txt or 10948.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10948/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d56703f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10948 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10948) diff --git a/old/10948-8.txt b/old/10948-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e3f1f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10948-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3645 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stories of the Three Burglars + +Author: Frank Richard Stockton + +Release Date: February 5, 2004 [EBook #10948] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + +[Illustration: Frank R. Stockton] + + +The Stories +of the +Three Burglars + + +By +FRANK R. STOCKTON + + +1889 + + + + +THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS. + + +I am a householder in a pleasant country neighbourhood, about twenty +miles from New York. My family consists of myself and wife, our boy, +George William, aged two, two maid-servants, and a man; but in the +summer we have frequent visitors, and at the time of which I am about to +write my Aunt Martha was staying with us. + +My house is large and pleasant, and we have neighbours near enough for +social purposes and yet not too near or too many to detract from the +rural aspect of our surroundings. But we do not live in a paradise; we +are occasionally troubled by mosquitoes and burglars. + +Against the first of these annoyances we have always been able to guard +ourselves, at least in a measure, and our man and the cook declare that +they have become so used to them that they do not mind them; but to +guard against burglars is much more difficult, and to become used to +them would, I think, require a great deal of practice. + +For several months before the period of this narrative our neighbourhood +had been subject to visits from burglars. From time to time houses had +been entered and robbed, and the offenders had never been detected. + +We had no police force, not even a village organization. There was a +small railway station near our house, and six miles away was the county +town. For fire and police protection each household was obliged to +depend upon itself. + +Before the beginning of the burglarious enterprises in our midst, we had +not felt the need of much protection in this direction; sometimes +poultry was stolen, but this was a rare occurrence, and, although +windows and doors were generally fastened for the night, this labour was +often considered much more troublesome than necessary. But now a great +change had taken place in the feelings of our community. When the first +robbery occurred the neighbours were inclined to laugh about it, and to +say that Captain Hubbard's habit of sitting up after the rest of his +family had gone to bed and then retiring and forgetting to close the +front door had invited the entrance of a passing tramp. But when a +second and a third house, where windows and doors had not been left +open, had been entered, and, in a measure, despoiled, people ceased to +laugh; and if there had been any merriment at all on the subject, it +would have been caused by the extraordinary and remarkable precautions +taken against the entrance of thieves by night. The loaded pistol became +the favourite companion of the head of the house; those who had no +watch-dogs bought them; there were new locks, new bolts, new fastenings. +At one time there was a mounted patrol of young men, which, however, was +soon broken up by their mothers. But this trouble was unavailing, for at +intervals the burglaries continued. + +As a matter of course a great many theories were broached as to the +reasons for this disturbance in our hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. We +were at such a distance from the ordinary centres of crime that it was +generally considered that professional burglars would hardly take the +trouble to get to us or to get away from us, and that, therefore, the +offences were probably committed by unsuspected persons living in this +part of the country who had easy means of determining which houses were +worth breaking into and what method of entrance would be most feasible. +In this way some families, hitherto regarded as respectable families, +had fallen under suspicion. + +So far, mine was the only house of any importance within the distance of +a mile from the station which had not in some way suffered from +burglars. In one or two of these cases the offenders had been frightened +away before they had done any other injury than the breaking of a +window-shutter; but we had been spared any visitation whatever. After a +time we began to consider that this was an invidious distinction. Of +course we did not desire that robbers should break into our house and +steal, but it was a sort of implied insult that robbers should think +that our house was not worth breaking into. We contrived, however, to +bear up under this implied contempt and even under the facetious +imputations of some of our lively neighbours, who declared that it +looked very suspicious that we should lose nothing, and even continue to +add to our worldly goods, while everybody else was suffering from +abstractions. + +I did not, however, allow any relaxation in my vigilance in the +protection of my house and family. My time to suffer had not yet +arrived, and it might not arrive at all; but if it did come it should +not be my fault. I therefore carefully examined all the new precautions +my neighbours had taken against the entrance of thieves, and where I +approved of them I adopted them. + +Of some of these my wife and I did not approve. For instance, a tin pan +containing iron spoons, the dinner bell, and a miscellaneous collection +of hardware balanced on the top stair of the staircase, and so connected +with fine cords that a thief coming up the stairs would send it rattling +and bounding to the bottom, was looked upon by us with great disfavour. +The descent of the pan, whether by innocent accident or the approach of +a burglar, might throw our little boy into a fit, to say nothing of the +terrible fright it would give my Aunt Martha, who was a maiden lady of +middle age, and not accustomed to a clatter in the night. A bull-dog in +the house my wife would not have, nor, indeed, a dog of any kind. George +William was not yet old enough to play with dogs, especially a sharp +one; and if the dog was not sharp it was of no use to have him in the +house. To the ordinary burglar-alarm she strongly objected. She had been +in houses where these things went off of their own accord, occasioning +great consternation; and, besides, she said that if thieves got into the +house she did not want to know it and she did not want me to know it; +the quicker they found what they came for and went away with it the +better. Of course, she wished them kept out, if such a thing were +possible; but if they did get in, our duty as parents of the dearest +little boy was non-interference. She insisted, however, that the room in +which the loveliest of children slept, and which was also occupied by +ourselves, should be made absolutely burglar proof; and this object, by +means of extraordinary bolts and chains, I flattered myself I +accomplished. My Aunt Martha had a patent contrivance for fastening a +door that she always used, whether at home or travelling, and in whose +merit she placed implicit confidence. Therefore we did not feel it +necessary to be anxious about her; and the servants slept at the top of +the house, where thieves would not be likely to go. + +"They may continue to slight us by their absence," said my wife, "but I +do not believe that they will be able to frighten us by their presence." + +I was not, however, so easily contented as my wife. Of course I wished +to do everything possible to protect George William and the rest of the +family, but I was also very anxious to protect our property in all parts +of the house. Therefore, in addition to everything else I had done, I +devised a scheme for interfering with the plans of men who should +feloniously break into our home. + +After a consultation with a friend, who was a physician greatly +interested in the study of narcotic drugs, I procured a mixture which +was almost tasteless and without peculiar odour, and of which a small +quantity would in less than a minute throw an ordinary man into a state +of unconsciousness. The potion was, however, no more dangerous in its +effects than that quantity of ardent spirits which would cause entire +insensibility. After the lapse of several hours, the person under the +influence of the drug would recover consciousness without assistance. +But in order to provide against all contingencies my friend prepared a +powerful antidote, which would almost immediately revive one who had +been made unconscious by our potion. + +The scheme that I had devised may possibly have been put into use by +others. But of this I know not. I thought it a good scheme and +determined to experiment with it, and, if possible, to make a trap which +should catch a burglar. I would reveal this plan to no one but my friend +the physician and my wife. Secrecy would be an important element in its +success. + +Our library was a large and pleasant room on the ground floor of the +house, and here I set my trap. It was my habit to remain in this room an +hour or so after the rest of the family had gone to bed, and, as I was +an early riser, I was always in it again before it was necessary for a +servant to enter it in the morning. + +Before leaving the library for the night I placed in a conspicuous +position in the room a small table, on which was a tray holding two +decanters partially filled with wine, in the one red and in the other +white. There was also upon the tray an open box of biscuit and three +wine-glasses, two of them with a little wine at the bottom. I took pains +to make it appear that these refreshments had been recently partaken of. +There were biscuit crumbs upon the tray, and a drop or two of wine was +freshly spilled upon it every time the trap was set. The table, thus +arranged, was left in the room during the night, and early in the +morning I put the tray and its contents into a closet and locked it up. + +A portion of my narcotic preparation was thoroughly mixed with the +contents of each of the decanters in such proportions that a glass of +the wine would be sufficient to produce the desired effect. + +It was my opinion that there were few men who, after a night walk and +perhaps some labour in forcibly opening a door or a window-shutter, +would not cease for a moment in pursuance of their self-imposed task to +partake of the refreshments so conveniently left behind them by the +occupants of the house when they retired to rest. Should my surmises be +correct, I might reasonably expect, should my house be broken into, to +find an unconscious burglar in the library when I went down in the +morning. And I was sure, and my wife agreed with me, that if I should +find a burglar in that room or any other part of the house, it was +highly desirable that he should be an unconscious one. + +Night after night I set my burglar trap, and morning after morning I +locked it up in the closet. I cannot say that I was exactly disappointed +that no opportunity offered to test the value of my plan, but it did +seem a pity that I should take so much trouble for nothing. It had been +some weeks since any burglaries had been committed in the neighbourhood, +and it was the general opinion that the miscreants had considered this +field worked out and had transferred their labours to a better-paying +place. The insult of having been considered unworthy the attention of +the knights of the midnight jimmy remained with us, but as all our goods +and chattels also remained with us we could afford to brook the +indignity. + +As the trap cost nothing my wife did not object to my setting it every +night for the present. Something might happen, she remarked, and it was +just as well to be prepared in more ways than one; but there was a point +upon which she was very positive. + +"When George William is old enough to go about the house by himself," +she said, "those decanters must not be left exposed upon the table. Of +course I do not expect him to go about the house drinking wine and +everything that he finds, but there is no knowing what a child in the +first moments of his investigative existence may do." + +For myself, I became somewhat tired of acting my part in this little +farce every night and morning, but when I have undertaken anything of +this sort I am slow to drop it. + +It was about three weeks since I had begun to set my trap when I was +awakened in the night by a sudden noise. I sat up in bed, and as I did +so my wife said to me sleepily,-- + +"What is that? Was it thunder? There it is again!" she exclaimed, +starting up. "What a crash! It must have struck somewhere." I did not +answer. It was not thunder. It was something in the house, and it +flashed into my mind that perhaps my trap had been sprung. I got out of +bed and began rapidly to dress. + +"What are you going to do?" anxiously asked my wife. + +"I'm going to see what has happened," said I. At that moment there was +another noise. This was like two or three heavy footsteps, followed by a +sudden thump; but it was not so loud as the others. + +"John," cried my wife, "don't stir an inch, it's burglars!" and she +sprang out of bed and seized me by the arm. + +"I must go down," I said; "but there is really no reason for your being +frightened. I shall call David, and shall carry my pistol, so there is +really no danger. If there are thieves in the house they have probably +decamped by this time--that is, if they are able to do so, for of course +they must know that noise would awaken the soundest sleepers." + +My wife looked at me and then slowly withdrew her hands from my arm. + +"You promise me," she said, "if you find a burglar downstairs in the +possession of his senses you will immediately come back to me and George +William?" + +I promised her, and, slipping on some clothes, I went out into the +second-story hall. I carried no light. Before I had reached the bottom +of the back stairs I heard David, my man, coming down. To be sure it was +he and not a burglar I spoke to him in a low voice, my pistol raised in +case of an unsatisfactory reply. + +"I heard that noise, sir," he whispered, "and was going down to see +about it." + +"Are you ready if it's thieves?" I whispered. + +"I have got the biscuit-beater," he replied. + +"Come on, then," said I, and we went downstairs. + +I had left no light in the library, but there was one there now, and it +shone through the open door into the hallway. We stopped and listened. +There was no sound, and then slowly and cautiously we approached the +door of the library. The scene I beheld astounded me, and involuntarily +I sprang back a step or two. So did David; but in an instant we saw that +there was no need of retreat or defence. Stretched upon the floor, not +far from the doorway, lay a tall man, his face upturned to the light of +a bull's-eye lantern which stood by the mantel-piece. His eyes were +shut, and it was evident that he was perfectly insensible. Near by, in +the wreck of the small table, glasses, and decanters, lay another man, +apparently of heavier build. He also was as still as a corpse. A little +further back, half sitting on the floor, with the upper part of his body +resting against the lounge, was another man with a black mask over his +face. + +"Are they dead?" exclaimed David, in an undertone of horror. + +"No," said I, "they are not dead; they have been caught in my trap." + +And I must admit that the consciousness of this created a proud +exultation of spirit within me. I had overmatched these rascals; they +were prostrated before me. If one of them moved, David and I could kill +him. But I did not believe there would be any killing, nor any moving +for the present. + +In a high whisper, which could have been heard distinctly all over the +house, my wife now called to me from the top of the stairs. "What is +it?" she said. "What has happened?" + +I stepped quickly to the stairway. + +"Everything is all right," I said in a loud, distinct voice, intended +to assure my wife that there was no necessity for caution or alarm. "I +will be with you presently." + +"I am glad to hear that nothing is the matter," said Aunt Martha, now +for the first time opening her door. "I was afraid something had +happened." + +But I had business to attend to before I could go upstairs. In thinking +over and arranging this plan for the capture of burglars, I had +carefully considered its various processes, and had provided against all +the contingencies I could think of; therefore I was not now obliged to +deliberate what I should do. "Keep your eye on them," said I to David, +"and if one of them moves be ready for him. The first thing to do is to +tie them hand and foot." + +I quickly lighted a lamp, and then took from another shelf of the closet +a large coil of strong cotton rope, which I had provided for such an +occasion as the present. + +"Now," said I to David, "I will tie them while you stand by to knock +over any one of them who attempts to get up." + +The instrument with which David was prepared to carry out my orders was +a formidable one. In the days of my youth my family was very fond of +"Maryland biscuit," which owes much of its delicacy to the fact that +before baking it is pounded and beaten by a piece of heavy iron. Some +people used one kind of a beater and some another, but we had had made +for the purpose a heavy iron club a little over a foot long, large and +heavy at one end and a handle at the other. In my present household +Maryland biscuits were never made, but I had preserved this iron beater +as a memento of my boyhood, and when the burglaries began in our +vicinity I gave it to David to keep in his room, to be used as a weapon +if necessary. I did not allow him to have a pistol, having a regard for +my own safety in a sudden night alarm, and nothing could be more +formidable in a hand-to-hand encounter than this skull-crushing club. + +I began with the tall man, and rapidly tied his feet together with many +twists of the rope and as many knots. I then turned him over and tied +his elbows behind him in the same secure way. I had given so much +thought to the best method of securing a man by cords, that I do not +think this fellow could possibly have released himself when I had +finished with him. + +David was obeying my orders and keeping a strict watch on the prostrate +men; but his emotions of amazement were so great that he could not keep +them down. + +"What is the matter with them, sir?" he said. "How did they come so?" + +"There is no time for talking now," I answered. "I will tell you all +about it when the men have been secured." I now turned my attention to +the man who was partly resting against the lounge. I first tied his +feet, and before letting him down to the floor, so as to get to his +arms, I removed his hat and his mask, which was made of black muslin. I +was surprised to see the beardless face of a young and very good-looking +man. He was well dressed, and had the general appearance of a person +belonging to theatrical circles. When his arms had been tied, I told +David he might lay down his biscuit-beater, and help me with the third +man, who was badly mixed up with the _débris_ of the refreshments. We +hauled him out and tied him up. He was rather a short man, but very +heavy, and I could see no signs of his having been hurt by the smash-up +he made in falling. + +We now proceeded to search the insensible burglars for arms. Upon the +tall man we found a large revolver, a heavy billy, which seemed as if it +had seen service, and a long-bladed knife. The stout man carried two +double-barrelled pistols, and upon one of the fingers of his right hand +wore a brass ring with a murderous-looking iron protuberance upon it, +which, when driven forward by his powerful arm, was probably more +dangerous than a billy. Upon the younger man we found no arms at all, +and his hip pocket contained nothing but a small handbook on civil +engineering. + +I now briefly explained to David the nature of the trap which had caught +the burglars. He gazed upon me with a face glowing with amazed +admiration. + +"What a head you have got, sir!" he exclaimed. "I don't believe there is +another man in this State who would have thought of that. And what are +you going to do with them now, sir; hang 'em? That's what ought to be +done with them, the hounds!" + +"All I shall do," I answered, "will be to keep them till daylight, and +then I shall send word to the sheriff at Kennertown, and have him send +officers for them." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed David, "they are in the worst kind of a box." + +Now my wife called me again. "What in the world are you doing down +there?" she called; "why don't you come upstairs?" + +This annoyed me, for I was not yet ready to go upstairs. I wished to +resuscitate these fellows, for their stupor was so profound that I began +to fear that perhaps they had taken too much of the drug and ought to be +brought to their senses as speedily as possible. This feeling was due +more to my desire that serious injuries should not occur to the rascals +while in my house than to any concern for them. + +"My dear," said I, stepping to the bottom of the stairs, "I have some +things to attend to down here which will occupy me a few minutes longer; +then I will come up to you." + +"I can't imagine what the things are," she said, "but I suppose I can +wait," and she went into her room and closed her door after her. + +I now began to consider what was to be done with the burglars after they +had been resuscitated. My first impulse was to rid the house of them by +carrying them out of doors and bringing them to their senses there. But +there was an objection to this plan. They would be pretty heavy fellows +to carry, and as it would be absolutely necessary to watch them until +they could be given into the charge of the officers of the law, I did +not want to stay out of doors to do this, for the night air was raw and +chilly, and I therefore determined to keep them in the house. And as +they could be resuscitated better in a sitting position, they must be +set up in some way or other. I consulted David on the subject. + +"You might put 'em up with their backs agin the wall, sir," said he, +"but the dirty beasts would spoil the paper. I wouldn't keep them in a +decent room like this. I'd haul 'em out into the kitchen, anyway." + +But as they were already in the library I decided to let them stay +there, and to get them as speedily as possible into some position in +which they might remain. I bethought me of a heavy wooden settle or +bench with back and arms which stood on the side piazza. With David's +help I brought this into the room and placed it with its back to the +window. + +"Now, then," said I to David, "we will put them on this bench, and I +will tie them fast to it. We cannot be too careful in securing them, for +if one of them were to get loose, even without arms, there is no knowing +what trouble he might make." + +"Well, sir," said David, "if I'm to handle them at all, I'd rather have +them dead, as I hope they are, than have them alive; but you needn't be +afraid, sir, that any one of them will get loose. If I see any signs of +that I'll crack the rascal's skull in a jiffy." + +It required a great deal of tugging and lifting to get those three men +on the bench, but we got them there side by side, their heads hanging +listlessly, some one way, some another. I then tied each one of them +firmly to the bench. + +I had scarcely finished this when I again heard my wife's voice from the +top of the stairs. + +"If any pipes have burst," she called down, "tell David not to catch the +water in the new milk-pans." + +"Very well," I replied, "I'll see to it," and was rejoiced to hear again +the shutting of the bedroom door. + +I now saturated a sponge with the powerful preparation which Dr. Marks +had prepared as an antidote, and held it under the nose of the tall +burglar. In less than twenty seconds he made a slight quivering in his +face as if he were about to sneeze, and very soon he did sneeze +slightly. Then he sneezed violently, raised his head, and opened his +eyes. For a moment he gazed blankly before him, and then looked stupidly +at David and at me. But in an instant there flashed into his face the +look of a wild beast. His quick, glittering eye took in the whole +situation at a glance. With a furious oath he threw himself forward with +such a powerful movement that he nearly lifted the bench. + +"Stop that," said David, who stood near him with his iron club uplifted. +"If you do that again I'll let you feel this." + +The man looked at him with a fiery flash in his eyes, and then he looked +at me, as I stood holding the muzzle of my pistol within two feet of his +face. The black and red faded out of his countenance. He became pale. He +glanced at his companions bound and helpless. His expression now changed +entirely. The fury of the wild beast was succeeded by a look of +frightened subjection. Gazing very anxiously at my pistol, he said, in a +voice which, though agitated, was low and respectful:-- + +"What does this mean? What are you going to do? Will you please turn +away the muzzle of that pistol?" + +I took no notice of this indication of my steadiness of hand, and +answered:-- + +"I am going to bring these other scoundrels to their senses, and early +in the morning the three of you will be on your way to jail, where I +hope you may remain for the rest of your lives." + +"If you don't get killed on your way there," said David, in whose +nervous hand the heavy biscuit-beater was almost as dangerous as my +pistol. + +The stout man who sat in the middle of the bench was twice as long in +reviving as had been his companion, who watched the operation with +intense interest. When the burly scoundrel finally became conscious, he +sat for a few minutes gazing at the floor with a silly grin; then he +raised his head and looked first at one of his companions and then at +the other, gazed for an instant at me and David, tried to move his feet, +gave a pull at one arm and then at the other, and when he found he was +bound hard and fast, his face turned as red as fire and he opened his +mouth, whether to swear or yell I know not. I had already closed the +door, and before the man had uttered more than a premonitory sound, +David had clapped the end of his bludgeon against his mouth. + +"Taste that," he said, "and you know what you will get if you disturb +this family with any of your vile cursin' and swearin'." + +"Look here," said the tall man, suddenly turning to the other with an +air of authority, "keep your mouth shut and don't speak till you're +spoken to. Mind that, now, or these gentlemen will make it the worse for +you." + +David grinned as he took away his club. + +"I'd gentlemen you," he said, "if I could get half a chance to do it." + +The face of the heavy burglar maintained its redness, but he kept his +mouth shut. + +When the younger man was restored to his senses, his full consciousness +and power of perception seemed to come to him in an instant. His eyes +flashed from right to left, he turned deadly white, and then merely +moving his arms and legs enough to make himself aware that he was bound, +he sat perfectly still and said not a word. + +I now felt that I must go and acquaint my wife with what had happened, +or otherwise she would be coming downstairs to see what was keeping me +so long. David declared that he was perfectly able to keep guard over +them, and I ran upstairs. David afterward told me that as soon as I left +the room the tall burglar endeavoured to bribe him to cut their ropes, +and told him if he was afraid to stay behind after doing this he would +get him a much better situation than this could possibly be. But as +David threatened personal injury to the speaker if he uttered another +word of the kind, the tall man said no more; but the stout man became +very violent and angry, threatening all sorts of vengeance on my +unfortunate man. David said he was beginning to get angry, when the tall +man, who seemed to have much influence over the other fellow, ordered +him to keep quiet, as the gentleman with the iron club no doubt thought +he was doing right. The young fellow never said a word. + +When I told my wife that I had caught three burglars, and they were +fast bound in the library, she nearly fainted; and when I had revived +her she begged me to promise that I would not go downstairs again until +the police had carried away the horrible wretches. But I assured her +that it was absolutely necessary for me to return to the library. She +then declared that she would go with me, and if anything happened she +would share my fate. "Besides," she said, "if they are tied fast so they +can't move, I should like to see what they look like. I never saw a +burglar." + +I did not wish my wife to go downstairs, but as I knew there would be no +use in objecting, I consented. She hastily dressed herself, making me +wait for her; and when she left the room she locked the door on the +sleeping George William, in order that no one should get at him during +her absence. As we passed the head of the stairs, the door of my Aunt +Martha's room opened, and there she stood, completely dressed, with her +bonnet on, and a little leather bag in her hand. + +"I heard so much talking and so much going up and down stairs that I +thought I had better be ready to do whatever had to be done. Is it +fire?" + +"No," said my wife; "it's three burglars tied in a bunch in the library. +I am going down to see them." + +My Aunt Martha gasped, and looked as if she were going to sit down on +the floor. + +"Goodness gracious!" she said, "if you're going I'll go too. I can't let +you go alone, and I never did see a burglar." + +I hurried down and left the two ladies on the stairs until I was sure +everything was still safe; and when I saw that there had been no change +in the state of affairs, I told them to come down. + +When my wife and Aunt Martha timidly looked in at the library door, the +effect upon them and the burglars was equally interesting. The ladies +each gave a start and a little scream, and huddled themselves close to +me, and the three burglars gazed at them with faces that expressed more +astonishment than any I had ever seen before. The stout fellow gave vent +to a smothered exclamation, and the face of the young man flushed, but +not one of them spoke. + +"Are you sure they are tied fast?" whispered my Aunt Martha to me. + +"Perfectly," I answered; "if I had not been sure I should not have +allowed you to come down." + +Thereupon the ladies picked up courage and stepped further into the +room. + +"Did you and David catch them?" asked my aunt; "and how in the world did +you do it?" + +"I'll tell you all about that another time," I said, "and you had better +go upstairs as soon as you two have seen what sort of people are these +cowardly burglars who sneak or break into the houses of respectable +people at night, and rob and steal and ruin other people's property with +no more conscience or human feeling than is possessed by the rats which +steal your corn, or the polecats which kill your chickens." + +"I can scarcely believe," said Aunt Martha, "that that young man is a +real burglar." + +At these words the eyes of the fellow spoken of glowed as he fixed them +on Aunt Martha, but he did not say a word, and the paleness which had +returned to his face did not change. + +"Have they told you who they are?" asked my wife. + +"I haven't asked them," I said. "And now don't you think you had better +go upstairs?" + +"It seems to me," said Aunt Martha, "that those ropes must hurt them." + +The tall man now spoke. "Indeed they do, madam," he said in a low voice +and very respectful manner, "they are very tight." + +I told David to look at all the cords and see if any of them were too +tightly drawn. + +"It's all nonsense, sir," said he, when he had finished the examination; +"not one of the ropes is a bit too tight. All they want is a chance to +pull out their ugly hands." + +"Of course," said Aunt Martha, "if it would be unsafe to loosen the +knots I wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent to prison?" + +"Yes," said I; "as soon as the day breaks I shall send down for the +police." + +I now heard a slight sound at the door, and turning, saw Alice, our maid +of the house, who was peeping in at the door. Alice was a modest girl, +and quite pretty. + +"I heard the noise and the talking, sir," she said, "and when I found +the ladies had gone down to see what it was, I thought I would come +too." + +"And where is the cook," asked my wife; "don't she want to see +burglars?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Alice, very emphatically. "As soon as I told +her what it was she covered up her head with the bedclothes and +declared, ma'am, that she would never get up until they were entirely +gone out of the house." + +At this the stout man grinned. + +"I wish you'd all cover up your heads," he said. The tall man looked at +him severely, and he said no more. + +David did not move from his post near the three burglars, but he turned +toward Alice and looked at her. We knew that he had tender feelings +toward the girl, and I think that he did not approve of her being there. + +"Have they stolen anything?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"They have not had any chance to take anything away," I said; and my +wife remarked that whether they had stolen anything or not, they had +made a dreadful mess on the floor, and had broken the table. They should +certainly be punished. + +At this she made a motion as if she would leave the room, and an +anxious expression immediately came on the face of the tall man, who had +evidently been revolving something in his mind. + +"Madam," he said, "we are very sorry that we have broken your table, and +that we have damaged some of your glass and your carpet. I assure you, +however, that nothing of the kind would have happened but for that +drugged wine, which was doubtless intended for a medicine, and not a +beverage; but weary and chilled as we were when we arrived, madam, we +were glad to partake of it, supposing it ordinary wine." + +I could not help showing a little pride at the success of my scheme. + +"The refreshment was intended for fellows of your class, and I am very +glad you accepted it." + +The tall man did not answer me, but he again addressed my wife. + +"Madam," he said, "if you ladies would remain and listen to me a few +moments, I am sure I would make you aware that there is much to +extenuate the apparent offence which I have committed to-night." + +My wife did not answer him, but turning to me said, smiling, "If he +alludes to their drinking your wine he need not apologize." + +The man looked at her with an expression as if her words had pained him. + +"Madam," he said, "if you consent to listen to my explanations and the +story of this affair, I am sure your feelings toward me would not be so +harsh." + +"Now, then," said my Aunt Martha, "if he has a story to tell he ought to +be allowed to tell it, even in a case like this. Nobody should be judged +until he has said what he thinks he ought to say. Let us hear his +story." + +I laughed. "Any statement he may make," I said, "will probably deserve a +much stronger name than stories." + +"I think that what you say is true," remarked my wife; "but still if he +has a story to tell I should like to hear it." + +I think I heard David give a little grunt; but he was too well bred to +say anything. + +"Very well," said I, "if you choose to sit up and hear him talk, it is +your affair. I shall be obliged to remain here anyway, and will not +object to anything that will help to pass away the time. But these men +must not be the only ones who are seated. David, you and Alice can clear +away that broken table and the rest of the stuff, and then we might as +well sit down and make ourselves comfortable." + +Alice, with cloth and brush, approached very timidly the scene of the +disaster; but the younger burglar, who was nearest to her, gazed upon +her with such a gentle and quiet air that she did not seem to be +frightened. When she and David had put the room in fair order, I placed +two easy-chairs for my wife and Aunt Martha at a moderate distance from +the burglars, and took another myself a little nearer to them, and then +told David to seat himself near the other end of the bench, and Alice +took a chair at a little distance from the ladies. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to the burglars, "I would like very much +to hear what any one of you can say in extenuation of having broken into +a gentleman's house by night." + +Without hesitation the tall man began his speech. He had a long and +rather lean, close-shaven face, which at present bore the expression of +an undertaker conducting a funeral. Although it was my aunt who had +shown the greatest desire to hear his story, he addressed himself to my +wife. I think he imagined that she was the more influential person of +the two. + +"Madam," said he, "I am glad of the opportunity of giving you and your +family an idea of the difficulties and miseries which beset a large +class of your fellow-beings of whom you seldom have any chance of +knowing anything at all, but of whom you hear all sorts of the most +misleading accounts. Now, I am a poor man. I have suffered the greatest +miseries that poverty can inflict. I am here, suspected of having +committed a crime. It is possible that I may be put to considerable +difficulty and expense in proving my innocence." + +"I shouldn't wonder," I interrupted. To this remark he paid no +attention. + +"Considering all this," he continued, "you may not suppose, madam, that +as a boy I was brought up most respectably and properly. My mother was a +religious woman, and my father was a boat-builder. I was sent to school, +and my mother has often told me that I was a good scholar. But she died +when I was about sixteen, and I am sure had this not happened I should +never have been even suspected of breaking the laws of my country. Not +long after her death my father appeared to lose interest in his +business, and took to rowing about the river instead of building boats +for other people to row. Very often he went out at night, and I used to +wonder why he should care to be on the water in the darkness, and +sometimes in the rain. One evening at supper he said to me: 'Thomas, you +ought to know how to row in the dark as well as in the daytime. I am +going up the river to-night, and you can come with me.' + +"It was about my ordinary bedtime when we took a boat with two pair of +oars, and we pulled up the river about three miles above the city." + +"What city?" I asked. + +"The city where I was born, sir," he said, "and the name of which I must +be excused from mentioning for reasons connected with my only surviving +parent. There were houses on the river bank, but they were not very near +each other. Some of them had lights in them, but most of them were dark, +as it must have been after eleven o'clock. Before one of them my father +stopped rowing for a moment and looked at it pretty hard. It seemed to +be all dark, but as we pulled on a little I saw a light in the back of +the house. + +"My father said nothing, but we kept on, though pulling very easy for a +mile or two, and then we turned and floated down with the tide. 'You +might as well rest, Thomas,' said he, 'for you have worked pretty hard.' + +"We floated slowly, for the tide was just beginning to turn, and when we +got near the house which I mentioned, I noticed that there was no light +in it. When we were about opposite to it father suddenly looked up and +said, not speaking very loud, 'By George! if that isn't Williamson +Green's house. I wasn't thinking of it when we rowed up, and passed it +without taking notice of it. I am sorry for that, for I wanted to see +Williamson, and now I expect he has gone to bed.' + +"'Who is Mr. Green?' I asked. + +"'He is an old friend of mine,' said my father, 'and I haven't seen him +for some little while now. About four months ago he borrowed of me a +sextant, quadrant, and chronometer. They were instruments I took from +old Captain Barney in payment of some work I did for him. I wasn't +usin' them, and Williamson had bought a catboat and was studying +navigation; but he has given up that fad now and has promised me over +and over to send me back my instruments, but he has never done it. If +I'd thought of it I would have stopped and got 'em of him; but I didn't +think, and now I expect he has gone to bed. However, I'll row in shore +and see; perhaps he's up yet.' + +"You see, ma'am," said the speaker to my wife, "I'm tellin' you all +these particulars because I am very anxious you should understand +exactly how everything happened on this night, which was the +turning-point of my life." + +"Very good," said Aunt Martha; "we want to hear all the particulars." + +"Well, then," continued the burglar, "we pulled up to a stone wall which +was at the bottom of Green's place and made fast, and father he got out +and went up to the house. After a good while he came back and said that +he was pretty sure Williamson Green had gone to bed, and as it wouldn't +do to waken people up from their sleep to ask them for nautical +instruments they had borrowed, he sat down for a minute on the top of +the wall, and then he slapped his knee, not making much noise, though. + +"'By George!' he said, 'an idea has just struck me. I can play the +prettiest trick on Williamson that ever was played on mortal man. Those +instruments are all in a box locked up, and I know just where he keeps +it. I saw it not long ago, when I went to his house to talk about a +yacht he wants built. They are on a table in the comer of his bedroom. +He was taking me through the house to show me the improvements he had +made, and he said to me:-- + +"'"Martin, there's your instruments. I won't trouble you to take them +with you, because they're heavy and you're not going straight home, but +I'll bring them to you day after to-morrow, when I shall be goin' your +way." + +"'Now, then,' said my father, 'the trick I'm thinkin' of playing on +Williamson is this: I'd like to take that box of instruments out of his +room without his knowing it and carry them home, having the boat here +convenient; and then in a day or two to write to him and tell him I must +have 'em, because I have a special use for 'em. Of course he'll be +awfully cut up, not having them to send back; and when he comes down to +my place to talk about it, and after hearing all he has to say, I'll +show him the box. He'll be the most dumbfoundedest man in this State; +and if I don't choose to tell him he'll never know to his dying day how +I got that box. And if he lies awake at night, trying to think how I got +it, it will serve him right for keeping my property from me so long.' + +"'But, father,' said I, 'if the people have gone to bed you can't get +into the house to play him your trick.' + +"'That can be managed,' says he; 'I'm rather old for climbing myself, +but I know a way by which you, Thomas, can get in easy enough. At the +back of the house is a trellis with a grape-vine running over it, and +the top of it is just under one of the second-story windows. You can +climb up that trellis, Thomas, and lift up that window-sash very +carefully, so's not to make no noise, and get in. Then you'll be in a +back room, with a door right in front of you which opens into Mr. and +Mrs. Green's bedroom. There's always a little night lamp burning in it, +by which you can see to get about. In the corner, on your right as you +go into the room, is a table with my instrument-box standing on it. The +box is pretty heavy, and there is a handle on top to carry it by. You +needn't be afraid to go in, for by this time they are both sound asleep, +and you can pick up the box and walk out as gingerly as a cat, having of +course taken your shoes off before you went in. Then you can hand the +box out the back window to me,--I can climb up high enough to reach +it,--and you can scuttle down, and we'll be off, having the best rig on +Williamson Green that I ever heard of in my born days.' + +"I was a very active boy, used to climbing and all that sort of thing, +and I had no doubt that I could easily get into the house; but I did not +fancy my father's scheme. + +"'Suppose,' I said, 'that Mr. Williamson Green should wake up and see +me; what could I say? How could I explain my situation?' + +"'You needn't say anything,' said my father. 'If he wakes up blow out +the light and scoot. If you happen to have the box in your hand drop it +out the back window and then slip down after it. He won't see us; but +if he does he cannot catch us before we get to the boat; but if he +should, however, I'll have to explain the matter to him, and the joke +will be against me; but I shall get my instruments, which is the main +point, after all.' + +"I did not argue with my father, for he was a man who hated to be +differed with, and I agreed to help him carry out his little joke. We +took off our shoes and walked quietly to the back of the house. My +father stood below, and I climbed up the trellis under the back window, +which he pointed out. The window-sash was down all but a little crack to +let in air, and I raised it so slowly and gently that I made no noise. +Then without any trouble at all I got into the room. + +"I found myself in a moderate-sized chamber, into which a faint light +came from a door opposite the window. Having been several hours out in +the night my eyes had become so accustomed to darkness that this light +was comparatively strong and I could see everything. + +"Looking about me my eyes fell on a little bedstead, on which lay one of +the most beautiful infants I ever beheld in my life. Its golden hair +lay in ringlets upon the pillow. Its eyes were closed, but its soft +cheeks had in them a rosy tinge which almost equalled the colour of its +dainty little lips, slightly opened as it softly breathed and dreamed." +At this point I saw my wife look quickly at the bedroom key she had in +her hand. I knew she was thinking of George William. + +"I stood entranced," continued the burglar, "gazing upon this babe, for +I was very fond of children; but I remembered that I must not waste +time, and stepped softly into the next room. There I beheld Mr. and Mrs. +Williamson Green in bed, both fast asleep, the gentleman breathing a +little hard. In a corner, just where my father told me I should find it, +stood the box upon the table. + +"But I could not immediately pick it up and depart. The beautiful room +in which I found myself was a revelation to me. Until that moment I had +not known that I had tastes and sympathies of a higher order than might +have been expected of the youthful son of a boat-builder. Those artistic +furnishings aroused within a love of the beautiful which I did not know +I possessed. The carpets, the walls, the pictures, the hangings in the +windows, the furniture, the ornaments,--everything, in fact, impressed +me with such a delight that I did not wish to move or go away. + +"Into my young soul there came a longing. 'Oh!' I said to myself, 'that +my parents had belonged to the same social grade as that worthy couple +reposing in that bed; and oh! that I, in my infancy, had been as +beautiful and as likely to be so carefully nurtured and cultured as that +sweet babe in the next room.' I almost heaved a sigh as I thought of the +difference between these surroundings and my own, but I checked myself; +it would not do to made a noise and spoil my father's joke. + +"There were a great many things in that luxurious apartment which it +would have delighted me to look upon and examine, but I forbore." + +"I wish I'd been there," said the stout man; "there wouldn't have been +any forbearin'." + +The speaker turned sharply upon him. + +"Don't you interrupt me again," he said angrily. Then, instantly +resuming his deferential tone, he continued the story. + +"But I had come there by the command of my parent, and this command must +be obeyed without trifling or loss of time. My father did not approve of +trifling or loss of time. I moved quietly toward the table in the +corner, on which stood my father's box. I was just about to put my hand +upon it when I heard a slight movement behind me. I gave a start and +glanced backward. It was Mr. Williamson Green turning over in his bed; +what if he should awake? His back was now toward me, and my impulse was +to fly and leave everything behind me; but my father had ordered me to +bring the box, and he expected his orders to be obeyed. I had often been +convinced of that. + +"I stood perfectly motionless for a minute or so, and when the gentleman +recommenced his regular and very audible breathing I felt it safe to +proceed with my task. Taking hold of the box I found it was much heavier +than I expected it to be; but I moved gently away with it and passed +into the back room. + +"There I could not refrain from stopping a moment by the side of the +sleeping babe, upon whose cherub-like face the light of the night lamp +dimly shone. The little child was still sleeping sweetly, and my impulse +was to stop and kiss it; but I knew that this would be wrong. The infant +might awake and utter a cry and my father's joke be spoiled. I moved to +the open window, and with some trouble, and, I think, without any noise, +I succeeded in getting out upon the trellis with the box under my arm. +The descent was awkward, but my father was a tall man, and, reaching +upward, relieved me of my burden before I got to the ground. + +"'I didn't remember it was so heavy,' he whispered, 'or I should have +given you a rope to lower it down by. If you had dropped it and spoiled +my instruments, and made a lot of noise besides, I should have been +angry enough.' + +"I was very glad my father was not angry, and following him over the +greensward we quickly reached the boat, where the box was stowed away +under the bow to keep it from injury. + +"We pushed off as quietly as possible and rowed swiftly down the river. +When we had gone about a mile I suddenly dropped my oar with an +exclamation of dismay. + +"'What's the matter?' cried my father. + +"'Oh, I have done a dreadful thing!' I said. 'Oh, father, I must go +back!' + +"I am sorry to say that at this my father swore. + +"'What do you want to go back for?' he said. + +"'Just to think of it! I have left open the window in which that +beautiful child was sleeping. If it should take cold and die from the +damp air of the river blowing upon it I should never forgive myself. Oh, +if I had only thought of climbing up the trellis again and pulling down +that sash! I am sure I could go back and do it without making the least +noise.' My father gave a grunt; but what the grunt meant I do not know, +and for a few moments he was silent, and then he said:-- + +"'Thomas, you cannot go back; the distance is too great, the tide is +against us, and it is time that you and I were both in our beds. Nothing +may happen to that baby; but, attend to my words now, if any harm should +come to that child it will go hard with you. If it should die it would +be of no use for you to talk about practical jokes. You would be held +responsible for its death. I was going to say to you that it might be as +well for you not to say anything about this little venture until I had +seen how Williamson Green took the joke. Some people get angry with very +little reason, although I hardly believe he's that sort of a man; but +now things are different. He thinks all the world of that child, which +is the only one they've got; and if you want to stay outside of jail or +the house of refuge I warn you never to say a word of where you have +been this night.' + +"With this he began to row again, and I followed his example, but with a +very heavy heart. All that night I dreamt of the little child with the +damp night winds blowing in upon it." + +"Did you ever hear if it caught cold?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"No," replied the burglar, "I never did. I mentioned the matter to my +father, and he said that he had great fears upon the subject, for +although he had written to Williamson Green, asking him to return the +instruments, he had not seen him or heard from him, and he was afraid +that the child had died or was dangerously sick. Shortly after that my +father sent me on a little trip to the Long Island coast to collect some +bills from people for whom he had done work. He gave me money to stay a +week or two at the seashore, saying that the change would do me good; +and it was while I was away on this delightful holiday that an event +occurred which had a most disastrous effect upon my future life. My +father was arrested for burglary! + +"It appeared--and I cannot tell you how shocked I was when I discovered +the truth--that the box which I had carried away did not contain +nautical instruments, but was filled with valuable plate and jewels. My +unfortunate father heard from a man who had been discharged from the +service of the family whose house he had visited--whose name, by the +way, was not Green--where the box containing the valuables mentioned was +always placed at night, and he had also received accurate information in +regard to the situation of the rooms and the best method of gaining +access to them. + +"I believe that some arrangement had been made between my father and +this discharged servant in regard to a division of the contents of the +box, and it was on account of a disagreement on this subject that the +man became very angry, and after pocketing what my father thought was +his fair share he departed to unknown regions, leaving behind a note to +the police which led to my father's arrest." + +"That was a mean trick," said Aunt Martha. + +The burglar looked at her gratefully. + +"In the lower spheres of life, madam, such things often happen. Some of +the plate and jewels were found in my father's possession, and he was +speedily tried and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. And now, +can you imagine, ladies," said the tall burglar, apparently having +become satisfied to address himself to Aunt Martha, as well as my wife, +"the wretched position in which I found myself? I was upbraided as the +son of a thief. I soon found myself without home, without occupation, +and, alas! without good reputation. I was careful not to mention my +voluntary connection with my father's crime for fear that should I do so +I might be compelled to make a statement which might increase the +severity of his punishment. For this reason I did not dare to make +inquiries concerning the child in whom I had taken such an interest, +and whose little life I had, perhaps, imperilled. I never knew, ladies, +whether that infant grew up or not. + +"But I, alas! grew up to a life of hardship and degradation. It would be +impossible for persons in your sphere of life to understand what I now +was obliged to suffer. Suitable employment I could not obtain, because I +was the son of a burglar. With a father in the State prison, it was of +no use for me to apply for employment at any respectable place of +business. I laboured at one thing and another, sometimes engaging in the +most menial employments. I also had been educated and brought up by my +dear mother for a very different career. Sometimes I managed to live +fairly well, sometimes I suffered. Always I suffered from the stigma of +my father's crime, always in the eyes of the community in which I +lived--a community, I am sorry to say, incapable, as a rule, of making +correct judgments in delicate cases like these--I was looked upon as +belonging to the ranks of the dishonest. It was a hard lot, and +sometimes almost impossible to bear up under. + +"I have spoken at length, ladies, in order that you may understand my +true position; and I wish to say that I have never felt the crushing +weight of my father's disgrace more deeply than I felt it last evening. +This man," nodding toward the stout burglar, "came to me shortly after I +had eaten my supper, which happened to be a frugal one, and said to +me:-- + +"'Thomas, I have some business to attend to to-night, in which you can +help me if you choose. I know you are a good mechanic.' + +"'If it is work that will pay me,' I answered, 'I should be very glad to +do it, for I am greatly in need of money.' + +"'It will pay,' said he; and I agreed to assist him. + +"As we were walking to the station, as the business to be attended to +was out of town, this man, whose name is James Barlow, talked to me in +such a way that I began to suspect that he intended to commit a +burglary, and openly charged him with this evil purpose. 'You may call +it burglary or anything else you please,' said he; 'property is very +unequally divided in this world, and it is my business in life to make +wrong things right as far as I can. I am going to the house of a man +who has a great deal more than he needs, and I haven't anything like as +much as I need; and so I intend to take some of his overplus,--not very +much, for when I leave his house he will still be a rich man, and I'll +be a poor one. But for a time my family will not starve.' + +"'Argue as you please, James Barlow,' I said, 'what you are going to do +is nothing less than burglary.' + +"'Of course it is,' said he; 'but it's all right, all the same. There +are a lot of people, Thomas, who are not as particular about these +things as they used to be, and there is no use for you to seem better +than your friends and acquaintances. Now, to show there are not so many +bigots as there used to be, there's a young man going to meet us at the +station who is greatly interested in the study of social problems. He is +going along with us just to look into this sort of thing and study it. +It is impossible for him to understand people of our class, or do +anything to make their condition better, if he does not thoroughly +investigate their methods of life and action. He's going along just as a +student, nothing more; and he may be down on the whole thing for all I +know. He pays me five dollars for the privilege of accompanying me, and +whether he likes it or not is his business. I want you to go along as a +mechanic, and if your conscience won't let you take any share in the +profit, I'll just pay you for your time.' + +"'James Barlow,' said I, 'I am going with you, but for a purpose far +different from that you desire. I shall keep by your side, and if I can +dissuade you from committing the crime you intend I shall do so; but if +I fail in this, and you deliberately break into a house for purposes of +robbery, I shall arouse the inmates and frustrate your crime.' Now, +James Barlow," said he, turning to the stout man with a severe +expression on his strongly marked face, "is not what I have said +perfectly true? Did you not say to me every word which I have just +repeated?" + +The stout man looked at the other in a very odd way. His face seemed to +broaden and redden, and he merely closed his eyes as he promptly +answered:-- + +"That's just what I said, every blasted word of it. You've told it fair +and square, leavin' off nothin' and puttin' in nothin'. You've told the +true facts out and out, up and down, without a break." + +"Now, ladies," continued the tall man, "you see my story is +corroborated, and I will conclude it by saying that when this house, in +spite of my protest, had been opened, I entered with the others with the +firm intention of stepping into a hallway or some other suitable place +and announcing in a loud voice that the house was about to be robbed. As +soon as I found the family aroused and my purpose accomplished, I +intended to depart as quickly as possible, for, on account of the shadow +cast upon me by my father's crime, I must never be found even in the +vicinity of criminal action. But as I was passing through this room I +could not resist the invitation of Barlow to partake of the refreshments +which we saw upon the table. I was faint from fatigue and insufficient +nourishment. It seemed a very little thing to taste a drop of wine in a +house where I was about to confer a great benefit. I yielded to the +temptation, and now I am punished. Partaking even that little which did +not belong to me, I find myself placed in my present embarrassing +position." + +"You are right there," said I, "it must be embarrassing; but before we +have any more reflections, there are some practical points about which +I wish you would inform me. How did that wicked man, Mr. Barlow I think +you called him, get into this house?" + +The tall man looked at me for a moment, as if in doubt what he should +say; and then his expression of mingled hopelessness and contrition +changed into one of earnest frankness. + +"I will tell you, sir, exactly," he said; "I have no wish to conceal +anything. I have long wanted to have an opportunity to inform occupants +of houses, especially those in the suburbs, of the insufficiency of +their window fastenings. Familiar with mechanic devices as I am, and +accustomed to think of such things, the precautions of householders +sometimes move me to laughter. Your outer doors, front and back, are of +heavy wood, chained, locked, and bolted, often double locked and bolted; +but your lower windows are closed in the first place by the lightest +kind of shutters, which are very seldom fastened at all, and in the +second place by a little contrivance connecting the two sashes, which is +held in place by a couple of baby screws. If these contrivances are of +the best kind and cannot be opened from the outside with a knife-blade +or piece of tin, the burglar puts a chisel or jimmy under the lower sash +and gently presses it upward, when the baby screws come out as easily as +if they were babies' milk-teeth. Not for a moment does the burglar +trouble himself about the front door, with its locks and chains and +bolts. He goes to the window, with its baby screws, which might as well +be left open as shut, for all the hindrance it is to his entrance; and +if he meddled with the door at all, it is simply to open it from the +inside, so that when he is ready to depart he may do so easily." + +"But all that does not apply to my windows," I said. "They are not +fastened that way." + +"No, sir," said the man, "your lower shutters are solid and strong as +your doors. This is right, for if shutters are intended to obstruct +entrance to a house they should be as strong as the doors. When James +Barlow first reached this house he tried his jimmy on one of the +shutters in this main building, but he could not open it. The heavy bolt +inside was too strong for him. Then he tried another near by with the +same result. You will find the shutters splintered at the bottom. Then +he walked to the small addition at the back of the house, where the +kitchen is located. Here the shutters were smaller, and of course the +inside bolts were smaller. Everything in harmony. Builders are so +careful now-a-days to have everything in harmony. When Barlow tried his +jimmy on one of these shutters the bolt resisted for a time, but its +harmonious proportions caused it to bend, and it was soon drawn from its +staples and the shutter opened, and of course the sash was opened as I +told you sashes are opened." + +"Well," said I, "shutters and sashes of mine shall never be opened in +that way again." + +"It was with that object that I spoke to you," said the tall man. "I +wish you to understand the faults of your fastenings, and any +information I can give you which will better enable you to protect your +house, I shall be glad to give, as a slight repayment for the injury I +may have helped to do to you in the way of broken glass and spoiled +carpet. I have made window fastenings an especial study, and, if you +employ me for the purpose, I'll guarantee that I will put your house +into a condition which will be absolutely burglar proof. If I do not do +this to your satisfaction, I will not ask to be paid a cent." + +"We will not consider that proposition now," I said, "for you may have +other engagements which would interfere with the proposed job." I was +about to say that I thought we had enough of this sort of story, when +Aunt Martha interrupted me. + +"It seems to me," she said, speaking to the tall burglar, "that you have +instincts, and perhaps convictions, of what is right and proper; but it +is plain that you allow yourself to be led and influenced by +unprincipled companions. You should avoid even the outskirts of evil. +You may not know that the proposed enterprise is a bad one, but you +should not take part in it unless you know that it is a good one. In +such cases you should be rigid." + +The man turned toward my aunt, and looked steadfastly at her, and as he +gazed his face grew sadder and sadder. + +"Rigid," he repeated; "that is hard." + +"Yes," I remarked, "that is one of the meanings of the word." + +Paying no attention to me, he continued:-- + +"Madam," said he, with a deep pathos in his voice, "no one can be +better aware than I am that I have made many mistakes in the course of +my life; but that quality on which I think I have reason to be satisfied +with myself is my rigidity when I know a thing is wrong. There occurs to +me now an instance in my career which will prove to you what I say. + +"I knew a man by the name of Spotkirk, who had invented a liniment for +the cure of boils. He made a great success with his liniment, which he +called Boilene, and at the time I speak of he was a very rich man. + +"One day Spotkirk came to me and told me he wanted me to do a piece of +business for him, for which he would pay me twenty-five dollars. I was +glad to hear this, for I was greatly in need of money, and I asked him +what it was he wanted me to do. + +"'You know Timothy Barker,' said he. 'Well, Timothy and I have had a +misunderstanding, and I want you to be a referee or umpire between us, +to set things straight.' + +"'Very good,' said I, 'and what is the point of difference?' + +"'I'll put the whole thing before you.' said he, 'for of course you +must understand it or you can't talk properly to Timothy. Now, you see, +in the manufacture of my Boilene I need a great quantity of good yellow +gravel, and Timothy Barker has got a gravel pit of that kind. Two years +ago I agreed with Timothy that he should furnish me with all the gravel +I should want for one-eighth of one per cent. of the profits on the +Boilene. We didn't sign no papers, for which I am sorry, but that was +the agreement; and now Timothy says that one-eighth of one per cent. +isn't enough. He has gone wild about it, and actually wants ten per +cent., and threatens to sue me if I don't give it to him.' + +"'Are you obliged to have gravel? Wouldn't something else do for your +purpose?' + +"'There's nothing as cheap,' said Spotkirk. 'You see I have to have lots +and lots of it. Every day I fill a great tank with the gravel and let +water onto it. This soaks through the gravel, and comes out a little +pipe in the bottom of the tank of a beautiful yellow color; sometimes it +is too dark, and then I have to thin it with more water.' + +"'Then you bottle it,' I said. + +"'Yes,' said Spotkirk; 'then there is all the expense and labour of +bottling it.' + +"'Then you put nothing more into it,' said I. + +"'What more goes into it before it's corked,' said Spotkirk, 'is my +business. That's my secret, and nobody's been able to find it out. +People have had Boilene analyzed by chemists, but they can't find out +the hidden secret of its virtue. There's one thing that everybody who +has used it does know, and that is that it is a sure cure for boils. If +applied for two or three days according to directions, and at the proper +stage, the boil is sure to disappear. As a proof of its merit I have +sold seven hundred and forty-eight thousand bottles this year.' + +"'At a dollar a bottle?' said I. + +"'That is the retail price,' said he. + +"'Now, then, Mr. Spotkirk,' said I, 'it will not be easy to convince +Timothy Barker that one-eighth of one per cent. is enough for him. I +suppose he hauls his gravel to your factory?' + +"'Hauling's got nothing to do with it,' said he; 'gravel is only ten +cents a load anywhere, and if I choose I could put my factory right in +the middle of a gravel pit. Timothy Barker has nothing to complain of. + +"'But he knows you are making a lot of money,' said I, 'and it will be a +hard job to talk him over. Mr. Spotkirk, it's worth every cent of fifty +dollars.' + +"'Now look here,' said he; 'if you get Barker to sign a paper that will +suit me, I'll give you fifty dollars. I'd rather do that than have him +bring a suit. If the matter comes up in the courts those rascally +lawyers will be trying to find out what I put into my Boilene, and that +sort of thing would be sure to hurt my business. It won't be so hard to +get a hold on Barker if you go to work the right way. You can just let +him understand that you know all about that robbery at Bonsall's +clothing-store, where he kept the stolen goods in his barn, covered up +with hay, for nearly a week. It would be a good thing for Timothy Barker +to understand that somebody else beside me knows about that business, +and if you bring it in right, it will fetch him around, sure.' + +"I kept quiet for a minute or two, and then I said:-- + +"'Mr. Spotkirk, this is an important business. I can't touch it under a +hundred dollars.' He looked hard at me, and then he said:-- + +"'Do it right, and a hundred dollars is yours.' + +"After that I went to see Timothy Barker, and had a talk with him. +Timothy was boiling over, and considered himself the worst-cheated man +in the world. He had only lately found out how Spotkirk made his +Boilene, and what a big sale he had for it, and he was determined to +have more of the profits. + +"'Just look at it!' he shouted; 'when Spotkirk has washed out my gravel +it's worth more than it was before, and he sells it for twenty-five +cents a load to put on gentlemen's places. Even out of that he makes a +hundred and fifty per cent. profit.' + +"I talked a good deal more with Timothy Barker, and found out a good +many things about Spotkirk's dealings with him, and then in an off-hand +manner I mentioned the matter of the stolen goods in his barn, just as +if I had known all about it from the very first. At this Timothy stopped +shouting, and became as meek as a mouse. He said nobody was as sorry as +he was when he found the goods concealed in his barn had been stolen, +and that if he had known it before the thieves took them away he should +have informed the authorities; and then he went on to tell me how he got +so poor and so hard up by giving his whole time to digging and hauling +gravel for Spotkirk, and neglecting his little farm, that he did not +know what was going to become of him and his family if he couldn't make +better terms with Spotkirk for the future, and he asked me very +earnestly to help him in this business if I could. + +"Now, then, I set myself to work to consider this business. Here was a +rich man oppressing a poor one, and here was this rich man offering me +one hundred dollars--which in my eyes was a regular fortune--to help him +get things so fixed that he could keep on oppressing the poor one. Now, +then, here was a chance for me to show my principles. Here was a chance +for me to show myself what you, madam, call rigid; and rigid I was. I +just set that dazzling one hundred dollars aside, much as I wanted it. +Much as I actually needed it, I wouldn't look at it, or think of it. I +just said to myself, 'If you can do any good in this matter, do it for +the poor man;' and I did do it for Timothy Barker with his poor wife and +seven children, only two of them old enough to help him in the gravel +pit. I went to Spotkirk and I talked to him, and I let him see that if +Timothy Barker showed up the Boilene business, as he threatened to do, +it would be a bad day for the Spotkirk family. He tried hard to talk me +over to his side, but I was rigid, madam, I was rigid, and the business +ended in my getting seven per cent. of the profits of Boilene for that +poor man, Timothy Barker, and his large family; and their domestic +prosperity is entirely due--I say it without hesitation--to my efforts +on their behalf, and to my rigidity in standing up for the poor against +the rich." + +"Of course," I here remarked, "you don't care to mention anything about +the money you squeezed out of Timothy Barker by means of your knowledge +that he had been a receiver of stolen goods, and I suppose the Boilene +man gave you something to get the percentage brought down from ten per +cent. to seven." + +The tall burglar turned and looked at me with an air of saddened +resignation. + +"Of course," said he, "it is of no use for a man in my position to +endeavour to set himself right in the eyes of one who is prejudiced +against him. My hope is that those present who are not prejudiced will +give my statements the consideration they deserve." + +"Which they certainly will do," I continued. Turning to my wife and Aunt +Martha, "As you have heard this fine story, I think it is time for you +to retire." + +"I do not wish to retire," promptly returned Aunt Martha. "I was never +more awake in my life, and couldn't go asleep if I tried. What we have +heard may or may not be true, but it furnishes subjects for +reflection--serious reflection. I wish very much to hear what that man +in the middle of the bench has to say for himself; I am sure he has a +story." + +"Yes, ma'am," said the stout man, with animation, "I've got one, and I'd +like nothin' better than to tell it to you if you'll give me a little +somethin' to wet my lips with--a little beer, or whiskey and water, or +anything you have convenient." + +"Whiskey and water!" said Aunt Martha with severity. "I should think +not. It seems to me you have had all the intoxicating liquors in this +house that you would want." + +"But I don't think you're the kind of person who'd doctor the liquor. +This is the first gentleman's house where I ever found anything of that +kind." + +"The worse for the gentleman," I remarked. The man grunted. + +"Well, ma'am," he said, "call it anything you please--milk, cider, or, +if you have nothin' else, I'll take water. I can't talk without +somethin' soaky." + +My wife rose. "If we are to listen to another story," she said, "I want +something to keep up my strength. I shall go into the dining-room and +make some tea, and Aunt Martha can give these men some of that if she +likes." + +The ladies now left the room, followed by Alice. Presently they called +me, and, leaving the burglars in charge of the vigilant David, I went to +them. I found them making tea. + +"I have been upstairs to see if George William is all right, and now I +want you to tell me what you think of that man's story," said my wife. + +"I don't think it a story at all," said I. "I call it a lie. A story is +a relation which purports to be fiction, no matter how much like truth +it may be, and is intended to be received as fiction. A lie is a false +statement made with the intention to deceive, and that is what I believe +we have heard to-night." + +"I agree with you exactly," said my wife. + +"It may be," said Aunt Martha, "that the man's story is true. There are +some things about it which make me think so; but if he is really a +criminal he must have had trials and temptations which led him into his +present mode of life. We should consider that." + +"I have been studying him," I said, "and I think he is a born rascal, +who ought to have been hung long ago." + +My aunt looked at me. "John," she said, "if you believe people are born +criminals, they ought to be executed in their infancy. It could be done +painlessly by electricity, and society would be the gainer, although you +lawyers would be the losers. But I do not believe in your doctrine. If +the children of the poor were properly brought up and educated, fewer of +them would grow to be criminals." + +"I don't think this man suffered for want of education," said my wife; +"he used very good language; that was one of the first things that led +me to suspect him. It is not likely that sons of boat-builders speak so +correctly and express themselves so well." + +"Of course, I cannot alter your opinions," said Aunt Martha, "but the +story interested me, and I very much wish to hear what that other man +has to say for himself." + +"Very well," said I, "you shall hear it; but I must drink my tea and go +back to the prisoners." + +"And I," said Aunt Martha, "will take some tea to them. They may be bad +men, but they must not suffer." + +I had been in the library but a few moments when Aunt Martha entered, +followed by Alice, who bore a tray containing three very large cups of +tea and some biscuit. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to me, "if you will untie their hands, I +will give them some tea." + +At these words each burglar turned his eyes on me with a quick glance. I +laughed. + +"Hardly," said I. "I would not be willing to undertake the task of +tying them up again, unless, indeed, they will consent to drink some +more of my wine." + +"Which we won't do," said the middle burglar, "and that's flat." + +"Then they must drink this tea with their hands tied," said Aunt Martha, +in a tone of reproachful resignation, and, taking a cup from the tray, +she approached the stout man and held it up to his lips. At this act of +extreme kindness we were all amused, even the burglar's companions +smiled, and David so far forgot himself as to burst into a laugh, which, +however, he quickly checked. The stout burglar, however, saw nothing to +laugh at. He drank the tea, and never drew breath until the cup was +emptied. + +"I forgot," said my aunt, as she removed the cup from his lips, "to ask +you whether you took much or little sugar." + +"Don't make no difference to me," answered the man; "tea isn't malt +liquor; it's poor stuff any way, and it doesn't matter to me whether +it's got sugar in it or not, but it's moistenin', and that's what I +want. Now, madam, I'll just say to you, if ever I break into a room +where you're sleepin', I'll see that you don't come to no harm, even if +you sit up in bed and holler." + +"Thank you," said Aunt Martha; "but I hope you will never again be +concerned in that sort of business." + +He grinned. "That depends on circumstances," said he. + +Aunt Martha now offered the tall man some tea, but he thanked her very +respectfully, and declined. The young man also said that he did not care +for tea, but that if the maid--looking at Alice--would give him a glass +of water he would be obliged. This was the first time he had spoken. His +voice was low and of a pleasing tone. David's face grew dark, and we +could see that he objected to this service from Alice. + +"I will give him the water myself," said Aunt Martha. This she did, and +I noticed that the man's thirst was very soon satisfied. When David had +been refreshed, and biscuits refused by the burglars, who could not very +well eat them with their hands tied, we all sat down, and the stout man +began his story. I give it as he told it, omitting some coarse and rough +expressions, and a good deal of slang which would be unintelligible to +the general reader. + +"There's no use," said the burglar, "for me to try and make any of you +believe that I'm a pious gentleman under a cloud, for I know I don't +look like it, and wouldn't be likely to make out a case." + +At this the tall man looked at him very severely. + +"I don't mean to say," he continued, "that my friend here tried anything +like that. Every word he said was perfectly true, as I could personally +testify if I was called upon the stand, and what I'm goin' to tell you +is likewise solid fact. + +"My father was a cracksman, and a first-rate one, too; he brought me up +to the business, beginning when I was very small. I don't remember +havin' any mother, so I'll leave her out. My old man was very +particular; he liked to see things done right. One day I was with him, +and we saw a tinner nailing a new leader or tin water-spout to the side +of a house. + +"'Look here, young man,' says Dad, 'you're makin' a pretty poor job of +that. You don't put in enough nails, and they ain't half drove in. +Supposin' there was a fire in that house some night, and the family had +to come down by the spout, and your nails would give way, and they'd +break their necks. What would you think then? And I can tell you what it +is, young man, I can appear ag'in you for doing poor work.' + +"The tinner grumbled, but he used more nails and drove 'em tight, Dad +and me standin' by, an' looking at him. One rainy night not long after +this Dad took me out with him and we stopped in front of this house. +'Now, Bobbie,' said he, 'I want you to climb into that open second-story +window, and then slip down stairs and open the front door for me; the +family's at dinner.' + +"'How am I to get up, Dad?' said I. + +"'Oh, you can go up the spout,' says he; 'I'll warrant that it will hold +you. I've seen to it that it was put on good and strong.' + +"I tried it, and as far as I can remember I never went up a safer +spout." + +"And you opened the front door?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"Indeed I did, ma'am," said the burglar, "you wouldn't catch me makin' +no mistakes in that line. + +"After a while I got too heavy to climb spouts, and I took to the +regular business, and did well at it, too." + +"Do you mean to say," asked Aunt Martha, "that you willingly and +premeditatedly became a thief and midnight robber?" + +"That's what I am, ma'am," said he; "I don't make no bones about it. I'm +a number one, double-extra, back-springed, copper-fastened burglar, with +all the attachments and noiseless treadle. That's what I am, and no +mistake. There's all kinds of businesses in this world, and there's got +to be people to work at every one of 'em; and when a fellow takes any +particular line, his business is to do it well; that's my motto. When I +break into a house I make it a point to clean it out first-class, and +not to carry away no trash, nuther. Of course, I've had my ups and my +downs, like other people,--preachers and doctors and storekeepers,--they +all have them, and I guess the downs are more amusin' than the ups, at +least to outsiders. I've just happened to think of one of them, and I'll +let you have it. + +"There was a man I knew named Jerry Hammond, that was a contractor, and +sometimes he had pretty big jobs on hand, buildin' or road-makin' or +somethin' or other. He'd contract to do anything, would Jerry, no matter +whether he'd ever done it before or not. I got to know his times and +seasons for collecting money, and I laid for him." + +"Abominable meanness!" exclaimed my wife. + +"It's all business," said the stout man, quite unabashed. "You don't +catch a doctor refusin' to practise on a friend, or a lawyer, nuther, +and in our line of business it's the same thing. It was about the end of +October, nigh four years ago, that I found out that Jerry had a lot of +money on hand. He'd been collectin' it from different parties, and had +got home too late in the day to put it in the bank, so says I to myself, +this is your time, old fellow, and you'd better make hay while the sun +shines. I was a little afraid to crack Jerry's house by myself, for he's +a strong old fellow, so I got a man named Putty Henderson to go along +with me. Putty was a big fellow and very handy with a jimmy; but he was +awful contrary-minded, and he wouldn't agree to clean out Jerry until I +promised to go halves with him. This wasn't fair, for it wasn't his job, +and a quarter would have been lots for him. + +"But there wasn't no use arguin', and along we went, and about one +o'clock we was standin' alongside Jerry's bed, where he was fast asleep. +He was a bachelor, and lived pretty much by himself. I give him a punch +to waken him up, for we'd made up our minds that that was the way to +work this job. It wouldn't pay us to go around huntin' for Jerry's +money. He was such a sharp old fellow, it was six to four we'd never +find it. He sat up in bed with a jump like a hop-toad, and looked first +at one and then at the other of us. We both had masks on, and it wasn't +puzzlin' to guess what we was there fur. + +"'Jerry Hammond,' says I, speakin' rather rough and husky, 'we knows +that you've got a lot o' money in this house, and we've come fur it. We +mean business, and there's no use foolin'. You can give it to us quiet +and easy, and keep a whole head on your shoulders, or we'll lay you out +ready fur a wake and help ourselves to the funds; and now you pays your +money and you can take your choice how you do it. There's nothin' +shabby about us, but we mean business. Don't we, pard?'--'That's so,' +says Putty. + +"'Look here,' says Jerry, jest as cool as if he had been sittin' outside +on his own curbstone, 'I know you two men and no mistake. You're Tommy +Randall, and you're Putty Henderson, so you might as well take off them +masks.'--'Which I am glad to do,' says I, 'for I hate 'em,' and I put +mine in my pocket, and Putty he took off his." + +"Excuse me," said Aunt Martha, interrupting at this point, "but when Mr. +Hammond mentioned the name of Tommy Randall, to whom did he refer?" + +"I can explain that, madam," said the tall burglar, quickly. "This man +by his criminal course of life has got himself into a good many scrapes, +and is frequently obliged to change his name. Since I accidentally +became acquainted with him he has had several aliases, and I think that +he very often forgets that his real name is James Barlow." + +"That's so," said the stout man, "there never was a more correct person +than this industrious and unfortunate man sittin' by me. I am dreadful +forgetful, and sometimes I disremember what belongs to me and what +don't. Names the same as other things. + +"'Well, now, Jerry,' says I, 'you needn't think you're goin' to make +anythin' by knowin' us. You've got to fork over your cash all the same, +and if you think to make anything by peachin' on us after we've cleared +out and left you peaceful in your bed, you're mistook so far as I'm +concerned; for I've made the track clear to get out of this town before +daybreak, and I don't know when I'll come back. This place is gettin' a +little too hot for me, and you're my concludin' exercise.' Jerry he sat +still for a minute, considerin.' He wasn't no fool, and he knowed that +there wasn't no use gettin' scared, nor cussin', nor hollerin'. What's +more, he knowed that we was there to get his money, and if he didn't +fork it over he'd get himself laid out, and that was worse than losin' +money any day. 'Now, boys, says he, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll +make you an offer; a fair and square offer. What money I've got I'll +divide even with you, each of us takin' a third, and I'll try to make up +what I lose out of my next contract. Now nothin' could be no squarer +than that.'--'How much money have you got, Jerry?' says I, 'that's the +first thing to know.'--'I've got thirty-one hundred dollars even,' says +he, 'and that will be one thousand and thirty-three dollars and +thirty-three cents apiece. I've got bills to pay to-morrow for lumber +and bricks, and my third will pay 'em. If I don't I'll go to pieces. You +don't want to see me break up business, do you?'--'Now, Jerry,' says I, +'that won't do. You haven't got enough to divide into three parts. Putty +and me agree to go halves with what we get out of you, and when I lay +out a piece of business I don't make no changes. Half of that money is +for me, and half is for Putty. So just hand it out, and don't let's have +no more jabberin'.' + +"Jerry he looked at me pretty hard, and then says he: 'You're about the +close-fisted and meanest man I ever met with. Here I offer you a third +part of my money, and all you've got to do is to take it and go away +peaceable. I'd be willin' to bet two to one that it's more than you +expected to get, and yet you are not satisfied; now, I'll be hanged if +I'm going to do business with you.'--'You can be hanged if you like,' +says I, 'but you'll do the business all the same.'--'No, I won't,' says +he, and he turns to Putty Henderson. 'Now, Putty,' says he, 'you've got +a pile more sense that this pal of yourn, and I'm goin' to see if I +can't do business with you. Now, you and me together can lick this Tommy +Randall just as easy as not, and if you'll help me do it I'll not only +divide the money with you, but I'll give you fifty dollars extra, so +that instead of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars--that's all he'd given +you, if he didn't cheat you--you'll have sixteen hundred, and I'll have +fifteen hundred instead of the thousand and thirty-three dollars which I +would have had left if my first offer had been took. So, Putty, what do +you say to that?' Now, Putty, he must have been a little sore with me on +account of the arguments we'd had about dividin', and he was mighty glad +besides to get the chance of makin' fifty dollars extry, and so he said +it was all right, and he'd agree. Then I thought it was about time for +me to take in some of my sail, and says I: 'Jerry, that's a pretty good +joke, and you can take my hat as soon as I get a new one, but of course +I don't mean to be hard on you, and if you really have bills to pay +to-morrow I'll take a third, and Putty'll take another, and we'll go +away peaceful.'--'No, you won't,' sings out Jerry, and with that he +jumps out of bed right at me, and Putty Henderson he comes at me from +the other side, and, between the two, they gave me the worst lickin' I +ever got in my born days, and then they dragged me down stairs and +kicked me out the front door, and I had hardly time to pick myself up +before I saw a policeman about a block off, and if he hadn't been a fat +one he'd had me sure. It wouldn't have been pleasant, for I was a good +deal wanted about that time. + +"So you see, ladies and gents, that it's true what I said,--things don't +always go right in our line of business no more than any other one." + +"I think you were served exactly right," said Aunt Martha; "and I wonder +such an experience did not induce you to reform." + +"It did, ma'am, it did," said the burglar. "I made a vow that night that +if ever again I had to call in any one to help me in business of that +kind I wouldn't go pards with him. I'd pay him so much for the job, and +I'd take the risks, and I've stuck to it. + +"But even that don't always work. Luck sometimes goes ag'in' a man, +even when he's working by himself. I remember a thing of that kind that +was beastly hard on me. A gentleman employed me to steal his daughter." + +"What!" exclaimed my wife and Aunt Martha. "Steal his own daughter! What +do you mean by that?" + +"That's what it was," said the stout burglar; "no more nor less. I was +recommended to the gent as a reliable party for that sort of thing, and +I met him to talk it over, and then he told me just how the case stood. +He and his wife were separated, and the daughter, about eleven years +old, had been given to her by the court, and she put it into a boardin' +school, and the gent he was goin' to Europe, and he wanted to get the +little gal and take her with him. He tried to get her once, but it +slipped up, and so there wasn't no good in his showin' hisself at the +school any more, which was in the country, and he knowed that if he +expected to get the gal he'd have to hire a professional to attend to +it. + +"Now, when I heard what he had to say, I put on the strictly pious, and, +says I, 'that's a pretty bad thing you're askin' me to do, sir, to +carry away a little gal from its lovin' mother, and more 'an that, to +take it from a school where it's gettin' all the benefits of +eddication.'--'Eddication,' says he; 'that's all stuff. What eddication +the gal gets at a school like that isn't worth a row of pins, and when +they go away they don't know nothin' useful, nor even anything tip-top +ornamental. All they've learned is the pianer and higher mathematics. As +for anythin' useful, they're nowhere. There isn't one of them could +bound New Jersey or tell you when Washington crossed the +Delaware.'--'That may be, sir,' says I, 'but them higher branches comes +useful. If Washington really did cross the Delaware, your little gal +could ask somebody when it was, but she couldn't ask 'em how the pianer +was played, nor what the whole multiplication table came to added up. +Them things she'd have to learn how to do for herself. I give you my +word, sir, I couldn't take a little gal from a school, where she was +gettin' a number one eddication, silver forks and towels extry.' The +gent looked pretty glum, for he was to sail the next day, and if I +didn't do the job for him he didn't know who would, and he said that he +was sorry to see that I was goin' back on him after the recommend I'd +had, and I said that I wouldn't go back on him if it wasn't for my +conscience. I was ready to do any common piece of business, but this +stealin' away little gals from lovin' mothers was a leetle too much for +me. 'Well,' says he, 'there ain't no time to be lost, and how much more +will satisfy your conscience?' When I said a hundred dollars, we struck +the bargain. + +"Well, we cut and dried that business pretty straight. I took a cab and +went out to the school, and the gent he got the key of a house that was +to let about three miles from the school, and he was to stay there and +look at that empty house until I brought him the gal, when he was to pay +me and take her away. I'd like to have had more time, so that I could go +out and see how the land laid, but there wasn't no more time, and I had +to do the best I could. The gent told me they all went a walkin' every +afternoon, and that if I laid low that would be the best time to get +her, and I must just fetch her along, no matter who hollered. + +"I didn't know exactly how I was going to manage it, but I took along +with me a big bag that was made for the conveyance of an extinct +millionaire, but which had never been used, owin' to beforehand +arrangements which had been made with the party's family. + +"I left the cab behind a bit of woods, not far from the school, and then +I laid low, and pretty soon I seed 'em all coming out, in a double line, +with the teacher behind 'em, for a walk. I had a description of the +little gal as was wanted, and as they come nearer I made her out easy. +She was the only real light-haired one in the lot. I hid behind some +bushes in the side of the road, and when they come up, and the +light-haired little gal was just opposite to me, I jumped out of the +bushes and made a dash at her. Whoop! what a row there was in one +second! Such a screamin' and screechin' of gals, such a pilin' on top +each other, and the teacher on top the whole of 'em, bangin' with her +umbrella; they pulled at the gal and they pulled at me, an' they yelled +and they howled, and I never was in such a row and hope I never shall be +again, and I grabbed that girl by her frock, and I tumbled some over one +way and some another, and I got the umbrella over my head, but I didn't +mind it, and I clapped that bag over the little gal, and I jerked, up +her feet and let her slip into it, and then I took her up like a bag of +meal, and put across the field, with the whole kit and boodle after me. +But I guess most of 'em must have tumbled down in hysterics, judgin' +from the screechin', and I got up to the cab and away we went. Well, +when we got to the house where I was to meet the gent, he began straight +off to blow at me. 'What do you mean,' he yelled, 'bringin' my daughter +in a bag?'--'It's the only way to do it, sir,' says I; 'they can't +holler and they can't kick, and people passin' by don't know what you've +got,' and so sayin' I untied the strings, put the little gal on her +feet, and pulled off the bag, and then I'd be hanged if I ever saw a man +so ragin' mad as he was. 'What do I want with that gal?' he cried; +'that's not my daughter. That girl's hair is as black as a coal, and +she's a Jew besides.' As soon as I sot my eyes on the little varmint it +come over me that I got the thing crooked, and in the scrimmage I let go +of the right gal and grabbed another. + +"I don't see how a man could help makin' mistakes with that +school-teacher's umbrella whanging away at his knowledge box, but I +wasn't goin' to let on. 'She ain't no Jew, nuther,' says I, 'and she's +your daughter, too; you needn't try to play no tricks on me. Pay me my +money and take her away as quick as you can, that's my advice, or before +you know it you'll be nabbed.'--'Pay ye!' he yelled; 'do you think I'd +pay you anything for that little Jew?'--'She's just as much a Christian +as you are,' says I. 'Ain't you a Christian, little gal? and is'nt this +gentleman your father? and ain't you surprised that he wants to give you +back to be put in the bag?' I said this hopin' she'd have sense enough +to say he was her father so's to get rid of me. + +"The wretched gal had been clean dumbfounded when she was took out of +the bag, and hadn't done nothin' so far but blubber and cry, and try to +get away, which she couldn't, because I held her frock; but now she ups +and screams he wasn't her father, and she'd never seen him before, and +then he storms and swears, and tells me to take her back where I got +her, and I tell him I'll see him hanged first, and what I want is my +money; she screams, and he swears he'll not pay me a cent, and I squares +off and says that I'll thrash him out of his skin, and then he calls in +his coachman, and they both make at me, and I backs out the door to get +my cabby to stand by me, and I found that he'd cut out, havin' most +likely got frightened, afraid of bein' mixed up in trouble. Then I seed +on the high road, some half a mile away, some men comin' gallopin', and +the gent he looked out and seed 'em, too, and then says he to me, +'You'll jist take that little Jew gal back where you got her from; she's +no use to me; I'm goin';' and at that I hollered for my money, and made +a grab at him, but the coachman he tripped me over backward, and before +I could git up again they was both off with the horses on a run. + +"I was so mad I couldn't speak, but there wasn't no time for foolin', +and I hadn't made up my mind which door I should cut out of, when the +fellows on horseback went ridin' past as hard as they could go. They +must have seed the carriage drivin' away, and thought for sure it had +the gal in it, and they was after it, lickety-split. + +"When they was clean gone I looked round for the little gal, but +couldn't see her, but all a-sudden she came out of the fireplace, where +she'd been hidin'. She'd got over her cryin', and over her scare, too, +judgin' from her looks. 'I'm glad he's gone,' says she, 'and I'm mighty +glad, too, that Mr. Haskins and them other men didn't see me.'--'Who's +they?' says I.--'They's neighbors,' says she;' if they knew I was here +they'd took me back.'--'Well, you little minx,' say I, 'isn't that what +you want?'--'No,' says she. 'I didn't want to go with that man, for I +don't know him, and I hate him, but I don't want to go back to that +school. I hate it worse than anything in the whole world. You haven't no +idea what a horrid place it is. They just work you to death, and don't +give you half enough to eat. My constitution won't stand it. I've told +Pop that, and he thinks so too, but Marm, she don't believe in it, and +my stayin' there is all her doin'. I've been wantin' to get away for +ever so long, but I didn't want to be took off in a bag; but now that +I'm out of that horrid hole I don't want to go back, and if you'll take +me home to Pop, I know he won't let me go back, and he'll pay you real +handsome besides.'--'Who's your Pop?' says I.--'He's Mr. Groppeltacker, +of Groppeltacker & Mintz, corset findings, seven hundred and something +or other, I forget the number now, Broadway. Oh, Pop does a lot of +business, I tell you, and he's got lots of money. He sends corset +findings to South America, and Paris, and Chicago, and Madagascar, and +the uttermost parts of the earth. I've heard him say that often, and you +needn't be afraid of his not bein' able to pay you. A lot more than that +man would have paid you for his little gal, if you'd catched the right +one. So if you take me to Pop, and get me there safe and sound, it will +be an awful good speck for you.' + +"Now, I begins to think to myself that perhaps there was somethin' in +what that little Jew gal was sayin', and that I might make something out +of the gal after all. I didn't count on gettin' a big pile out of old +Groppeltacker,--it wasn't likely he was that kind of a man,--but +whatever I did get would be clean profit, and I might as well try it on. +He couldn't make no charge ag'in me fur bringin' him his daughter, if +she asked me to do it; so says I to her, 'Now, if I take you home to +your Pop, will you promise on your word an' honour, that you won't say +nothin' about my carryin' you off in a bag, and say that you seed me +walkin' along the road and liked my looks, and told me you were +sufferin', and asked me to take you home to your kind parents, where you +might be took proper care of; and that I said I wasn't goin' that way, +but I'd do it out of pure Christian charity, and nothin' more nor less, +and here you was? And then, of course, you can tell him he ought to do +the handsome thing by me.'--'I'll do that,' says she, 'and I tell how +you talked to me awful kind for more than an hour, tryin' to keep me to +stay at the school, and it wasn't till I got down on my knees and weeped +that you agreed to take me to my kind father.'--'All right,' says I, 'I +might as well take you along, but we'll have to go back by the railroad +and foot it, at least two miles, to the station, and I don't know about +walkin' across the country with a little girl dressed as fine as you +are. I might get myself suspicioned.'--'That's so,' says she; 'we might +meet somebody that'd know me,' and then she wriggled up her little +forehead and began to think. I never did see such a little gal as sharp +as that one was; needles was nothin' to her. In about a minute she says, +'Where's that bag of yourn?'--'Here it is,' says I; and then she took it +and looked at it up and down, with her head cocked on one side. 'If I'd +somethin' to cut that bag with,' says she, 'I could fix myself up so +that nobody'd know me, don't care who it was.'--'I don't want that bag +cut,' says I; 'it's an extry good bag; it was made for a particular +purpose, and cost money.'--'Pop will pay expenses,' says she; 'how much +did it cost?'--'It was four dollars cash,' said I.--'They cheated you +like everything,' says she; 'you could get a bag like that any day for a +dollar and seventy-five cents. Will you let it go at that?'--'All +right,' says I, for I was tickled to see how sharp that little Jew gal +was, and ten to one I'd throwed away the bag before we got to town; so +she pulled a little book out of her pocket with a pencil stuck in it, +and turnin' over to a blank page she put down, 'Bag, one dollar and +seventy-five;' then she borrows my big knife, and holdin' the top of the +bag up ag'in her belt, she made me stick a pin in it about a +hand's-breadth from the floor; then she took the knife and cut the bag +clean across, me a-holdin' one side of it; then she took the top end of +that bag and slipped it on her, over her head and shoulders, and tied +the drawin' strings in it round her waist, and it hung around her just +like a skirt, nearly touchin' the ground; then she split open the rest +of the bag, and made a kind of shawl out of it, puttin' it into shape +with a lot o' pins, and pinnin' it on herself real clever. She had lots +of pins in her belt, and she told me that she never passed a pin in that +school without pickin' it up, and that she had four hundred and +fifty-nine of them now in her room, which she was mighty sorry to leave +behind, and that these she had now was this day's pickin' up. + +"When she got done workin' at herself you couldn't see not a ribbon nor +a hem of her fine clothes; it was all black skirt and shawl, and she'd +put up her sleeve, so that when her arm stuck out it was bare. Then she +took all the ribbons and flowers off her hat, and crumpled it up, and +when she tied it on what a guy she was. 'Now,' says she, 'I can go +barefoot.'--'Which you won't,' says I, 'for you'll get your feet all +cut, but you can muddy your shoes,' which she did, I pumpin' on 'em, so +that the dust in the back yard would stick. Then we starts off across +the country, and, upon my word, I was pretty nigh ashamed to be seen +walkin' with such a little scarecrow. When I bought the tickets at the +station she asked me how much they was, and put it down in her book. +When we got into the cars the people all looked hard at her, and I +reckon they thought some kind of a home had been burnt down, and this +was one of the orphans that had been saved. But they didn't say nothin', +and she fixed herself as comfortable as you please; and before long a +boy came through the car with fruit in a basket, and then says she to +me, 'I want two apples.' The boy had gone past us, but I got up and +followed him and bought her two apples. 'How much did you give for +them?' says she, when I come back.--'They was two for five cents,' says +I.--'Well,' says she, 'they do stick you dreadful. Two for three cents +is all papa or I pays for apples like them,' and she took out her little +book and put down, 'Apples, three cents.'--'Very well, miss,' says I, +'but if you want any more refreshments you buy 'em yourself.'--'I think +I'd better,' says she, and she went to work eatin' them two apples. She +hadn't more than got through with 'em when the boy came around ag'in. 'I +want a banana,' says she; 'lend me five cents,' which I did, and she put +down, 'Cash, five cents.' Then the boy come up, and says she, 'How much +are your bananas?'--'Five cents,' said he.--'For two?' says she.--'No,' +says he, 'for one.'--'What do you take me for?' says she. 'I've bought +bananas before. I'll give you three cents for that one,' pointin' to the +biggest in the lot.--'I can't do that,' said the boy; 'the price is five +cents.'--'I'd like a banana,' says she, 'but I don't pay more'n three +cents; take it or leave it,' and with that the boy went on. 'Now,' says +I, 'you've gouged yourself out of a banana.'--'Not a bit of it,' says +she; 'he'll be back;' and in two minutes he was back, and said she might +have it for three cents. 'Have you got two coppers?' said she. 'Let me +see 'em.' He said he had, and showed 'em to her, and she took 'em and +the banana, and then give him five cents, and then she didn't give the +change to me, but put it in her pocket. 'Now,' says she, 'if you'd buy +things that way, you'd be rich in time.' + +"When we got to the city we took the elevated and went up town to +Forty-eighth street, and then walked over to her father's house. It was +a big one, on one of the cross streets. When we got there, she told me +to wait a minute, and, lookin' around to see that nobody was comin', she +slipped off the skirt and the cape she had made and rolled 'em up in a +bundle. 'It don't matter about my hat and shoes,' says she, 'but they +wouldn't know me in such duds.' Then, handin' me the bundle, she said, +'For twenty-five cents you can get that bag mended just as good as new, +so you can take it, and it will save us a dollar and a half.'--'No, you +don't,' says I, for I'd had enough of her stinginess. 'I don't touch +that bag ag'in, and I made up my mind that minute to charge the old man +five dollars' worth. When the front door was opened, the servant gal +looked as if she couldn't believe her eyes, but my young woman was as +cool as you please, and she had me showed into a room off the hall, and +then she went up-stairs. + +"I sat a-waitin' a long time, which gave me a good chance to look around +at things. The room was real handsome, and I took a peep at the window +fastenin's and the lay of the doors, thinkin' the knowledge might come +in handy some time. Right in front of me on a table was a little yellow +mouse, and it struck me as I looked at it that that must be gold. I +listened if anybody was comin', and then I picked it up to see if it +really was. I thought I heard the door-bell ring just then, and shut it +up in my hand quick, but nobody went to the door; and then I looked at +the little mouse, and if it wasn't pure gold it was the best imitation +ever I see, so I slipped it quietly in my pocket to look at it ag'in +when I had time. + +"Pretty soon old Groppeltacker come in, shut the door, and sot down. 'So +you brought my daughter back,' says he.--'Yes,' says I.--'And you expect +to be paid for it,' says he.--'Yes,' says I, 'I do.'--'How much do you +ask for your services?' says he. Now, this was a sort of a staggerer, +for I hadn't made up my mind how much I was goin' to ask; but there +wasn't time for no more thinkin' about it, and so says I, plum, 'A +hundred dollars, and there was some expenses besides.'--'Well, well,' +says he, 'that seems like a good deal, just for bringin' a little gal +from school. It couldn't have took you more'n a couple of hours.'--'I +don't charge for time,' says I, 'it's for the risks and the science of +the thing. There's mighty few men in this town could have brought your +daughter home as neat as I did.'--'Well, well,' says he, rubbin' his +hands, 'I expect I'll have to pay for the whole term of the school, +whether she's there or not, and the business will come heavy on me. +Don't you think sixty dollars would pay you?' Now, I know when you deal +with this sort of a man there's always a good deal of difference +splittin'; and so, says I, 'No, it won't. I might take ninety dollars, +but that's the very lowest peg.'--'The very lowest?' says he, gettin' up +and walkin' about a little; and then I thought I heard the door-bell +ring again, and I was dreadful afraid somebody would come and call off +the old man before he finished the bargain. 'Well,' says I, 'we'll call +it eighty-five and expenses, and there I'll stop.' + +"Groppeltacker, now he set down ag'in and looked hard at me. 'I didn't +ask you to bring my daughter back,' says he, speakin' gruff, and very +different from the way he spoke before, 'and what's more, I didn't want +her back, and what's more yet, I'm not goin' to pay you a red +cent.'--'Now, look a-here,' says I, mighty sharp, 'none o' that, old +man; fork over the money or I'll lay you out stiff as a poker, and help +myself. I'm not a fellow to be fooled with, and there's nobody in this +house can stop me.' Old Groppeltacker, he didn't turn a hair, but just +sot there, and says he, 'Before you blow any more, suppose you take my +little gold mouse out of your pocket and hand it to me.' I must say I +was took back at this, but I spoke back, as bold as brass, and said I +never seed his gold mouse. 'O, ho!' says he, 'what you didn't see was +the electric button under the table cover which rung a bell when the +mouse was picked up. That's what I call my mouse-trap.' + +"At this I jist b'iled over. 'Now,' says I, 'just you hand out every +cent you've got, and your watch, too; not another word.' And I jumped up +and clapped my hand on my pistol in my hip-pocket, and just at that +minute there was a click and the nippers were on me, and there was a big +policeman with his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't speak, I was so +b'ilin' and so dumbfounded both at once. Old Groppeltacker he just +leaned back and he laughed. 'You came in,' he said to the cop,'jest the +second I rang, and as soft as a cat, and the first thing that I want +you to do is to take that gold mouse out of his pocket, and I'll be on +hand whenever you let me know I'm wanted.' The cop he took the gold +mouse out of my pocket, and says he, 'I know this fellow, and if I'm not +mistook, they'll be more charges than yourn made ag'in him.' There +wasn't no chance to show fight, so I didn't do it, but I says to old +Groppeltacker, 'There's my expenses, you've got to pay them, +anyway.'--'All right,' says he, 'jist you send in your bill marked +correct, by my daughter, and I'll settle it,' and he laughed again, and +the cop he took me off. Well, ladies and gents, that little piece of +business, together with some other old scores, took me to Sing Sing for +three years, and it tain't six months since I got out, so you can see +for yourselves what hard times a fellow in my line of business sometimes +has." + +"Well," said Aunt Martha, "I don't approve of the Groppeltacker sort of +people, but if there were more of that kind I believe there would be +fewer of your kind. That story shows you in such a bad light that I +believe it's true." + +"Every word of it," said the man. "I wish it wasn't." + +And now I spoke. "Since you claim to be a truth-telling being," I said +to the stout burglar, "suppose you tell me why you never attempted +before to break into my house. Every considerable dwelling in this +neighbourhood has been entered, and I have no doubt you are the men who +committed all the burglaries." + +"No, sir," said he; "not men, I am the man who did 'em all; but these +two friends of mine was never with me before in a bit of business like +this. 'Tain't in their line. I have had pals with me, but they was +professionals. These ain't cracksmen, they don't know nothin' about it; +but this one is handy at tools, and that's the reason I brung him along, +but you see he kicked, and was goin' to give me away, and this young +gentleman"-- + +"Never mind about that young gentleman," I said; "I have a certain +curiosity to know why my house was not entered when the others were." + +"Well," said he, "I don't mind tellin' yer how that was. It was on +account of your baby. We don't like to crack a house where there's a +pretty small baby that's liable to wake up and howl any minute, and +rouse up the rest of the family. There's no workin' in a house with +comfort when there's such a young one about. I'll tell you what it is, +all your burglar-alarms and your dogs ain't worth nuthin' alongside of a +baby for guardin' a house. If a cracksman ain't careful the alarms will +go off, and if he don't know how to manage dogs, the dogs will bark. But +by George, sir, there ain't no providin' ag'in a baby. He'll howl any +time, and nobody can tell when, so I waited till your baby was a little +more settled in its ways and slept soundly, and then we come along, and +here we are." + +This statement very much surprised me, and did not elate me. Without +saying so to any one, I had flattered myself that the burglars had heard +of my precautions, and of my excellent stock of firearms, and perhaps +had got a notion that I would be an intrepid man to deal with, and it +was somewhat humiliating to find that it was our baby the burglars were +afraid of, and not myself. My wife was amazed. + +"Can it be possible," she said, "that these people know so much about +our baby, and that George William has been protecting this house?" + +"It makes my flesh creep," said Aunt Martha. "Do you know everything +about all of us?" + +"Wish I did, ma'am," said the stout burglar; "wish I'd known about that +beastly liquor." + +"Well, we've had enough of this," said I, rising; "and, my dear, you and +Aunt Martha must be ready to go to bed, and David and I will keep guard +over these fellows until morning." + +At this instant the youngest burglar spoke. His face wore a very anxious +expression. + +"May I ask, sir," he said, "what you intend to do with me in the +morning?" + +"I have already said," I answered, "that I shall then hand over all of +you to the officers of justice of this country." + +"But, sir," said the young man, "you will surely except me. I am not at +all concerned in this matter, and it would be of the greatest possible +injury to me to be mixed up in it, or to be mentioned in public reports +as an associate of a criminal. I'm not acquainted with the gentleman at +the other end of the bench, but I have every reason to believe from what +he said to me that he intended to notify you if this James Barlow +proceeded to any open act. For myself, I beg you will allow me to state +who and what I am, and to tell you by what a strange concatenation of +circumstances I happen to find myself in my present position--one which, +I assure you, causes me the greatest embarrassment and anxiety." + +"We've had enough story-telling for one night," said I, "and you had +better reserve your statement for the magistrate." + +Here Aunt Martha put in her voice. + +"That is not fair," she said, "two of them have been allowed to speak, +and this one has just as much right to be heard as the others. What do +you say, Cornelia?" + +I hoped that my wife would put herself on my side, and would say that we +had enough of this sort of thing; but female curiosity is an unknown +quantity, and she unhesitatingly replied that she would like to hear the +young man's story. I sat down in despair. It was useless to endeavour to +withstand this yearning for personal information,--one of the curses, I +may say, of our present civilization. The young man gave no time for +change of opinion, but immediately began. His voice was rich and rather +low, and his manner exceedingly pleasing and gentle. + +"I wish to state in the first place," said he, "that I am a reporter +for the press. In the exercise of my vocation I have frequently found +myself in peculiar and unpleasant positions, but never before have I +been in a situation so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this. In the +course of my studies and experiences I have found that in literature and +journalism, as well as in art, one can make a true picture only of what +one has seen. Imagination is all very well, often grand and beautiful; +but imaginative authors show us their inner selves and not our outer +world; there is to-day a demand for the real, and it is a demand which +will be satisfied with nothing but the truth. I have determined, as far +as in me lies, to endeavour to supply this demand, and I have devoted +myself to the study of Realism. + +"With this end in view, I have made it a rule never to describe anything +I have not personally seen and examined. If we would thoroughly +understand and appreciate our fellow-beings we must know what they do +and how they do it; otherwise we cannot give them credit for their +virtues, or judge them properly for their faults. If I could prevent +crime I would annihilate it, and when it ceased to exist the necessity +for describing it would also cease. But it does exist. It is a powerful +element in the life of the human race. Being known and acknowledged +everywhere, it should be understood; therefore it should be described. +The grand reality of which we are a part can never be truly comprehended +until we comprehend all its parts. But I will not philosophize. I have +devoted myself to Realism, and in order to be a conscientious student I +study it in all its branches. I am frequently called upon to write +accounts of burglars and burglaries, and in order thoroughly to +understand these people and their method of action I determined, as soon +as the opportunity should offer itself, to accompany a burglarious +expedition. My sole object was the acquisition of knowledge of the +subject,--knowledge which to me would be valuable, and, I may say, +essential. I engaged this man, James Barlow, to take me with him the +first time he should have on hand an affair of this kind, and thus it is +that you find me here to-night in this company. As I came here for the +purpose of earnest and thorough investigation, I will frankly admit that +I would not have interfered with his processes, but at the same time I +would have seen that no material injuries should result to any members +of this family." + +"That was very kind of you," I said, at which my wife looked at me +somewhat reproachingly. + +"If he really intended it," she remarked, "and I do not see why that was +not the case, it was kind in him." + +"As for me," said Aunt Martha, very sympathetically, "I think that the +study of Realism may be carried a great deal too far. I do not think +that there is the slightest necessity for people to know anything about +burglars. If people keep talking and reading about diseases they will +get them, and if they keep talking and reading about crimes they will +find that iniquity is catching, the same as some other things. Besides, +this realistic description gets to be very tiresome. If you really want +to be a writer, young man, why don't you try your hand on some original +composition? Then you might write something which would be interesting." + +"Ah, madam," said the young man, casting his eyes on the floor, "it +would be far beyond my power to write anything more wonderful than what +I have known and seen! If I may tell you some of the things which have +happened to me, you will understand why I have become convinced that in +this world of realities imagination must always take a second place." + +"Of course we want to hear your story," said Aunt Martha; "that is what +we are here for." + +"If I was unbound," said the young man, looking at me, "I could speak +more freely." + +"No doubt of it," said I; "but perhaps you might run away before you +finished your story. I wouldn't have that happen for the world." + +"Don't make fun of him," said Aunt Martha. "I was going to ask you to +cut him loose, but after what you say I think it would perhaps be just +as well to keep them all tied until the narratives are completed." + +With a sigh of resignation the young man began his story. + +"I am American born, but my father, who was a civil engineer and of high +rank in his profession, was obliged, when I was quite a small boy, to go +to Austria, where he had made extensive contracts for the building of +railroads. In that country I spent the greater part of my boyhood and +youth. There I was educated in the best schools, my father sparing no +money to have me taught everything that a gentleman should know. My +mother died when I was a mere infant, and as my father's vocation made +it necessary for him to travel a great deal, my life was often a lonely +one. For society I depended entirely upon my fellow-scholars, my tutors, +and masters. It was my father's intention, however, that when I had +finished my studies I should go to one of the great capitals, there to +mix with the world. + +"But when this period arrived I was in no haste to avail myself of the +advantages he offered me. My tastes were studious, my disposition +contemplative, and I was a lover of rural life. + +"My father had leased an old castle in Carinthia, not far from the +mountains, and here he kept his books and charts, and here he came for +recreation and study whenever his arduous duties gave him a little +breathing-spell. For several months I had lived at this castle, happy +when my father was with me and happy when I was alone. I expected soon +to go to Vienna, where my father would introduce me to some of his +influential friends. But day by day I postponed the journey. + +"Walking one morning a few miles from the castle, I saw at the edge of a +piece of woodland a female figure seated beneath a tree. Approaching +nearer, I perceived that she was young, and that she was sketching. I +was surprised, for I knew that in this part of the world young women, at +least those of the upper classes, to which the costume and tastes of +this one showed her to belong, were not allowed to wander about the +country by themselves; but although I stood still and watched the young +lady for some time, no companion appeared upon the scene. + +"The path I had intended to take led past the piece of woodland, and I +saw no reason why I should diverge from my proposed course. I +accordingly proceeded, and when I reached the young lady I bowed and +raised my hat. I think that for some time she had perceived my approach, +and she looked up at me with a face that was half merry, half +inquisitive, and perfectly charming. I cannot describe the effect which +her expression had upon me. I had never seen her before, but her look +was not such a one as she would bestow upon a stranger. I had the most +powerful desire to stop and speak to her, but having no right to do so, +I should have passed on, had she not said to me, in the best of English, +'Good-morning, sir.' Then I stopped, you may be sure. I was so +accustomed to speak to those I meet in either French or German that I +involuntarily said to her,'_Bon jour, Mademoiselle_.'--'You need not +speak French,' she said; 'I am neither English nor American, but I speak +English. Are you the gentleman who lives in Wulrick Castle? If so, we +are neighbours, and I wish you would tell me why you live there all the +time alone.' + +"At this I sat down by her. 'I am that person,' I said, and handed her +my card. 'But before I say any more, please tell me who you are.'--'I am +Marie Dorfler. My father's house is on the other side of this piece of +woodland; you cannot see it from here; this is part of his estate. And +now tell me why you live all by yourself in that old ruin.'--'It is not +altogether a ruin,' I answered; 'part of it is in very good condition.' +And then I proceeded to give her an account of my method of life and my +reasons for it. 'It is interesting,' she said, 'but it is very odd.'--'I +do not think it half so odd,' I answered, 'as that you should be here by +yourself.'--'That is truly an out-of-the-way sort of thing,' she said; +'but just now I am doing out-of-the-way things. If I do not do them now, +I shall never have the opportunity again. In two weeks I shall be +married, and then I shall go to Prague, and everything will be by line +and rule. No more delightful rambles by myself. No more sitting quietly +in the woods watching the little birds and hares. No more making a +sketch just where I please, no matter whether the ground be damp or +not.'--'I wonder that you are allowed to do these things now,' I +said.--'I am not allowed,' she answered. 'I do them in hours when I am +supposed to be painting flower pieces in an upper room.'--'But when +you're married,' I said, 'your husband will be your companion in such +rambles.'--'Hardly,' she said, shrugging her shoulders; 'he will be +forty-seven on the thirteenth of next month, which I believe is July, +and he is a great deal more grizzled than my father, who is past fifty. +He is very particular about all sorts of things, as I suppose he has to +be, as he is a Colonel of infantry. Nobody could possibly disapprove of +my present performances more than he would.' I could not help +ejaculating, 'Why, then, do you marry him?' She smiled at my +earnestness. 'Oh, that is all arranged,' she said, 'and I have nothing +to do with it. I have known for more than a year that I'm to marry +Colonel Kaldhein, but I cannot say that I have given myself much concern +about it until recently. It now occurs to me that if I expect to amuse +myself in the way I best like I must lose no time doing so.' I looked at +the girl with earnest interest. 'It appears to me,' said I, 'that your +ways of amusing yourself are very much like mine.'--'That is true,' she +said, looking up with animation, 'they are. Is it not delightful to be +free, to go where you like, and do what you please, without any one to +advise or interfere with you?'--'It is delightful,' said I; and for half +an hour we sat and talked about these delights and kindred subjects. She +was much interested in our castle, and urged me to make a sketch of it, +so that she may know what it now looked like. She had seen it when a +little girl, but never since, and had been afraid to wander very far in +this direction by herself. I told her that it would be far better for +her to see the castle with her own eyes, and that I could conduct her to +an eminence, not half a mile away, where she could have an excellent +view of it. This plan greatly pleased her; but looking at her watch she +said that it would be too late for her to go that morning, but if I +happened to come that way the next day, and she should be there to +finish her sketch, she would be delighted to have me show her the +eminence." + +"I think," interrupted Aunt Martha, "that she was a very imprudent young +woman." + +"That may be," he replied, "but you must remember, madam, that up to +this time the young lady had been subjected to the most conventional +trammels, and that her young nature had just burst out into temporary +freedom and true life. It was the caged bird's flight into the bright +summer air." + +"Just the kind of birds," said Aunt Martha, "that shouldn't be allowed +to fly, at least until they are used to it. But you can go on with your +story." + +"Well," said the young man, "the next day we met I took her to the +piece of high ground I had mentioned, and she sketched the castle. After +that we met again and again, nearly every day. This sort of story tells +itself. I became madly in love with her, and I am sure she liked me very +well; at all events I was a companion of her own age and tastes, and +such a one, she assured me, she had never known before, and probably +would never know again." + +"There was some excuse for her," said Aunt Martha; "but still she had no +right to act in that way, especially as she was so soon to be married." + +"I do not think that she reasoned much upon the subject," said the young +man, "and I am sure I did not. We made no plans. Every day we thought +only of what we were doing or saying, and not at all what we had done or +would do. We were very happy. + +"One morning I was sitting by Marie in the very place where I had first +met her, when we heard some one rapidly approaching. Looking up I saw a +tall man in military uniform. 'Heavens!' cried Marie, 'it is Colonel +Kaldhein.' + +"The situation was one of which an expectant bridegroom would not be +likely to ask many questions. Marie was seated on a low stone with her +drawing-block in her lap. She was finishing the sketch on which she was +engaged when I first saw her, and I was kneeling close to her, looking +over her work and making various suggestions, and I think my countenance +must have indicated that I found it very pleasant to make suggestions in +that way to such a pretty girl. Our heads were very close together. +Sometimes we looked at the paper, sometimes we looked at each other. But +in the instant I caught sight of the Colonel the situation had changed. +I rose to my feet, and Marie began to pick up the drawing materials, +which were lying about her. + +"Colonel Kaldhein came forward almost at a run. His eyes blazed through +his gold spectacles, and his close-cut reddish beard seemed to be +singeing with the fires of rage. I had but an instant for observation, +for he came directly up to me, and with a tremendous objurgation he +struck me full in the face with such force that the blow stretched me +upon the ground. + +"I was almost stunned; but I heard a scream from Marie, a storm of +angry words from Kaldhein, and I felt sure he was about to inflict +further injury. He was a much stronger man than I was, and probably was +armed. With a sudden instinct of self-preservation I rolled down a +little declivity on the edge of which I had fallen, and staggering to my +feet, plunged into a thicket and fled. Even had I been in the full +possession of my senses, I knew that under the circumstances I would +have been of no benefit to Marie had I remained upon the scene. The last +thing I heard was a shout from Kaldhein, in which he declared that he +would kill me yet. For some days I did not go out of my castle. My face +was bruised, my soul was dejected. I knew there was no possible chance +that I should meet Marie, and that there was a chance that I might meet +the angry Colonel. An altercation at this time would be very annoying +and painful to the lady, no matter what the result, and I considered it +my duty to do everything that was possible to avoid a meeting with +Kaldhein. Therefore, as I have said, I shut myself up within the walls +of old Wulrick, and gave strict orders to my servants to admit no one. + +"It was at this time that the strangest events of my life occurred. +Sitting in an upper room, gazing out of the window, over the fields, +through which I had walked so happily but two days before to meet the +lady whom I had begun to think of as my Marie, I felt the head of a dog +laid gently in my lap. Without turning my head I caressed the animal, +and stroked the long hair on his neck. + +"My hound Ajax was a dear companion to me in this old castle, although I +never took him in my walks, as he was apt to get into mischief, and when +I turned my head to look at him he was gone; but strange to say, the +hand which had been stroking the dog felt as if it were still resting on +his neck. + +"Quickly drawing my hand toward me it struck the head of the dog, and, +moving it backward and forward, I felt the ears and nose of the animal, +and then became conscious that its head was still resting upon my knee. + +"I started back. Had I been stricken with blindness? But no; turning my +head, I could plainly see everything in the room. The scene from the +window was as distinct as it ever had been. I sprang to my feet, and, +as I stood wondering what this strange thing could mean, the dog brushed +up against me and licked my hand. Then the idea suddenly flashed into my +mind that by some occult influence Ajax had been rendered invisible. + +"I dashed down-stairs, and although I could neither see nor hear it, I +felt that the dog was following me. Rushing into the open air, I saw one +of my men. 'Where is Ajax?' I cried. 'A very strange thing has happened, +sir,' he said, 'and I should have come to tell you of it, had I not been +unwilling to disturb your studies. About two hours ago Ajax was lying +here in the courtyard; suddenly he sprang to his feet with a savage +growl. His hair stood straight upon his back, his tail was stiff, and +his lips were drawn back, showing his great teeth. I turned to see what +had enraged him, but there was absolutely nothing, sir,--nothing in the +world. And never did I see Ajax so angry. But this lasted only for an +instant. Ajax suddenly backed, his tail dropped between his legs, his +head hung down, and with a dreadful howl he turned, and, leaping the +wall of the courtyard, he disappeared. I have since been watching for +his return. The gate is open, and as soon as he enters I shall chain +him, for I fear the dog is mad.' + +"I did not dare to utter the thoughts that were in my mind, but, bidding +the man inform me the moment Ajax returned, I reëntered the castle and +sat down in the great hall. + +"The dog was beside me; his head again lay upon my knees. With a feeling +of awe, yet strangely enough without fear, I carefully passed my hand +over the animal's head. I felt his ears, his nose, his jaws, and his +neck. They were not the head, the ears, the nose, the jaws, or the neck +of Ajax! + +"I had heard of animals, and even human beings, who were totally +invisible, but who still retained their form, their palpability, and all +the powers and functions of life. I had heard of houses haunted by +invisible animals; I had read De Kay's story of the maiden Manmat'ha, +whose coming her lover perceived by the parting of the tall grain in the +field of ripe wheat through which she passed, but whose form, although +it might be folded in his arms, was yet as invisible to his sight as the +summer air. I did not doubt for a moment that the animal that had come +to me was one of those strange beings. I lifted his head; it was heavy. +I took hold of a paw which he readily gave me; he had every attribute of +a real dog, except that he could not be seen." + +"I call that perfectly horrible," said Aunt Martha with a sort of a +gasp. + +"Perhaps," said the young man, "you would prefer that I should not +continue." + +At this both my wife and Aunt Martha declared that he must go on, and +even I did not object to hearing the rest of the story. + +"Well," said the young man, "Ajax never came back. It is generally +believed that dogs can see things which are invisible to us, and I am +afraid that my faithful hound was frightened, perhaps to death, when he +found that the animal whose entrance into the courtyard he had perceived +was a supernatural thing. + +"But if I needed a canine companion I had one, for by day or night this +invisible dog never left me. When I slept he lay on the floor by the +side of my bed; if I put down my hand I could always feel his head, and +often he would stand up and press his nose against me, as if to assure +me that he was there. This strange companionship continued for several +days, and I became really attached to the invisible animal. His constant +companionship seemed to indicate that he had come to guard me, and that +he was determined to do it thoroughly. I felt so much confidence in his +protection, although I knew not how it could be exerted, that one +morning I decided to take a walk, and with my hand on the head of the +dog, to make sure that he was with me, I strolled into the open country. + +"I had walked about a mile, and was approaching a group of large trees, +when suddenly from behind one of them the tall figure of a man appeared. +In an instant I knew it to be Colonel Kaldhein; his was a face which +could not easily be forgotten. Without a word he raised a pistol which +he held in his hand and fired at me. The ball whistled over my head. + +"I stopped short, startled, and frightened almost out of my senses. I +was unarmed, and had no place of refuge. It was plain that the man was +determined to kill me. + +"Quickly recocking his pistol, Kaldhein raised it again. I involuntarily +shrank back, expecting death; but before he could fire his arm suddenly +dropped, and the pistol was discharged into the ground. Then began a +strange scene. The man shouted, kicked, and beat up and down with his +arms; his pistol fell from his hand, he sprang from side to side, he +turned around, he struggled and yelled. + +"I stood astounded. For an instant I supposed the man had been overtaken +by some sort of fit; but in a flash the truth came to me,--Kaldhein was +being attacked by my protector, the invisible dog. + +"Horrified by this conviction, my first impulse was to save the man; +and, without knowing what I was going to do, I stepped quickly toward +him, but stumbling over something I did not see I fell sprawling. Before +I could regain my feet I saw Kaldhein fall backward to the ground, where +a scene took place, so terrible that I shall not attempt to describe it. +When, with trembling steps, I approached, the man was dead. The +invisible dog had almost torn him to pieces. + +"I could do nothing. I did not remain upon the spot another minute, but +hurried home to the castle. As I rapidly walked on I felt the dog beside +me, and, putting my hand upon him, I felt that he was panting terribly. +For three days I did not leave the house. + +"About the end of this time I was sitting in an upper room of the +castle, reflecting upon the recent dreadful event, when the thought +struck me that the invisible dog, who was by my side, apparently asleep, +must be of an unusually powerful build to overcome so easily such a +strong man as Kaldhein. I felt a desire to know how large the creature +really was, and, as I had never touched any portion of his body back of +his shoulders, I now passed my hand along his back. I was amazed at his +length, and when I had moved my hand at least seven feet from his head +it still rested upon his body. And then the form of that body began to +change in a manner which terrified me; but impelled by a horrible but +irresistible curiosity, my hand moved on. + +"But I no longer touched the body of a dog; the form beneath my hand was +cylindrical, apparently about a foot in diameter. As my hand moved on +the diameter diminished, and the skin of the creature became cold and +clammy. I was feeling the body of a snake! + +"I now had reached the open door of the room. The body of the snake +extended through it. It went on to the top of the stairs; these I began +to descend, my heart beating fast with terror, my face blanched, I am +sure, but my hand still moving along the body of the awful creature. I +had studied zoology, giving a good deal of attention to reptiles, and I +knew that, judged by the ordinary ratio of diminution of the bodies of +serpents, this one must extend a long distance down the stairs. + +"But I had not descended more than a dozen steps before I felt a shiver +beneath my hand, and then a jerk, and the next moment the snake's body +was violently drawn upward. I withdrew my hand and started to one side, +and then, how, I know not, I became aware that the dog part of the +creature was coming downstairs. + +"I now became possessed by a wild terror. The creature must be furious +that I had discovered his real form. He had always been careful to keep +his head toward me. I should be torn to pieces as Kaldhein had been! +Down the stairs I dashed, across the courtyard, and toward a lofty old +tower, which stood in one corner of the castle. I ran up the winding +stairs of this with a speed which belongs only to a frantically +terrified creature, until I reached the fourth story, where I dashed +through an open doorway, slammed behind me an iron door, which shut with +a spring, and fell gasping upon the floor. + +"In less than a minute I was aware, by a slight rattling of the +grate-hinges, that something was pushing against the door; but I did not +move. I knew that I was safe. The room in which I lay was a prison +dungeon, and in it, in the olden times, it is said, men had been left to +perish. Escape or communication with the outer world was impossible. A +little light and air came through a narrow slit in the wall, and the +door could not be forced. + +"I knew that the invisible dog, or whatever it was, could not get in +unless the door was open. I had frequently noticed that when he entered +a room it was through an open door, and I sometimes knew of his approach +by seeing an unlatched door open without visible cause; so, feeling +secure for the present, I lay and gasped and panted. + +"After the lapse of a few hours, however, I was seized by a new terror. +How was I ever to get out of this horrible dungeon? Even if I made up my +mind to face the dog, trusting that he had recovered from his momentary +anger, I had no means of opening the door, and as to making any one hear +me I knew that was impossible. + +"I had no hope that my servants would seek me here. I had not seen any +one when I ran into the tower, and if they should discover that I was in +this dungeon, how could they open the door? The key was in my father's +possession. He had taken it to Vienna to exhibit it as a curiosity to +some of his mechanical friends. He believed that there was not such +another key in the world. I was in the habit of making long absences +from the castle, and if I should be looked for I believed that the tower +would be the last place visited. + +"Night came on; the little light in the room vanished, and, hungry, +thirsty, and almost hopeless, I fell asleep. + +"During the night there was a most dreadful storm. The thunder roared, +the lightning flashed through the slit in the wall, and the wind blew +with such terrific violence that the tower shook and trembled. After a +time I heard a tremendous crash as of falling walls, and then another, +and now I felt the wind blowing into my prison. + +"There was no further sleep for me. Trembling with a fearful +apprehension of what might happen next, I cowered against the wall until +the day broke, and then I perceived that in front of me was a great hole +in the wall of the dungeon, which extended for more than a yard above +the floor. I sat and gazed at this until the light became stronger, and +then I cautiously approached the aperture and looked out. Nearly the +whole of the castle lay in ruins before me! + +"It was easy to see what had happened. The storm had demolished the +crumbling walls of the old building, and the tower, itself frail and +tottering, stood alone, high above the prostrate ruins. If the winds +should again arise it must fall, and at any moment its shaken +foundations might give way beneath it. + +"Through the hole in the wall, which had been caused by the tearing away +of some of the connection between the tower and main building, I could +look down on the ground below, covered with masses of jagged stone; but +there was no way in which I could get down. I could not descend that +perpendicular wall. If I leaped out, death would be certain. + +"As I crouched at the opening I felt the head of a dog pushed against +me. A spasm of terror ran through me, but the moment the creature began +to lick my hands I knew that I had nothing to fear from him. Instantly +my courage returned. I felt that he was my protector. I patted his head +and he renewed his caresses. + +"Passing my hand over him, I found he was holding himself in his present +position by means of his forelegs, which were stretched out upon the +floor. What a dog this must be, who could climb a wall! But I gave no +time to conjectures of this sort. How could I avail myself of his +assistance? In what manner could he enable me to escape from that +dangerous tower? + +"Suddenly a thought came to me. I remembered the snake part of him. +Judging from the ratio of diminution, which I have mentioned before, +that part, if hanging down, must reach nearly, if not quite, to the +ground. By taking advantage of this means of descent I might be saved, +but the feat would require dexterity and an immense amount of faith. +This serpent-like portion of the animal was invisible. How could I know +how long it was! + +"But there was no time for consideration; the wind had again arisen, and +was blowing with fury. The tower shook beneath me; at any moment it +might fall. If I should again escape from death, through the assistance +of my invisible friend, I must avail myself of that assistance +instantly. + +"I stopped and felt the animal. He still hung by part of his body and by +his forelegs to the floor of the dungeon, and by reaching out I could +feel that the rest of him extended downward. I therefore seized his body +in my arms, threw myself out of the aperture, and began to slide down. + +"In a very short time I found that I had reached the snake portion of +the creature, and, throwing my arms and legs around it, I endeavoured +with all my strength to prevent a too rapid descent; but in spite of all +my efforts, my downward progress was faster than I would have wished it +to be. But there was no stopping; I must slip down. + +"In these moments of rapid descent my mind was filled with wild anxiety +concerning the serpent-like form to which I was clinging. I remembered +in a flash that there were snakes whose caudal extremity dwindled away +suddenly into a point. This one might do so, and at any instant I might +come to the end of the tail and drop upon the jagged stones below. + +"Calculation after calculation of the ratio of diminution flashed +through my mind during that awful descent. My whole soul was centred +upon one point. When would this support end? When would I drop? + +"Fortunately I was on the leeward side of the tower, and I was not swung +about by the wind. Steadily I descended, and steadily the diameter of +the form I grasped diminished; soon I could grasp it in my hand; then +with a terrified glance I looked below. I was still at a sickening +distance from the ground. I shut my eyes. I slipped down, down, down. +The tail became like a thick rope which I encircled with each hand. It +became thinner and thinner. It grew so small that I could not hold it; +but as I felt it slip from my fingers my feet rested on a pile of +stones. + +"Bewildered and almost exhausted, I stumbled over the ruins, gained the +unencumbered ground, and ran as far from the tower as I could, sinking +down at last against the trunk of a tree in a neighbouring field. +Scarcely had I reached this spot when the fury of the wind-storm +appeared to redouble, and before the wild and shrieking blast the tower +bent and then fell with a crash upon the other ruins. + +"The first thought that came into my mind when I beheld the dreadful +spectacle concerned the creature who had twice saved my life. Had he +escaped, or was he crushed beneath that mass of stone? I felt on either +side to discover if he were near me, but he was not. Had he given his +life for mine? + +"Had I been stronger I would have searched for him; I would have +clambered among the ruins to see if I could discover his mangled form. +If I could but reach his faithful head I would stroke and caress it, +living or dead. But excitement, fatigue, and want of food had made me so +weak that I could do nothing but sit upon the ground with my back +against the tree. + +"While thus resting I perceived that the whole of the tower had not +been demolished by the storm. Some of the rooms in which we had lived, +having been built at a later date than the rest of the great edifice, +had resisted the power of the wind and were still standing. + +"From the direction of the uninjured portion of the castle I now saw +approaching a light-coloured object, which seemed to be floating in the +air about a foot from the ground. As it came nearer I saw that it was a +basket, and I immediately understood the situation. My faithful friend +was alive, and was bringing me some refreshments. + +"On came the basket, rising and falling with the bounds of the dog. It +was truly an odd spectacle, but a very welcome one. In a few moments the +basket was deposited at my side, and I was caressing the head of the +faithful dog. In the basket I found a bottle of wine and some bread and +meat, which the good creature had doubtless discovered in the kitchen of +the castle, and it was not long before I was myself again. The storm had +now almost passed away, and I arose and went to my own rooms, my friend +and protector still keeping close to my side. + +"On the morning of the next day, as I sat wondering what had happened +to my servants, and whether my father had been apprised of the disaster +to the castle, I felt something pulling at the skirt of my coat. I put +out my hand and found that it was the invisible dog. Imagining that he +wished me to follow him, I arose, and, obeying the impulse given me by +his gentle strain upon my coat, I followed him out of the door, across +the courtyard, and into the open country. We went on for a considerable +distance. A gentle touch of my coat admonished me when I turned from the +direction in which it was desired that I should go. + +"After a walk of about half an hour I approached a great oak-tree, with +low, wide-spreading branches. Some one was sitting beneath it. Imagining +the truth, I rushed forward. It was Marie! + +"It was needless for us to say anything, to explain the state of our +feelings toward each other. That tale was told by the delight with which +we met. When I asked her how she came to be there, she told me that +about an hour before, while sitting in front of her father's mansion, +she had felt something gently pulling at her skirts; and, although at +first frightened, she was at length impelled to obey the impulse, and, +without knowing whether it was the wind or some supernatural force which +had led her here, she had come. + +"We had a great deal to say to each other. She told me that she had been +longing to send me a message to warn me that Colonel Kaldhein would +certainly kill me the next time he saw me; but she had no means of +sending me such a message, for the Colonel had had her actions closely +watched. + +"When the news came of Kaldhein's death she at first feared that I had +killed him, and would therefore be obliged to fly the country; but when +it was known that he had been almost torn to pieces by wild beasts, she, +like every one else, was utterly amazed, and could not understand the +matter at all. None but the most ferocious creatures could have +inflicted the injuries of which the man had died, and where those +creatures came from no one knew. Some people thought that a pack of +blood-hounds might have broken loose from some of the estates of the +surrounding country, and, in the course of their wild journeyings, might +have met with the Colonel, and fallen upon him. Others surmised that a +bear had come down from the mountains; but the fact was that nobody knew +anything about it. + +"I did not attempt to acquaint Marie with the truth. At that moment the +invisible dog was lying at my side, and I feared if I mentioned his +existence to Marie she might fly in terror. To me there was only one +important phase of the affair, and that was that Marie was now free, +that she might be mine. + +"Before we parted we were affianced lovers, pledged to marry as soon as +possible. I wrote to my father, asking for his permission to wed the +lady. But in his reply he utterly forbade any such marriage. Marie also +discovered that her parents would not permit a union with a foreigner, +and would indeed oppose her marriage with any one at this time. + +"However, as usual, love triumphed, and after surmounting many +difficulties we were married and fled to America. Since that time I have +been obliged to support myself and my wife, for my father will give me +no assistance. He had proposed a very different career for me, and was +extremely angry when he found his plans had been completely destroyed. +But we are hopeful, we work hard, and hope that we may yet be able to +support ourselves comfortably without aid from any one. We are young, we +are strong, we trust each other, and have a firm faith in our success. + +"I had only one regret in leaving Europe, and that was that my faithful +friend, the noble and devoted invisible dog, was obliged to remain on +the other side of the Atlantic. Why this was so I do not know, but +perhaps it was for the best. I never told my wife of his existence, and +if she had accidentally discovered it, I know not what might have been +the effects upon her nervous system. + +"The dog accompanied me through Austria, Switzerland, and France to +Havre, from which port we sailed. I took leave of him on the gang-plank. +He licked my hands, and I caressed and stroked him. People might have +thought that my actions denoted insanity, but every one was so greatly +occupied in these last moments before departure, that perhaps I was not +noticed. Just as I left him and hastened on board, a sailor fell +overboard from the gang-plank. He was quickly rescued, but could not +imagine why he had fallen. I believe, however, that he was tripped up by +the snake part of my friend as he convulsively rushed away." + +The young man ceased, and gazed pensively upon the floor. + +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Martha, "if those are the sort of +experiences you had, I don't wonder that Realism was wonderful enough +for you. The invisible creature was very good to you, I am sure, but I +am glad it did not come with you to America." + +David, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, now interrupted +further comments by stating that it was daylight, and if I thought well +of it, he would open the window-shutters, so that we might see any one +going toward the town. A milkman, he said, passed the house very early +every morning. When the shutters were opened we were all amazed that the +night should have passed so quickly. + +The tall burglar and the young man now began to exhibit a good deal of +anxiety. + +"I should like very much to know," said the former, "what you intend to +do in regard to us. It cannot be that you think of placing that young +gentleman and myself in the hands of the law. Of course, this man," +pointing to the stout burglar, "cannot expect anything but a just +punishment of his crimes; but after what we have told you, you must +certainly be convinced that our connection with the affair is entirely +blameless, and should be considered as a piece of very bad luck." + +"That," said I, "is a matter which will receive all the consideration it +needs." + +At this moment David announced the milkman. Counselling my man to keep +strict guard over the prisoners, I went out to the road, stopped the +milkman, and gave him a message which I was certain would insure the +prompt arrival at my house of sufficient force to take safe charge of +the burglars. Excited with the importance of the commission, he whipped +up his horse and dashed away. + +When I returned to the house I besought my wife and Aunt Martha to go to +bed, that they might yet get some hours of sleep; but both refused. They +did not feel in the least like sleep, and there was a subject on which +they wished to consult with me in the dining-room. + +"Now," said Aunt Martha, when the door had been closed, "these men have +freely told us their stories; whether they are entirely true or not, +must, of course, be a matter of opinion; but they have laid their cases +before us, and we should not place them all in the hands of the officers +of the law without giving them due consideration, and arriving at a +decision which shall be satisfactory to ourselves." + +"Let us take them in order," said I. "What do you think of the tall +man's case?" + +"I think he is a thief and manufacturer of falsehoods," said my wife +promptly. + +"I am afraid," said Aunt Martha, "that he is not altogether innocent; +but there is one thing greatly in his favour,--when he told of the +feelings which overcame him when he saw that little child sleeping +peacefully in its bed in the house which he had unintentionally robbed, +I felt there must be good points in that man's nature. What do you think +of him?" + +"I think he is worst of the lot," I answered, "and as there are now two +votes against him, he must go to the lock-up. And now what of the stout +fellow?" I asked. + +"Oh, he is a burglar by his own confession," said my wife; "there can be +no doubt of that." + +"I am afraid you are right," said Aunt Martha. + +"I know she is," said I, "and James Barlow, or whatever his name may be, +shall be delivered to the constable." + +"Of course, there can be no difference of opinion in regard to the young +man," said Aunt Martha quickly. "Both the others admitted that he had +nothing to do with this affair except as a journalist, and although I do +not think he ought to get his realistic ideas in that way, I would +consider it positively wicked to send him into court in company with +those other men. Consider the position in which he would be placed +before the world. Consider his young wife." + +"I cannot say," said my wife, "that I am inclined to believe all parts +of his story." + +"I suppose," said I, laughing, "that you particularly refer to the +invisible dog-snake." + +"I'm not so sure about all that," she answered. "Since the labours of +the psychic researchers began, we have heard of a great many strange +things; but it is evident that he is a young man of education and +culture, and in all probability a journalist or literary man. I do not +think he should be sent to the lock-up with common criminals." + +"There!" cried Aunt Martha, "two in his favour. He must be released. +It's a poor rule that does not work both ways." + +I stood for a few moments undecided. If left to myself, I would have +sent the trio to the county town, where, if any one of them could prove +his innocence, he could do so before the constitutional authorities; but +having submitted the matter to my wife and aunt, I could not well +override their decision. As for what the young man said, I gave it no +weight whatever, for of course he would say the best he could for +himself. But the testimony of the others had weight. When they both +declared that he was not a burglar, but merely a journalist, engaged in +what he supposed to be his duty, it would seem to be a cruel thing to +stamp him as a criminal by putting him in charge of the constables. + +But my indecision soon came to an end, for Aunt Martha declared that no +time should be lost in setting the young man free, for should the +people in town arrive and see him sitting bound with the others it would +ruin his character forever. My wife agreed. + +"Whatever there may be of truth in his story," she said, "one of two +things is certain,--either he has had most wonderful experiences out of +which he may construct realistic novels which will give him fortune and +reputation, or he has a startling imagination, which, if used in the +production of works in the romantic school, will be of the same +advantage to his future. Looking upon it, even in this light and without +any reference to his family and the possible effects on his own moral +nature, we shall assume a great responsibility in deliberately +subjecting such a person to criminal prosecution and perhaps +conviction." + +This was enough. "Well," said I, "we will release the young fellow and +send the two other rascals to jail." + +"That was not well expressed," said my wife, "but we will not criticise +words at present." + +We returned to the library and I announced my decision. When he heard it +the stout burglar exhibited no emotion. His expression indicated that, +having been caught, he expected to be sent to jail, and that was the end +of it. Perhaps he had been through this experience so often that he had +become used to it. The tall man, however, took the announcement in a +very different way. His face grew dark and his eyes glittered. "You are +making a great mistake," he said to me, "a very great mistake, and you +will have to bear the consequences." + +"Very good," said I, "I will remember that remark when your trial comes +on." + +The behaviour of the young man was unexceptional. He looked upon us with +a face full of happy gratitude, and, as he thanked us for the kind +favour and the justice which we had shown him, his eyes seemed dim with +tears. Aunt Martha was much affected. + +"I wonder if his mother is living," she whispered to me. "A wife is a +great deal, but a mother is more. If I had thought of her sooner I would +have spoken more strongly in his favour. And now you should untie him at +once and let him go home. His wife must be getting terribly anxious." + +The young man overheard this last remark. + +"You will confer a great favour on me, sir," he said, "if you will let +me depart as soon as possible. I feel a great repugnance to be seen in +company with these men, as you may imagine, from wearing a mask on +coming here. If I leave immediately I think I can catch the first train +from your station." + +I considered the situation. If I did what I was asked, there would be +two bound burglars to guard, three women and a child to protect, an +uncertain stranger at liberty, and only David and myself to attend to +the whole business. "No, sir," said I, "I shall not untie you until the +officers I sent for are near at hand; then I will release you, and you +can leave the house by the back way without being seen by them. There +are other morning trains which will take you into the city early +enough." + +"I think you are a little hard on him," remarked Aunt Martha, but the +young man made no complaint. + +"I will trust myself to you, sir," he said. + +The officers arrived much sooner than I expected. There were five of +them, including the Chief of Police, and they were accompanied by +several volunteer assistants, among whom was the milkman who had been +my messenger. This morning his customers might wait for their milk, for +all business must give way before such an important piece of sightseeing +as this. + +I had barely time to untie the young man and take him to the back of the +house before the officers and their followers had entered the front +door. There was now a great deal of questioning, a great deal of +explanation, a great deal of discussion as to whether my way of catching +burglars was advisable or not, and a good deal of talk about the best +method of taking the men to town. Some of the officers were in favour of +releasing the two men, and then deciding in what manner they should be +taken to town; and if this plan had been adopted, I believe that these +two alert and practical rascals would have taken themselves out of my +house without the assistance of the officers, or at least would have +caused a great deal of trouble and perhaps injury in endeavouring to do +so. + +But the Chief of Police was of my mind, and before the men were entirely +released from the ropes by which I had tied them, they were securely +manacled. + +A requisition made on David and myself to appear as witnesses, the two +men were taken from the house to the wagons in which the officers and +their followers had come. My wife and Aunt Martha had gone upstairs +before the arrival of the police, and were watching the outside +proceeding from a window. + +Standing in the hallway, I glanced into the dining-room, and was +surprised to see the young man still standing by a side door. I had +thought him gone, but perhaps it was wise in him to remain, and not show +himself upon the road until the coast was entirely clear. He did not see +me, and was looking backward into the kitchen, a cheerful and animated +expression upon his face. This expression did not strike me pleasantly. +He had escaped a great danger, it was true, but it was no reason for +this rather obtrusive air of exultation. Just then Alice came into the +dining-room from the kitchen, and the young man stepped back, so that +she did not notice him. As she passed he gently threw his arm quietly +around her neck and kissed her. + +At that very instant, even before the girl had time to exclaim, in +rushed David from the outer side door. + +"I've been watching you, you rascal," he shouted; "you're done for +now!" and he threw his strong arms around the man, pinioning his arms to +his side. + +The young fellow gave a great jerk, and began to struggle powerfully. +His face turned black with rage; he swore, he kicked. He made the most +frenzied efforts to free himself, but David's arms were strong, his soul +was full of jealous fury, and in a moment I had come to his assistance. +Each of us taking the young fellow by an arm, we ran him into the +hallway and out of the front door, Alice aiding us greatly by putting +her hands against the man's back and pushing most forcibly. + +"Here's another one," cried David. "I'll appear against him. He's the +worst of the lot." + +Without knowing what it all meant, the Chief clapped the nippers on our +prisoner, justly believing that if burglars were about to show +themselves so unexpectedly, the best thing to do was to handcuff them as +fast as they appeared, and then to ask questions. The reasons for not +having produced this man before, and for producing him now, were not +very satisfactory to the officer. + +"Have you any more in the cellar?" he asked. "If so, I should like to +take a look at them before I start away." + +At this moment Aunt Martha made her appearance at the front door. + +"What are you going to do with that young man?" she asked sharply. "What +right have you to put irons upon him?" + +"Aunt Martha," said I, stepping back to her, "what do you think he has +done?" + +"I don't know," said she; "how should I know? All I know is that we +agreed to set him free." + +I addressed her solemnly: "David and I believe him to be utterly +depraved. He availed himself of the first moments of his liberation to +kiss Alice." Aunt Martha looked at me with wide-open eyes, and then her +brows contracted. + +"He did, did he?" said she. "And that is the kind of a man he is. Very +good. Let him go to jail with the others. I don't believe one word about +his young wife. If kissing respectable young women is the way he studies +Realism the quicker he goes to jail the better," and with that she +walked into the house. + +When the men had been placed in the two vehicles in which the police had +come, the Chief and I made an examination of the premises, and we found +that the house had been entered by a kitchen window, in exactly the +manner which the tall burglar had described. Outside of this window, +close to the wall, we found a leathern bag, containing what the Chief +declared to be an excellent assortment of burglars' tools. The officers +and their prisoners now drove away, and we were left to a long morning +nap, if we were so fortunate as to get it, and a late breakfast. + +In the course of the trial of the three men who had entered my house +some interesting points in regard to them were brought out. Several +detectives and policemen from New York were present, and their testimony +proved that my three burglars were men of eminence in their profession, +and that which most puzzled the metropolitan detectives was to discover +why these men should have been willing to devote their high talents to +the comparatively insignificant business of breaking into a suburban +dwelling. + +The tall man occupied a position of peculiar eminence in criminal +circles. He was what might be called a criminal manager. He would take +contracts for the successful execution of certain crimes,--bank +robberies, for instance,--and while seldom taking part in the actual +work of a burglary or similar operation, he would plan all the details +of the affair, and select and direct his agents with great skill and +judgment. He had never been arrested before, and the detectives were +delighted, believing they would now have an opportunity of tracing to +him a series of very important criminal operations that had taken place +in New York and some other large cities. He was known as Lewis Mandit, +and this was believed to be his real name. + +The stout man was a first-class professional burglar and nothing more, +and was in the employ of Mandit. The young man was a decidedly uncommon +personage. He was of a good family, had been educated at one of our +principal colleges, had travelled, and was in every way qualified to +make a figure in society. He had been a newspaper man, and a writer for +leading periodicals, and had shown considerable literary ability; but a +life of honest industry did not suit his tastes, and he had now adopted +knavery as a regular profession. + +This man, who was known among his present associates as Sparky, still +showed himself occasionally in newspaper offices, and was generally +supposed to be a correspondent for a Western journal; but his real +business position was that of Mandit's head man. + +Sparky was an expert in many branches of crime. He was an excellent +forger, a skilful lock-picker, an ingenious planner of shady projects, +and had given a great deal of earnest study to the subject of the +loopholes of the law. He had a high reputation in criminal circles for +his ability in getting his fellow-rascals out of jail. There was reason +to believe that in the past year no less than nine men, some condemned +to terms of imprisonment, and some held for trial, had escaped by means +of assistance given them by Sparky. + +His methods of giving help to jail-birds were various. Sometimes liberty +was conferred through the agency of saws and ropes, at other times +through that of a habeas corpus and an incontestible alibi. His means +were adapted to the circumstances of the case, and it was believed that +if Sparky could be induced to take up the case of a captured rogue, the +man had better chance of finding himself free than the law had of +keeping him behind bars, especially if his case were treated before it +had passed into its more chronic stages. + +Sparky's success was greatly due to his extremely specious manner, and +his power of playing the part that the occasion demanded. In this +particular he was even the superior of Mandit, who was an adept in this +line. These two men found no difficulty in securing the services of +proficient burglars, safe-robbers, and the like; for, in addition to the +high rewards paid these men, they were in a manner insured against +permanent imprisonment in case of misfortune. It was always arranged +that, if any of their enterprises came to grief, and if either Mandit or +Sparky should happen to be arrested, the working miscreants should +substantiate any story their superiors might choose to tell of +themselves, and, if necessary, to take upon themselves the whole +responsibility of the crime. In this case their speedy release was to be +looked upon as assured. + +A great deal of evidence in regard to the character and practices of +these two men came from the stout burglar, commonly known as Barney +Fitch. When he found that nothing was to be expected from his two +astute employers, and that they were in as bad a place as himself, he +promptly turned State's evidence, and told all that he knew about them. + +It was through the testimony of this man that the motive for the +attempted robbery of my house was found out. It had no connection +whatever with the other burglaries of our neighbourhood, those, +probably, having been committed by low-class thieves, who had not broken +into my house simply because my doors and windows had been so well +secured; nor had our boy, George William, any share whatever in the +protection of the household. + +The burglary was undertaken solely for the purpose of getting possession +of some important law papers, which were to be used in a case in which I +was concerned, which soon would be tried. If these papers could be +secured by the opposite party, the side on which I was engaged would +have no case at all, and a suit involving a great deal of property must +drop. With this end in view the unscrupulous defendants in the case had +employed Mandit to procure the papers; and that astute criminal manager +had not only arranged all the details of the affair, but had gone +himself to the scene of action in order to see that there should be no +mistake in carrying out the details of this most important piece of +business. + +The premises had been thoroughly reconnoitred by Sparky, who, a few days +before the time fixed for the burglary, had visited my house in the +capacity of an agent of a telescopic bookcase, which could be extended +as new volumes were required, therefore need never exhibit empty +shelves. The young man had been included in the party on account of his +familiarity with legal documents, it being, of course, of paramount +importance that the right papers should be secured. His ingenuity was +also to be used to cover up, if possible, all evidence that the house +had been entered at all, it being desirable to make it appear to the +court that I had never had these documents in my possession, and that +they never existed. + +Had it not been for a very natural desire for refreshment that +interfered with their admirably laid plans, it is probable that the +mechanical skill of Mandit would have been equal to the noiseless +straightening of the bent bolt, and the obliteration of the scratches +and dents made by the attempts upon other shutters, and that Sparky, +after relocking all open desks or cabinets, and after the exit of the +others, would have closed and fastened the kitchen shutters, and would +then have left the house by means of an open window in the upper hall +and the roof of a piazza. + +Thus it was that these three men, so eminent in their different spheres +of earnest endeavour, came to visit my comparatively humble abode; and +thus it was that they not only came to that abode, but to the deepest +grief. They were "wanted" in so many quarters, and on so many charges, +that before they had finished serving out their various sentences their +ability to wickedly avail themselves of the property of others would +have suffered greatly from disuse, and the period of life left them for +the further exercise of those abilities would be inconveniently limited. + +I was assured by a prominent detective that it had been a long time +since two such dangerous criminals as Mandit and Sparky had fallen into +the hands of the law. These men, by means of very competent outside +assistance, made a stout fight for acquittal on some of the charges +brought against them; but when they found that further effort of this +kind would be unavailing, and that they would be sentenced to long terms +of imprisonment, they threw off their masks of outraged probity and +stood out in their true characters of violent and brutal ruffians. +Barney Fitch, the cracksman, was a senior warden compared to them. + +It was a long time before my Aunt Martha recovered from her +disappointment in regard to the youngest burglar. + +"Of course I was mistaken," she said. "That sort of thing will happen; +but I really had good grounds for believing him to be a truthful person, +so I am not ashamed for having taken him for what he said he was. I have +now no doubt before he fell in his wicked ways that he was a very good +writer, and might have become a novelist or a magazine author; but his +case is a very sad proof that the study of Realism may be carried too +far," and she heaved a sigh. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + +***** This file should be named 10948-8.txt or 10948-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10948/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Stockton. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 12pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced; } + BODY {margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 4%; } + .figure + {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; + text-align: center; } + .figure img + {border: none;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stories of the Three Burglars + +Author: Frank Richard Stockton + +Release Date: February 5, 2004 [EBook #10948] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="figure"> +<img width="50%" src="frontis.jpg" +alt="Frank R. Stockton" /><br /> +</p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>The Stories of the Three Burglars</h1> +<h2>By FRANK R. STOCKTON </h2> +<p> </p> +<center> +<b>1889</b> +</center> + +<p> </p> +<hr> +<p> </p> + +<h3> +THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +I am a householder in a pleasant country neighbourhood, about twenty +miles from New York. My family consists of myself and wife, our boy, +George William, aged two, two maid-servants, and a man; but in the +summer we have frequent visitors, and at the time of which I am about to +write my Aunt Martha was staying with us. +</p> +<p> +My house is large and pleasant, and we have neighbours near enough for +social purposes and yet not too near or too many to detract from the +rural aspect of our surroundings. But we do not live in a paradise; we +are occasionally troubled by mosquitoes and burglars. +</p> +<p> +Against the first of these annoyances we have always been able to guard +ourselves, at least in a measure, and our man and the cook declare that +they have become so used to them that they do not mind them; but to +guard against burglars is much more difficult, and to become used to +them would, I think, require a great deal of practice. +</p> +<p> +For several months before the period of this narrative our neighbourhood +had been subject to visits from burglars. From time to time houses had +been entered and robbed, and the offenders had never been detected. +</p> +<p> +We had no police force, not even a village organization. There was a +small railway station near our house, and six miles away was the county +town. For fire and police protection each household was obliged to +depend upon itself. +</p> +<p> +Before the beginning of the burglarious enterprises in our midst, we had +not felt the need of much protection in this direction; sometimes +poultry was stolen, but this was a rare occurrence, and, although +windows and doors were generally fastened for the night, this labour was +often considered much more troublesome than necessary. But now a great +change had taken place in the feelings of our community. When the first +robbery occurred the neighbours were inclined to laugh about it, and to +say that Captain Hubbard's habit of sitting up after the rest of his +family had gone to bed and then retiring and forgetting to close the +front door had invited the entrance of a passing tramp. But when a +second and a third house, where windows and doors had not been left +open, had been entered, and, in a measure, despoiled, people ceased to +laugh; and if there had been any merriment at all on the subject, it +would have been caused by the extraordinary and remarkable precautions +taken against the entrance of thieves by night. The loaded pistol became +the favourite companion of the head of the house; those who had no +watch-dogs bought them; there were new locks, new bolts, new fastenings. +At one time there was a mounted patrol of young men, which, however, was +soon broken up by their mothers. But this trouble was unavailing, for at +intervals the burglaries continued. +</p> +<p> +As a matter of course a great many theories were broached as to the +reasons for this disturbance in our hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. We +were at such a distance from the ordinary centres of crime that it was +generally considered that professional burglars would hardly take the +trouble to get to us or to get away from us, and that, therefore, the +offences were probably committed by unsuspected persons living in this +part of the country who had easy means of determining which houses were +worth breaking into and what method of entrance would be most feasible. +In this way some families, hitherto regarded as respectable families, +had fallen under suspicion. +</p> +<p> +So far, mine was the only house of any importance within the distance of +a mile from the station which had not in some way suffered from +burglars. In one or two of these cases the offenders had been frightened +away before they had done any other injury than the breaking of a +window-shutter; but we had been spared any visitation whatever. After a +time we began to consider that this was an invidious distinction. Of +course we did not desire that robbers should break into our house and +steal, but it was a sort of implied insult that robbers should think +that our house was not worth breaking into. We contrived, however, to +bear up under this implied contempt and even under the facetious +imputations of some of our lively neighbours, who declared that it +looked very suspicious that we should lose nothing, and even continue to +add to our worldly goods, while everybody else was suffering from +abstractions. +</p> +<p> +I did not, however, allow any relaxation in my vigilance in the +protection of my house and family. My time to suffer had not yet +arrived, and it might not arrive at all; but if it did come it should +not be my fault. I therefore carefully examined all the new precautions +my neighbours had taken against the entrance of thieves, and where I +approved of them I adopted them. +</p> +<p> +Of some of these my wife and I did not approve. For instance, a tin pan +containing iron spoons, the dinner bell, and a miscellaneous collection +of hardware balanced on the top stair of the staircase, and so connected +with fine cords that a thief coming up the stairs would send it rattling +and bounding to the bottom, was looked upon by us with great disfavour. +The descent of the pan, whether by innocent accident or the approach of +a burglar, might throw our little boy into a fit, to say nothing of the +terrible fright it would give my Aunt Martha, who was a maiden lady of +middle age, and not accustomed to a clatter in the night. A bull-dog in +the house my wife would not have, nor, indeed, a dog of any kind. George +William was not yet old enough to play with dogs, especially a sharp +one; and if the dog was not sharp it was of no use to have him in the +house. To the ordinary burglar-alarm she strongly objected. She had been +in houses where these things went off of their own accord, occasioning +great consternation; and, besides, she said that if thieves got into the +house she did not want to know it and she did not want me to know it; +the quicker they found what they came for and went away with it the +better. Of course, she wished them kept out, if such a thing were +possible; but if they did get in, our duty as parents of the dearest +little boy was non-interference. She insisted, however, that the room in +which the loveliest of children slept, and which was also occupied by +ourselves, should be made absolutely burglar proof; and this object, by +means of extraordinary bolts and chains, I flattered myself I +accomplished. My Aunt Martha had a patent contrivance for fastening a +door that she always used, whether at home or travelling, and in whose +merit she placed implicit confidence. Therefore we did not feel it +necessary to be anxious about her; and the servants slept at the top of +the house, where thieves would not be likely to go. +</p> +<p> +"They may continue to slight us by their absence," said my wife, "but I +do not believe that they will be able to frighten us by their presence." +</p> +<p> +I was not, however, so easily contented as my wife. Of course I wished +to do everything possible to protect George William and the rest of the +family, but I was also very anxious to protect our property in all parts +of the house. Therefore, in addition to everything else I had done, I +devised a scheme for interfering with the plans of men who should +feloniously break into our home. +</p> +<p> +After a consultation with a friend, who was a physician greatly +interested in the study of narcotic drugs, I procured a mixture which +was almost tasteless and without peculiar odour, and of which a small +quantity would in less than a minute throw an ordinary man into a state +of unconsciousness. The potion was, however, no more dangerous in its +effects than that quantity of ardent spirits which would cause entire +insensibility. After the lapse of several hours, the person under the +influence of the drug would recover consciousness without assistance. +But in order to provide against all contingencies my friend prepared a +powerful antidote, which would almost immediately revive one who had +been made unconscious by our potion. +</p> +<p> +The scheme that I had devised may possibly have been put into use by +others. But of this I know not. I thought it a good scheme and +determined to experiment with it, and, if possible, to make a trap which +should catch a burglar. I would reveal this plan to no one but my friend +the physician and my wife. Secrecy would be an important element in its +success. +</p> +<p> +Our library was a large and pleasant room on the ground floor of the +house, and here I set my trap. It was my habit to remain in this room an +hour or so after the rest of the family had gone to bed, and, as I was +an early riser, I was always in it again before it was necessary for a +servant to enter it in the morning. +</p> +<p> +Before leaving the library for the night I placed in a conspicuous +position in the room a small table, on which was a tray holding two +decanters partially filled with wine, in the one red and in the other +white. There was also upon the tray an open box of biscuit and three +wine-glasses, two of them with a little wine at the bottom. I took pains +to make it appear that these refreshments had been recently partaken of. +There were biscuit crumbs upon the tray, and a drop or two of wine was +freshly spilled upon it every time the trap was set. The table, thus +arranged, was left in the room during the night, and early in the +morning I put the tray and its contents into a closet and locked it up. +</p> +<p> +A portion of my narcotic preparation was thoroughly mixed with the +contents of each of the decanters in such proportions that a glass of +the wine would be sufficient to produce the desired effect. +</p> +<p> +It was my opinion that there were few men who, after a night walk and +perhaps some labour in forcibly opening a door or a window-shutter, +would not cease for a moment in pursuance of their self-imposed task to +partake of the refreshments so conveniently left behind them by the +occupants of the house when they retired to rest. Should my surmises be +correct, I might reasonably expect, should my house be broken into, to +find an unconscious burglar in the library when I went down in the +morning. And I was sure, and my wife agreed with me, that if I should +find a burglar in that room or any other part of the house, it was +highly desirable that he should be an unconscious one. +</p> +<p> +Night after night I set my burglar trap, and morning after morning I +locked it up in the closet. I cannot say that I was exactly disappointed +that no opportunity offered to test the value of my plan, but it did +seem a pity that I should take so much trouble for nothing. It had been +some weeks since any burglaries had been committed in the neighbourhood, +and it was the general opinion that the miscreants had considered this +field worked out and had transferred their labours to a better-paying +place. The insult of having been considered unworthy the attention of +the knights of the midnight jimmy remained with us, but as all our goods +and chattels also remained with us we could afford to brook the +indignity. +</p> +<p> +As the trap cost nothing my wife did not object to my setting it every +night for the present. Something might happen, she remarked, and it was +just as well to be prepared in more ways than one; but there was a point +upon which she was very positive. +</p> +<p> +"When George William is old enough to go about the house by himself," +she said, "those decanters must not be left exposed upon the table. Of +course I do not expect him to go about the house drinking wine and +everything that he finds, but there is no knowing what a child in the +first moments of his investigative existence may do." +</p> +<p> +For myself, I became somewhat tired of acting my part in this little +farce every night and morning, but when I have undertaken anything of +this sort I am slow to drop it. +</p> +<p> +It was about three weeks since I had begun to set my trap when I was +awakened in the night by a sudden noise. I sat up in bed, and as I did +so my wife said to me sleepily,— +</p> +<p> +"What is that? Was it thunder? There it is again!" she exclaimed, +starting up. "What a crash! It must have struck somewhere." I did not +answer. It was not thunder. It was something in the house, and it +flashed into my mind that perhaps my trap had been sprung. I got out of +bed and began rapidly to dress. +</p> +<p> +"What are you going to do?" anxiously asked my wife. +</p> +<p> +"I'm going to see what has happened," said I. At that moment there was +another noise. This was like two or three heavy footsteps, followed by a +sudden thump; but it was not so loud as the others. +</p> +<p> +"John," cried my wife, "don't stir an inch, it's burglars!" and she +sprang out of bed and seized me by the arm. +</p> +<p> +"I must go down," I said; "but there is really no reason for your being +frightened. I shall call David, and shall carry my pistol, so there is +really no danger. If there are thieves in the house they have probably +decamped by this time—that is, if they are able to do so, for of course +they must know that noise would awaken the soundest sleepers." +</p> +<p> +My wife looked at me and then slowly withdrew her hands from my arm. +</p> +<p> +"You promise me," she said, "if you find a burglar downstairs in the +possession of his senses you will immediately come back to me and George +William?" +</p> +<p> +I promised her, and, slipping on some clothes, I went out into the +second-story hall. I carried no light. Before I had reached the bottom +of the back stairs I heard David, my man, coming down. To be sure it was +he and not a burglar I spoke to him in a low voice, my pistol raised in +case of an unsatisfactory reply. +</p> +<p> +"I heard that noise, sir," he whispered, "and was going down to see +about it." +</p> +<p> +"Are you ready if it's thieves?" I whispered. +</p> +<p> +"I have got the biscuit-beater," he replied. +</p> +<p> +"Come on, then," said I, and we went downstairs. +</p> +<p> +I had left no light in the library, but there was one there now, and it +shone through the open door into the hallway. We stopped and listened. +There was no sound, and then slowly and cautiously we approached the +door of the library. The scene I beheld astounded me, and involuntarily +I sprang back a step or two. So did David; but in an instant we saw that +there was no need of retreat or defence. Stretched upon the floor, not +far from the doorway, lay a tall man, his face upturned to the light of +a bull's-eye lantern which stood by the mantel-piece. His eyes were +shut, and it was evident that he was perfectly insensible. Near by, in +the wreck of the small table, glasses, and decanters, lay another man, +apparently of heavier build. He also was as still as a corpse. A little +further back, half sitting on the floor, with the upper part of his body +resting against the lounge, was another man with a black mask over his +face. +</p> +<p> +"Are they dead?" exclaimed David, in an undertone of horror. +</p> +<p> +"No," said I, "they are not dead; they have been caught in my trap." +</p> +<p> +And I must admit that the consciousness of this created a proud +exultation of spirit within me. I had overmatched these rascals; they +were prostrated before me. If one of them moved, David and I could kill +him. But I did not believe there would be any killing, nor any moving +for the present. +</p> +<p> +In a high whisper, which could have been heard distinctly all over the +house, my wife now called to me from the top of the stairs. "What is +it?" she said. "What has happened?" +</p> +<p> +I stepped quickly to the stairway. +</p> +<p> +"Everything is all right," I said in a loud, distinct voice, intended +to assure my wife that there was no necessity for caution or alarm. "I +will be with you presently." +</p> +<p> +"I am glad to hear that nothing is the matter," said Aunt Martha, now +for the first time opening her door. "I was afraid something had +happened." +</p> +<p> +But I had business to attend to before I could go upstairs. In thinking +over and arranging this plan for the capture of burglars, I had +carefully considered its various processes, and had provided against all +the contingencies I could think of; therefore I was not now obliged to +deliberate what I should do. "Keep your eye on them," said I to David, +"and if one of them moves be ready for him. The first thing to do is to +tie them hand and foot." +</p> +<p> +I quickly lighted a lamp, and then took from another shelf of the closet +a large coil of strong cotton rope, which I had provided for such an +occasion as the present. +</p> +<p> +"Now," said I to David, "I will tie them while you stand by to knock +over any one of them who attempts to get up." +</p> +<p> +The instrument with which David was prepared to carry out my orders was +a formidable one. In the days of my youth my family was very fond of +"Maryland biscuit," which owes much of its delicacy to the fact that +before baking it is pounded and beaten by a piece of heavy iron. Some +people used one kind of a beater and some another, but we had had made +for the purpose a heavy iron club a little over a foot long, large and +heavy at one end and a handle at the other. In my present household +Maryland biscuits were never made, but I had preserved this iron beater +as a memento of my boyhood, and when the burglaries began in our +vicinity I gave it to David to keep in his room, to be used as a weapon +if necessary. I did not allow him to have a pistol, having a regard for +my own safety in a sudden night alarm, and nothing could be more +formidable in a hand-to-hand encounter than this skull-crushing club. +</p> +<p> +I began with the tall man, and rapidly tied his feet together with many +twists of the rope and as many knots. I then turned him over and tied +his elbows behind him in the same secure way. I had given so much +thought to the best method of securing a man by cords, that I do not +think this fellow could possibly have released himself when I had +finished with him. +</p> +<p> +David was obeying my orders and keeping a strict watch on the prostrate +men; but his emotions of amazement were so great that he could not keep +them down. +</p> +<p> +"What is the matter with them, sir?" he said. "How did they come so?" +</p> +<p> +"There is no time for talking now," I answered. "I will tell you all +about it when the men have been secured." I now turned my attention to +the man who was partly resting against the lounge. I first tied his +feet, and before letting him down to the floor, so as to get to his +arms, I removed his hat and his mask, which was made of black muslin. I +was surprised to see the beardless face of a young and very good-looking +man. He was well dressed, and had the general appearance of a person +belonging to theatrical circles. When his arms had been tied, I told +David he might lay down his biscuit-beater, and help me with the third +man, who was badly mixed up with the <i>débris</i> of the refreshments. We +hauled him out and tied him up. He was rather a short man, but very +heavy, and I could see no signs of his having been hurt by the smash-up +he made in falling. +</p> +<p> +We now proceeded to search the insensible burglars for arms. Upon the +tall man we found a large revolver, a heavy billy, which seemed as if it +had seen service, and a long-bladed knife. The stout man carried two +double-barrelled pistols, and upon one of the fingers of his right hand +wore a brass ring with a murderous-looking iron protuberance upon it, +which, when driven forward by his powerful arm, was probably more +dangerous than a billy. Upon the younger man we found no arms at all, +and his hip pocket contained nothing but a small handbook on civil +engineering. +</p> +<p> +I now briefly explained to David the nature of the trap which had caught +the burglars. He gazed upon me with a face glowing with amazed +admiration. +</p> +<p> +"What a head you have got, sir!" he exclaimed. "I don't believe there is +another man in this State who would have thought of that. And what are +you going to do with them now, sir; hang 'em? That's what ought to be +done with them, the hounds!" +</p> +<p> +"All I shall do," I answered, "will be to keep them till daylight, and +then I shall send word to the sheriff at Kennertown, and have him send +officers for them." +</p> +<p> +"Upon my word," exclaimed David, "they are in the worst kind of a box." +</p> +<p> +Now my wife called me again. "What in the world are you doing down +there?" she called; "why don't you come upstairs?" +</p> +<p> +This annoyed me, for I was not yet ready to go upstairs. I wished to +resuscitate these fellows, for their stupor was so profound that I began +to fear that perhaps they had taken too much of the drug and ought to be +brought to their senses as speedily as possible. This feeling was due +more to my desire that serious injuries should not occur to the rascals +while in my house than to any concern for them. +</p> +<p> +"My dear," said I, stepping to the bottom of the stairs, "I have some +things to attend to down here which will occupy me a few minutes longer; +then I will come up to you." +</p> +<p> +"I can't imagine what the things are," she said, "but I suppose I can +wait," and she went into her room and closed her door after her. +</p> +<p> +I now began to consider what was to be done with the burglars after they +had been resuscitated. My first impulse was to rid the house of them by +carrying them out of doors and bringing them to their senses there. But +there was an objection to this plan. They would be pretty heavy fellows +to carry, and as it would be absolutely necessary to watch them until +they could be given into the charge of the officers of the law, I did +not want to stay out of doors to do this, for the night air was raw and +chilly, and I therefore determined to keep them in the house. And as +they could be resuscitated better in a sitting position, they must be +set up in some way or other. I consulted David on the subject. +</p> +<p> +"You might put 'em up with their backs agin the wall, sir," said he, +"but the dirty beasts would spoil the paper. I wouldn't keep them in a +decent room like this. I'd haul 'em out into the kitchen, anyway." +</p> +<p> +But as they were already in the library I decided to let them stay +there, and to get them as speedily as possible into some position in +which they might remain. I bethought me of a heavy wooden settle or +bench with back and arms which stood on the side piazza. With David's +help I brought this into the room and placed it with its back to the +window. +</p> +<p> +"Now, then," said I to David, "we will put them on this bench, and I +will tie them fast to it. We cannot be too careful in securing them, for +if one of them were to get loose, even without arms, there is no knowing +what trouble he might make." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir," said David, "if I'm to handle them at all, I'd rather have +them dead, as I hope they are, than have them alive; but you needn't be +afraid, sir, that any one of them will get loose. If I see any signs of +that I'll crack the rascal's skull in a jiffy." +</p> +<p> +It required a great deal of tugging and lifting to get those three men +on the bench, but we got them there side by side, their heads hanging +listlessly, some one way, some another. I then tied each one of them +firmly to the bench. +</p> +<p> +I had scarcely finished this when I again heard my wife's voice from the +top of the stairs. +</p> +<p> +"If any pipes have burst," she called down, "tell David not to catch the +water in the new milk-pans." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," I replied, "I'll see to it," and was rejoiced to hear again +the shutting of the bedroom door. +</p> +<p> +I now saturated a sponge with the powerful preparation which Dr. Marks +had prepared as an antidote, and held it under the nose of the tall +burglar. In less than twenty seconds he made a slight quivering in his +face as if he were about to sneeze, and very soon he did sneeze +slightly. Then he sneezed violently, raised his head, and opened his +eyes. For a moment he gazed blankly before him, and then looked stupidly +at David and at me. But in an instant there flashed into his face the +look of a wild beast. His quick, glittering eye took in the whole +situation at a glance. With a furious oath he threw himself forward with +such a powerful movement that he nearly lifted the bench. +</p> +<p> +"Stop that," said David, who stood near him with his iron club uplifted. +"If you do that again I'll let you feel this." +</p> +<p> +The man looked at him with a fiery flash in his eyes, and then he looked +at me, as I stood holding the muzzle of my pistol within two feet of his +face. The black and red faded out of his countenance. He became pale. He +glanced at his companions bound and helpless. His expression now changed +entirely. The fury of the wild beast was succeeded by a look of +frightened subjection. Gazing very anxiously at my pistol, he said, in a +voice which, though agitated, was low and respectful:— +</p> +<p> +"What does this mean? What are you going to do? Will you please turn +away the muzzle of that pistol?" +</p> +<p> +I took no notice of this indication of my steadiness of hand, and +answered:— +</p> +<p> +"I am going to bring these other scoundrels to their senses, and early +in the morning the three of you will be on your way to jail, where I +hope you may remain for the rest of your lives." +</p> +<p> +"If you don't get killed on your way there," said David, in whose +nervous hand the heavy biscuit-beater was almost as dangerous as my +pistol. +</p> +<p> +The stout man who sat in the middle of the bench was twice as long in +reviving as had been his companion, who watched the operation with +intense interest. When the burly scoundrel finally became conscious, he +sat for a few minutes gazing at the floor with a silly grin; then he +raised his head and looked first at one of his companions and then at +the other, gazed for an instant at me and David, tried to move his feet, +gave a pull at one arm and then at the other, and when he found he was +bound hard and fast, his face turned as red as fire and he opened his +mouth, whether to swear or yell I know not. I had already closed the +door, and before the man had uttered more than a premonitory sound, +David had clapped the end of his bludgeon against his mouth. +</p> +<p> +"Taste that," he said, "and you know what you will get if you disturb +this family with any of your vile cursin' and swearin'." +</p> +<p> +"Look here," said the tall man, suddenly turning to the other with an +air of authority, "keep your mouth shut and don't speak till you're +spoken to. Mind that, now, or these gentlemen will make it the worse for +you." +</p> +<p> +David grinned as he took away his club. +</p> +<p> +"I'd gentlemen you," he said, "if I could get half a chance to do it." +</p> +<p> +The face of the heavy burglar maintained its redness, but he kept his +mouth shut. +</p> +<p> +When the younger man was restored to his senses, his full consciousness +and power of perception seemed to come to him in an instant. His eyes +flashed from right to left, he turned deadly white, and then merely +moving his arms and legs enough to make himself aware that he was bound, +he sat perfectly still and said not a word. +</p> +<p> +I now felt that I must go and acquaint my wife with what had happened, +or otherwise she would be coming downstairs to see what was keeping me +so long. David declared that he was perfectly able to keep guard over +them, and I ran upstairs. David afterward told me that as soon as I left +the room the tall burglar endeavoured to bribe him to cut their ropes, +and told him if he was afraid to stay behind after doing this he would +get him a much better situation than this could possibly be. But as +David threatened personal injury to the speaker if he uttered another +word of the kind, the tall man said no more; but the stout man became +very violent and angry, threatening all sorts of vengeance on my +unfortunate man. David said he was beginning to get angry, when the tall +man, who seemed to have much influence over the other fellow, ordered +him to keep quiet, as the gentleman with the iron club no doubt thought +he was doing right. The young fellow never said a word. +</p> +<p> +When I told my wife that I had caught three burglars, and they were +fast bound in the library, she nearly fainted; and when I had revived +her she begged me to promise that I would not go downstairs again until +the police had carried away the horrible wretches. But I assured her +that it was absolutely necessary for me to return to the library. She +then declared that she would go with me, and if anything happened she +would share my fate. "Besides," she said, "if they are tied fast so they +can't move, I should like to see what they look like. I never saw a +burglar." +</p> +<p> +I did not wish my wife to go downstairs, but as I knew there would be no +use in objecting, I consented. She hastily dressed herself, making me +wait for her; and when she left the room she locked the door on the +sleeping George William, in order that no one should get at him during +her absence. As we passed the head of the stairs, the door of my Aunt +Martha's room opened, and there she stood, completely dressed, with her +bonnet on, and a little leather bag in her hand. +</p> +<p> +"I heard so much talking and so much going up and down stairs that I +thought I had better be ready to do whatever had to be done. Is it +fire?" +</p> +<p> +"No," said my wife; "it's three burglars tied in a bunch in the library. +I am going down to see them." +</p> +<p> +My Aunt Martha gasped, and looked as if she were going to sit down on +the floor. +</p> +<p> +"Goodness gracious!" she said, "if you're going I'll go too. I can't let +you go alone, and I never did see a burglar." +</p> +<p> +I hurried down and left the two ladies on the stairs until I was sure +everything was still safe; and when I saw that there had been no change +in the state of affairs, I told them to come down. +</p> +<p> +When my wife and Aunt Martha timidly looked in at the library door, the +effect upon them and the burglars was equally interesting. The ladies +each gave a start and a little scream, and huddled themselves close to +me, and the three burglars gazed at them with faces that expressed more +astonishment than any I had ever seen before. The stout fellow gave vent +to a smothered exclamation, and the face of the young man flushed, but +not one of them spoke. +</p> +<p> +"Are you sure they are tied fast?" whispered my Aunt Martha to me. +</p> +<p> +"Perfectly," I answered; "if I had not been sure I should not have +allowed you to come down." +</p> +<p> +Thereupon the ladies picked up courage and stepped further into the +room. +</p> +<p> +"Did you and David catch them?" asked my aunt; "and how in the world did +you do it?" +</p> +<p> +"I'll tell you all about that another time," I said, "and you had better +go upstairs as soon as you two have seen what sort of people are these +cowardly burglars who sneak or break into the houses of respectable +people at night, and rob and steal and ruin other people's property with +no more conscience or human feeling than is possessed by the rats which +steal your corn, or the polecats which kill your chickens." +</p> +<p> +"I can scarcely believe," said Aunt Martha, "that that young man is a +real burglar." +</p> +<p> +At these words the eyes of the fellow spoken of glowed as he fixed them +on Aunt Martha, but he did not say a word, and the paleness which had +returned to his face did not change. +</p> +<p> +"Have they told you who they are?" asked my wife. +</p> +<p> +"I haven't asked them," I said. "And now don't you think you had better +go upstairs?" +</p> +<p> +"It seems to me," said Aunt Martha, "that those ropes must hurt them." +</p> +<p> +The tall man now spoke. "Indeed they do, madam," he said in a low voice +and very respectful manner, "they are very tight." +</p> +<p> +I told David to look at all the cords and see if any of them were too +tightly drawn. +</p> +<p> +"It's all nonsense, sir," said he, when he had finished the examination; +"not one of the ropes is a bit too tight. All they want is a chance to +pull out their ugly hands." +</p> +<p> +"Of course," said Aunt Martha, "if it would be unsafe to loosen the +knots I wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent to prison?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said I; "as soon as the day breaks I shall send down for the +police." +</p> +<p> +I now heard a slight sound at the door, and turning, saw Alice, our maid +of the house, who was peeping in at the door. Alice was a modest girl, +and quite pretty. +</p> +<p> +"I heard the noise and the talking, sir," she said, "and when I found +the ladies had gone down to see what it was, I thought I would come +too." +</p> +<p> +"And where is the cook," asked my wife; "don't she want to see +burglars?" +</p> +<p> +"Not a bit of it," answered Alice, very emphatically. "As soon as I told +her what it was she covered up her head with the bedclothes and +declared, ma'am, that she would never get up until they were entirely +gone out of the house." +</p> +<p> +At this the stout man grinned. +</p> +<p> +"I wish you'd all cover up your heads," he said. The tall man looked at +him severely, and he said no more. +</p> +<p> +David did not move from his post near the three burglars, but he turned +toward Alice and looked at her. We knew that he had tender feelings +toward the girl, and I think that he did not approve of her being there. +</p> +<p> +"Have they stolen anything?" asked Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +"They have not had any chance to take anything away," I said; and my +wife remarked that whether they had stolen anything or not, they had +made a dreadful mess on the floor, and had broken the table. They should +certainly be punished. +</p> +<p> +At this she made a motion as if she would leave the room, and an +anxious expression immediately came on the face of the tall man, who had +evidently been revolving something in his mind. +</p> +<p> +"Madam," he said, "we are very sorry that we have broken your table, and +that we have damaged some of your glass and your carpet. I assure you, +however, that nothing of the kind would have happened but for that +drugged wine, which was doubtless intended for a medicine, and not a +beverage; but weary and chilled as we were when we arrived, madam, we +were glad to partake of it, supposing it ordinary wine." +</p> +<p> +I could not help showing a little pride at the success of my scheme. +</p> +<p> +"The refreshment was intended for fellows of your class, and I am very +glad you accepted it." +</p> +<p> +The tall man did not answer me, but he again addressed my wife. +</p> +<p> +"Madam," he said, "if you ladies would remain and listen to me a few +moments, I am sure I would make you aware that there is much to +extenuate the apparent offence which I have committed to-night." +</p> +<p> +My wife did not answer him, but turning to me said, smiling, "If he +alludes to their drinking your wine he need not apologize." +</p> +<p> +The man looked at her with an expression as if her words had pained him. +</p> +<p> +"Madam," he said, "if you consent to listen to my explanations and the +story of this affair, I am sure your feelings toward me would not be so +harsh." +</p> +<p> +"Now, then," said my Aunt Martha, "if he has a story to tell he ought to +be allowed to tell it, even in a case like this. Nobody should be judged +until he has said what he thinks he ought to say. Let us hear his +story." +</p> +<p> +I laughed. "Any statement he may make," I said, "will probably deserve a +much stronger name than stories." +</p> +<p> +"I think that what you say is true," remarked my wife; "but still if he +has a story to tell I should like to hear it." +</p> +<p> +I think I heard David give a little grunt; but he was too well bred to +say anything. +</p> +<p> +"Very well," said I, "if you choose to sit up and hear him talk, it is +your affair. I shall be obliged to remain here anyway, and will not +object to anything that will help to pass away the time. But these men +must not be the only ones who are seated. David, you and Alice can clear +away that broken table and the rest of the stuff, and then we might as +well sit down and make ourselves comfortable." +</p> +<p> +Alice, with cloth and brush, approached very timidly the scene of the +disaster; but the younger burglar, who was nearest to her, gazed upon +her with such a gentle and quiet air that she did not seem to be +frightened. When she and David had put the room in fair order, I placed +two easy-chairs for my wife and Aunt Martha at a moderate distance from +the burglars, and took another myself a little nearer to them, and then +told David to seat himself near the other end of the bench, and Alice +took a chair at a little distance from the ladies. +</p> +<p> +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to the burglars, "I would like very much +to hear what any one of you can say in extenuation of having broken into +a gentleman's house by night." +</p> +<p> +Without hesitation the tall man began his speech. He had a long and +rather lean, close-shaven face, which at present bore the expression of +an undertaker conducting a funeral. Although it was my aunt who had +shown the greatest desire to hear his story, he addressed himself to my +wife. I think he imagined that she was the more influential person of +the two. +</p> +<p> +"Madam," said he, "I am glad of the opportunity of giving you and your +family an idea of the difficulties and miseries which beset a large +class of your fellow-beings of whom you seldom have any chance of +knowing anything at all, but of whom you hear all sorts of the most +misleading accounts. Now, I am a poor man. I have suffered the greatest +miseries that poverty can inflict. I am here, suspected of having +committed a crime. It is possible that I may be put to considerable +difficulty and expense in proving my innocence." +</p> +<p> +"I shouldn't wonder," I interrupted. To this remark he paid no +attention. +</p> +<p> +"Considering all this," he continued, "you may not suppose, madam, that +as a boy I was brought up most respectably and properly. My mother was a +religious woman, and my father was a boat-builder. I was sent to school, +and my mother has often told me that I was a good scholar. But she died +when I was about sixteen, and I am sure had this not happened I should +never have been even suspected of breaking the laws of my country. Not +long after her death my father appeared to lose interest in his +business, and took to rowing about the river instead of building boats +for other people to row. Very often he went out at night, and I used to +wonder why he should care to be on the water in the darkness, and +sometimes in the rain. One evening at supper he said to me: 'Thomas, you +ought to know how to row in the dark as well as in the daytime. I am +going up the river to-night, and you can come with me.' +</p> +<p> +"It was about my ordinary bedtime when we took a boat with two pair of +oars, and we pulled up the river about three miles above the city." +</p> +<p> +"What city?" I asked. +</p> +<p> +"The city where I was born, sir," he said, "and the name of which I must +be excused from mentioning for reasons connected with my only surviving +parent. There were houses on the river bank, but they were not very near +each other. Some of them had lights in them, but most of them were dark, +as it must have been after eleven o'clock. Before one of them my father +stopped rowing for a moment and looked at it pretty hard. It seemed to +be all dark, but as we pulled on a little I saw a light in the back of +the house. +</p> +<p> +"My father said nothing, but we kept on, though pulling very easy for a +mile or two, and then we turned and floated down with the tide. 'You +might as well rest, Thomas,' said he, 'for you have worked pretty hard.' +</p> +<p> +"We floated slowly, for the tide was just beginning to turn, and when we +got near the house which I mentioned, I noticed that there was no light +in it. When we were about opposite to it father suddenly looked up and +said, not speaking very loud, 'By George! if that isn't Williamson +Green's house. I wasn't thinking of it when we rowed up, and passed it +without taking notice of it. I am sorry for that, for I wanted to see +Williamson, and now I expect he has gone to bed.' +</p> +<p> +"'Who is Mr. Green?' I asked. +</p> +<p> +"'He is an old friend of mine,' said my father, 'and I haven't seen him +for some little while now. About four months ago he borrowed of me a +sextant, quadrant, and chronometer. They were instruments I took from +old Captain Barney in payment of some work I did for him. I wasn't +usin' them, and Williamson had bought a catboat and was studying +navigation; but he has given up that fad now and has promised me over +and over to send me back my instruments, but he has never done it. If +I'd thought of it I would have stopped and got 'em of him; but I didn't +think, and now I expect he has gone to bed. However, I'll row in shore +and see; perhaps he's up yet.' +</p> +<p> +"You see, ma'am," said the speaker to my wife, "I'm tellin' you all +these particulars because I am very anxious you should understand +exactly how everything happened on this night, which was the +turning-point of my life." +</p> +<p> +"Very good," said Aunt Martha; "we want to hear all the particulars." +</p> +<p> +"Well, then," continued the burglar, "we pulled up to a stone wall which +was at the bottom of Green's place and made fast, and father he got out +and went up to the house. After a good while he came back and said that +he was pretty sure Williamson Green had gone to bed, and as it wouldn't +do to waken people up from their sleep to ask them for nautical +instruments they had borrowed, he sat down for a minute on the top of +the wall, and then he slapped his knee, not making much noise, though. +</p> +<p> +"'By George!' he said, 'an idea has just struck me. I can play the +prettiest trick on Williamson that ever was played on mortal man. Those +instruments are all in a box locked up, and I know just where he keeps +it. I saw it not long ago, when I went to his house to talk about a +yacht he wants built. They are on a table in the comer of his bedroom. +He was taking me through the house to show me the improvements he had +made, and he said to me:— +</p> +<p> +"'"Martin, there's your instruments. I won't trouble you to take them +with you, because they're heavy and you're not going straight home, but +I'll bring them to you day after to-morrow, when I shall be goin' your +way." +</p> +<p> +"'Now, then,' said my father, 'the trick I'm thinkin' of playing on +Williamson is this: I'd like to take that box of instruments out of his +room without his knowing it and carry them home, having the boat here +convenient; and then in a day or two to write to him and tell him I must +have 'em, because I have a special use for 'em. Of course he'll be +awfully cut up, not having them to send back; and when he comes down to +my place to talk about it, and after hearing all he has to say, I'll +show him the box. He'll be the most dumbfoundedest man in this State; +and if I don't choose to tell him he'll never know to his dying day how +I got that box. And if he lies awake at night, trying to think how I got +it, it will serve him right for keeping my property from me so long.' +</p> +<p> +"'But, father,' said I, 'if the people have gone to bed you can't get +into the house to play him your trick.' +</p> +<p> +"'That can be managed,' says he; 'I'm rather old for climbing myself, +but I know a way by which you, Thomas, can get in easy enough. At the +back of the house is a trellis with a grape-vine running over it, and +the top of it is just under one of the second-story windows. You can +climb up that trellis, Thomas, and lift up that window-sash very +carefully, so's not to make no noise, and get in. Then you'll be in a +back room, with a door right in front of you which opens into Mr. and +Mrs. Green's bedroom. There's always a little night lamp burning in it, +by which you can see to get about. In the corner, on your right as you +go into the room, is a table with my instrument-box standing on it. The +box is pretty heavy, and there is a handle on top to carry it by. You +needn't be afraid to go in, for by this time they are both sound asleep, +and you can pick up the box and walk out as gingerly as a cat, having of +course taken your shoes off before you went in. Then you can hand the +box out the back window to me,—I can climb up high enough to reach +it,—and you can scuttle down, and we'll be off, having the best rig on +Williamson Green that I ever heard of in my born days.' +</p> +<p> +"I was a very active boy, used to climbing and all that sort of thing, +and I had no doubt that I could easily get into the house; but I did not +fancy my father's scheme. +</p> +<p> +"'Suppose,' I said, 'that Mr. Williamson Green should wake up and see +me; what could I say? How could I explain my situation?' +</p> +<p> +"'You needn't say anything,' said my father. 'If he wakes up blow out +the light and scoot. If you happen to have the box in your hand drop it +out the back window and then slip down after it. He won't see us; but +if he does he cannot catch us before we get to the boat; but if he +should, however, I'll have to explain the matter to him, and the joke +will be against me; but I shall get my instruments, which is the main +point, after all.' +</p> +<p> +"I did not argue with my father, for he was a man who hated to be +differed with, and I agreed to help him carry out his little joke. We +took off our shoes and walked quietly to the back of the house. My +father stood below, and I climbed up the trellis under the back window, +which he pointed out. The window-sash was down all but a little crack to +let in air, and I raised it so slowly and gently that I made no noise. +Then without any trouble at all I got into the room. +</p> +<p> +"I found myself in a moderate-sized chamber, into which a faint light +came from a door opposite the window. Having been several hours out in +the night my eyes had become so accustomed to darkness that this light +was comparatively strong and I could see everything. +</p> +<p> +"Looking about me my eyes fell on a little bedstead, on which lay one of +the most beautiful infants I ever beheld in my life. Its golden hair +lay in ringlets upon the pillow. Its eyes were closed, but its soft +cheeks had in them a rosy tinge which almost equalled the colour of its +dainty little lips, slightly opened as it softly breathed and dreamed." +At this point I saw my wife look quickly at the bedroom key she had in +her hand. I knew she was thinking of George William. +</p> +<p> +"I stood entranced," continued the burglar, "gazing upon this babe, for +I was very fond of children; but I remembered that I must not waste +time, and stepped softly into the next room. There I beheld Mr. and Mrs. +Williamson Green in bed, both fast asleep, the gentleman breathing a +little hard. In a corner, just where my father told me I should find it, +stood the box upon the table. +</p> +<p> +"But I could not immediately pick it up and depart. The beautiful room +in which I found myself was a revelation to me. Until that moment I had +not known that I had tastes and sympathies of a higher order than might +have been expected of the youthful son of a boat-builder. Those artistic +furnishings aroused within a love of the beautiful which I did not know +I possessed. The carpets, the walls, the pictures, the hangings in the +windows, the furniture, the ornaments,—everything, in fact, impressed +me with such a delight that I did not wish to move or go away. +</p> +<p> +"Into my young soul there came a longing. 'Oh!' I said to myself, 'that +my parents had belonged to the same social grade as that worthy couple +reposing in that bed; and oh! that I, in my infancy, had been as +beautiful and as likely to be so carefully nurtured and cultured as that +sweet babe in the next room.' I almost heaved a sigh as I thought of the +difference between these surroundings and my own, but I checked myself; +it would not do to made a noise and spoil my father's joke. +</p> +<p> +"There were a great many things in that luxurious apartment which it +would have delighted me to look upon and examine, but I forbore." +</p> +<p> +"I wish I'd been there," said the stout man; "there wouldn't have been +any forbearin'." +</p> +<p> +The speaker turned sharply upon him. +</p> +<p> +"Don't you interrupt me again," he said angrily. Then, instantly +resuming his deferential tone, he continued the story. +</p> +<p> +"But I had come there by the command of my parent, and this command must +be obeyed without trifling or loss of time. My father did not approve of +trifling or loss of time. I moved quietly toward the table in the +corner, on which stood my father's box. I was just about to put my hand +upon it when I heard a slight movement behind me. I gave a start and +glanced backward. It was Mr. Williamson Green turning over in his bed; +what if he should awake? His back was now toward me, and my impulse was +to fly and leave everything behind me; but my father had ordered me to +bring the box, and he expected his orders to be obeyed. I had often been +convinced of that. +</p> +<p> +"I stood perfectly motionless for a minute or so, and when the gentleman +recommenced his regular and very audible breathing I felt it safe to +proceed with my task. Taking hold of the box I found it was much heavier +than I expected it to be; but I moved gently away with it and passed +into the back room. +</p> +<p> +"There I could not refrain from stopping a moment by the side of the +sleeping babe, upon whose cherub-like face the light of the night lamp +dimly shone. The little child was still sleeping sweetly, and my impulse +was to stop and kiss it; but I knew that this would be wrong. The infant +might awake and utter a cry and my father's joke be spoiled. I moved to +the open window, and with some trouble, and, I think, without any noise, +I succeeded in getting out upon the trellis with the box under my arm. +The descent was awkward, but my father was a tall man, and, reaching +upward, relieved me of my burden before I got to the ground. +</p> +<p> +"'I didn't remember it was so heavy,' he whispered, 'or I should have +given you a rope to lower it down by. If you had dropped it and spoiled +my instruments, and made a lot of noise besides, I should have been +angry enough.' +</p> +<p> +"I was very glad my father was not angry, and following him over the +greensward we quickly reached the boat, where the box was stowed away +under the bow to keep it from injury. +</p> +<p> +"We pushed off as quietly as possible and rowed swiftly down the river. +When we had gone about a mile I suddenly dropped my oar with an +exclamation of dismay. +</p> +<p> +"'What's the matter?' cried my father. +</p> +<p> +"'Oh, I have done a dreadful thing!' I said. 'Oh, father, I must go +back!' +</p> +<p> +"I am sorry to say that at this my father swore. +</p> +<p> +"'What do you want to go back for?' he said. +</p> +<p> +"'Just to think of it! I have left open the window in which that +beautiful child was sleeping. If it should take cold and die from the +damp air of the river blowing upon it I should never forgive myself. Oh, +if I had only thought of climbing up the trellis again and pulling down +that sash! I am sure I could go back and do it without making the least +noise.' My father gave a grunt; but what the grunt meant I do not know, +and for a few moments he was silent, and then he said:— +</p> +<p> +"'Thomas, you cannot go back; the distance is too great, the tide is +against us, and it is time that you and I were both in our beds. Nothing +may happen to that baby; but, attend to my words now, if any harm should +come to that child it will go hard with you. If it should die it would +be of no use for you to talk about practical jokes. You would be held +responsible for its death. I was going to say to you that it might be as +well for you not to say anything about this little venture until I had +seen how Williamson Green took the joke. Some people get angry with very +little reason, although I hardly believe he's that sort of a man; but +now things are different. He thinks all the world of that child, which +is the only one they've got; and if you want to stay outside of jail or +the house of refuge I warn you never to say a word of where you have +been this night.' +</p> +<p> +"With this he began to row again, and I followed his example, but with a +very heavy heart. All that night I dreamt of the little child with the +damp night winds blowing in upon it." +</p> +<p> +"Did you ever hear if it caught cold?" asked Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +"No," replied the burglar, "I never did. I mentioned the matter to my +father, and he said that he had great fears upon the subject, for +although he had written to Williamson Green, asking him to return the +instruments, he had not seen him or heard from him, and he was afraid +that the child had died or was dangerously sick. Shortly after that my +father sent me on a little trip to the Long Island coast to collect some +bills from people for whom he had done work. He gave me money to stay a +week or two at the seashore, saying that the change would do me good; +and it was while I was away on this delightful holiday that an event +occurred which had a most disastrous effect upon my future life. My +father was arrested for burglary! +</p> +<p> +"It appeared—and I cannot tell you how shocked I was when I discovered +the truth—that the box which I had carried away did not contain +nautical instruments, but was filled with valuable plate and jewels. My +unfortunate father heard from a man who had been discharged from the +service of the family whose house he had visited—whose name, by the +way, was not Green—where the box containing the valuables mentioned was +always placed at night, and he had also received accurate information in +regard to the situation of the rooms and the best method of gaining +access to them. +</p> +<p> +"I believe that some arrangement had been made between my father and +this discharged servant in regard to a division of the contents of the +box, and it was on account of a disagreement on this subject that the +man became very angry, and after pocketing what my father thought was +his fair share he departed to unknown regions, leaving behind a note to +the police which led to my father's arrest." +</p> +<p> +"That was a mean trick," said Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +The burglar looked at her gratefully. +</p> +<p> +"In the lower spheres of life, madam, such things often happen. Some of +the plate and jewels were found in my father's possession, and he was +speedily tried and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. And now, +can you imagine, ladies," said the tall burglar, apparently having +become satisfied to address himself to Aunt Martha, as well as my wife, +"the wretched position in which I found myself? I was upbraided as the +son of a thief. I soon found myself without home, without occupation, +and, alas! without good reputation. I was careful not to mention my +voluntary connection with my father's crime for fear that should I do so +I might be compelled to make a statement which might increase the +severity of his punishment. For this reason I did not dare to make +inquiries concerning the child in whom I had taken such an interest, +and whose little life I had, perhaps, imperilled. I never knew, ladies, +whether that infant grew up or not. +</p> +<p> +"But I, alas! grew up to a life of hardship and degradation. It would be +impossible for persons in your sphere of life to understand what I now +was obliged to suffer. Suitable employment I could not obtain, because I +was the son of a burglar. With a father in the State prison, it was of +no use for me to apply for employment at any respectable place of +business. I laboured at one thing and another, sometimes engaging in the +most menial employments. I also had been educated and brought up by my +dear mother for a very different career. Sometimes I managed to live +fairly well, sometimes I suffered. Always I suffered from the stigma of +my father's crime, always in the eyes of the community in which I +lived—a community, I am sorry to say, incapable, as a rule, of making +correct judgments in delicate cases like these—I was looked upon as +belonging to the ranks of the dishonest. It was a hard lot, and +sometimes almost impossible to bear up under. +</p> +<p> +"I have spoken at length, ladies, in order that you may understand my +true position; and I wish to say that I have never felt the crushing +weight of my father's disgrace more deeply than I felt it last evening. +This man," nodding toward the stout burglar, "came to me shortly after I +had eaten my supper, which happened to be a frugal one, and said to +me:— +</p> +<p> +"'Thomas, I have some business to attend to to-night, in which you can +help me if you choose. I know you are a good mechanic.' +</p> +<p> +"'If it is work that will pay me,' I answered, 'I should be very glad to +do it, for I am greatly in need of money.' +</p> +<p> +"'It will pay,' said he; and I agreed to assist him. +</p> +<p> +"As we were walking to the station, as the business to be attended to +was out of town, this man, whose name is James Barlow, talked to me in +such a way that I began to suspect that he intended to commit a +burglary, and openly charged him with this evil purpose. 'You may call +it burglary or anything else you please,' said he; 'property is very +unequally divided in this world, and it is my business in life to make +wrong things right as far as I can. I am going to the house of a man +who has a great deal more than he needs, and I haven't anything like as +much as I need; and so I intend to take some of his overplus,—not very +much, for when I leave his house he will still be a rich man, and I'll +be a poor one. But for a time my family will not starve.' +</p> +<p> +"'Argue as you please, James Barlow,' I said, 'what you are going to do +is nothing less than burglary.' +</p> +<p> +"'Of course it is,' said he; 'but it's all right, all the same. There +are a lot of people, Thomas, who are not as particular about these +things as they used to be, and there is no use for you to seem better +than your friends and acquaintances. Now, to show there are not so many +bigots as there used to be, there's a young man going to meet us at the +station who is greatly interested in the study of social problems. He is +going along with us just to look into this sort of thing and study it. +It is impossible for him to understand people of our class, or do +anything to make their condition better, if he does not thoroughly +investigate their methods of life and action. He's going along just as a +student, nothing more; and he may be down on the whole thing for all I +know. He pays me five dollars for the privilege of accompanying me, and +whether he likes it or not is his business. I want you to go along as a +mechanic, and if your conscience won't let you take any share in the +profit, I'll just pay you for your time.' +</p> +<p> +"'James Barlow,' said I, 'I am going with you, but for a purpose far +different from that you desire. I shall keep by your side, and if I can +dissuade you from committing the crime you intend I shall do so; but if +I fail in this, and you deliberately break into a house for purposes of +robbery, I shall arouse the inmates and frustrate your crime.' Now, +James Barlow," said he, turning to the stout man with a severe +expression on his strongly marked face, "is not what I have said +perfectly true? Did you not say to me every word which I have just +repeated?" +</p> +<p> +The stout man looked at the other in a very odd way. His face seemed to +broaden and redden, and he merely closed his eyes as he promptly +answered:— +</p> +<p> +"That's just what I said, every blasted word of it. You've told it fair +and square, leavin' off nothin' and puttin' in nothin'. You've told the +true facts out and out, up and down, without a break." +</p> +<p> +"Now, ladies," continued the tall man, "you see my story is +corroborated, and I will conclude it by saying that when this house, in +spite of my protest, had been opened, I entered with the others with the +firm intention of stepping into a hallway or some other suitable place +and announcing in a loud voice that the house was about to be robbed. As +soon as I found the family aroused and my purpose accomplished, I +intended to depart as quickly as possible, for, on account of the shadow +cast upon me by my father's crime, I must never be found even in the +vicinity of criminal action. But as I was passing through this room I +could not resist the invitation of Barlow to partake of the refreshments +which we saw upon the table. I was faint from fatigue and insufficient +nourishment. It seemed a very little thing to taste a drop of wine in a +house where I was about to confer a great benefit. I yielded to the +temptation, and now I am punished. Partaking even that little which did +not belong to me, I find myself placed in my present embarrassing +position." +</p> +<p> +"You are right there," said I, "it must be embarrassing; but before we +have any more reflections, there are some practical points about which +I wish you would inform me. How did that wicked man, Mr. Barlow I think +you called him, get into this house?" +</p> +<p> +The tall man looked at me for a moment, as if in doubt what he should +say; and then his expression of mingled hopelessness and contrition +changed into one of earnest frankness. +</p> +<p> +"I will tell you, sir, exactly," he said; "I have no wish to conceal +anything. I have long wanted to have an opportunity to inform occupants +of houses, especially those in the suburbs, of the insufficiency of +their window fastenings. Familiar with mechanic devices as I am, and +accustomed to think of such things, the precautions of householders +sometimes move me to laughter. Your outer doors, front and back, are of +heavy wood, chained, locked, and bolted, often double locked and bolted; +but your lower windows are closed in the first place by the lightest +kind of shutters, which are very seldom fastened at all, and in the +second place by a little contrivance connecting the two sashes, which is +held in place by a couple of baby screws. If these contrivances are of +the best kind and cannot be opened from the outside with a knife-blade +or piece of tin, the burglar puts a chisel or jimmy under the lower sash +and gently presses it upward, when the baby screws come out as easily as +if they were babies' milk-teeth. Not for a moment does the burglar +trouble himself about the front door, with its locks and chains and +bolts. He goes to the window, with its baby screws, which might as well +be left open as shut, for all the hindrance it is to his entrance; and +if he meddled with the door at all, it is simply to open it from the +inside, so that when he is ready to depart he may do so easily." +</p> +<p> +"But all that does not apply to my windows," I said. "They are not +fastened that way." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," said the man, "your lower shutters are solid and strong as +your doors. This is right, for if shutters are intended to obstruct +entrance to a house they should be as strong as the doors. When James +Barlow first reached this house he tried his jimmy on one of the +shutters in this main building, but he could not open it. The heavy bolt +inside was too strong for him. Then he tried another near by with the +same result. You will find the shutters splintered at the bottom. Then +he walked to the small addition at the back of the house, where the +kitchen is located. Here the shutters were smaller, and of course the +inside bolts were smaller. Everything in harmony. Builders are so +careful now-a-days to have everything in harmony. When Barlow tried his +jimmy on one of these shutters the bolt resisted for a time, but its +harmonious proportions caused it to bend, and it was soon drawn from its +staples and the shutter opened, and of course the sash was opened as I +told you sashes are opened." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said I, "shutters and sashes of mine shall never be opened in +that way again." +</p> +<p> +"It was with that object that I spoke to you," said the tall man. "I +wish you to understand the faults of your fastenings, and any +information I can give you which will better enable you to protect your +house, I shall be glad to give, as a slight repayment for the injury I +may have helped to do to you in the way of broken glass and spoiled +carpet. I have made window fastenings an especial study, and, if you +employ me for the purpose, I'll guarantee that I will put your house +into a condition which will be absolutely burglar proof. If I do not do +this to your satisfaction, I will not ask to be paid a cent." +</p> +<p> +"We will not consider that proposition now," I said, "for you may have +other engagements which would interfere with the proposed job." I was +about to say that I thought we had enough of this sort of story, when +Aunt Martha interrupted me. +</p> +<p> +"It seems to me," she said, speaking to the tall burglar, "that you have +instincts, and perhaps convictions, of what is right and proper; but it +is plain that you allow yourself to be led and influenced by +unprincipled companions. You should avoid even the outskirts of evil. +You may not know that the proposed enterprise is a bad one, but you +should not take part in it unless you know that it is a good one. In +such cases you should be rigid." +</p> +<p> +The man turned toward my aunt, and looked steadfastly at her, and as he +gazed his face grew sadder and sadder. +</p> +<p> +"Rigid," he repeated; "that is hard." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," I remarked, "that is one of the meanings of the word." +</p> +<p> +Paying no attention to me, he continued:— +</p> +<p> +"Madam," said he, with a deep pathos in his voice, "no one can be +better aware than I am that I have made many mistakes in the course of +my life; but that quality on which I think I have reason to be satisfied +with myself is my rigidity when I know a thing is wrong. There occurs to +me now an instance in my career which will prove to you what I say. +</p> +<p> +"I knew a man by the name of Spotkirk, who had invented a liniment for +the cure of boils. He made a great success with his liniment, which he +called Boilene, and at the time I speak of he was a very rich man. +</p> +<p> +"One day Spotkirk came to me and told me he wanted me to do a piece of +business for him, for which he would pay me twenty-five dollars. I was +glad to hear this, for I was greatly in need of money, and I asked him +what it was he wanted me to do. +</p> +<p> +"'You know Timothy Barker,' said he. 'Well, Timothy and I have had a +misunderstanding, and I want you to be a referee or umpire between us, +to set things straight.' +</p> +<p> +"'Very good,' said I, 'and what is the point of difference?' +</p> +<p> +"'I'll put the whole thing before you.' said he, 'for of course you +must understand it or you can't talk properly to Timothy. Now, you see, +in the manufacture of my Boilene I need a great quantity of good yellow +gravel, and Timothy Barker has got a gravel pit of that kind. Two years +ago I agreed with Timothy that he should furnish me with all the gravel +I should want for one-eighth of one per cent. of the profits on the +Boilene. We didn't sign no papers, for which I am sorry, but that was +the agreement; and now Timothy says that one-eighth of one per cent. +isn't enough. He has gone wild about it, and actually wants ten per +cent., and threatens to sue me if I don't give it to him.' +</p> +<p> +"'Are you obliged to have gravel? Wouldn't something else do for your +purpose?' +</p> +<p> +"'There's nothing as cheap,' said Spotkirk. 'You see I have to have lots +and lots of it. Every day I fill a great tank with the gravel and let +water onto it. This soaks through the gravel, and comes out a little +pipe in the bottom of the tank of a beautiful yellow color; sometimes it +is too dark, and then I have to thin it with more water.' +</p> +<p> +"'Then you bottle it,' I said. +</p> +<p> +"'Yes,' said Spotkirk; 'then there is all the expense and labour of +bottling it.' +</p> +<p> +"'Then you put nothing more into it,' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'What more goes into it before it's corked,' said Spotkirk, 'is my +business. That's my secret, and nobody's been able to find it out. +People have had Boilene analyzed by chemists, but they can't find out +the hidden secret of its virtue. There's one thing that everybody who +has used it does know, and that is that it is a sure cure for boils. If +applied for two or three days according to directions, and at the proper +stage, the boil is sure to disappear. As a proof of its merit I have +sold seven hundred and forty-eight thousand bottles this year.' +</p> +<p> +"'At a dollar a bottle?' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'That is the retail price,' said he. +</p> +<p> +"'Now, then, Mr. Spotkirk,' said I, 'it will not be easy to convince +Timothy Barker that one-eighth of one per cent. is enough for him. I +suppose he hauls his gravel to your factory?' +</p> +<p> +"'Hauling's got nothing to do with it,' said he; 'gravel is only ten +cents a load anywhere, and if I choose I could put my factory right in +the middle of a gravel pit. Timothy Barker has nothing to complain of. +</p> +<p> +"'But he knows you are making a lot of money,' said I, 'and it will be a +hard job to talk him over. Mr. Spotkirk, it's worth every cent of fifty +dollars.' +</p> +<p> +"'Now look here,' said he; 'if you get Barker to sign a paper that will +suit me, I'll give you fifty dollars. I'd rather do that than have him +bring a suit. If the matter comes up in the courts those rascally +lawyers will be trying to find out what I put into my Boilene, and that +sort of thing would be sure to hurt my business. It won't be so hard to +get a hold on Barker if you go to work the right way. You can just let +him understand that you know all about that robbery at Bonsall's +clothing-store, where he kept the stolen goods in his barn, covered up +with hay, for nearly a week. It would be a good thing for Timothy Barker +to understand that somebody else beside me knows about that business, +and if you bring it in right, it will fetch him around, sure.' +</p> +<p> +"I kept quiet for a minute or two, and then I said:— +</p> +<p> +"'Mr. Spotkirk, this is an important business. I can't touch it under a +hundred dollars.' He looked hard at me, and then he said:— +</p> +<p> +"'Do it right, and a hundred dollars is yours.' +</p> +<p> +"After that I went to see Timothy Barker, and had a talk with him. +Timothy was boiling over, and considered himself the worst-cheated man +in the world. He had only lately found out how Spotkirk made his +Boilene, and what a big sale he had for it, and he was determined to +have more of the profits. +</p> +<p> +"'Just look at it!' he shouted; 'when Spotkirk has washed out my gravel +it's worth more than it was before, and he sells it for twenty-five +cents a load to put on gentlemen's places. Even out of that he makes a +hundred and fifty per cent. profit.' +</p> +<p> +"I talked a good deal more with Timothy Barker, and found out a good +many things about Spotkirk's dealings with him, and then in an off-hand +manner I mentioned the matter of the stolen goods in his barn, just as +if I had known all about it from the very first. At this Timothy stopped +shouting, and became as meek as a mouse. He said nobody was as sorry as +he was when he found the goods concealed in his barn had been stolen, +and that if he had known it before the thieves took them away he should +have informed the authorities; and then he went on to tell me how he got +so poor and so hard up by giving his whole time to digging and hauling +gravel for Spotkirk, and neglecting his little farm, that he did not +know what was going to become of him and his family if he couldn't make +better terms with Spotkirk for the future, and he asked me very +earnestly to help him in this business if I could. +</p> +<p> +"Now, then, I set myself to work to consider this business. Here was a +rich man oppressing a poor one, and here was this rich man offering me +one hundred dollars—which in my eyes was a regular fortune—to help him +get things so fixed that he could keep on oppressing the poor one. Now, +then, here was a chance for me to show my principles. Here was a chance +for me to show myself what you, madam, call rigid; and rigid I was. I +just set that dazzling one hundred dollars aside, much as I wanted it. +Much as I actually needed it, I wouldn't look at it, or think of it. I +just said to myself, 'If you can do any good in this matter, do it for +the poor man;' and I did do it for Timothy Barker with his poor wife and +seven children, only two of them old enough to help him in the gravel +pit. I went to Spotkirk and I talked to him, and I let him see that if +Timothy Barker showed up the Boilene business, as he threatened to do, +it would be a bad day for the Spotkirk family. He tried hard to talk me +over to his side, but I was rigid, madam, I was rigid, and the business +ended in my getting seven per cent. of the profits of Boilene for that +poor man, Timothy Barker, and his large family; and their domestic +prosperity is entirely due—I say it without hesitation—to my efforts +on their behalf, and to my rigidity in standing up for the poor against +the rich." +</p> +<p> +"Of course," I here remarked, "you don't care to mention anything about +the money you squeezed out of Timothy Barker by means of your knowledge +that he had been a receiver of stolen goods, and I suppose the Boilene +man gave you something to get the percentage brought down from ten per +cent. to seven." +</p> +<p> +The tall burglar turned and looked at me with an air of saddened +resignation. +</p> +<p> +"Of course," said he, "it is of no use for a man in my position to +endeavour to set himself right in the eyes of one who is prejudiced +against him. My hope is that those present who are not prejudiced will +give my statements the consideration they deserve." +</p> +<p> +"Which they certainly will do," I continued. Turning to my wife and Aunt +Martha, "As you have heard this fine story, I think it is time for you +to retire." +</p> +<p> +"I do not wish to retire," promptly returned Aunt Martha. "I was never +more awake in my life, and couldn't go asleep if I tried. What we have +heard may or may not be true, but it furnishes subjects for +reflection—serious reflection. I wish very much to hear what that man +in the middle of the bench has to say for himself; I am sure he has a +story." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, ma'am," said the stout man, with animation, "I've got one, and I'd +like nothin' better than to tell it to you if you'll give me a little +somethin' to wet my lips with—a little beer, or whiskey and water, or +anything you have convenient." +</p> +<p> +"Whiskey and water!" said Aunt Martha with severity. "I should think +not. It seems to me you have had all the intoxicating liquors in this +house that you would want." +</p> +<p> +"But I don't think you're the kind of person who'd doctor the liquor. +This is the first gentleman's house where I ever found anything of that +kind." +</p> +<p> +"The worse for the gentleman," I remarked. The man grunted. +</p> +<p> +"Well, ma'am," he said, "call it anything you please—milk, cider, or, +if you have nothin' else, I'll take water. I can't talk without +somethin' soaky." +</p> +<p> +My wife rose. "If we are to listen to another story," she said, "I want +something to keep up my strength. I shall go into the dining-room and +make some tea, and Aunt Martha can give these men some of that if she +likes." +</p> +<p> +The ladies now left the room, followed by Alice. Presently they called +me, and, leaving the burglars in charge of the vigilant David, I went to +them. I found them making tea. +</p> +<p> +"I have been upstairs to see if George William is all right, and now I +want you to tell me what you think of that man's story," said my wife. +</p> +<p> +"I don't think it a story at all," said I. "I call it a lie. A story is +a relation which purports to be fiction, no matter how much like truth +it may be, and is intended to be received as fiction. A lie is a false +statement made with the intention to deceive, and that is what I believe +we have heard to-night." +</p> +<p> +"I agree with you exactly," said my wife. +</p> +<p> +"It may be," said Aunt Martha, "that the man's story is true. There are +some things about it which make me think so; but if he is really a +criminal he must have had trials and temptations which led him into his +present mode of life. We should consider that." +</p> +<p> +"I have been studying him," I said, "and I think he is a born rascal, +who ought to have been hung long ago." +</p> +<p> +My aunt looked at me. "John," she said, "if you believe people are born +criminals, they ought to be executed in their infancy. It could be done +painlessly by electricity, and society would be the gainer, although you +lawyers would be the losers. But I do not believe in your doctrine. If +the children of the poor were properly brought up and educated, fewer of +them would grow to be criminals." +</p> +<p> +"I don't think this man suffered for want of education," said my wife; +"he used very good language; that was one of the first things that led +me to suspect him. It is not likely that sons of boat-builders speak so +correctly and express themselves so well." +</p> +<p> +"Of course, I cannot alter your opinions," said Aunt Martha, "but the +story interested me, and I very much wish to hear what that other man +has to say for himself." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," said I, "you shall hear it; but I must drink my tea and go +back to the prisoners." +</p> +<p> +"And I," said Aunt Martha, "will take some tea to them. They may be bad +men, but they must not suffer." +</p> +<p> +I had been in the library but a few moments when Aunt Martha entered, +followed by Alice, who bore a tray containing three very large cups of +tea and some biscuit. +</p> +<p> +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to me, "if you will untie their hands, I +will give them some tea." +</p> +<p> +At these words each burglar turned his eyes on me with a quick glance. I +laughed. +</p> +<p> +"Hardly," said I. "I would not be willing to undertake the task of +tying them up again, unless, indeed, they will consent to drink some +more of my wine." +</p> +<p> +"Which we won't do," said the middle burglar, "and that's flat." +</p> +<p> +"Then they must drink this tea with their hands tied," said Aunt Martha, +in a tone of reproachful resignation, and, taking a cup from the tray, +she approached the stout man and held it up to his lips. At this act of +extreme kindness we were all amused, even the burglar's companions +smiled, and David so far forgot himself as to burst into a laugh, which, +however, he quickly checked. The stout burglar, however, saw nothing to +laugh at. He drank the tea, and never drew breath until the cup was +emptied. +</p> +<p> +"I forgot," said my aunt, as she removed the cup from his lips, "to ask +you whether you took much or little sugar." +</p> +<p> +"Don't make no difference to me," answered the man; "tea isn't malt +liquor; it's poor stuff any way, and it doesn't matter to me whether +it's got sugar in it or not, but it's moistenin', and that's what I +want. Now, madam, I'll just say to you, if ever I break into a room +where you're sleepin', I'll see that you don't come to no harm, even if +you sit up in bed and holler." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said Aunt Martha; "but I hope you will never again be +concerned in that sort of business." +</p> +<p> +He grinned. "That depends on circumstances," said he. +</p> +<p> +Aunt Martha now offered the tall man some tea, but he thanked her very +respectfully, and declined. The young man also said that he did not care +for tea, but that if the maid—looking at Alice—would give him a glass +of water he would be obliged. This was the first time he had spoken. His +voice was low and of a pleasing tone. David's face grew dark, and we +could see that he objected to this service from Alice. +</p> +<p> +"I will give him the water myself," said Aunt Martha. This she did, and +I noticed that the man's thirst was very soon satisfied. When David had +been refreshed, and biscuits refused by the burglars, who could not very +well eat them with their hands tied, we all sat down, and the stout man +began his story. I give it as he told it, omitting some coarse and rough +expressions, and a good deal of slang which would be unintelligible to +the general reader. +</p> +<p> +"There's no use," said the burglar, "for me to try and make any of you +believe that I'm a pious gentleman under a cloud, for I know I don't +look like it, and wouldn't be likely to make out a case." +</p> +<p> +At this the tall man looked at him very severely. +</p> +<p> +"I don't mean to say," he continued, "that my friend here tried anything +like that. Every word he said was perfectly true, as I could personally +testify if I was called upon the stand, and what I'm goin' to tell you +is likewise solid fact. +</p> +<p> +"My father was a cracksman, and a first-rate one, too; he brought me up +to the business, beginning when I was very small. I don't remember +havin' any mother, so I'll leave her out. My old man was very +particular; he liked to see things done right. One day I was with him, +and we saw a tinner nailing a new leader or tin water-spout to the side +of a house. +</p> +<p> +"'Look here, young man,' says Dad, 'you're makin' a pretty poor job of +that. You don't put in enough nails, and they ain't half drove in. +Supposin' there was a fire in that house some night, and the family had +to come down by the spout, and your nails would give way, and they'd +break their necks. What would you think then? And I can tell you what it +is, young man, I can appear ag'in you for doing poor work.' +</p> +<p> +"The tinner grumbled, but he used more nails and drove 'em tight, Dad +and me standin' by, an' looking at him. One rainy night not long after +this Dad took me out with him and we stopped in front of this house. +'Now, Bobbie,' said he, 'I want you to climb into that open second-story +window, and then slip down stairs and open the front door for me; the +family's at dinner.' +</p> +<p> +"'How am I to get up, Dad?' said I. +</p> +<p> +"'Oh, you can go up the spout,' says he; 'I'll warrant that it will hold +you. I've seen to it that it was put on good and strong.' +</p> +<p> +"I tried it, and as far as I can remember I never went up a safer +spout." +</p> +<p> +"And you opened the front door?" asked Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +"Indeed I did, ma'am," said the burglar, "you wouldn't catch me makin' +no mistakes in that line. +</p> +<p> +"After a while I got too heavy to climb spouts, and I took to the +regular business, and did well at it, too." +</p> +<p> +"Do you mean to say," asked Aunt Martha, "that you willingly and +premeditatedly became a thief and midnight robber?" +</p> +<p> +"That's what I am, ma'am," said he; "I don't make no bones about it. I'm +a number one, double-extra, back-springed, copper-fastened burglar, with +all the attachments and noiseless treadle. That's what I am, and no +mistake. There's all kinds of businesses in this world, and there's got +to be people to work at every one of 'em; and when a fellow takes any +particular line, his business is to do it well; that's my motto. When I +break into a house I make it a point to clean it out first-class, and +not to carry away no trash, nuther. Of course, I've had my ups and my +downs, like other people,—preachers and doctors and storekeepers,—they +all have them, and I guess the downs are more amusin' than the ups, at +least to outsiders. I've just happened to think of one of them, and I'll +let you have it. +</p> +<p> +"There was a man I knew named Jerry Hammond, that was a contractor, and +sometimes he had pretty big jobs on hand, buildin' or road-makin' or +somethin' or other. He'd contract to do anything, would Jerry, no matter +whether he'd ever done it before or not. I got to know his times and +seasons for collecting money, and I laid for him." +</p> +<p> +"Abominable meanness!" exclaimed my wife. +</p> +<p> +"It's all business," said the stout man, quite unabashed. "You don't +catch a doctor refusin' to practise on a friend, or a lawyer, nuther, +and in our line of business it's the same thing. It was about the end of +October, nigh four years ago, that I found out that Jerry had a lot of +money on hand. He'd been collectin' it from different parties, and had +got home too late in the day to put it in the bank, so says I to myself, +this is your time, old fellow, and you'd better make hay while the sun +shines. I was a little afraid to crack Jerry's house by myself, for he's +a strong old fellow, so I got a man named Putty Henderson to go along +with me. Putty was a big fellow and very handy with a jimmy; but he was +awful contrary-minded, and he wouldn't agree to clean out Jerry until I +promised to go halves with him. This wasn't fair, for it wasn't his job, +and a quarter would have been lots for him. +</p> +<p> +"But there wasn't no use arguin', and along we went, and about one +o'clock we was standin' alongside Jerry's bed, where he was fast asleep. +He was a bachelor, and lived pretty much by himself. I give him a punch +to waken him up, for we'd made up our minds that that was the way to +work this job. It wouldn't pay us to go around huntin' for Jerry's +money. He was such a sharp old fellow, it was six to four we'd never +find it. He sat up in bed with a jump like a hop-toad, and looked first +at one and then at the other of us. We both had masks on, and it wasn't +puzzlin' to guess what we was there fur. +</p> +<p> +"'Jerry Hammond,' says I, speakin' rather rough and husky, 'we knows +that you've got a lot o' money in this house, and we've come fur it. We +mean business, and there's no use foolin'. You can give it to us quiet +and easy, and keep a whole head on your shoulders, or we'll lay you out +ready fur a wake and help ourselves to the funds; and now you pays your +money and you can take your choice how you do it. There's nothin' +shabby about us, but we mean business. Don't we, pard?'—'That's so,' +says Putty. +</p> +<p> +"'Look here,' says Jerry, jest as cool as if he had been sittin' outside +on his own curbstone, 'I know you two men and no mistake. You're Tommy +Randall, and you're Putty Henderson, so you might as well take off them +masks.'—'Which I am glad to do,' says I, 'for I hate 'em,' and I put +mine in my pocket, and Putty he took off his." +</p> +<p> +"Excuse me," said Aunt Martha, interrupting at this point, "but when Mr. +Hammond mentioned the name of Tommy Randall, to whom did he refer?" +</p> +<p> +"I can explain that, madam," said the tall burglar, quickly. "This man +by his criminal course of life has got himself into a good many scrapes, +and is frequently obliged to change his name. Since I accidentally +became acquainted with him he has had several aliases, and I think that +he very often forgets that his real name is James Barlow." +</p> +<p> +"That's so," said the stout man, "there never was a more correct person +than this industrious and unfortunate man sittin' by me. I am dreadful +forgetful, and sometimes I disremember what belongs to me and what +don't. Names the same as other things. +</p> +<p> +"'Well, now, Jerry,' says I, 'you needn't think you're goin' to make +anythin' by knowin' us. You've got to fork over your cash all the same, +and if you think to make anything by peachin' on us after we've cleared +out and left you peaceful in your bed, you're mistook so far as I'm +concerned; for I've made the track clear to get out of this town before +daybreak, and I don't know when I'll come back. This place is gettin' a +little too hot for me, and you're my concludin' exercise.' Jerry he sat +still for a minute, considerin.' He wasn't no fool, and he knowed that +there wasn't no use gettin' scared, nor cussin', nor hollerin'. What's +more, he knowed that we was there to get his money, and if he didn't +fork it over he'd get himself laid out, and that was worse than losin' +money any day. 'Now, boys, says he, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll +make you an offer; a fair and square offer. What money I've got I'll +divide even with you, each of us takin' a third, and I'll try to make up +what I lose out of my next contract. Now nothin' could be no squarer +than that.'—'How much money have you got, Jerry?' says I, 'that's the +first thing to know.'—'I've got thirty-one hundred dollars even,' says +he, 'and that will be one thousand and thirty-three dollars and +thirty-three cents apiece. I've got bills to pay to-morrow for lumber +and bricks, and my third will pay 'em. If I don't I'll go to pieces. You +don't want to see me break up business, do you?'—'Now, Jerry,' says I, +'that won't do. You haven't got enough to divide into three parts. Putty +and me agree to go halves with what we get out of you, and when I lay +out a piece of business I don't make no changes. Half of that money is +for me, and half is for Putty. So just hand it out, and don't let's have +no more jabberin'.' +</p> +<p> +"Jerry he looked at me pretty hard, and then says he: 'You're about the +close-fisted and meanest man I ever met with. Here I offer you a third +part of my money, and all you've got to do is to take it and go away +peaceable. I'd be willin' to bet two to one that it's more than you +expected to get, and yet you are not satisfied; now, I'll be hanged if +I'm going to do business with you.'—'You can be hanged if you like,' +says I, 'but you'll do the business all the same.'—'No, I won't,' says +he, and he turns to Putty Henderson. 'Now, Putty,' says he, 'you've got +a pile more sense that this pal of yourn, and I'm goin' to see if I +can't do business with you. Now, you and me together can lick this Tommy +Randall just as easy as not, and if you'll help me do it I'll not only +divide the money with you, but I'll give you fifty dollars extra, so +that instead of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars—that's all he'd given +you, if he didn't cheat you—you'll have sixteen hundred, and I'll have +fifteen hundred instead of the thousand and thirty-three dollars which I +would have had left if my first offer had been took. So, Putty, what do +you say to that?' Now, Putty, he must have been a little sore with me on +account of the arguments we'd had about dividin', and he was mighty glad +besides to get the chance of makin' fifty dollars extry, and so he said +it was all right, and he'd agree. Then I thought it was about time for +me to take in some of my sail, and says I: 'Jerry, that's a pretty good +joke, and you can take my hat as soon as I get a new one, but of course +I don't mean to be hard on you, and if you really have bills to pay +to-morrow I'll take a third, and Putty'll take another, and we'll go +away peaceful.'—'No, you won't,' sings out Jerry, and with that he jumps +out of bed right at me, and Putty Henderson he comes at me from the +other side, and, between the two, they gave me the worst lickin' I ever +got in my born days, and then they dragged me down stairs and kicked me +out the front door, and I had hardly time to pick myself up before I saw +a policeman about a block off, and if he hadn't been a fat one he'd had +me sure. It wouldn't have been pleasant, for I was a good deal wanted +about that time. +</p> +<p> +"So you see, ladies and gents, that it's true what I said,—things don't +always go right in our line of business no more than any other one." +</p> +<p> +"I think you were served exactly right," said Aunt Martha; "and I wonder +such an experience did not induce you to reform." +</p> +<p> +"It did, ma'am, it did," said the burglar. "I made a vow that night that +if ever again I had to call in any one to help me in business of that +kind I wouldn't go pards with him. I'd pay him so much for the job, and +I'd take the risks, and I've stuck to it. +</p> +<p> +"But even that don't always work. Luck sometimes goes ag'in' a man, +even when he's working by himself. I remember a thing of that kind that +was beastly hard on me. A gentleman employed me to steal his daughter." +</p> +<p> +"What!" exclaimed my wife and Aunt Martha. "Steal his own daughter! What +do you mean by that?" +</p> +<p> +"That's what it was," said the stout burglar; "no more nor less. I was +recommended to the gent as a reliable party for that sort of thing, and +I met him to talk it over, and then he told me just how the case stood. +He and his wife were separated, and the daughter, about eleven years +old, had been given to her by the court, and she put it into a boardin' +school, and the gent he was goin' to Europe, and he wanted to get the +little gal and take her with him. He tried to get her once, but it +slipped up, and so there wasn't no good in his showin' hisself at the +school any more, which was in the country, and he knowed that if he +expected to get the gal he'd have to hire a professional to attend to +it. +</p> +<p> +"Now, when I heard what he had to say, I put on the strictly pious, and, +says I, 'that's a pretty bad thing you're askin' me to do, sir, to +carry away a little gal from its lovin' mother, and more 'an that, to +take it from a school where it's gettin' all the benefits of +eddication.'—'Eddication,' says he; 'that's all stuff. What eddication +the gal gets at a school like that isn't worth a row of pins, and when +they go away they don't know nothin' useful, nor even anything tip-top +ornamental. All they've learned is the pianer and higher mathematics. As +for anythin' useful, they're nowhere. There isn't one of them could +bound New Jersey or tell you when Washington crossed the +Delaware.'—'That may be, sir,' says I, 'but them higher branches comes +useful. If Washington really did cross the Delaware, your little gal +could ask somebody when it was, but she couldn't ask 'em how the pianer +was played, nor what the whole multiplication table came to added up. +Them things she'd have to learn how to do for herself. I give you my +word, sir, I couldn't take a little gal from a school, where she was +gettin' a number one eddication, silver forks and towels extry.' The +gent looked pretty glum, for he was to sail the next day, and if I +didn't do the job for him he didn't know who would, and he said that he +was sorry to see that I was goin' back on him after the recommend I'd +had, and I said that I wouldn't go back on him if it wasn't for my +conscience. I was ready to do any common piece of business, but this +stealin' away little gals from lovin' mothers was a leetle too much for +me. 'Well,' says he, 'there ain't no time to be lost, and how much more +will satisfy your conscience?' When I said a hundred dollars, we struck +the bargain. +</p> +<p> +"Well, we cut and dried that business pretty straight. I took a cab and +went out to the school, and the gent he got the key of a house that was +to let about three miles from the school, and he was to stay there and +look at that empty house until I brought him the gal, when he was to pay +me and take her away. I'd like to have had more time, so that I could go +out and see how the land laid, but there wasn't no more time, and I had +to do the best I could. The gent told me they all went a walkin' every +afternoon, and that if I laid low that would be the best time to get +her, and I must just fetch her along, no matter who hollered. +</p> +<p> +"I didn't know exactly how I was going to manage it, but I took along +with me a big bag that was made for the conveyance of an extinct +millionaire, but which had never been used, owin' to beforehand +arrangements which had been made with the party's family. +</p> +<p> +"I left the cab behind a bit of woods, not far from the school, and then +I laid low, and pretty soon I seed 'em all coming out, in a double line, +with the teacher behind 'em, for a walk. I had a description of the +little gal as was wanted, and as they come nearer I made her out easy. +She was the only real light-haired one in the lot. I hid behind some +bushes in the side of the road, and when they come up, and the +light-haired little gal was just opposite to me, I jumped out of the +bushes and made a dash at her. Whoop! what a row there was in one +second! Such a screamin' and screechin' of gals, such a pilin' on top +each other, and the teacher on top the whole of 'em, bangin' with her +umbrella; they pulled at the gal and they pulled at me, an' they yelled +and they howled, and I never was in such a row and hope I never shall be +again, and I grabbed that girl by her frock, and I tumbled some over one +way and some another, and I got the umbrella over my head, but I didn't +mind it, and I clapped that bag over the little gal, and I jerked, up +her feet and let her slip into it, and then I took her up like a bag of +meal, and put across the field, with the whole kit and boodle after me. +But I guess most of 'em must have tumbled down in hysterics, judgin' +from the screechin', and I got up to the cab and away we went. Well, +when we got to the house where I was to meet the gent, he began straight +off to blow at me. 'What do you mean,' he yelled, 'bringin' my daughter +in a bag?'—'It's the only way to do it, sir,' says I; 'they can't holler +and they can't kick, and people passin' by don't know what you've got,' +and so sayin' I untied the strings, put the little gal on her feet, and +pulled off the bag, and then I'd be hanged if I ever saw a man so ragin' +mad as he was. 'What do I want with that gal?' he cried; 'that's not my +daughter. That girl's hair is as black as a coal, and she's a Jew +besides.' As soon as I sot my eyes on the little varmint it come over me +that I got the thing crooked, and in the scrimmage I let go of the right +gal and grabbed another. +</p> +<p> +"I don't see how a man could help makin' mistakes with that +school-teacher's umbrella whanging away at his knowledge box, but I +wasn't goin' to let on. 'She ain't no Jew, nuther,' says I, 'and she's +your daughter, too; you needn't try to play no tricks on me. Pay me my +money and take her away as quick as you can, that's my advice, or before +you know it you'll be nabbed.'—'Pay ye!' he yelled; 'do you think I'd +pay you anything for that little Jew?'—'She's just as much a Christian +as you are,' says I. 'Ain't you a Christian, little gal? and is'nt this +gentleman your father? and ain't you surprised that he wants to give you +back to be put in the bag?' I said this hopin' she'd have sense enough +to say he was her father so's to get rid of me. +</p> +<p> +"The wretched gal had been clean dumbfounded when she was took out of +the bag, and hadn't done nothin' so far but blubber and cry, and try to +get away, which she couldn't, because I held her frock; but now she ups +and screams he wasn't her father, and she'd never seen him before, and +then he storms and swears, and tells me to take her back where I got +her, and I tell him I'll see him hanged first, and what I want is my +money; she screams, and he swears he'll not pay me a cent, and I squares +off and says that I'll thrash him out of his skin, and then he calls in +his coachman, and they both make at me, and I backs out the door to get +my cabby to stand by me, and I found that he'd cut out, havin' most +likely got frightened, afraid of bein' mixed up in trouble. Then I seed +on the high road, some half a mile away, some men comin' gallopin', and +the gent he looked out and seed 'em, too, and then says he to me, +'You'll jist take that little Jew gal back where you got her from; she's +no use to me; I'm goin';' and at that I hollered for my money, and made +a grab at him, but the coachman he tripped me over backward, and before +I could git up again they was both off with the horses on a run. +</p> +<p> +"I was so mad I couldn't speak, but there wasn't no time for foolin', +and I hadn't made up my mind which door I should cut out of, when the +fellows on horseback went ridin' past as hard as they could go. They +must have seed the carriage drivin' away, and thought for sure it had +the gal in it, and they was after it, lickety-split. +</p> +<p> +"When they was clean gone I looked round for the little gal, but +couldn't see her, but all a-sudden she came out of the fireplace, where +she'd been hidin'. She'd got over her cryin', and over her scare, too, +judgin' from her looks. 'I'm glad he's gone,' says she, 'and I'm mighty +glad, too, that Mr. Haskins and them other men didn't see me.'—'Who's +they?' says I.—'They's neighbors,' says she;' if they knew I was here +they'd took me back.'—'Well, you little minx,' say I, 'isn't that what +you want?'—'No,' says she. 'I didn't want to go with that man, for I +don't know him, and I hate him, but I don't want to go back to that +school. I hate it worse than anything in the whole world. You haven't no +idea what a horrid place it is. They just work you to death, and don't +give you half enough to eat. My constitution won't stand it. I've told +Pop that, and he thinks so too, but Marm, she don't believe in it, and +my stayin' there is all her doin'. I've been wantin' to get away for +ever so long, but I didn't want to be took off in a bag; but now that +I'm out of that horrid hole I don't want to go back, and if you'll take +me home to Pop, I know he won't let me go back, and he'll pay you real +handsome besides.'—'Who's your Pop?' says I.—'He's Mr. Groppeltacker, +of Groppeltacker & Mintz, corset findings, seven hundred and something +or other, I forget the number now, Broadway. Oh, Pop does a lot of +business, I tell you, and he's got lots of money. He sends corset +findings to South America, and Paris, and Chicago, and Madagascar, and +the uttermost parts of the earth. I've heard him say that often, and you +needn't be afraid of his not bein' able to pay you. A lot more than that +man would have paid you for his little gal, if you'd catched the right +one. So if you take me to Pop, and get me there safe and sound, it will +be an awful good speck for you.' +</p> +<p> +"Now, I begins to think to myself that perhaps there was somethin' in +what that little Jew gal was sayin', and that I might make something out +of the gal after all. I didn't count on gettin' a big pile out of old +Groppeltacker,—it wasn't likely he was that kind of a man,—but +whatever I did get would be clean profit, and I might as well try it on. +He couldn't make no charge ag'in me fur bringin' him his daughter, if +she asked me to do it; so says I to her, 'Now, if I take you home to +your Pop, will you promise on your word an' honour, that you won't say +nothin' about my carryin' you off in a bag, and say that you seed me +walkin' along the road and liked my looks, and told me you were +sufferin', and asked me to take you home to your kind parents, where you +might be took proper care of; and that I said I wasn't goin' that way, +but I'd do it out of pure Christian charity, and nothin' more nor less, +and here you was? And then, of course, you can tell him he ought to do +the handsome thing by me.'—'I'll do that,' says she, 'and I tell how +you talked to me awful kind for more than an hour, tryin' to keep me to +stay at the school, and it wasn't till I got down on my knees and weeped +that you agreed to take me to my kind father.'—'All right,' says I, 'I +might as well take you along, but we'll have to go back by the railroad +and foot it, at least two miles, to the station, and I don't know about +walkin' across the country with a little girl dressed as fine as you +are. I might get myself suspicioned.'—'That's so,' says she; 'we might +meet somebody that'd know me,' and then she wriggled up her little +forehead and began to think. I never did see such a little gal as sharp +as that one was; needles was nothin' to her. In about a minute she says, +'Where's that bag of yourn?'—'Here it is,' says I; and then she took it +and looked at it up and down, with her head cocked on one side. 'If I'd +somethin' to cut that bag with,' says she, 'I could fix myself up so +that nobody'd know me, don't care who it was.'—'I don't want that bag +cut,' says I; 'it's an extry good bag; it was made for a particular +purpose, and cost money.'—'Pop will pay expenses,' says she; 'how much +did it cost?'—'It was four dollars cash,' said I.—'They cheated you +like everything,' says she; 'you could get a bag like that any day for a +dollar and seventy-five cents. Will you let it go at that?'—'All +right,' says I, for I was tickled to see how sharp that little Jew gal +was, and ten to one I'd throwed away the bag before we got to town; so +she pulled a little book out of her pocket with a pencil stuck in it, +and turnin' over to a blank page she put down, 'Bag, one dollar and +seventy-five;' then she borrows my big knife, and holdin' the top of the +bag up ag'in her belt, she made me stick a pin in it about a +hand's-breadth from the floor; then she took the knife and cut the bag +clean across, me a-holdin' one side of it; then she took the top end of +that bag and slipped it on her, over her head and shoulders, and tied +the drawin' strings in it round her waist, and it hung around her just +like a skirt, nearly touchin' the ground; then she split open the rest +of the bag, and made a kind of shawl out of it, puttin' it into shape +with a lot o' pins, and pinnin' it on herself real clever. She had lots +of pins in her belt, and she told me that she never passed a pin in that +school without pickin' it up, and that she had four hundred and +fifty-nine of them now in her room, which she was mighty sorry to leave +behind, and that these she had now was this day's pickin' up. +</p> +<p> +"When she got done workin' at herself you couldn't see not a ribbon nor +a hem of her fine clothes; it was all black skirt and shawl, and she'd +put up her sleeve, so that when her arm stuck out it was bare. Then she +took all the ribbons and flowers off her hat, and crumpled it up, and +when she tied it on what a guy she was. 'Now,' says she, 'I can go +barefoot.'—'Which you won't,' says I, 'for you'll get your feet all +cut, but you can muddy your shoes,' which she did, I pumpin' on 'em, so +that the dust in the back yard would stick. Then we starts off across +the country, and, upon my word, I was pretty nigh ashamed to be seen +walkin' with such a little scarecrow. When I bought the tickets at the +station she asked me how much they was, and put it down in her book. +When we got into the cars the people all looked hard at her, and I +reckon they thought some kind of a home had been burnt down, and this +was one of the orphans that had been saved. But they didn't say nothin', +and she fixed herself as comfortable as you please; and before long a +boy came through the car with fruit in a basket, and then says she to +me, 'I want two apples.' The boy had gone past us, but I got up and +followed him and bought her two apples. 'How much did you give for +them?' says she, when I come back.—'They was two for five cents,' says +I.—'Well,' says she, 'they do stick you dreadful. Two for three cents +is all papa or I pays for apples like them,' and she took out her little +book and put down, 'Apples, three cents.'—'Very well, miss,' says I, +'but if you want any more refreshments you buy 'em yourself.'—'I think +I'd better,' says she, and she went to work eatin' them two apples. She +hadn't more than got through with 'em when the boy came around ag'in. 'I +want a banana,' says she; 'lend me five cents,' which I did, and she put +down, 'Cash, five cents.' Then the boy come up, and says she, 'How much +are your bananas?'—'Five cents,' said he.—'For two?' says she.—'No,' +says he, 'for one.'—'What do you take me for?' says she. 'I've bought +bananas before. I'll give you three cents for that one,' pointin' to the +biggest in the lot.—'I can't do that,' said the boy; 'the price is five +cents.'—'I'd like a banana,' says she, 'but I don't pay more'n three +cents; take it or leave it,' and with that the boy went on. 'Now,' says +I, 'you've gouged yourself out of a banana.'—'Not a bit of it,' says +she; 'he'll be back;' and in two minutes he was back, and said she might +have it for three cents. 'Have you got two coppers?' said she. 'Let me +see 'em.' He said he had, and showed 'em to her, and she took 'em and +the banana, and then give him five cents, and then she didn't give the +change to me, but put it in her pocket. 'Now,' says she, 'if you'd buy +things that way, you'd be rich in time.' +</p> +<p> +"When we got to the city we took the elevated and went up town to +Forty-eighth street, and then walked over to her father's house. It was +a big one, on one of the cross streets. When we got there, she told me +to wait a minute, and, lookin' around to see that nobody was comin', she +slipped off the skirt and the cape she had made and rolled 'em up in a +bundle. 'It don't matter about my hat and shoes,' says she, 'but they +wouldn't know me in such duds.' Then, handin' me the bundle, she said, +'For twenty-five cents you can get that bag mended just as good as new, +so you can take it, and it will save us a dollar and a half.'—'No, you +don't,' says I, for I'd had enough of her stinginess. 'I don't touch +that bag ag'in, and I made up my mind that minute to charge the old man +five dollars' worth. When the front door was opened, the servant gal +looked as if she couldn't believe her eyes, but my young woman was as +cool as you please, and she had me showed into a room off the hall, and +then she went up-stairs. +</p> +<p> +"I sat a-waitin' a long time, which gave me a good chance to look around +at things. The room was real handsome, and I took a peep at the window +fastenin's and the lay of the doors, thinkin' the knowledge might come +in handy some time. Right in front of me on a table was a little yellow +mouse, and it struck me as I looked at it that that must be gold. I +listened if anybody was comin', and then I picked it up to see if it +really was. I thought I heard the door-bell ring just then, and shut it +up in my hand quick, but nobody went to the door; and then I looked at +the little mouse, and if it wasn't pure gold it was the best imitation +ever I see, so I slipped it quietly in my pocket to look at it ag'in +when I had time. +</p> +<p> +"Pretty soon old Groppeltacker come in, shut the door, and sot down. 'So +you brought my daughter back,' says he.—'Yes,' says I.—'And you expect +to be paid for it,' says he.—'Yes,' says I, 'I do.'—'How much do you +ask for your services?' says he. Now, this was a sort of a staggerer, +for I hadn't made up my mind how much I was goin' to ask; but there +wasn't time for no more thinkin' about it, and so says I, plum, 'A +hundred dollars, and there was some expenses besides.'—'Well, well,' +says he, 'that seems like a good deal, just for bringin' a little gal +from school. It couldn't have took you more'n a couple of hours.'—'I +don't charge for time,' says I, 'it's for the risks and the science of +the thing. There's mighty few men in this town could have brought your +daughter home as neat as I did.'—'Well, well,' says he, rubbin' his +hands, 'I expect I'll have to pay for the whole term of the school, +whether she's there or not, and the business will come heavy on me. +Don't you think sixty dollars would pay you?' Now, I know when you deal +with this sort of a man there's always a good deal of difference +splittin'; and so, says I, 'No, it won't. I might take ninety dollars, +but that's the very lowest peg.'—'The very lowest?' says he, gettin' up +and walkin' about a little; and then I thought I heard the door-bell +ring again, and I was dreadful afraid somebody would come and call off +the old man before he finished the bargain. 'Well,' says I, 'we'll call +it eighty-five and expenses, and there I'll stop.' +</p> +<p> +"Groppeltacker, now he set down ag'in and looked hard at me. 'I didn't +ask you to bring my daughter back,' says he, speakin' gruff, and very +different from the way he spoke before, 'and what's more, I didn't want +her back, and what's more yet, I'm not goin' to pay you a red +cent.'—'Now, look a-here,' says I, mighty sharp, 'none o' that, old +man; fork over the money or I'll lay you out stiff as a poker, and help +myself. I'm not a fellow to be fooled with, and there's nobody in this +house can stop me.' Old Groppeltacker, he didn't turn a hair, but just +sot there, and says he, 'Before you blow any more, suppose you take my +little gold mouse out of your pocket and hand it to me.' I must say I +was took back at this, but I spoke back, as bold as brass, and said I +never seed his gold mouse. 'O, ho!' says he, 'what you didn't see was +the electric button under the table cover which rung a bell when the +mouse was picked up. That's what I call my mouse-trap.' +</p> +<p> +"At this I jist b'iled over. 'Now,' says I, 'just you hand out every +cent you've got, and your watch, too; not another word.' And I jumped up +and clapped my hand on my pistol in my hip-pocket, and just at that +minute there was a click and the nippers were on me, and there was a big +policeman with his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't speak, I was so +b'ilin' and so dumbfounded both at once. Old Groppeltacker he just +leaned back and he laughed. 'You came in,' he said to the cop,'jest the +second I rang, and as soft as a cat, and the first thing that I want +you to do is to take that gold mouse out of his pocket, and I'll be on +hand whenever you let me know I'm wanted.' The cop he took the gold +mouse out of my pocket, and says he, 'I know this fellow, and if I'm not +mistook, they'll be more charges than yourn made ag'in him.' There +wasn't no chance to show fight, so I didn't do it, but I says to old +Groppeltacker, 'There's my expenses, you've got to pay them, +anyway.'—'All right,' says he, 'jist you send in your bill marked +correct, by my daughter, and I'll settle it,' and he laughed again, and +the cop he took me off. Well, ladies and gents, that little piece of +business, together with some other old scores, took me to Sing Sing for +three years, and it tain't six months since I got out, so you can see +for yourselves what hard times a fellow in my line of business sometimes +has." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Aunt Martha, "I don't approve of the Groppeltacker sort of +people, but if there were more of that kind I believe there would be +fewer of your kind. That story shows you in such a bad light that I +believe it's true." +</p> +<p> +"Every word of it," said the man. "I wish it wasn't." +</p> +<p> +And now I spoke. "Since you claim to be a truth-telling being," I said +to the stout burglar, "suppose you tell me why you never attempted +before to break into my house. Every considerable dwelling in this +neighbourhood has been entered, and I have no doubt you are the men who +committed all the burglaries." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," said he; "not men, I am the man who did 'em all; but these +two friends of mine was never with me before in a bit of business like +this. 'Tain't in their line. I have had pals with me, but they was +professionals. These ain't cracksmen, they don't know nothin' about it; +but this one is handy at tools, and that's the reason I brung him along, +but you see he kicked, and was goin' to give me away, and this young +gentleman"— +</p> +<p> +"Never mind about that young gentleman," I said; "I have a certain +curiosity to know why my house was not entered when the others were." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said he, "I don't mind tellin' yer how that was. It was on +account of your baby. We don't like to crack a house where there's a +pretty small baby that's liable to wake up and howl any minute, and +rouse up the rest of the family. There's no workin' in a house with +comfort when there's such a young one about. I'll tell you what it is, +all your burglar-alarms and your dogs ain't worth nuthin' alongside of a +baby for guardin' a house. If a cracksman ain't careful the alarms will +go off, and if he don't know how to manage dogs, the dogs will bark. But +by George, sir, there ain't no providin' ag'in a baby. He'll howl any +time, and nobody can tell when, so I waited till your baby was a little +more settled in its ways and slept soundly, and then we come along, and +here we are." +</p> +<p> +This statement very much surprised me, and did not elate me. Without +saying so to any one, I had flattered myself that the burglars had heard +of my precautions, and of my excellent stock of firearms, and perhaps +had got a notion that I would be an intrepid man to deal with, and it +was somewhat humiliating to find that it was our baby the burglars were +afraid of, and not myself. My wife was amazed. +</p> +<p> +"Can it be possible," she said, "that these people know so much about +our baby, and that George William has been protecting this house?" +</p> +<p> +"It makes my flesh creep," said Aunt Martha. "Do you know everything +about all of us?" +</p> +<p> +"Wish I did, ma'am," said the stout burglar; "wish I'd known about that +beastly liquor." +</p> +<p> +"Well, we've had enough of this," said I, rising; "and, my dear, you and +Aunt Martha must be ready to go to bed, and David and I will keep guard +over these fellows until morning." +</p> +<p> +At this instant the youngest burglar spoke. His face wore a very anxious +expression. +</p> +<p> +"May I ask, sir," he said, "what you intend to do with me in the +morning?" +</p> +<p> +"I have already said," I answered, "that I shall then hand over all of +you to the officers of justice of this country." +</p> +<p> +"But, sir," said the young man, "you will surely except me. I am not at +all concerned in this matter, and it would be of the greatest possible +injury to me to be mixed up in it, or to be mentioned in public reports +as an associate of a criminal. I'm not acquainted with the gentleman at +the other end of the bench, but I have every reason to believe from what +he said to me that he intended to notify you if this James Barlow +proceeded to any open act. For myself, I beg you will allow me to state +who and what I am, and to tell you by what a strange concatenation of +circumstances I happen to find myself in my present position—one which, +I assure you, causes me the greatest embarrassment and anxiety." +</p> +<p> +"We've had enough story-telling for one night," said I, "and you had +better reserve your statement for the magistrate." +</p> +<p> +Here Aunt Martha put in her voice. +</p> +<p> +"That is not fair," she said, "two of them have been allowed to speak, +and this one has just as much right to be heard as the others. What do +you say, Cornelia?" +</p> +<p> +I hoped that my wife would put herself on my side, and would say that we +had enough of this sort of thing; but female curiosity is an unknown +quantity, and she unhesitatingly replied that she would like to hear the +young man's story. I sat down in despair. It was useless to endeavour to +withstand this yearning for personal information,—one of the curses, I +may say, of our present civilization. The young man gave no time for +change of opinion, but immediately began. His voice was rich and rather +low, and his manner exceedingly pleasing and gentle. +</p> +<p> +"I wish to state in the first place," said he, "that I am a reporter +for the press. In the exercise of my vocation I have frequently found +myself in peculiar and unpleasant positions, but never before have I +been in a situation so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this. In the +course of my studies and experiences I have found that in literature and +journalism, as well as in art, one can make a true picture only of what +one has seen. Imagination is all very well, often grand and beautiful; +but imaginative authors show us their inner selves and not our outer +world; there is to-day a demand for the real, and it is a demand which +will be satisfied with nothing but the truth. I have determined, as far +as in me lies, to endeavour to supply this demand, and I have devoted +myself to the study of Realism. +</p> +<p> +"With this end in view, I have made it a rule never to describe anything +I have not personally seen and examined. If we would thoroughly +understand and appreciate our fellow-beings we must know what they do +and how they do it; otherwise we cannot give them credit for their +virtues, or judge them properly for their faults. If I could prevent +crime I would annihilate it, and when it ceased to exist the necessity +for describing it would also cease. But it does exist. It is a powerful +element in the life of the human race. Being known and acknowledged +everywhere, it should be understood; therefore it should be described. +The grand reality of which we are a part can never be truly comprehended +until we comprehend all its parts. But I will not philosophize. I have +devoted myself to Realism, and in order to be a conscientious student I +study it in all its branches. I am frequently called upon to write +accounts of burglars and burglaries, and in order thoroughly to +understand these people and their method of action I determined, as soon +as the opportunity should offer itself, to accompany a burglarious +expedition. My sole object was the acquisition of knowledge of the +subject,—knowledge which to me would be valuable, and, I may say, +essential. I engaged this man, James Barlow, to take me with him the +first time he should have on hand an affair of this kind, and thus it is +that you find me here to-night in this company. As I came here for the +purpose of earnest and thorough investigation, I will frankly admit that +I would not have interfered with his processes, but at the same time I +would have seen that no material injuries should result to any members +of this family." +</p> +<p> +"That was very kind of you," I said, at which my wife looked at me +somewhat reproachingly. +</p> +<p> +"If he really intended it," she remarked, "and I do not see why that was +not the case, it was kind in him." +</p> +<p> +"As for me," said Aunt Martha, very sympathetically, "I think that the +study of Realism may be carried a great deal too far. I do not think +that there is the slightest necessity for people to know anything about +burglars. If people keep talking and reading about diseases they will +get them, and if they keep talking and reading about crimes they will +find that iniquity is catching, the same as some other things. Besides, +this realistic description gets to be very tiresome. If you really want +to be a writer, young man, why don't you try your hand on some original +composition? Then you might write something which would be interesting." +</p> +<p> +"Ah, madam," said the young man, casting his eyes on the floor, "it +would be far beyond my power to write anything more wonderful than what +I have known and seen! If I may tell you some of the things which have +happened to me, you will understand why I have become convinced that in +this world of realities imagination must always take a second place." +</p> +<p> +"Of course we want to hear your story," said Aunt Martha; "that is what +we are here for." +</p> +<p> +"If I was unbound," said the young man, looking at me, "I could speak +more freely." +</p> +<p> +"No doubt of it," said I; "but perhaps you might run away before you +finished your story. I wouldn't have that happen for the world." +</p> +<p> +"Don't make fun of him," said Aunt Martha. "I was going to ask you to +cut him loose, but after what you say I think it would perhaps be just +as well to keep them all tied until the narratives are completed." +</p> +<p> +With a sigh of resignation the young man began his story. +</p> +<p> +"I am American born, but my father, who was a civil engineer and of high +rank in his profession, was obliged, when I was quite a small boy, to go +to Austria, where he had made extensive contracts for the building of +railroads. In that country I spent the greater part of my boyhood and +youth. There I was educated in the best schools, my father sparing no +money to have me taught everything that a gentleman should know. My +mother died when I was a mere infant, and as my father's vocation made +it necessary for him to travel a great deal, my life was often a lonely +one. For society I depended entirely upon my fellow-scholars, my tutors, +and masters. It was my father's intention, however, that when I had +finished my studies I should go to one of the great capitals, there to +mix with the world. +</p> +<p> +"But when this period arrived I was in no haste to avail myself of the +advantages he offered me. My tastes were studious, my disposition +contemplative, and I was a lover of rural life. +</p> +<p> +"My father had leased an old castle in Carinthia, not far from the +mountains, and here he kept his books and charts, and here he came for +recreation and study whenever his arduous duties gave him a little +breathing-spell. For several months I had lived at this castle, happy +when my father was with me and happy when I was alone. I expected soon +to go to Vienna, where my father would introduce me to some of his +influential friends. But day by day I postponed the journey. +</p> +<p> +"Walking one morning a few miles from the castle, I saw at the edge of a +piece of woodland a female figure seated beneath a tree. Approaching +nearer, I perceived that she was young, and that she was sketching. I +was surprised, for I knew that in this part of the world young women, at +least those of the upper classes, to which the costume and tastes of +this one showed her to belong, were not allowed to wander about the +country by themselves; but although I stood still and watched the young +lady for some time, no companion appeared upon the scene. +</p> +<p> +"The path I had intended to take led past the piece of woodland, and I +saw no reason why I should diverge from my proposed course. I +accordingly proceeded, and when I reached the young lady I bowed and +raised my hat. I think that for some time she had perceived my approach, +and she looked up at me with a face that was half merry, half +inquisitive, and perfectly charming. I cannot describe the effect which +her expression had upon me. I had never seen her before, but her look +was not such a one as she would bestow upon a stranger. I had the most +powerful desire to stop and speak to her, but having no right to do so, +I should have passed on, had she not said to me, in the best of English, +'Good-morning, sir.' Then I stopped, you may be sure. I was so +accustomed to speak to those I meet in either French or German that I +involuntarily said to her,'<i>Bon jour, Mademoiselle</i>.'—'You need not +speak French,' she said; 'I am neither English nor American, but I speak +English. Are you the gentleman who lives in Wulrick Castle? If so, we +are neighbours, and I wish you would tell me why you live there all the +time alone.' +</p> +<p> +"At this I sat down by her. 'I am that person,' I said, and handed her +my card. 'But before I say any more, please tell me who you are.'—'I am +Marie Dorfler. My father's house is on the other side of this piece of +woodland; you cannot see it from here; this is part of his estate. And +now tell me why you live all by yourself in that old ruin.'—'It is not +altogether a ruin,' I answered; 'part of it is in very good condition.' +And then I proceeded to give her an account of my method of life and my +reasons for it. 'It is interesting,' she said, 'but it is very odd.'—'I +do not think it half so odd,' I answered, 'as that you should be here by +yourself.'—'That is truly an out-of-the-way sort of thing,' she said; +'but just now I am doing out-of-the-way things. If I do not do them now, +I shall never have the opportunity again. In two weeks I shall be +married, and then I shall go to Prague, and everything will be by line +and rule. No more delightful rambles by myself. No more sitting quietly +in the woods watching the little birds and hares. No more making a +sketch just where I please, no matter whether the ground be damp or +not.'—'I wonder that you are allowed to do these things now,' I +said.—'I am not allowed,' she answered. 'I do them in hours when I am +supposed to be painting flower pieces in an upper room.'—'But when +you're married,' I said, 'your husband will be your companion in such +rambles.'—'Hardly,' she said, shrugging her shoulders; 'he will be +forty-seven on the thirteenth of next month, which I believe is July, +and he is a great deal more grizzled than my father, who is past fifty. +He is very particular about all sorts of things, as I suppose he has to +be, as he is a Colonel of infantry. Nobody could possibly disapprove of +my present performances more than he would.' I could not help +ejaculating, 'Why, then, do you marry him?' She smiled at my +earnestness. 'Oh, that is all arranged,' she said, 'and I have nothing +to do with it. I have known for more than a year that I'm to marry +Colonel Kaldhein, but I cannot say that I have given myself much concern +about it until recently. It now occurs to me that if I expect to amuse +myself in the way I best like I must lose no time doing so.' I looked at +the girl with earnest interest. 'It appears to me,' said I, 'that your +ways of amusing yourself are very much like mine.'—'That is true,' she +said, looking up with animation, 'they are. Is it not delightful to be +free, to go where you like, and do what you please, without any one to +advise or interfere with you?'—'It is delightful,' said I; and for half +an hour we sat and talked about these delights and kindred subjects. She +was much interested in our castle, and urged me to make a sketch of it, +so that she may know what it now looked like. She had seen it when a +little girl, but never since, and had been afraid to wander very far in +this direction by herself. I told her that it would be far better for +her to see the castle with her own eyes, and that I could conduct her to +an eminence, not half a mile away, where she could have an excellent +view of it. This plan greatly pleased her; but looking at her watch she +said that it would be too late for her to go that morning, but if I +happened to come that way the next day, and she should be there to +finish her sketch, she would be delighted to have me show her the +eminence." +</p> +<p> +"I think," interrupted Aunt Martha, "that she was a very imprudent young +woman." +</p> +<p> +"That may be," he replied, "but you must remember, madam, that up to +this time the young lady had been subjected to the most conventional +trammels, and that her young nature had just burst out into temporary +freedom and true life. It was the caged bird's flight into the bright +summer air." +</p> +<p> +"Just the kind of birds," said Aunt Martha, "that shouldn't be allowed +to fly, at least until they are used to it. But you can go on with your +story." +</p> +<p> +"Well," said the young man, "the next day we met I took her to the +piece of high ground I had mentioned, and she sketched the castle. +After that we met again and again, nearly every day. This sort of story +tells itself. I became madly in love with her, and I am sure she liked +me very well; at all events I was a companion of her own age and tastes, +and such a one, she assured me, she had never known before, and probably +would never know again." +</p> +<p> +"There was some excuse for her," said Aunt Martha; "but still she had no +right to act in that way, especially as she was so soon to be married." +</p> +<p> +"I do not think that she reasoned much upon the subject," said the young +man, "and I am sure I did not. We made no plans. Every day we thought +only of what we were doing or saying, and not at all what we had done or +would do. We were very happy. +</p> +<p> +"One morning I was sitting by Marie in the very place where I had first +met her, when we heard some one rapidly approaching. Looking up I saw a +tall man in military uniform. 'Heavens!' cried Marie, 'it is Colonel +Kaldhein.' +</p> +<p> +"The situation was one of which an expectant bridegroom would not be +likely to ask many questions. Marie was seated on a low stone with her +drawing-block in her lap. She was finishing the sketch on which she was +engaged when I first saw her, and I was kneeling close to her, looking +over her work and making various suggestions, and I think my countenance +must have indicated that I found it very pleasant to make suggestions in +that way to such a pretty girl. Our heads were very close together. +Sometimes we looked at the paper, sometimes we looked at each other. But +in the instant I caught sight of the Colonel the situation had changed. +I rose to my feet, and Marie began to pick up the drawing materials, +which were lying about her. +</p> +<p> +"Colonel Kaldhein came forward almost at a run. His eyes blazed through +his gold spectacles, and his close-cut reddish beard seemed to be +singeing with the fires of rage. I had but an instant for observation, +for he came directly up to me, and with a tremendous objurgation he +struck me full in the face with such force that the blow stretched me +upon the ground. +</p> +<p> +"I was almost stunned; but I heard a scream from Marie, a storm of +angry words from Kaldhein, and I felt sure he was about to inflict +further injury. He was a much stronger man than I was, and probably was +armed. With a sudden instinct of self-preservation I rolled down a +little declivity on the edge of which I had fallen, and staggering to my +feet, plunged into a thicket and fled. Even had I been in the full +possession of my senses, I knew that under the circumstances I would +have been of no benefit to Marie had I remained upon the scene. The last +thing I heard was a shout from Kaldhein, in which he declared that he +would kill me yet. For some days I did not go out of my castle. My face +was bruised, my soul was dejected. I knew there was no possible chance +that I should meet Marie, and that there was a chance that I might meet +the angry Colonel. An altercation at this time would be very annoying +and painful to the lady, no matter what the result, and I considered it +my duty to do everything that was possible to avoid a meeting with +Kaldhein. Therefore, as I have said, I shut myself up within the walls +of old Wulrick, and gave strict orders to my servants to admit no one. +</p> +<p> +"It was at this time that the strangest events of my life occurred. +Sitting in an upper room, gazing out of the window, over the fields, +through which I had walked so happily but two days before to meet the +lady whom I had begun to think of as my Marie, I felt the head of a dog +laid gently in my lap. Without turning my head I caressed the animal, +and stroked the long hair on his neck. +</p> +<p> +"My hound Ajax was a dear companion to me in this old castle, although I +never took him in my walks, as he was apt to get into mischief, and when +I turned my head to look at him he was gone; but strange to say, the +hand which had been stroking the dog felt as if it were still resting on +his neck. +</p> +<p> +"Quickly drawing my hand toward me it struck the head of the dog, and, +moving it backward and forward, I felt the ears and nose of the animal, +and then became conscious that its head was still resting upon my knee. +</p> +<p> +"I started back. Had I been stricken with blindness? But no; turning my +head, I could plainly see everything in the room. The scene from the +window was as distinct as it ever had been. I sprang to my feet, and, +as I stood wondering what this strange thing could mean, the dog brushed +up against me and licked my hand. Then the idea suddenly flashed into my +mind that by some occult influence Ajax had been rendered invisible. +</p> +<p> +"I dashed down-stairs, and although I could neither see nor hear it, I +felt that the dog was following me. Rushing into the open air, I saw one +of my men. 'Where is Ajax?' I cried. 'A very strange thing has happened, +sir,' he said, 'and I should have come to tell you of it, had I not been +unwilling to disturb your studies. About two hours ago Ajax was lying +here in the courtyard; suddenly he sprang to his feet with a savage +growl. His hair stood straight upon his back, his tail was stiff, and +his lips were drawn back, showing his great teeth. I turned to see what +had enraged him, but there was absolutely nothing, sir,—nothing in the +world. And never did I see Ajax so angry. But this lasted only for an +instant. Ajax suddenly backed, his tail dropped between his legs, his +head hung down, and with a dreadful howl he turned, and, leaping the +wall of the courtyard, he disappeared. I have since been watching for +his return. The gate is open, and as soon as he enters I shall chain +him, for I fear the dog is mad.' +</p> +<p> +"I did not dare to utter the thoughts that were in my mind, but, bidding +the man inform me the moment Ajax returned, I reëntered the castle and +sat down in the great hall. +</p> +<p> +"The dog was beside me; his head again lay upon my knees. With a feeling +of awe, yet strangely enough without fear, I carefully passed my hand +over the animal's head. I felt his ears, his nose, his jaws, and his +neck. They were not the head, the ears, the nose, the jaws, or the neck +of Ajax! +</p> +<p> +"I had heard of animals, and even human beings, who were totally +invisible, but who still retained their form, their palpability, and all +the powers and functions of life. I had heard of houses haunted by +invisible animals; I had read De Kay's story of the maiden Manmat'ha, +whose coming her lover perceived by the parting of the tall grain in the +field of ripe wheat through which she passed, but whose form, although +it might be folded in his arms, was yet as invisible to his sight as the +summer air. I did not doubt for a moment that the animal that had come +to me was one of those strange beings. I lifted his head; it was heavy. +I took hold of a paw which he readily gave me; he had every attribute of +a real dog, except that he could not be seen." +</p> +<p> +"I call that perfectly horrible," said Aunt Martha with a sort of a +gasp. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps," said the young man, "you would prefer that I should not +continue." +</p> +<p> +At this both my wife and Aunt Martha declared that he must go on, and +even I did not object to hearing the rest of the story. +</p> +<p> +"Well," said the young man, "Ajax never came back. It is generally +believed that dogs can see things which are invisible to us, and I am +afraid that my faithful hound was frightened, perhaps to death, when he +found that the animal whose entrance into the courtyard he had perceived +was a supernatural thing. +</p> +<p> +"But if I needed a canine companion I had one, for by day or night this +invisible dog never left me. When I slept he lay on the floor by the +side of my bed; if I put down my hand I could always feel his head, and +often he would stand up and press his nose against me, as if to assure +me that he was there. This strange companionship continued for several +days, and I became really attached to the invisible animal. His constant +companionship seemed to indicate that he had come to guard me, and that +he was determined to do it thoroughly. I felt so much confidence in his +protection, although I knew not how it could be exerted, that one +morning I decided to take a walk, and with my hand on the head of the +dog, to make sure that he was with me, I strolled into the open country. +</p> +<p> +"I had walked about a mile, and was approaching a group of large trees, +when suddenly from behind one of them the tall figure of a man appeared. +In an instant I knew it to be Colonel Kaldhein; his was a face which +could not easily be forgotten. Without a word he raised a pistol which +he held in his hand and fired at me. The ball whistled over my head. +</p> +<p> +"I stopped short, startled, and frightened almost out of my senses. I +was unarmed, and had no place of refuge. It was plain that the man was +determined to kill me. +</p> +<p> +"Quickly recocking his pistol, Kaldhein raised it again. I involuntarily +shrank back, expecting death; but before he could fire his arm suddenly +dropped, and the pistol was discharged into the ground. Then began a +strange scene. The man shouted, kicked, and beat up and down with his +arms; his pistol fell from his hand, he sprang from side to side, he +turned around, he struggled and yelled. +</p> +<p> +"I stood astounded. For an instant I supposed the man had been overtaken +by some sort of fit; but in a flash the truth came to me,—Kaldhein was +being attacked by my protector, the invisible dog. +</p> +<p> +"Horrified by this conviction, my first impulse was to save the man; +and, without knowing what I was going to do, I stepped quickly toward +him, but stumbling over something I did not see I fell sprawling. Before +I could regain my feet I saw Kaldhein fall backward to the ground, where +a scene took place, so terrible that I shall not attempt to describe it. +When, with trembling steps, I approached, the man was dead. The +invisible dog had almost torn him to pieces. +</p> +<p> +"I could do nothing. I did not remain upon the spot another minute, but +hurried home to the castle. As I rapidly walked on I felt the dog beside +me, and, putting my hand upon him, I felt that he was panting terribly. +For three days I did not leave the house. +</p> +<p> +"About the end of this time I was sitting in an upper room of the +castle, reflecting upon the recent dreadful event, when the thought +struck me that the invisible dog, who was by my side, apparently asleep, +must be of an unusually powerful build to overcome so easily such a +strong man as Kaldhein. I felt a desire to know how large the creature +really was, and, as I had never touched any portion of his body back of +his shoulders, I now passed my hand along his back. I was amazed at his +length, and when I had moved my hand at least seven feet from his head +it still rested upon his body. And then the form of that body began to +change in a manner which terrified me; but impelled by a horrible but +irresistible curiosity, my hand moved on. +</p> +<p> +"But I no longer touched the body of a dog; the form beneath my hand was +cylindrical, apparently about a foot in diameter. As my hand moved on +the diameter diminished, and the skin of the creature became cold and +clammy. I was feeling the body of a snake! +</p> +<p> +"I now had reached the open door of the room. The body of the snake +extended through it. It went on to the top of the stairs; these I began +to descend, my heart beating fast with terror, my face blanched, I am +sure, but my hand still moving along the body of the awful creature. I +had studied zoology, giving a good deal of attention to reptiles, and I +knew that, judged by the ordinary ratio of diminution of the bodies of +serpents, this one must extend a long distance down the stairs. +</p> +<p> +"But I had not descended more than a dozen steps before I felt a shiver +beneath my hand, and then a jerk, and the next moment the snake's body +was violently drawn upward. I withdrew my hand and started to one side, +and then, how, I know not, I became aware that the dog part of the +creature was coming downstairs. +</p> +<p> +"I now became possessed by a wild terror. The creature must be furious +that I had discovered his real form. He had always been careful to keep +his head toward me. I should be torn to pieces as Kaldhein had been! +Down the stairs I dashed, across the courtyard, and toward a lofty old +tower, which stood in one corner of the castle. I ran up the winding +stairs of this with a speed which belongs only to a frantically +terrified creature, until I reached the fourth story, where I dashed +through an open doorway, slammed behind me an iron door, which shut with +a spring, and fell gasping upon the floor. +</p> +<p> +"In less than a minute I was aware, by a slight rattling of the +grate-hinges, that something was pushing against the door; but I did not +move. I knew that I was safe. The room in which I lay was a prison +dungeon, and in it, in the olden times, it is said, men had been left to +perish. Escape or communication with the outer world was impossible. A +little light and air came through a narrow slit in the wall, and the +door could not be forced. +</p> +<p> +"I knew that the invisible dog, or whatever it was, could not get in +unless the door was open. I had frequently noticed that when he entered +a room it was through an open door, and I sometimes knew of his approach +by seeing an unlatched door open without visible cause; so, feeling +secure for the present, I lay and gasped and panted. +</p> +<p> +"After the lapse of a few hours, however, I was seized by a new terror. +How was I ever to get out of this horrible dungeon? Even if I made up my +mind to face the dog, trusting that he had recovered from his momentary +anger, I had no means of opening the door, and as to making any one hear +me I knew that was impossible. +</p> +<p> +"I had no hope that my servants would seek me here. I had not seen any +one when I ran into the tower, and if they should discover that I was in +this dungeon, how could they open the door? The key was in my father's +possession. He had taken it to Vienna to exhibit it as a curiosity to +some of his mechanical friends. He believed that there was not such +another key in the world. I was in the habit of making long absences +from the castle, and if I should be looked for I believed that the tower +would be the last place visited. +</p> +<p> +"Night came on; the little light in the room vanished, and, hungry, +thirsty, and almost hopeless, I fell asleep. +</p> +<p> +"During the night there was a most dreadful storm. The thunder roared, +the lightning flashed through the slit in the wall, and the wind blew +with such terrific violence that the tower shook and trembled. After a +time I heard a tremendous crash as of falling walls, and then another, +and now I felt the wind blowing into my prison. +</p> +<p> +"There was no further sleep for me. Trembling with a fearful +apprehension of what might happen next, I cowered against the wall until +the day broke, and then I perceived that in front of me was a great hole +in the wall of the dungeon, which extended for more than a yard above +the floor. I sat and gazed at this until the light became stronger, and +then I cautiously approached the aperture and looked out. Nearly the +whole of the castle lay in ruins before me! +</p> +<p> +"It was easy to see what had happened. The storm had demolished the +crumbling walls of the old building, and the tower, itself frail and +tottering, stood alone, high above the prostrate ruins. If the winds +should again arise it must fall, and at any moment its shaken +foundations might give way beneath it. +</p> +<p> +"Through the hole in the wall, which had been caused by the tearing away +of some of the connection between the tower and main building, I could +look down on the ground below, covered with masses of jagged stone; but +there was no way in which I could get down. I could not descend that +perpendicular wall. If I leaped out, death would be certain. +</p> +<p> +"As I crouched at the opening I felt the head of a dog pushed against +me. A spasm of terror ran through me, but the moment the creature began +to lick my hands I knew that I had nothing to fear from him. Instantly +my courage returned. I felt that he was my protector. I patted his head +and he renewed his caresses. +</p> +<p> +"Passing my hand over him, I found he was holding himself in his present +position by means of his forelegs, which were stretched out upon the +floor. What a dog this must be, who could climb a wall! But I gave no +time to conjectures of this sort. How could I avail myself of his +assistance? In what manner could he enable me to escape from that +dangerous tower? +</p> +<p> +"Suddenly a thought came to me. I remembered the snake part of him. +Judging from the ratio of diminution, which I have mentioned before, +that part, if hanging down, must reach nearly, if not quite, to the +ground. By taking advantage of this means of descent I might be saved, +but the feat would require dexterity and an immense amount of faith. +This serpent-like portion of the animal was invisible. How could I know +how long it was! +</p> +<p> +"But there was no time for consideration; the wind had again arisen, and +was blowing with fury. The tower shook beneath me; at any moment it +might fall. If I should again escape from death, through the assistance +of my invisible friend, I must avail myself of that assistance +instantly. +</p> +<p> +"I stopped and felt the animal. He still hung by part of his body and by +his forelegs to the floor of the dungeon, and by reaching out I could +feel that the rest of him extended downward. I therefore seized his body +in my arms, threw myself out of the aperture, and began to slide down. +</p> +<p> +"In a very short time I found that I had reached the snake portion of +the creature, and, throwing my arms and legs around it, I endeavoured +with all my strength to prevent a too rapid descent; but in spite of all +my efforts, my downward progress was faster than I would have wished it +to be. But there was no stopping; I must slip down. +</p> +<p> +"In these moments of rapid descent my mind was filled with wild anxiety +concerning the serpent-like form to which I was clinging. I remembered +in a flash that there were snakes whose caudal extremity dwindled away +suddenly into a point. This one might do so, and at any instant I might +come to the end of the tail and drop upon the jagged stones below. +</p> +<p> +"Calculation after calculation of the ratio of diminution flashed +through my mind during that awful descent. My whole soul was centred +upon one point. When would this support end? When would I drop? +</p> +<p> +"Fortunately I was on the leeward side of the tower, and I was not swung +about by the wind. Steadily I descended, and steadily the diameter of +the form I grasped diminished; soon I could grasp it in my hand; then +with a terrified glance I looked below. I was still at a sickening +distance from the ground. I shut my eyes. I slipped down, down, down. +The tail became like a thick rope which I encircled with each hand. It +became thinner and thinner. It grew so small that I could not hold it; +but as I felt it slip from my fingers my feet rested on a pile of +stones. +</p> +<p> +"Bewildered and almost exhausted, I stumbled over the ruins, gained the +unencumbered ground, and ran as far from the tower as I could, sinking +down at last against the trunk of a tree in a neighbouring field. +Scarcely had I reached this spot when the fury of the wind-storm +appeared to redouble, and before the wild and shrieking blast the tower +bent and then fell with a crash upon the other ruins. +</p> +<p> +"The first thought that came into my mind when I beheld the dreadful +spectacle concerned the creature who had twice saved my life. Had he +escaped, or was he crushed beneath that mass of stone? I felt on either +side to discover if he were near me, but he was not. Had he given his +life for mine? +</p> +<p> +"Had I been stronger I would have searched for him; I would have +clambered among the ruins to see if I could discover his mangled form. +If I could but reach his faithful head I would stroke and caress it, +living or dead. But excitement, fatigue, and want of food had made me so +weak that I could do nothing but sit upon the ground with my back +against the tree. +</p> +<p> +"While thus resting I perceived that the whole of the tower had not +been demolished by the storm. Some of the rooms in which we had lived, +having been built at a later date than the rest of the great edifice, +had resisted the power of the wind and were still standing. +</p> +<p> +"From the direction of the uninjured portion of the castle I now saw +approaching a light-coloured object, which seemed to be floating in the +air about a foot from the ground. As it came nearer I saw that it was a +basket, and I immediately understood the situation. My faithful friend +was alive, and was bringing me some refreshments. +</p> +<p> +"On came the basket, rising and falling with the bounds of the dog. It +was truly an odd spectacle, but a very welcome one. In a few moments the +basket was deposited at my side, and I was caressing the head of the +faithful dog. In the basket I found a bottle of wine and some bread and +meat, which the good creature had doubtless discovered in the kitchen of +the castle, and it was not long before I was myself again. The storm had +now almost passed away, and I arose and went to my own rooms, my friend +and protector still keeping close to my side. +</p> +<p> +"On the morning of the next day, as I sat wondering what had happened +to my servants, and whether my father had been apprised of the disaster +to the castle, I felt something pulling at the skirt of my coat. I put +out my hand and found that it was the invisible dog. Imagining that he +wished me to follow him, I arose, and, obeying the impulse given me by +his gentle strain upon my coat, I followed him out of the door, across +the courtyard, and into the open country. We went on for a considerable +distance. A gentle touch of my coat admonished me when I turned from the +direction in which it was desired that I should go. +</p> +<p> +"After a walk of about half an hour I approached a great oak-tree, with +low, wide-spreading branches. Some one was sitting beneath it. Imagining +the truth, I rushed forward. It was Marie! +</p> +<p> +"It was needless for us to say anything, to explain the state of our +feelings toward each other. That tale was told by the delight with which +we met. When I asked her how she came to be there, she told me that +about an hour before, while sitting in front of her father's mansion, +she had felt something gently pulling at her skirts; and, although at +first frightened, she was at length impelled to obey the impulse, and, +without knowing whether it was the wind or some supernatural force which +had led her here, she had come. +</p> +<p> +"We had a great deal to say to each other. She told me that she had been +longing to send me a message to warn me that Colonel Kaldhein would +certainly kill me the next time he saw me; but she had no means of +sending me such a message, for the Colonel had had her actions closely +watched. +</p> +<p> +"When the news came of Kaldhein's death she at first feared that I had +killed him, and would therefore be obliged to fly the country; but when +it was known that he had been almost torn to pieces by wild beasts, she, +like every one else, was utterly amazed, and could not understand the +matter at all. None but the most ferocious creatures could have +inflicted the injuries of which the man had died, and where those +creatures came from no one knew. Some people thought that a pack of +blood-hounds might have broken loose from some of the estates of the +surrounding country, and, in the course of their wild journeyings, might +have met with the Colonel, and fallen upon him. Others surmised that a +bear had come down from the mountains; but the fact was that nobody knew +anything about it. +</p> +<p> +"I did not attempt to acquaint Marie with the truth. At that moment the +invisible dog was lying at my side, and I feared if I mentioned his +existence to Marie she might fly in terror. To me there was only one +important phase of the affair, and that was that Marie was now free, +that she might be mine. +</p> +<p> +"Before we parted we were affianced lovers, pledged to marry as soon as +possible. I wrote to my father, asking for his permission to wed the +lady. But in his reply he utterly forbade any such marriage. Marie also +discovered that her parents would not permit a union with a foreigner, +and would indeed oppose her marriage with any one at this time. +</p> +<p> +"However, as usual, love triumphed, and after surmounting many +difficulties we were married and fled to America. Since that time I have +been obliged to support myself and my wife, for my father will give me +no assistance. He had proposed a very different career for me, and was +extremely angry when he found his plans had been completely destroyed. +But we are hopeful, we work hard, and hope that we may yet be able to +support ourselves comfortably without aid from any one. We are young, we +are strong, we trust each other, and have a firm faith in our success. +</p> +<p> +"I had only one regret in leaving Europe, and that was that my faithful +friend, the noble and devoted invisible dog, was obliged to remain on +the other side of the Atlantic. Why this was so I do not know, but +perhaps it was for the best. I never told my wife of his existence, and +if she had accidentally discovered it, I know not what might have been +the effects upon her nervous system. +</p> +<p> +"The dog accompanied me through Austria, Switzerland, and France to +Havre, from which port we sailed. I took leave of him on the gang-plank. +He licked my hands, and I caressed and stroked him. People might have +thought that my actions denoted insanity, but every one was so greatly +occupied in these last moments before departure, that perhaps I was not +noticed. Just as I left him and hastened on board, a sailor fell +overboard from the gang-plank. He was quickly rescued, but could not +imagine why he had fallen. I believe, however, that he was tripped up by +the snake part of my friend as he convulsively rushed away." +</p> +<p> +The young man ceased, and gazed pensively upon the floor. +</p> +<p> +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Martha, "if those are the sort of +experiences you had, I don't wonder that Realism was wonderful enough +for you. The invisible creature was very good to you, I am sure, but I +am glad it did not come with you to America." +</p> +<p> +David, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, now interrupted +further comments by stating that it was daylight, and if I thought well +of it, he would open the window-shutters, so that we might see any one +going toward the town. A milkman, he said, passed the house very early +every morning. When the shutters were opened we were all amazed that the +night should have passed so quickly. +</p> +<p> +The tall burglar and the young man now began to exhibit a good deal of +anxiety. +</p> +<p> +"I should like very much to know," said the former, "what you intend to +do in regard to us. It cannot be that you think of placing that young +gentleman and myself in the hands of the law. Of course, this man," +pointing to the stout burglar, "cannot expect anything but a just +punishment of his crimes; but after what we have told you, you must +certainly be convinced that our connection with the affair is entirely +blameless, and should be considered as a piece of very bad luck." +</p> +<p> +"That," said I, "is a matter which will receive all the consideration +it needs." +</p> +<p> +At this moment David announced the milkman. Counselling my man to keep +strict guard over the prisoners, I went out to the road, stopped the +milkman, and gave him a message which I was certain would insure the +prompt arrival at my house of sufficient force to take safe charge of +the burglars. Excited with the importance of the commission, he whipped +up his horse and dashed away. +</p> +<p> +When I returned to the house I besought my wife and Aunt Martha to go to +bed, that they might yet get some hours of sleep; but both refused. They +did not feel in the least like sleep, and there was a subject on which +they wished to consult with me in the dining-room. +</p> +<p> +"Now," said Aunt Martha, when the door had been closed, "these men have +freely told us their stories; whether they are entirely true or not, +must, of course, be a matter of opinion; but they have laid their cases +before us, and we should not place them all in the hands of the officers +of the law without giving them due consideration, and arriving at a +decision which shall be satisfactory to ourselves." +</p> +<p> +"Let us take them in order," said I. "What do you think of the tall +man's case?" +</p> +<p> +"I think he is a thief and manufacturer of falsehoods," said my wife +promptly. +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid," said Aunt Martha, "that he is not altogether innocent; +but there is one thing greatly in his favour,—when he told of the +feelings which overcame him when he saw that little child sleeping +peacefully in its bed in the house which he had unintentionally robbed, +I felt there must be good points in that man's nature. What do you think +of him?" +</p> +<p> +"I think he is worst of the lot," I answered, "and as there are now two +votes against him, he must go to the lock-up. And now what of the stout +fellow?" I asked. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, he is a burglar by his own confession," said my wife; "there can be +no doubt of that." +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid you are right," said Aunt Martha. +</p> +<p> +"I know she is," said I, "and James Barlow, or whatever his name may be, +shall be delivered to the constable." +</p> +<p> +"Of course, there can be no difference of opinion in regard to the young +man," said Aunt Martha quickly. "Both the others admitted that he had +nothing to do with this affair except as a journalist, and although I do +not think he ought to get his realistic ideas in that way, I would +consider it positively wicked to send him into court in company with +those other men. Consider the position in which he would be placed +before the world. Consider his young wife." +</p> +<p> +"I cannot say," said my wife, "that I am inclined to believe all parts +of his story." +</p> +<p> +"I suppose," said I, laughing, "that you particularly refer to the +invisible dog-snake." +</p> +<p> +"I'm not so sure about all that," she answered. "Since the labours of +the psychic researchers began, we have heard of a great many strange +things; but it is evident that he is a young man of education and +culture, and in all probability a journalist or literary man. I do not +think he should be sent to the lock-up with common criminals." +</p> +<p> +"There!" cried Aunt Martha, "two in his favour. He must be released. +It's a poor rule that does not work both ways." +</p> +<p> +I stood for a few moments undecided. If left to myself, I would have +sent the trio to the county town, where, if any one of them could prove +his innocence, he could do so before the constitutional authorities; but +having submitted the matter to my wife and aunt, I could not well +override their decision. As for what the young man said, I gave it no +weight whatever, for of course he would say the best he could for +himself. But the testimony of the others had weight. When they both +declared that he was not a burglar, but merely a journalist, engaged in +what he supposed to be his duty, it would seem to be a cruel thing to +stamp him as a criminal by putting him in charge of the constables. +</p> +<p> +But my indecision soon came to an end, for Aunt Martha declared that no +time should be lost in setting the young man free, for should the +people in town arrive and see him sitting bound with the others it would +ruin his character forever. My wife agreed. +</p> +<p> +"Whatever there may be of truth in his story," she said, "one of two +things is certain,—either he has had most wonderful experiences out of +which he may construct realistic novels which will give him fortune and +reputation, or he has a startling imagination, which, if used in the +production of works in the romantic school, will be of the same +advantage to his future. Looking upon it, even in this light and without +any reference to his family and the possible effects on his own moral +nature, we shall assume a great responsibility in deliberately +subjecting such a person to criminal prosecution and perhaps +conviction." +</p> +<p> +This was enough. "Well," said I, "we will release the young fellow and +send the two other rascals to jail." +</p> +<p> +"That was not well expressed," said my wife, "but we will not criticise +words at present." +</p> +<p> +We returned to the library and I announced my decision. When he heard it +the stout burglar exhibited no emotion. His expression indicated that, +having been caught, he expected to be sent to jail, and that was the end +of it. Perhaps he had been through this experience so often that he had +become used to it. The tall man, however, took the announcement in a +very different way. His face grew dark and his eyes glittered. "You are +making a great mistake," he said to me, "a very great mistake, and you +will have to bear the consequences." +</p> +<p> +"Very good," said I, "I will remember that remark when your trial comes +on." +</p> +<p> +The behaviour of the young man was unexceptional. He looked upon us with +a face full of happy gratitude, and, as he thanked us for the kind +favour and the justice which we had shown him, his eyes seemed dim with +tears. Aunt Martha was much affected. +</p> +<p> +"I wonder if his mother is living," she whispered to me. "A wife is a +great deal, but a mother is more. If I had thought of her sooner I would +have spoken more strongly in his favour. And now you should untie him at +once and let him go home. His wife must be getting terribly anxious." +</p> +<p> +The young man overheard this last remark. +</p> +<p> +"You will confer a great favour on me, sir," he said, "if you will let +me depart as soon as possible. I feel a great repugnance to be seen in +company with these men, as you may imagine, from wearing a mask on +coming here. If I leave immediately I think I can catch the first train +from your station." +</p> +<p> +I considered the situation. If I did what I was asked, there would be +two bound burglars to guard, three women and a child to protect, an +uncertain stranger at liberty, and only David and myself to attend to +the whole business. "No, sir," said I, "I shall not untie you until the +officers I sent for are near at hand; then I will release you, and you +can leave the house by the back way without being seen by them. There +are other morning trains which will take you into the city early +enough." +</p> +<p> +"I think you are a little hard on him," remarked Aunt Martha, but the +young man made no complaint. +</p> +<p> +"I will trust myself to you, sir," he said. +</p> +<p> +The officers arrived much sooner than I expected. There were five of +them, including the Chief of Police, and they were accompanied by +several volunteer assistants, among whom was the milkman who had been +my messenger. This morning his customers might wait for their milk, for +all business must give way before such an important piece of sightseeing +as this. +</p> +<p> +I had barely time to untie the young man and take him to the back of the +house before the officers and their followers had entered the front +door. There was now a great deal of questioning, a great deal of +explanation, a great deal of discussion as to whether my way of catching +burglars was advisable or not, and a good deal of talk about the best +method of taking the men to town. Some of the officers were in favour of +releasing the two men, and then deciding in what manner they should be +taken to town; and if this plan had been adopted, I believe that these +two alert and practical rascals would have taken themselves out of my +house without the assistance of the officers, or at least would have +caused a great deal of trouble and perhaps injury in endeavouring to do +so. +</p> +<p> +But the Chief of Police was of my mind, and before the men were entirely +released from the ropes by which I had tied them, they were securely +manacled. +</p> +<p> +A requisition made on David and myself to appear as witnesses, the two +men were taken from the house to the wagons in which the officers and +their followers had come. My wife and Aunt Martha had gone upstairs +before the arrival of the police, and were watching the outside +proceeding from a window. +</p> +<p> +Standing in the hallway, I glanced into the dining-room, and was +surprised to see the young man still standing by a side door. I had +thought him gone, but perhaps it was wise in him to remain, and not show +himself upon the road until the coast was entirely clear. He did not see +me, and was looking backward into the kitchen, a cheerful and animated +expression upon his face. This expression did not strike me pleasantly. +He had escaped a great danger, it was true, but it was no reason for +this rather obtrusive air of exultation. Just then Alice came into the +dining-room from the kitchen, and the young man stepped back, so that +she did not notice him. As she passed he gently threw his arm quietly +around her neck and kissed her. +</p> +<p> +At that very instant, even before the girl had time to exclaim, in +rushed David from the outer side door. +</p> +<p> +"I've been watching you, you rascal," he shouted; "you're done for +now!" and he threw his strong arms around the man, pinioning his arms to +his side. +</p> +<p> +The young fellow gave a great jerk, and began to struggle powerfully. +His face turned black with rage; he swore, he kicked. He made the most +frenzied efforts to free himself, but David's arms were strong, his soul +was full of jealous fury, and in a moment I had come to his assistance. +Each of us taking the young fellow by an arm, we ran him into the +hallway and out of the front door, Alice aiding us greatly by putting +her hands against the man's back and pushing most forcibly. +</p> +<p> +"Here's another one," cried David. "I'll appear against him. He's the +worst of the lot." +</p> +<p> +Without knowing what it all meant, the Chief clapped the nippers on our +prisoner, justly believing that if burglars were about to show +themselves so unexpectedly, the best thing to do was to handcuff them as +fast as they appeared, and then to ask questions. The reasons for not +having produced this man before, and for producing him now, were not +very satisfactory to the officer. +</p> +<p> +"Have you any more in the cellar?" he asked. "If so, I should like to +take a look at them before I start away." +</p> +<p> +At this moment Aunt Martha made her appearance at the front door. +</p> +<p> +"What are you going to do with that young man?" she asked sharply. "What +right have you to put irons upon him?" +</p> +<p> +"Aunt Martha," said I, stepping back to her, "what do you think he has +done?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," said she; "how should I know? All I know is that we +agreed to set him free." +</p> +<p> +I addressed her solemnly: "David and I believe him to be utterly +depraved. He availed himself of the first moments of his liberation to +kiss Alice." Aunt Martha looked at me with wide-open eyes, and then her +brows contracted. +</p> +<p> +"He did, did he?" said she. "And that is the kind of a man he is. Very +good. Let him go to jail with the others. I don't believe one word about +his young wife. If kissing respectable young women is the way he studies +Realism the quicker he goes to jail the better," and with that she +walked into the house. +</p> +<p> +When the men had been placed in the two vehicles in which the police had +come, the Chief and I made an examination of the premises, and we found +that the house had been entered by a kitchen window, in exactly the +manner which the tall burglar had described. Outside of this window, +close to the wall, we found a leathern bag, containing what the Chief +declared to be an excellent assortment of burglars' tools. The officers +and their prisoners now drove away, and we were left to a long morning +nap, if we were so fortunate as to get it, and a late breakfast. +</p> +<p> +In the course of the trial of the three men who had entered my house +some interesting points in regard to them were brought out. Several +detectives and policemen from New York were present, and their testimony +proved that my three burglars were men of eminence in their profession, +and that which most puzzled the metropolitan detectives was to discover +why these men should have been willing to devote their high talents to +the comparatively insignificant business of breaking into a suburban +dwelling. +</p> +<p> +The tall man occupied a position of peculiar eminence in criminal +circles. He was what might be called a criminal manager. He would take +contracts for the successful execution of certain crimes,—bank +robberies, for instance,—and while seldom taking part in the actual +work of a burglary or similar operation, he would plan all the details +of the affair, and select and direct his agents with great skill and +judgment. He had never been arrested before, and the detectives were +delighted, believing they would now have an opportunity of tracing to +him a series of very important criminal operations that had taken place +in New York and some other large cities. He was known as Lewis Mandit, +and this was believed to be his real name. +</p> +<p> +The stout man was a first-class professional burglar and nothing more, +and was in the employ of Mandit. The young man was a decidedly uncommon +personage. He was of a good family, had been educated at one of our +principal colleges, had travelled, and was in every way qualified to +make a figure in society. He had been a newspaper man, and a writer for +leading periodicals, and had shown considerable literary ability; but a +life of honest industry did not suit his tastes, and he had now adopted +knavery as a regular profession. +</p> +<p> +This man, who was known among his present associates as Sparky, still +showed himself occasionally in newspaper offices, and was generally +supposed to be a correspondent for a Western journal; but his real +business position was that of Mandit's head man. +</p> +<p> +Sparky was an expert in many branches of crime. He was an excellent +forger, a skilful lock-picker, an ingenious planner of shady projects, +and had given a great deal of earnest study to the subject of the +loopholes of the law. He had a high reputation in criminal circles for +his ability in getting his fellow-rascals out of jail. There was reason +to believe that in the past year no less than nine men, some condemned +to terms of imprisonment, and some held for trial, had escaped by means +of assistance given them by Sparky. +</p> +<p> +His methods of giving help to jail-birds were various. Sometimes liberty +was conferred through the agency of saws and ropes, at other times +through that of a habeas corpus and an incontestible alibi. His means +were adapted to the circumstances of the case, and it was believed that +if Sparky could be induced to take up the case of a captured rogue, the +man had better chance of finding himself free than the law had of +keeping him behind bars, especially if his case were treated before it +had passed into its more chronic stages. +</p> +<p> +Sparky's success was greatly due to his extremely specious manner, and +his power of playing the part that the occasion demanded. In this +particular he was even the superior of Mandit, who was an adept in this +line. These two men found no difficulty in securing the services of +proficient burglars, safe-robbers, and the like; for, in addition to the +high rewards paid these men, they were in a manner insured against +permanent imprisonment in case of misfortune. It was always arranged +that, if any of their enterprises came to grief, and if either Mandit or +Sparky should happen to be arrested, the working miscreants should +substantiate any story their superiors might choose to tell of +themselves, and, if necessary, to take upon themselves the whole +responsibility of the crime. In this case their speedy release was to be +looked upon as assured. +</p> +<p> +A great deal of evidence in regard to the character and practices of +these two men came from the stout burglar, commonly known as Barney +Fitch. When he found that nothing was to be expected from his two +astute employers, and that they were in as bad a place as himself, he +promptly turned State's evidence, and told all that he knew about them. +</p> +<p> +It was through the testimony of this man that the motive for the +attempted robbery of my house was found out. It had no connection +whatever with the other burglaries of our neighbourhood, those, +probably, having been committed by low-class thieves, who had not broken +into my house simply because my doors and windows had been so well +secured; nor had our boy, George William, any share whatever in the +protection of the household. +</p> +<p> +The burglary was undertaken solely for the purpose of getting possession +of some important law papers, which were to be used in a case in which I +was concerned, which soon would be tried. If these papers could be +secured by the opposite party, the side on which I was engaged would +have no case at all, and a suit involving a great deal of property must +drop. With this end in view the unscrupulous defendants in the case had +employed Mandit to procure the papers; and that astute criminal manager +had not only arranged all the details of the affair, but had gone +himself to the scene of action in order to see that there should be no +mistake in carrying out the details of this most important piece of +business. +</p> +<p> +The premises had been thoroughly reconnoitred by Sparky, who, a few days +before the time fixed for the burglary, had visited my house in the +capacity of an agent of a telescopic bookcase, which could be extended +as new volumes were required, therefore need never exhibit empty +shelves. The young man had been included in the party on account of his +familiarity with legal documents, it being, of course, of paramount +importance that the right papers should be secured. His ingenuity was +also to be used to cover up, if possible, all evidence that the house +had been entered at all, it being desirable to make it appear to the +court that I had never had these documents in my possession, and that +they never existed. +</p> +<p> +Had it not been for a very natural desire for refreshment that +interfered with their admirably laid plans, it is probable that the +mechanical skill of Mandit would have been equal to the noiseless +straightening of the bent bolt, and the obliteration of the scratches +and dents made by the attempts upon other shutters, and that Sparky, +after relocking all open desks or cabinets, and after the exit of the +others, would have closed and fastened the kitchen shutters, and would +then have left the house by means of an open window in the upper hall +and the roof of a piazza. +</p> +<p> +Thus it was that these three men, so eminent in their different spheres +of earnest endeavour, came to visit my comparatively humble abode; and +thus it was that they not only came to that abode, but to the deepest +grief. They were "wanted" in so many quarters, and on so many charges, +that before they had finished serving out their various sentences their +ability to wickedly avail themselves of the property of others would +have suffered greatly from disuse, and the period of life left them for +the further exercise of those abilities would be inconveniently limited. +</p> +<p> +I was assured by a prominent detective that it had been a long time +since two such dangerous criminals as Mandit and Sparky had fallen into +the hands of the law. These men, by means of very competent outside +assistance, made a stout fight for acquittal on some of the charges +brought against them; but when they found that further effort of this +kind would be unavailing, and that they would be sentenced to long terms +of imprisonment, they threw off their masks of outraged probity and +stood out in their true characters of violent and brutal ruffians. +Barney Fitch, the cracksman, was a senior warden compared to them. +</p> +<p> +It was a long time before my Aunt Martha recovered from her +disappointment in regard to the youngest burglar. +</p> +<p> +"Of course I was mistaken," she said. "That sort of thing will happen; +but I really had good grounds for believing him to be a truthful person, +so I am not ashamed for having taken him for what he said he was. I have +now no doubt before he fell in his wicked ways that he was a very good +writer, and might have become a novelist or a magazine author; but his +case is a very sad proof that the study of Realism may be carried too +far," and she heaved a sigh. +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<center> +<b>THE END.</b> +</center> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + +***** This file should be named 10948-h.htm or 10948-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10948/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stories of the Three Burglars + +Author: Frank Richard Stockton + +Release Date: February 5, 2004 [EBook #10948] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + +[Illustration: Frank R. Stockton] + + +The Stories +of the +Three Burglars + + +By +FRANK R. STOCKTON + + +1889 + + + + +THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS. + + +I am a householder in a pleasant country neighbourhood, about twenty +miles from New York. My family consists of myself and wife, our boy, +George William, aged two, two maid-servants, and a man; but in the +summer we have frequent visitors, and at the time of which I am about to +write my Aunt Martha was staying with us. + +My house is large and pleasant, and we have neighbours near enough for +social purposes and yet not too near or too many to detract from the +rural aspect of our surroundings. But we do not live in a paradise; we +are occasionally troubled by mosquitoes and burglars. + +Against the first of these annoyances we have always been able to guard +ourselves, at least in a measure, and our man and the cook declare that +they have become so used to them that they do not mind them; but to +guard against burglars is much more difficult, and to become used to +them would, I think, require a great deal of practice. + +For several months before the period of this narrative our neighbourhood +had been subject to visits from burglars. From time to time houses had +been entered and robbed, and the offenders had never been detected. + +We had no police force, not even a village organization. There was a +small railway station near our house, and six miles away was the county +town. For fire and police protection each household was obliged to +depend upon itself. + +Before the beginning of the burglarious enterprises in our midst, we had +not felt the need of much protection in this direction; sometimes +poultry was stolen, but this was a rare occurrence, and, although +windows and doors were generally fastened for the night, this labour was +often considered much more troublesome than necessary. But now a great +change had taken place in the feelings of our community. When the first +robbery occurred the neighbours were inclined to laugh about it, and to +say that Captain Hubbard's habit of sitting up after the rest of his +family had gone to bed and then retiring and forgetting to close the +front door had invited the entrance of a passing tramp. But when a +second and a third house, where windows and doors had not been left +open, had been entered, and, in a measure, despoiled, people ceased to +laugh; and if there had been any merriment at all on the subject, it +would have been caused by the extraordinary and remarkable precautions +taken against the entrance of thieves by night. The loaded pistol became +the favourite companion of the head of the house; those who had no +watch-dogs bought them; there were new locks, new bolts, new fastenings. +At one time there was a mounted patrol of young men, which, however, was +soon broken up by their mothers. But this trouble was unavailing, for at +intervals the burglaries continued. + +As a matter of course a great many theories were broached as to the +reasons for this disturbance in our hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. We +were at such a distance from the ordinary centres of crime that it was +generally considered that professional burglars would hardly take the +trouble to get to us or to get away from us, and that, therefore, the +offences were probably committed by unsuspected persons living in this +part of the country who had easy means of determining which houses were +worth breaking into and what method of entrance would be most feasible. +In this way some families, hitherto regarded as respectable families, +had fallen under suspicion. + +So far, mine was the only house of any importance within the distance of +a mile from the station which had not in some way suffered from +burglars. In one or two of these cases the offenders had been frightened +away before they had done any other injury than the breaking of a +window-shutter; but we had been spared any visitation whatever. After a +time we began to consider that this was an invidious distinction. Of +course we did not desire that robbers should break into our house and +steal, but it was a sort of implied insult that robbers should think +that our house was not worth breaking into. We contrived, however, to +bear up under this implied contempt and even under the facetious +imputations of some of our lively neighbours, who declared that it +looked very suspicious that we should lose nothing, and even continue to +add to our worldly goods, while everybody else was suffering from +abstractions. + +I did not, however, allow any relaxation in my vigilance in the +protection of my house and family. My time to suffer had not yet +arrived, and it might not arrive at all; but if it did come it should +not be my fault. I therefore carefully examined all the new precautions +my neighbours had taken against the entrance of thieves, and where I +approved of them I adopted them. + +Of some of these my wife and I did not approve. For instance, a tin pan +containing iron spoons, the dinner bell, and a miscellaneous collection +of hardware balanced on the top stair of the staircase, and so connected +with fine cords that a thief coming up the stairs would send it rattling +and bounding to the bottom, was looked upon by us with great disfavour. +The descent of the pan, whether by innocent accident or the approach of +a burglar, might throw our little boy into a fit, to say nothing of the +terrible fright it would give my Aunt Martha, who was a maiden lady of +middle age, and not accustomed to a clatter in the night. A bull-dog in +the house my wife would not have, nor, indeed, a dog of any kind. George +William was not yet old enough to play with dogs, especially a sharp +one; and if the dog was not sharp it was of no use to have him in the +house. To the ordinary burglar-alarm she strongly objected. She had been +in houses where these things went off of their own accord, occasioning +great consternation; and, besides, she said that if thieves got into the +house she did not want to know it and she did not want me to know it; +the quicker they found what they came for and went away with it the +better. Of course, she wished them kept out, if such a thing were +possible; but if they did get in, our duty as parents of the dearest +little boy was non-interference. She insisted, however, that the room in +which the loveliest of children slept, and which was also occupied by +ourselves, should be made absolutely burglar proof; and this object, by +means of extraordinary bolts and chains, I flattered myself I +accomplished. My Aunt Martha had a patent contrivance for fastening a +door that she always used, whether at home or travelling, and in whose +merit she placed implicit confidence. Therefore we did not feel it +necessary to be anxious about her; and the servants slept at the top of +the house, where thieves would not be likely to go. + +"They may continue to slight us by their absence," said my wife, "but I +do not believe that they will be able to frighten us by their presence." + +I was not, however, so easily contented as my wife. Of course I wished +to do everything possible to protect George William and the rest of the +family, but I was also very anxious to protect our property in all parts +of the house. Therefore, in addition to everything else I had done, I +devised a scheme for interfering with the plans of men who should +feloniously break into our home. + +After a consultation with a friend, who was a physician greatly +interested in the study of narcotic drugs, I procured a mixture which +was almost tasteless and without peculiar odour, and of which a small +quantity would in less than a minute throw an ordinary man into a state +of unconsciousness. The potion was, however, no more dangerous in its +effects than that quantity of ardent spirits which would cause entire +insensibility. After the lapse of several hours, the person under the +influence of the drug would recover consciousness without assistance. +But in order to provide against all contingencies my friend prepared a +powerful antidote, which would almost immediately revive one who had +been made unconscious by our potion. + +The scheme that I had devised may possibly have been put into use by +others. But of this I know not. I thought it a good scheme and +determined to experiment with it, and, if possible, to make a trap which +should catch a burglar. I would reveal this plan to no one but my friend +the physician and my wife. Secrecy would be an important element in its +success. + +Our library was a large and pleasant room on the ground floor of the +house, and here I set my trap. It was my habit to remain in this room an +hour or so after the rest of the family had gone to bed, and, as I was +an early riser, I was always in it again before it was necessary for a +servant to enter it in the morning. + +Before leaving the library for the night I placed in a conspicuous +position in the room a small table, on which was a tray holding two +decanters partially filled with wine, in the one red and in the other +white. There was also upon the tray an open box of biscuit and three +wine-glasses, two of them with a little wine at the bottom. I took pains +to make it appear that these refreshments had been recently partaken of. +There were biscuit crumbs upon the tray, and a drop or two of wine was +freshly spilled upon it every time the trap was set. The table, thus +arranged, was left in the room during the night, and early in the +morning I put the tray and its contents into a closet and locked it up. + +A portion of my narcotic preparation was thoroughly mixed with the +contents of each of the decanters in such proportions that a glass of +the wine would be sufficient to produce the desired effect. + +It was my opinion that there were few men who, after a night walk and +perhaps some labour in forcibly opening a door or a window-shutter, +would not cease for a moment in pursuance of their self-imposed task to +partake of the refreshments so conveniently left behind them by the +occupants of the house when they retired to rest. Should my surmises be +correct, I might reasonably expect, should my house be broken into, to +find an unconscious burglar in the library when I went down in the +morning. And I was sure, and my wife agreed with me, that if I should +find a burglar in that room or any other part of the house, it was +highly desirable that he should be an unconscious one. + +Night after night I set my burglar trap, and morning after morning I +locked it up in the closet. I cannot say that I was exactly disappointed +that no opportunity offered to test the value of my plan, but it did +seem a pity that I should take so much trouble for nothing. It had been +some weeks since any burglaries had been committed in the neighbourhood, +and it was the general opinion that the miscreants had considered this +field worked out and had transferred their labours to a better-paying +place. The insult of having been considered unworthy the attention of +the knights of the midnight jimmy remained with us, but as all our goods +and chattels also remained with us we could afford to brook the +indignity. + +As the trap cost nothing my wife did not object to my setting it every +night for the present. Something might happen, she remarked, and it was +just as well to be prepared in more ways than one; but there was a point +upon which she was very positive. + +"When George William is old enough to go about the house by himself," +she said, "those decanters must not be left exposed upon the table. Of +course I do not expect him to go about the house drinking wine and +everything that he finds, but there is no knowing what a child in the +first moments of his investigative existence may do." + +For myself, I became somewhat tired of acting my part in this little +farce every night and morning, but when I have undertaken anything of +this sort I am slow to drop it. + +It was about three weeks since I had begun to set my trap when I was +awakened in the night by a sudden noise. I sat up in bed, and as I did +so my wife said to me sleepily,-- + +"What is that? Was it thunder? There it is again!" she exclaimed, +starting up. "What a crash! It must have struck somewhere." I did not +answer. It was not thunder. It was something in the house, and it +flashed into my mind that perhaps my trap had been sprung. I got out of +bed and began rapidly to dress. + +"What are you going to do?" anxiously asked my wife. + +"I'm going to see what has happened," said I. At that moment there was +another noise. This was like two or three heavy footsteps, followed by a +sudden thump; but it was not so loud as the others. + +"John," cried my wife, "don't stir an inch, it's burglars!" and she +sprang out of bed and seized me by the arm. + +"I must go down," I said; "but there is really no reason for your being +frightened. I shall call David, and shall carry my pistol, so there is +really no danger. If there are thieves in the house they have probably +decamped by this time--that is, if they are able to do so, for of course +they must know that noise would awaken the soundest sleepers." + +My wife looked at me and then slowly withdrew her hands from my arm. + +"You promise me," she said, "if you find a burglar downstairs in the +possession of his senses you will immediately come back to me and George +William?" + +I promised her, and, slipping on some clothes, I went out into the +second-story hall. I carried no light. Before I had reached the bottom +of the back stairs I heard David, my man, coming down. To be sure it was +he and not a burglar I spoke to him in a low voice, my pistol raised in +case of an unsatisfactory reply. + +"I heard that noise, sir," he whispered, "and was going down to see +about it." + +"Are you ready if it's thieves?" I whispered. + +"I have got the biscuit-beater," he replied. + +"Come on, then," said I, and we went downstairs. + +I had left no light in the library, but there was one there now, and it +shone through the open door into the hallway. We stopped and listened. +There was no sound, and then slowly and cautiously we approached the +door of the library. The scene I beheld astounded me, and involuntarily +I sprang back a step or two. So did David; but in an instant we saw that +there was no need of retreat or defence. Stretched upon the floor, not +far from the doorway, lay a tall man, his face upturned to the light of +a bull's-eye lantern which stood by the mantel-piece. His eyes were +shut, and it was evident that he was perfectly insensible. Near by, in +the wreck of the small table, glasses, and decanters, lay another man, +apparently of heavier build. He also was as still as a corpse. A little +further back, half sitting on the floor, with the upper part of his body +resting against the lounge, was another man with a black mask over his +face. + +"Are they dead?" exclaimed David, in an undertone of horror. + +"No," said I, "they are not dead; they have been caught in my trap." + +And I must admit that the consciousness of this created a proud +exultation of spirit within me. I had overmatched these rascals; they +were prostrated before me. If one of them moved, David and I could kill +him. But I did not believe there would be any killing, nor any moving +for the present. + +In a high whisper, which could have been heard distinctly all over the +house, my wife now called to me from the top of the stairs. "What is +it?" she said. "What has happened?" + +I stepped quickly to the stairway. + +"Everything is all right," I said in a loud, distinct voice, intended +to assure my wife that there was no necessity for caution or alarm. "I +will be with you presently." + +"I am glad to hear that nothing is the matter," said Aunt Martha, now +for the first time opening her door. "I was afraid something had +happened." + +But I had business to attend to before I could go upstairs. In thinking +over and arranging this plan for the capture of burglars, I had +carefully considered its various processes, and had provided against all +the contingencies I could think of; therefore I was not now obliged to +deliberate what I should do. "Keep your eye on them," said I to David, +"and if one of them moves be ready for him. The first thing to do is to +tie them hand and foot." + +I quickly lighted a lamp, and then took from another shelf of the closet +a large coil of strong cotton rope, which I had provided for such an +occasion as the present. + +"Now," said I to David, "I will tie them while you stand by to knock +over any one of them who attempts to get up." + +The instrument with which David was prepared to carry out my orders was +a formidable one. In the days of my youth my family was very fond of +"Maryland biscuit," which owes much of its delicacy to the fact that +before baking it is pounded and beaten by a piece of heavy iron. Some +people used one kind of a beater and some another, but we had had made +for the purpose a heavy iron club a little over a foot long, large and +heavy at one end and a handle at the other. In my present household +Maryland biscuits were never made, but I had preserved this iron beater +as a memento of my boyhood, and when the burglaries began in our +vicinity I gave it to David to keep in his room, to be used as a weapon +if necessary. I did not allow him to have a pistol, having a regard for +my own safety in a sudden night alarm, and nothing could be more +formidable in a hand-to-hand encounter than this skull-crushing club. + +I began with the tall man, and rapidly tied his feet together with many +twists of the rope and as many knots. I then turned him over and tied +his elbows behind him in the same secure way. I had given so much +thought to the best method of securing a man by cords, that I do not +think this fellow could possibly have released himself when I had +finished with him. + +David was obeying my orders and keeping a strict watch on the prostrate +men; but his emotions of amazement were so great that he could not keep +them down. + +"What is the matter with them, sir?" he said. "How did they come so?" + +"There is no time for talking now," I answered. "I will tell you all +about it when the men have been secured." I now turned my attention to +the man who was partly resting against the lounge. I first tied his +feet, and before letting him down to the floor, so as to get to his +arms, I removed his hat and his mask, which was made of black muslin. I +was surprised to see the beardless face of a young and very good-looking +man. He was well dressed, and had the general appearance of a person +belonging to theatrical circles. When his arms had been tied, I told +David he might lay down his biscuit-beater, and help me with the third +man, who was badly mixed up with the _debris_ of the refreshments. We +hauled him out and tied him up. He was rather a short man, but very +heavy, and I could see no signs of his having been hurt by the smash-up +he made in falling. + +We now proceeded to search the insensible burglars for arms. Upon the +tall man we found a large revolver, a heavy billy, which seemed as if it +had seen service, and a long-bladed knife. The stout man carried two +double-barrelled pistols, and upon one of the fingers of his right hand +wore a brass ring with a murderous-looking iron protuberance upon it, +which, when driven forward by his powerful arm, was probably more +dangerous than a billy. Upon the younger man we found no arms at all, +and his hip pocket contained nothing but a small handbook on civil +engineering. + +I now briefly explained to David the nature of the trap which had caught +the burglars. He gazed upon me with a face glowing with amazed +admiration. + +"What a head you have got, sir!" he exclaimed. "I don't believe there is +another man in this State who would have thought of that. And what are +you going to do with them now, sir; hang 'em? That's what ought to be +done with them, the hounds!" + +"All I shall do," I answered, "will be to keep them till daylight, and +then I shall send word to the sheriff at Kennertown, and have him send +officers for them." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed David, "they are in the worst kind of a box." + +Now my wife called me again. "What in the world are you doing down +there?" she called; "why don't you come upstairs?" + +This annoyed me, for I was not yet ready to go upstairs. I wished to +resuscitate these fellows, for their stupor was so profound that I began +to fear that perhaps they had taken too much of the drug and ought to be +brought to their senses as speedily as possible. This feeling was due +more to my desire that serious injuries should not occur to the rascals +while in my house than to any concern for them. + +"My dear," said I, stepping to the bottom of the stairs, "I have some +things to attend to down here which will occupy me a few minutes longer; +then I will come up to you." + +"I can't imagine what the things are," she said, "but I suppose I can +wait," and she went into her room and closed her door after her. + +I now began to consider what was to be done with the burglars after they +had been resuscitated. My first impulse was to rid the house of them by +carrying them out of doors and bringing them to their senses there. But +there was an objection to this plan. They would be pretty heavy fellows +to carry, and as it would be absolutely necessary to watch them until +they could be given into the charge of the officers of the law, I did +not want to stay out of doors to do this, for the night air was raw and +chilly, and I therefore determined to keep them in the house. And as +they could be resuscitated better in a sitting position, they must be +set up in some way or other. I consulted David on the subject. + +"You might put 'em up with their backs agin the wall, sir," said he, +"but the dirty beasts would spoil the paper. I wouldn't keep them in a +decent room like this. I'd haul 'em out into the kitchen, anyway." + +But as they were already in the library I decided to let them stay +there, and to get them as speedily as possible into some position in +which they might remain. I bethought me of a heavy wooden settle or +bench with back and arms which stood on the side piazza. With David's +help I brought this into the room and placed it with its back to the +window. + +"Now, then," said I to David, "we will put them on this bench, and I +will tie them fast to it. We cannot be too careful in securing them, for +if one of them were to get loose, even without arms, there is no knowing +what trouble he might make." + +"Well, sir," said David, "if I'm to handle them at all, I'd rather have +them dead, as I hope they are, than have them alive; but you needn't be +afraid, sir, that any one of them will get loose. If I see any signs of +that I'll crack the rascal's skull in a jiffy." + +It required a great deal of tugging and lifting to get those three men +on the bench, but we got them there side by side, their heads hanging +listlessly, some one way, some another. I then tied each one of them +firmly to the bench. + +I had scarcely finished this when I again heard my wife's voice from the +top of the stairs. + +"If any pipes have burst," she called down, "tell David not to catch the +water in the new milk-pans." + +"Very well," I replied, "I'll see to it," and was rejoiced to hear again +the shutting of the bedroom door. + +I now saturated a sponge with the powerful preparation which Dr. Marks +had prepared as an antidote, and held it under the nose of the tall +burglar. In less than twenty seconds he made a slight quivering in his +face as if he were about to sneeze, and very soon he did sneeze +slightly. Then he sneezed violently, raised his head, and opened his +eyes. For a moment he gazed blankly before him, and then looked stupidly +at David and at me. But in an instant there flashed into his face the +look of a wild beast. His quick, glittering eye took in the whole +situation at a glance. With a furious oath he threw himself forward with +such a powerful movement that he nearly lifted the bench. + +"Stop that," said David, who stood near him with his iron club uplifted. +"If you do that again I'll let you feel this." + +The man looked at him with a fiery flash in his eyes, and then he looked +at me, as I stood holding the muzzle of my pistol within two feet of his +face. The black and red faded out of his countenance. He became pale. He +glanced at his companions bound and helpless. His expression now changed +entirely. The fury of the wild beast was succeeded by a look of +frightened subjection. Gazing very anxiously at my pistol, he said, in a +voice which, though agitated, was low and respectful:-- + +"What does this mean? What are you going to do? Will you please turn +away the muzzle of that pistol?" + +I took no notice of this indication of my steadiness of hand, and +answered:-- + +"I am going to bring these other scoundrels to their senses, and early +in the morning the three of you will be on your way to jail, where I +hope you may remain for the rest of your lives." + +"If you don't get killed on your way there," said David, in whose +nervous hand the heavy biscuit-beater was almost as dangerous as my +pistol. + +The stout man who sat in the middle of the bench was twice as long in +reviving as had been his companion, who watched the operation with +intense interest. When the burly scoundrel finally became conscious, he +sat for a few minutes gazing at the floor with a silly grin; then he +raised his head and looked first at one of his companions and then at +the other, gazed for an instant at me and David, tried to move his feet, +gave a pull at one arm and then at the other, and when he found he was +bound hard and fast, his face turned as red as fire and he opened his +mouth, whether to swear or yell I know not. I had already closed the +door, and before the man had uttered more than a premonitory sound, +David had clapped the end of his bludgeon against his mouth. + +"Taste that," he said, "and you know what you will get if you disturb +this family with any of your vile cursin' and swearin'." + +"Look here," said the tall man, suddenly turning to the other with an +air of authority, "keep your mouth shut and don't speak till you're +spoken to. Mind that, now, or these gentlemen will make it the worse for +you." + +David grinned as he took away his club. + +"I'd gentlemen you," he said, "if I could get half a chance to do it." + +The face of the heavy burglar maintained its redness, but he kept his +mouth shut. + +When the younger man was restored to his senses, his full consciousness +and power of perception seemed to come to him in an instant. His eyes +flashed from right to left, he turned deadly white, and then merely +moving his arms and legs enough to make himself aware that he was bound, +he sat perfectly still and said not a word. + +I now felt that I must go and acquaint my wife with what had happened, +or otherwise she would be coming downstairs to see what was keeping me +so long. David declared that he was perfectly able to keep guard over +them, and I ran upstairs. David afterward told me that as soon as I left +the room the tall burglar endeavoured to bribe him to cut their ropes, +and told him if he was afraid to stay behind after doing this he would +get him a much better situation than this could possibly be. But as +David threatened personal injury to the speaker if he uttered another +word of the kind, the tall man said no more; but the stout man became +very violent and angry, threatening all sorts of vengeance on my +unfortunate man. David said he was beginning to get angry, when the tall +man, who seemed to have much influence over the other fellow, ordered +him to keep quiet, as the gentleman with the iron club no doubt thought +he was doing right. The young fellow never said a word. + +When I told my wife that I had caught three burglars, and they were +fast bound in the library, she nearly fainted; and when I had revived +her she begged me to promise that I would not go downstairs again until +the police had carried away the horrible wretches. But I assured her +that it was absolutely necessary for me to return to the library. She +then declared that she would go with me, and if anything happened she +would share my fate. "Besides," she said, "if they are tied fast so they +can't move, I should like to see what they look like. I never saw a +burglar." + +I did not wish my wife to go downstairs, but as I knew there would be no +use in objecting, I consented. She hastily dressed herself, making me +wait for her; and when she left the room she locked the door on the +sleeping George William, in order that no one should get at him during +her absence. As we passed the head of the stairs, the door of my Aunt +Martha's room opened, and there she stood, completely dressed, with her +bonnet on, and a little leather bag in her hand. + +"I heard so much talking and so much going up and down stairs that I +thought I had better be ready to do whatever had to be done. Is it +fire?" + +"No," said my wife; "it's three burglars tied in a bunch in the library. +I am going down to see them." + +My Aunt Martha gasped, and looked as if she were going to sit down on +the floor. + +"Goodness gracious!" she said, "if you're going I'll go too. I can't let +you go alone, and I never did see a burglar." + +I hurried down and left the two ladies on the stairs until I was sure +everything was still safe; and when I saw that there had been no change +in the state of affairs, I told them to come down. + +When my wife and Aunt Martha timidly looked in at the library door, the +effect upon them and the burglars was equally interesting. The ladies +each gave a start and a little scream, and huddled themselves close to +me, and the three burglars gazed at them with faces that expressed more +astonishment than any I had ever seen before. The stout fellow gave vent +to a smothered exclamation, and the face of the young man flushed, but +not one of them spoke. + +"Are you sure they are tied fast?" whispered my Aunt Martha to me. + +"Perfectly," I answered; "if I had not been sure I should not have +allowed you to come down." + +Thereupon the ladies picked up courage and stepped further into the +room. + +"Did you and David catch them?" asked my aunt; "and how in the world did +you do it?" + +"I'll tell you all about that another time," I said, "and you had better +go upstairs as soon as you two have seen what sort of people are these +cowardly burglars who sneak or break into the houses of respectable +people at night, and rob and steal and ruin other people's property with +no more conscience or human feeling than is possessed by the rats which +steal your corn, or the polecats which kill your chickens." + +"I can scarcely believe," said Aunt Martha, "that that young man is a +real burglar." + +At these words the eyes of the fellow spoken of glowed as he fixed them +on Aunt Martha, but he did not say a word, and the paleness which had +returned to his face did not change. + +"Have they told you who they are?" asked my wife. + +"I haven't asked them," I said. "And now don't you think you had better +go upstairs?" + +"It seems to me," said Aunt Martha, "that those ropes must hurt them." + +The tall man now spoke. "Indeed they do, madam," he said in a low voice +and very respectful manner, "they are very tight." + +I told David to look at all the cords and see if any of them were too +tightly drawn. + +"It's all nonsense, sir," said he, when he had finished the examination; +"not one of the ropes is a bit too tight. All they want is a chance to +pull out their ugly hands." + +"Of course," said Aunt Martha, "if it would be unsafe to loosen the +knots I wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent to prison?" + +"Yes," said I; "as soon as the day breaks I shall send down for the +police." + +I now heard a slight sound at the door, and turning, saw Alice, our maid +of the house, who was peeping in at the door. Alice was a modest girl, +and quite pretty. + +"I heard the noise and the talking, sir," she said, "and when I found +the ladies had gone down to see what it was, I thought I would come +too." + +"And where is the cook," asked my wife; "don't she want to see +burglars?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Alice, very emphatically. "As soon as I told +her what it was she covered up her head with the bedclothes and +declared, ma'am, that she would never get up until they were entirely +gone out of the house." + +At this the stout man grinned. + +"I wish you'd all cover up your heads," he said. The tall man looked at +him severely, and he said no more. + +David did not move from his post near the three burglars, but he turned +toward Alice and looked at her. We knew that he had tender feelings +toward the girl, and I think that he did not approve of her being there. + +"Have they stolen anything?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"They have not had any chance to take anything away," I said; and my +wife remarked that whether they had stolen anything or not, they had +made a dreadful mess on the floor, and had broken the table. They should +certainly be punished. + +At this she made a motion as if she would leave the room, and an +anxious expression immediately came on the face of the tall man, who had +evidently been revolving something in his mind. + +"Madam," he said, "we are very sorry that we have broken your table, and +that we have damaged some of your glass and your carpet. I assure you, +however, that nothing of the kind would have happened but for that +drugged wine, which was doubtless intended for a medicine, and not a +beverage; but weary and chilled as we were when we arrived, madam, we +were glad to partake of it, supposing it ordinary wine." + +I could not help showing a little pride at the success of my scheme. + +"The refreshment was intended for fellows of your class, and I am very +glad you accepted it." + +The tall man did not answer me, but he again addressed my wife. + +"Madam," he said, "if you ladies would remain and listen to me a few +moments, I am sure I would make you aware that there is much to +extenuate the apparent offence which I have committed to-night." + +My wife did not answer him, but turning to me said, smiling, "If he +alludes to their drinking your wine he need not apologize." + +The man looked at her with an expression as if her words had pained him. + +"Madam," he said, "if you consent to listen to my explanations and the +story of this affair, I am sure your feelings toward me would not be so +harsh." + +"Now, then," said my Aunt Martha, "if he has a story to tell he ought to +be allowed to tell it, even in a case like this. Nobody should be judged +until he has said what he thinks he ought to say. Let us hear his +story." + +I laughed. "Any statement he may make," I said, "will probably deserve a +much stronger name than stories." + +"I think that what you say is true," remarked my wife; "but still if he +has a story to tell I should like to hear it." + +I think I heard David give a little grunt; but he was too well bred to +say anything. + +"Very well," said I, "if you choose to sit up and hear him talk, it is +your affair. I shall be obliged to remain here anyway, and will not +object to anything that will help to pass away the time. But these men +must not be the only ones who are seated. David, you and Alice can clear +away that broken table and the rest of the stuff, and then we might as +well sit down and make ourselves comfortable." + +Alice, with cloth and brush, approached very timidly the scene of the +disaster; but the younger burglar, who was nearest to her, gazed upon +her with such a gentle and quiet air that she did not seem to be +frightened. When she and David had put the room in fair order, I placed +two easy-chairs for my wife and Aunt Martha at a moderate distance from +the burglars, and took another myself a little nearer to them, and then +told David to seat himself near the other end of the bench, and Alice +took a chair at a little distance from the ladies. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to the burglars, "I would like very much +to hear what any one of you can say in extenuation of having broken into +a gentleman's house by night." + +Without hesitation the tall man began his speech. He had a long and +rather lean, close-shaven face, which at present bore the expression of +an undertaker conducting a funeral. Although it was my aunt who had +shown the greatest desire to hear his story, he addressed himself to my +wife. I think he imagined that she was the more influential person of +the two. + +"Madam," said he, "I am glad of the opportunity of giving you and your +family an idea of the difficulties and miseries which beset a large +class of your fellow-beings of whom you seldom have any chance of +knowing anything at all, but of whom you hear all sorts of the most +misleading accounts. Now, I am a poor man. I have suffered the greatest +miseries that poverty can inflict. I am here, suspected of having +committed a crime. It is possible that I may be put to considerable +difficulty and expense in proving my innocence." + +"I shouldn't wonder," I interrupted. To this remark he paid no +attention. + +"Considering all this," he continued, "you may not suppose, madam, that +as a boy I was brought up most respectably and properly. My mother was a +religious woman, and my father was a boat-builder. I was sent to school, +and my mother has often told me that I was a good scholar. But she died +when I was about sixteen, and I am sure had this not happened I should +never have been even suspected of breaking the laws of my country. Not +long after her death my father appeared to lose interest in his +business, and took to rowing about the river instead of building boats +for other people to row. Very often he went out at night, and I used to +wonder why he should care to be on the water in the darkness, and +sometimes in the rain. One evening at supper he said to me: 'Thomas, you +ought to know how to row in the dark as well as in the daytime. I am +going up the river to-night, and you can come with me.' + +"It was about my ordinary bedtime when we took a boat with two pair of +oars, and we pulled up the river about three miles above the city." + +"What city?" I asked. + +"The city where I was born, sir," he said, "and the name of which I must +be excused from mentioning for reasons connected with my only surviving +parent. There were houses on the river bank, but they were not very near +each other. Some of them had lights in them, but most of them were dark, +as it must have been after eleven o'clock. Before one of them my father +stopped rowing for a moment and looked at it pretty hard. It seemed to +be all dark, but as we pulled on a little I saw a light in the back of +the house. + +"My father said nothing, but we kept on, though pulling very easy for a +mile or two, and then we turned and floated down with the tide. 'You +might as well rest, Thomas,' said he, 'for you have worked pretty hard.' + +"We floated slowly, for the tide was just beginning to turn, and when we +got near the house which I mentioned, I noticed that there was no light +in it. When we were about opposite to it father suddenly looked up and +said, not speaking very loud, 'By George! if that isn't Williamson +Green's house. I wasn't thinking of it when we rowed up, and passed it +without taking notice of it. I am sorry for that, for I wanted to see +Williamson, and now I expect he has gone to bed.' + +"'Who is Mr. Green?' I asked. + +"'He is an old friend of mine,' said my father, 'and I haven't seen him +for some little while now. About four months ago he borrowed of me a +sextant, quadrant, and chronometer. They were instruments I took from +old Captain Barney in payment of some work I did for him. I wasn't +usin' them, and Williamson had bought a catboat and was studying +navigation; but he has given up that fad now and has promised me over +and over to send me back my instruments, but he has never done it. If +I'd thought of it I would have stopped and got 'em of him; but I didn't +think, and now I expect he has gone to bed. However, I'll row in shore +and see; perhaps he's up yet.' + +"You see, ma'am," said the speaker to my wife, "I'm tellin' you all +these particulars because I am very anxious you should understand +exactly how everything happened on this night, which was the +turning-point of my life." + +"Very good," said Aunt Martha; "we want to hear all the particulars." + +"Well, then," continued the burglar, "we pulled up to a stone wall which +was at the bottom of Green's place and made fast, and father he got out +and went up to the house. After a good while he came back and said that +he was pretty sure Williamson Green had gone to bed, and as it wouldn't +do to waken people up from their sleep to ask them for nautical +instruments they had borrowed, he sat down for a minute on the top of +the wall, and then he slapped his knee, not making much noise, though. + +"'By George!' he said, 'an idea has just struck me. I can play the +prettiest trick on Williamson that ever was played on mortal man. Those +instruments are all in a box locked up, and I know just where he keeps +it. I saw it not long ago, when I went to his house to talk about a +yacht he wants built. They are on a table in the comer of his bedroom. +He was taking me through the house to show me the improvements he had +made, and he said to me:-- + +"'"Martin, there's your instruments. I won't trouble you to take them +with you, because they're heavy and you're not going straight home, but +I'll bring them to you day after to-morrow, when I shall be goin' your +way." + +"'Now, then,' said my father, 'the trick I'm thinkin' of playing on +Williamson is this: I'd like to take that box of instruments out of his +room without his knowing it and carry them home, having the boat here +convenient; and then in a day or two to write to him and tell him I must +have 'em, because I have a special use for 'em. Of course he'll be +awfully cut up, not having them to send back; and when he comes down to +my place to talk about it, and after hearing all he has to say, I'll +show him the box. He'll be the most dumbfoundedest man in this State; +and if I don't choose to tell him he'll never know to his dying day how +I got that box. And if he lies awake at night, trying to think how I got +it, it will serve him right for keeping my property from me so long.' + +"'But, father,' said I, 'if the people have gone to bed you can't get +into the house to play him your trick.' + +"'That can be managed,' says he; 'I'm rather old for climbing myself, +but I know a way by which you, Thomas, can get in easy enough. At the +back of the house is a trellis with a grape-vine running over it, and +the top of it is just under one of the second-story windows. You can +climb up that trellis, Thomas, and lift up that window-sash very +carefully, so's not to make no noise, and get in. Then you'll be in a +back room, with a door right in front of you which opens into Mr. and +Mrs. Green's bedroom. There's always a little night lamp burning in it, +by which you can see to get about. In the corner, on your right as you +go into the room, is a table with my instrument-box standing on it. The +box is pretty heavy, and there is a handle on top to carry it by. You +needn't be afraid to go in, for by this time they are both sound asleep, +and you can pick up the box and walk out as gingerly as a cat, having of +course taken your shoes off before you went in. Then you can hand the +box out the back window to me,--I can climb up high enough to reach +it,--and you can scuttle down, and we'll be off, having the best rig on +Williamson Green that I ever heard of in my born days.' + +"I was a very active boy, used to climbing and all that sort of thing, +and I had no doubt that I could easily get into the house; but I did not +fancy my father's scheme. + +"'Suppose,' I said, 'that Mr. Williamson Green should wake up and see +me; what could I say? How could I explain my situation?' + +"'You needn't say anything,' said my father. 'If he wakes up blow out +the light and scoot. If you happen to have the box in your hand drop it +out the back window and then slip down after it. He won't see us; but +if he does he cannot catch us before we get to the boat; but if he +should, however, I'll have to explain the matter to him, and the joke +will be against me; but I shall get my instruments, which is the main +point, after all.' + +"I did not argue with my father, for he was a man who hated to be +differed with, and I agreed to help him carry out his little joke. We +took off our shoes and walked quietly to the back of the house. My +father stood below, and I climbed up the trellis under the back window, +which he pointed out. The window-sash was down all but a little crack to +let in air, and I raised it so slowly and gently that I made no noise. +Then without any trouble at all I got into the room. + +"I found myself in a moderate-sized chamber, into which a faint light +came from a door opposite the window. Having been several hours out in +the night my eyes had become so accustomed to darkness that this light +was comparatively strong and I could see everything. + +"Looking about me my eyes fell on a little bedstead, on which lay one of +the most beautiful infants I ever beheld in my life. Its golden hair +lay in ringlets upon the pillow. Its eyes were closed, but its soft +cheeks had in them a rosy tinge which almost equalled the colour of its +dainty little lips, slightly opened as it softly breathed and dreamed." +At this point I saw my wife look quickly at the bedroom key she had in +her hand. I knew she was thinking of George William. + +"I stood entranced," continued the burglar, "gazing upon this babe, for +I was very fond of children; but I remembered that I must not waste +time, and stepped softly into the next room. There I beheld Mr. and Mrs. +Williamson Green in bed, both fast asleep, the gentleman breathing a +little hard. In a corner, just where my father told me I should find it, +stood the box upon the table. + +"But I could not immediately pick it up and depart. The beautiful room +in which I found myself was a revelation to me. Until that moment I had +not known that I had tastes and sympathies of a higher order than might +have been expected of the youthful son of a boat-builder. Those artistic +furnishings aroused within a love of the beautiful which I did not know +I possessed. The carpets, the walls, the pictures, the hangings in the +windows, the furniture, the ornaments,--everything, in fact, impressed +me with such a delight that I did not wish to move or go away. + +"Into my young soul there came a longing. 'Oh!' I said to myself, 'that +my parents had belonged to the same social grade as that worthy couple +reposing in that bed; and oh! that I, in my infancy, had been as +beautiful and as likely to be so carefully nurtured and cultured as that +sweet babe in the next room.' I almost heaved a sigh as I thought of the +difference between these surroundings and my own, but I checked myself; +it would not do to made a noise and spoil my father's joke. + +"There were a great many things in that luxurious apartment which it +would have delighted me to look upon and examine, but I forbore." + +"I wish I'd been there," said the stout man; "there wouldn't have been +any forbearin'." + +The speaker turned sharply upon him. + +"Don't you interrupt me again," he said angrily. Then, instantly +resuming his deferential tone, he continued the story. + +"But I had come there by the command of my parent, and this command must +be obeyed without trifling or loss of time. My father did not approve of +trifling or loss of time. I moved quietly toward the table in the +corner, on which stood my father's box. I was just about to put my hand +upon it when I heard a slight movement behind me. I gave a start and +glanced backward. It was Mr. Williamson Green turning over in his bed; +what if he should awake? His back was now toward me, and my impulse was +to fly and leave everything behind me; but my father had ordered me to +bring the box, and he expected his orders to be obeyed. I had often been +convinced of that. + +"I stood perfectly motionless for a minute or so, and when the gentleman +recommenced his regular and very audible breathing I felt it safe to +proceed with my task. Taking hold of the box I found it was much heavier +than I expected it to be; but I moved gently away with it and passed +into the back room. + +"There I could not refrain from stopping a moment by the side of the +sleeping babe, upon whose cherub-like face the light of the night lamp +dimly shone. The little child was still sleeping sweetly, and my impulse +was to stop and kiss it; but I knew that this would be wrong. The infant +might awake and utter a cry and my father's joke be spoiled. I moved to +the open window, and with some trouble, and, I think, without any noise, +I succeeded in getting out upon the trellis with the box under my arm. +The descent was awkward, but my father was a tall man, and, reaching +upward, relieved me of my burden before I got to the ground. + +"'I didn't remember it was so heavy,' he whispered, 'or I should have +given you a rope to lower it down by. If you had dropped it and spoiled +my instruments, and made a lot of noise besides, I should have been +angry enough.' + +"I was very glad my father was not angry, and following him over the +greensward we quickly reached the boat, where the box was stowed away +under the bow to keep it from injury. + +"We pushed off as quietly as possible and rowed swiftly down the river. +When we had gone about a mile I suddenly dropped my oar with an +exclamation of dismay. + +"'What's the matter?' cried my father. + +"'Oh, I have done a dreadful thing!' I said. 'Oh, father, I must go +back!' + +"I am sorry to say that at this my father swore. + +"'What do you want to go back for?' he said. + +"'Just to think of it! I have left open the window in which that +beautiful child was sleeping. If it should take cold and die from the +damp air of the river blowing upon it I should never forgive myself. Oh, +if I had only thought of climbing up the trellis again and pulling down +that sash! I am sure I could go back and do it without making the least +noise.' My father gave a grunt; but what the grunt meant I do not know, +and for a few moments he was silent, and then he said:-- + +"'Thomas, you cannot go back; the distance is too great, the tide is +against us, and it is time that you and I were both in our beds. Nothing +may happen to that baby; but, attend to my words now, if any harm should +come to that child it will go hard with you. If it should die it would +be of no use for you to talk about practical jokes. You would be held +responsible for its death. I was going to say to you that it might be as +well for you not to say anything about this little venture until I had +seen how Williamson Green took the joke. Some people get angry with very +little reason, although I hardly believe he's that sort of a man; but +now things are different. He thinks all the world of that child, which +is the only one they've got; and if you want to stay outside of jail or +the house of refuge I warn you never to say a word of where you have +been this night.' + +"With this he began to row again, and I followed his example, but with a +very heavy heart. All that night I dreamt of the little child with the +damp night winds blowing in upon it." + +"Did you ever hear if it caught cold?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"No," replied the burglar, "I never did. I mentioned the matter to my +father, and he said that he had great fears upon the subject, for +although he had written to Williamson Green, asking him to return the +instruments, he had not seen him or heard from him, and he was afraid +that the child had died or was dangerously sick. Shortly after that my +father sent me on a little trip to the Long Island coast to collect some +bills from people for whom he had done work. He gave me money to stay a +week or two at the seashore, saying that the change would do me good; +and it was while I was away on this delightful holiday that an event +occurred which had a most disastrous effect upon my future life. My +father was arrested for burglary! + +"It appeared--and I cannot tell you how shocked I was when I discovered +the truth--that the box which I had carried away did not contain +nautical instruments, but was filled with valuable plate and jewels. My +unfortunate father heard from a man who had been discharged from the +service of the family whose house he had visited--whose name, by the +way, was not Green--where the box containing the valuables mentioned was +always placed at night, and he had also received accurate information in +regard to the situation of the rooms and the best method of gaining +access to them. + +"I believe that some arrangement had been made between my father and +this discharged servant in regard to a division of the contents of the +box, and it was on account of a disagreement on this subject that the +man became very angry, and after pocketing what my father thought was +his fair share he departed to unknown regions, leaving behind a note to +the police which led to my father's arrest." + +"That was a mean trick," said Aunt Martha. + +The burglar looked at her gratefully. + +"In the lower spheres of life, madam, such things often happen. Some of +the plate and jewels were found in my father's possession, and he was +speedily tried and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. And now, +can you imagine, ladies," said the tall burglar, apparently having +become satisfied to address himself to Aunt Martha, as well as my wife, +"the wretched position in which I found myself? I was upbraided as the +son of a thief. I soon found myself without home, without occupation, +and, alas! without good reputation. I was careful not to mention my +voluntary connection with my father's crime for fear that should I do so +I might be compelled to make a statement which might increase the +severity of his punishment. For this reason I did not dare to make +inquiries concerning the child in whom I had taken such an interest, +and whose little life I had, perhaps, imperilled. I never knew, ladies, +whether that infant grew up or not. + +"But I, alas! grew up to a life of hardship and degradation. It would be +impossible for persons in your sphere of life to understand what I now +was obliged to suffer. Suitable employment I could not obtain, because I +was the son of a burglar. With a father in the State prison, it was of +no use for me to apply for employment at any respectable place of +business. I laboured at one thing and another, sometimes engaging in the +most menial employments. I also had been educated and brought up by my +dear mother for a very different career. Sometimes I managed to live +fairly well, sometimes I suffered. Always I suffered from the stigma of +my father's crime, always in the eyes of the community in which I +lived--a community, I am sorry to say, incapable, as a rule, of making +correct judgments in delicate cases like these--I was looked upon as +belonging to the ranks of the dishonest. It was a hard lot, and +sometimes almost impossible to bear up under. + +"I have spoken at length, ladies, in order that you may understand my +true position; and I wish to say that I have never felt the crushing +weight of my father's disgrace more deeply than I felt it last evening. +This man," nodding toward the stout burglar, "came to me shortly after I +had eaten my supper, which happened to be a frugal one, and said to +me:-- + +"'Thomas, I have some business to attend to to-night, in which you can +help me if you choose. I know you are a good mechanic.' + +"'If it is work that will pay me,' I answered, 'I should be very glad to +do it, for I am greatly in need of money.' + +"'It will pay,' said he; and I agreed to assist him. + +"As we were walking to the station, as the business to be attended to +was out of town, this man, whose name is James Barlow, talked to me in +such a way that I began to suspect that he intended to commit a +burglary, and openly charged him with this evil purpose. 'You may call +it burglary or anything else you please,' said he; 'property is very +unequally divided in this world, and it is my business in life to make +wrong things right as far as I can. I am going to the house of a man +who has a great deal more than he needs, and I haven't anything like as +much as I need; and so I intend to take some of his overplus,--not very +much, for when I leave his house he will still be a rich man, and I'll +be a poor one. But for a time my family will not starve.' + +"'Argue as you please, James Barlow,' I said, 'what you are going to do +is nothing less than burglary.' + +"'Of course it is,' said he; 'but it's all right, all the same. There +are a lot of people, Thomas, who are not as particular about these +things as they used to be, and there is no use for you to seem better +than your friends and acquaintances. Now, to show there are not so many +bigots as there used to be, there's a young man going to meet us at the +station who is greatly interested in the study of social problems. He is +going along with us just to look into this sort of thing and study it. +It is impossible for him to understand people of our class, or do +anything to make their condition better, if he does not thoroughly +investigate their methods of life and action. He's going along just as a +student, nothing more; and he may be down on the whole thing for all I +know. He pays me five dollars for the privilege of accompanying me, and +whether he likes it or not is his business. I want you to go along as a +mechanic, and if your conscience won't let you take any share in the +profit, I'll just pay you for your time.' + +"'James Barlow,' said I, 'I am going with you, but for a purpose far +different from that you desire. I shall keep by your side, and if I can +dissuade you from committing the crime you intend I shall do so; but if +I fail in this, and you deliberately break into a house for purposes of +robbery, I shall arouse the inmates and frustrate your crime.' Now, +James Barlow," said he, turning to the stout man with a severe +expression on his strongly marked face, "is not what I have said +perfectly true? Did you not say to me every word which I have just +repeated?" + +The stout man looked at the other in a very odd way. His face seemed to +broaden and redden, and he merely closed his eyes as he promptly +answered:-- + +"That's just what I said, every blasted word of it. You've told it fair +and square, leavin' off nothin' and puttin' in nothin'. You've told the +true facts out and out, up and down, without a break." + +"Now, ladies," continued the tall man, "you see my story is +corroborated, and I will conclude it by saying that when this house, in +spite of my protest, had been opened, I entered with the others with the +firm intention of stepping into a hallway or some other suitable place +and announcing in a loud voice that the house was about to be robbed. As +soon as I found the family aroused and my purpose accomplished, I +intended to depart as quickly as possible, for, on account of the shadow +cast upon me by my father's crime, I must never be found even in the +vicinity of criminal action. But as I was passing through this room I +could not resist the invitation of Barlow to partake of the refreshments +which we saw upon the table. I was faint from fatigue and insufficient +nourishment. It seemed a very little thing to taste a drop of wine in a +house where I was about to confer a great benefit. I yielded to the +temptation, and now I am punished. Partaking even that little which did +not belong to me, I find myself placed in my present embarrassing +position." + +"You are right there," said I, "it must be embarrassing; but before we +have any more reflections, there are some practical points about which +I wish you would inform me. How did that wicked man, Mr. Barlow I think +you called him, get into this house?" + +The tall man looked at me for a moment, as if in doubt what he should +say; and then his expression of mingled hopelessness and contrition +changed into one of earnest frankness. + +"I will tell you, sir, exactly," he said; "I have no wish to conceal +anything. I have long wanted to have an opportunity to inform occupants +of houses, especially those in the suburbs, of the insufficiency of +their window fastenings. Familiar with mechanic devices as I am, and +accustomed to think of such things, the precautions of householders +sometimes move me to laughter. Your outer doors, front and back, are of +heavy wood, chained, locked, and bolted, often double locked and bolted; +but your lower windows are closed in the first place by the lightest +kind of shutters, which are very seldom fastened at all, and in the +second place by a little contrivance connecting the two sashes, which is +held in place by a couple of baby screws. If these contrivances are of +the best kind and cannot be opened from the outside with a knife-blade +or piece of tin, the burglar puts a chisel or jimmy under the lower sash +and gently presses it upward, when the baby screws come out as easily as +if they were babies' milk-teeth. Not for a moment does the burglar +trouble himself about the front door, with its locks and chains and +bolts. He goes to the window, with its baby screws, which might as well +be left open as shut, for all the hindrance it is to his entrance; and +if he meddled with the door at all, it is simply to open it from the +inside, so that when he is ready to depart he may do so easily." + +"But all that does not apply to my windows," I said. "They are not +fastened that way." + +"No, sir," said the man, "your lower shutters are solid and strong as +your doors. This is right, for if shutters are intended to obstruct +entrance to a house they should be as strong as the doors. When James +Barlow first reached this house he tried his jimmy on one of the +shutters in this main building, but he could not open it. The heavy bolt +inside was too strong for him. Then he tried another near by with the +same result. You will find the shutters splintered at the bottom. Then +he walked to the small addition at the back of the house, where the +kitchen is located. Here the shutters were smaller, and of course the +inside bolts were smaller. Everything in harmony. Builders are so +careful now-a-days to have everything in harmony. When Barlow tried his +jimmy on one of these shutters the bolt resisted for a time, but its +harmonious proportions caused it to bend, and it was soon drawn from its +staples and the shutter opened, and of course the sash was opened as I +told you sashes are opened." + +"Well," said I, "shutters and sashes of mine shall never be opened in +that way again." + +"It was with that object that I spoke to you," said the tall man. "I +wish you to understand the faults of your fastenings, and any +information I can give you which will better enable you to protect your +house, I shall be glad to give, as a slight repayment for the injury I +may have helped to do to you in the way of broken glass and spoiled +carpet. I have made window fastenings an especial study, and, if you +employ me for the purpose, I'll guarantee that I will put your house +into a condition which will be absolutely burglar proof. If I do not do +this to your satisfaction, I will not ask to be paid a cent." + +"We will not consider that proposition now," I said, "for you may have +other engagements which would interfere with the proposed job." I was +about to say that I thought we had enough of this sort of story, when +Aunt Martha interrupted me. + +"It seems to me," she said, speaking to the tall burglar, "that you have +instincts, and perhaps convictions, of what is right and proper; but it +is plain that you allow yourself to be led and influenced by +unprincipled companions. You should avoid even the outskirts of evil. +You may not know that the proposed enterprise is a bad one, but you +should not take part in it unless you know that it is a good one. In +such cases you should be rigid." + +The man turned toward my aunt, and looked steadfastly at her, and as he +gazed his face grew sadder and sadder. + +"Rigid," he repeated; "that is hard." + +"Yes," I remarked, "that is one of the meanings of the word." + +Paying no attention to me, he continued:-- + +"Madam," said he, with a deep pathos in his voice, "no one can be +better aware than I am that I have made many mistakes in the course of +my life; but that quality on which I think I have reason to be satisfied +with myself is my rigidity when I know a thing is wrong. There occurs to +me now an instance in my career which will prove to you what I say. + +"I knew a man by the name of Spotkirk, who had invented a liniment for +the cure of boils. He made a great success with his liniment, which he +called Boilene, and at the time I speak of he was a very rich man. + +"One day Spotkirk came to me and told me he wanted me to do a piece of +business for him, for which he would pay me twenty-five dollars. I was +glad to hear this, for I was greatly in need of money, and I asked him +what it was he wanted me to do. + +"'You know Timothy Barker,' said he. 'Well, Timothy and I have had a +misunderstanding, and I want you to be a referee or umpire between us, +to set things straight.' + +"'Very good,' said I, 'and what is the point of difference?' + +"'I'll put the whole thing before you.' said he, 'for of course you +must understand it or you can't talk properly to Timothy. Now, you see, +in the manufacture of my Boilene I need a great quantity of good yellow +gravel, and Timothy Barker has got a gravel pit of that kind. Two years +ago I agreed with Timothy that he should furnish me with all the gravel +I should want for one-eighth of one per cent. of the profits on the +Boilene. We didn't sign no papers, for which I am sorry, but that was +the agreement; and now Timothy says that one-eighth of one per cent. +isn't enough. He has gone wild about it, and actually wants ten per +cent., and threatens to sue me if I don't give it to him.' + +"'Are you obliged to have gravel? Wouldn't something else do for your +purpose?' + +"'There's nothing as cheap,' said Spotkirk. 'You see I have to have lots +and lots of it. Every day I fill a great tank with the gravel and let +water onto it. This soaks through the gravel, and comes out a little +pipe in the bottom of the tank of a beautiful yellow color; sometimes it +is too dark, and then I have to thin it with more water.' + +"'Then you bottle it,' I said. + +"'Yes,' said Spotkirk; 'then there is all the expense and labour of +bottling it.' + +"'Then you put nothing more into it,' said I. + +"'What more goes into it before it's corked,' said Spotkirk, 'is my +business. That's my secret, and nobody's been able to find it out. +People have had Boilene analyzed by chemists, but they can't find out +the hidden secret of its virtue. There's one thing that everybody who +has used it does know, and that is that it is a sure cure for boils. If +applied for two or three days according to directions, and at the proper +stage, the boil is sure to disappear. As a proof of its merit I have +sold seven hundred and forty-eight thousand bottles this year.' + +"'At a dollar a bottle?' said I. + +"'That is the retail price,' said he. + +"'Now, then, Mr. Spotkirk,' said I, 'it will not be easy to convince +Timothy Barker that one-eighth of one per cent. is enough for him. I +suppose he hauls his gravel to your factory?' + +"'Hauling's got nothing to do with it,' said he; 'gravel is only ten +cents a load anywhere, and if I choose I could put my factory right in +the middle of a gravel pit. Timothy Barker has nothing to complain of. + +"'But he knows you are making a lot of money,' said I, 'and it will be a +hard job to talk him over. Mr. Spotkirk, it's worth every cent of fifty +dollars.' + +"'Now look here,' said he; 'if you get Barker to sign a paper that will +suit me, I'll give you fifty dollars. I'd rather do that than have him +bring a suit. If the matter comes up in the courts those rascally +lawyers will be trying to find out what I put into my Boilene, and that +sort of thing would be sure to hurt my business. It won't be so hard to +get a hold on Barker if you go to work the right way. You can just let +him understand that you know all about that robbery at Bonsall's +clothing-store, where he kept the stolen goods in his barn, covered up +with hay, for nearly a week. It would be a good thing for Timothy Barker +to understand that somebody else beside me knows about that business, +and if you bring it in right, it will fetch him around, sure.' + +"I kept quiet for a minute or two, and then I said:-- + +"'Mr. Spotkirk, this is an important business. I can't touch it under a +hundred dollars.' He looked hard at me, and then he said:-- + +"'Do it right, and a hundred dollars is yours.' + +"After that I went to see Timothy Barker, and had a talk with him. +Timothy was boiling over, and considered himself the worst-cheated man +in the world. He had only lately found out how Spotkirk made his +Boilene, and what a big sale he had for it, and he was determined to +have more of the profits. + +"'Just look at it!' he shouted; 'when Spotkirk has washed out my gravel +it's worth more than it was before, and he sells it for twenty-five +cents a load to put on gentlemen's places. Even out of that he makes a +hundred and fifty per cent. profit.' + +"I talked a good deal more with Timothy Barker, and found out a good +many things about Spotkirk's dealings with him, and then in an off-hand +manner I mentioned the matter of the stolen goods in his barn, just as +if I had known all about it from the very first. At this Timothy stopped +shouting, and became as meek as a mouse. He said nobody was as sorry as +he was when he found the goods concealed in his barn had been stolen, +and that if he had known it before the thieves took them away he should +have informed the authorities; and then he went on to tell me how he got +so poor and so hard up by giving his whole time to digging and hauling +gravel for Spotkirk, and neglecting his little farm, that he did not +know what was going to become of him and his family if he couldn't make +better terms with Spotkirk for the future, and he asked me very +earnestly to help him in this business if I could. + +"Now, then, I set myself to work to consider this business. Here was a +rich man oppressing a poor one, and here was this rich man offering me +one hundred dollars--which in my eyes was a regular fortune--to help him +get things so fixed that he could keep on oppressing the poor one. Now, +then, here was a chance for me to show my principles. Here was a chance +for me to show myself what you, madam, call rigid; and rigid I was. I +just set that dazzling one hundred dollars aside, much as I wanted it. +Much as I actually needed it, I wouldn't look at it, or think of it. I +just said to myself, 'If you can do any good in this matter, do it for +the poor man;' and I did do it for Timothy Barker with his poor wife and +seven children, only two of them old enough to help him in the gravel +pit. I went to Spotkirk and I talked to him, and I let him see that if +Timothy Barker showed up the Boilene business, as he threatened to do, +it would be a bad day for the Spotkirk family. He tried hard to talk me +over to his side, but I was rigid, madam, I was rigid, and the business +ended in my getting seven per cent. of the profits of Boilene for that +poor man, Timothy Barker, and his large family; and their domestic +prosperity is entirely due--I say it without hesitation--to my efforts +on their behalf, and to my rigidity in standing up for the poor against +the rich." + +"Of course," I here remarked, "you don't care to mention anything about +the money you squeezed out of Timothy Barker by means of your knowledge +that he had been a receiver of stolen goods, and I suppose the Boilene +man gave you something to get the percentage brought down from ten per +cent. to seven." + +The tall burglar turned and looked at me with an air of saddened +resignation. + +"Of course," said he, "it is of no use for a man in my position to +endeavour to set himself right in the eyes of one who is prejudiced +against him. My hope is that those present who are not prejudiced will +give my statements the consideration they deserve." + +"Which they certainly will do," I continued. Turning to my wife and Aunt +Martha, "As you have heard this fine story, I think it is time for you +to retire." + +"I do not wish to retire," promptly returned Aunt Martha. "I was never +more awake in my life, and couldn't go asleep if I tried. What we have +heard may or may not be true, but it furnishes subjects for +reflection--serious reflection. I wish very much to hear what that man +in the middle of the bench has to say for himself; I am sure he has a +story." + +"Yes, ma'am," said the stout man, with animation, "I've got one, and I'd +like nothin' better than to tell it to you if you'll give me a little +somethin' to wet my lips with--a little beer, or whiskey and water, or +anything you have convenient." + +"Whiskey and water!" said Aunt Martha with severity. "I should think +not. It seems to me you have had all the intoxicating liquors in this +house that you would want." + +"But I don't think you're the kind of person who'd doctor the liquor. +This is the first gentleman's house where I ever found anything of that +kind." + +"The worse for the gentleman," I remarked. The man grunted. + +"Well, ma'am," he said, "call it anything you please--milk, cider, or, +if you have nothin' else, I'll take water. I can't talk without +somethin' soaky." + +My wife rose. "If we are to listen to another story," she said, "I want +something to keep up my strength. I shall go into the dining-room and +make some tea, and Aunt Martha can give these men some of that if she +likes." + +The ladies now left the room, followed by Alice. Presently they called +me, and, leaving the burglars in charge of the vigilant David, I went to +them. I found them making tea. + +"I have been upstairs to see if George William is all right, and now I +want you to tell me what you think of that man's story," said my wife. + +"I don't think it a story at all," said I. "I call it a lie. A story is +a relation which purports to be fiction, no matter how much like truth +it may be, and is intended to be received as fiction. A lie is a false +statement made with the intention to deceive, and that is what I believe +we have heard to-night." + +"I agree with you exactly," said my wife. + +"It may be," said Aunt Martha, "that the man's story is true. There are +some things about it which make me think so; but if he is really a +criminal he must have had trials and temptations which led him into his +present mode of life. We should consider that." + +"I have been studying him," I said, "and I think he is a born rascal, +who ought to have been hung long ago." + +My aunt looked at me. "John," she said, "if you believe people are born +criminals, they ought to be executed in their infancy. It could be done +painlessly by electricity, and society would be the gainer, although you +lawyers would be the losers. But I do not believe in your doctrine. If +the children of the poor were properly brought up and educated, fewer of +them would grow to be criminals." + +"I don't think this man suffered for want of education," said my wife; +"he used very good language; that was one of the first things that led +me to suspect him. It is not likely that sons of boat-builders speak so +correctly and express themselves so well." + +"Of course, I cannot alter your opinions," said Aunt Martha, "but the +story interested me, and I very much wish to hear what that other man +has to say for himself." + +"Very well," said I, "you shall hear it; but I must drink my tea and go +back to the prisoners." + +"And I," said Aunt Martha, "will take some tea to them. They may be bad +men, but they must not suffer." + +I had been in the library but a few moments when Aunt Martha entered, +followed by Alice, who bore a tray containing three very large cups of +tea and some biscuit. + +"Now, then," said Aunt Martha to me, "if you will untie their hands, I +will give them some tea." + +At these words each burglar turned his eyes on me with a quick glance. I +laughed. + +"Hardly," said I. "I would not be willing to undertake the task of +tying them up again, unless, indeed, they will consent to drink some +more of my wine." + +"Which we won't do," said the middle burglar, "and that's flat." + +"Then they must drink this tea with their hands tied," said Aunt Martha, +in a tone of reproachful resignation, and, taking a cup from the tray, +she approached the stout man and held it up to his lips. At this act of +extreme kindness we were all amused, even the burglar's companions +smiled, and David so far forgot himself as to burst into a laugh, which, +however, he quickly checked. The stout burglar, however, saw nothing to +laugh at. He drank the tea, and never drew breath until the cup was +emptied. + +"I forgot," said my aunt, as she removed the cup from his lips, "to ask +you whether you took much or little sugar." + +"Don't make no difference to me," answered the man; "tea isn't malt +liquor; it's poor stuff any way, and it doesn't matter to me whether +it's got sugar in it or not, but it's moistenin', and that's what I +want. Now, madam, I'll just say to you, if ever I break into a room +where you're sleepin', I'll see that you don't come to no harm, even if +you sit up in bed and holler." + +"Thank you," said Aunt Martha; "but I hope you will never again be +concerned in that sort of business." + +He grinned. "That depends on circumstances," said he. + +Aunt Martha now offered the tall man some tea, but he thanked her very +respectfully, and declined. The young man also said that he did not care +for tea, but that if the maid--looking at Alice--would give him a glass +of water he would be obliged. This was the first time he had spoken. His +voice was low and of a pleasing tone. David's face grew dark, and we +could see that he objected to this service from Alice. + +"I will give him the water myself," said Aunt Martha. This she did, and +I noticed that the man's thirst was very soon satisfied. When David had +been refreshed, and biscuits refused by the burglars, who could not very +well eat them with their hands tied, we all sat down, and the stout man +began his story. I give it as he told it, omitting some coarse and rough +expressions, and a good deal of slang which would be unintelligible to +the general reader. + +"There's no use," said the burglar, "for me to try and make any of you +believe that I'm a pious gentleman under a cloud, for I know I don't +look like it, and wouldn't be likely to make out a case." + +At this the tall man looked at him very severely. + +"I don't mean to say," he continued, "that my friend here tried anything +like that. Every word he said was perfectly true, as I could personally +testify if I was called upon the stand, and what I'm goin' to tell you +is likewise solid fact. + +"My father was a cracksman, and a first-rate one, too; he brought me up +to the business, beginning when I was very small. I don't remember +havin' any mother, so I'll leave her out. My old man was very +particular; he liked to see things done right. One day I was with him, +and we saw a tinner nailing a new leader or tin water-spout to the side +of a house. + +"'Look here, young man,' says Dad, 'you're makin' a pretty poor job of +that. You don't put in enough nails, and they ain't half drove in. +Supposin' there was a fire in that house some night, and the family had +to come down by the spout, and your nails would give way, and they'd +break their necks. What would you think then? And I can tell you what it +is, young man, I can appear ag'in you for doing poor work.' + +"The tinner grumbled, but he used more nails and drove 'em tight, Dad +and me standin' by, an' looking at him. One rainy night not long after +this Dad took me out with him and we stopped in front of this house. +'Now, Bobbie,' said he, 'I want you to climb into that open second-story +window, and then slip down stairs and open the front door for me; the +family's at dinner.' + +"'How am I to get up, Dad?' said I. + +"'Oh, you can go up the spout,' says he; 'I'll warrant that it will hold +you. I've seen to it that it was put on good and strong.' + +"I tried it, and as far as I can remember I never went up a safer +spout." + +"And you opened the front door?" asked Aunt Martha. + +"Indeed I did, ma'am," said the burglar, "you wouldn't catch me makin' +no mistakes in that line. + +"After a while I got too heavy to climb spouts, and I took to the +regular business, and did well at it, too." + +"Do you mean to say," asked Aunt Martha, "that you willingly and +premeditatedly became a thief and midnight robber?" + +"That's what I am, ma'am," said he; "I don't make no bones about it. I'm +a number one, double-extra, back-springed, copper-fastened burglar, with +all the attachments and noiseless treadle. That's what I am, and no +mistake. There's all kinds of businesses in this world, and there's got +to be people to work at every one of 'em; and when a fellow takes any +particular line, his business is to do it well; that's my motto. When I +break into a house I make it a point to clean it out first-class, and +not to carry away no trash, nuther. Of course, I've had my ups and my +downs, like other people,--preachers and doctors and storekeepers,--they +all have them, and I guess the downs are more amusin' than the ups, at +least to outsiders. I've just happened to think of one of them, and I'll +let you have it. + +"There was a man I knew named Jerry Hammond, that was a contractor, and +sometimes he had pretty big jobs on hand, buildin' or road-makin' or +somethin' or other. He'd contract to do anything, would Jerry, no matter +whether he'd ever done it before or not. I got to know his times and +seasons for collecting money, and I laid for him." + +"Abominable meanness!" exclaimed my wife. + +"It's all business," said the stout man, quite unabashed. "You don't +catch a doctor refusin' to practise on a friend, or a lawyer, nuther, +and in our line of business it's the same thing. It was about the end of +October, nigh four years ago, that I found out that Jerry had a lot of +money on hand. He'd been collectin' it from different parties, and had +got home too late in the day to put it in the bank, so says I to myself, +this is your time, old fellow, and you'd better make hay while the sun +shines. I was a little afraid to crack Jerry's house by myself, for he's +a strong old fellow, so I got a man named Putty Henderson to go along +with me. Putty was a big fellow and very handy with a jimmy; but he was +awful contrary-minded, and he wouldn't agree to clean out Jerry until I +promised to go halves with him. This wasn't fair, for it wasn't his job, +and a quarter would have been lots for him. + +"But there wasn't no use arguin', and along we went, and about one +o'clock we was standin' alongside Jerry's bed, where he was fast asleep. +He was a bachelor, and lived pretty much by himself. I give him a punch +to waken him up, for we'd made up our minds that that was the way to +work this job. It wouldn't pay us to go around huntin' for Jerry's +money. He was such a sharp old fellow, it was six to four we'd never +find it. He sat up in bed with a jump like a hop-toad, and looked first +at one and then at the other of us. We both had masks on, and it wasn't +puzzlin' to guess what we was there fur. + +"'Jerry Hammond,' says I, speakin' rather rough and husky, 'we knows +that you've got a lot o' money in this house, and we've come fur it. We +mean business, and there's no use foolin'. You can give it to us quiet +and easy, and keep a whole head on your shoulders, or we'll lay you out +ready fur a wake and help ourselves to the funds; and now you pays your +money and you can take your choice how you do it. There's nothin' +shabby about us, but we mean business. Don't we, pard?'--'That's so,' +says Putty. + +"'Look here,' says Jerry, jest as cool as if he had been sittin' outside +on his own curbstone, 'I know you two men and no mistake. You're Tommy +Randall, and you're Putty Henderson, so you might as well take off them +masks.'--'Which I am glad to do,' says I, 'for I hate 'em,' and I put +mine in my pocket, and Putty he took off his." + +"Excuse me," said Aunt Martha, interrupting at this point, "but when Mr. +Hammond mentioned the name of Tommy Randall, to whom did he refer?" + +"I can explain that, madam," said the tall burglar, quickly. "This man +by his criminal course of life has got himself into a good many scrapes, +and is frequently obliged to change his name. Since I accidentally +became acquainted with him he has had several aliases, and I think that +he very often forgets that his real name is James Barlow." + +"That's so," said the stout man, "there never was a more correct person +than this industrious and unfortunate man sittin' by me. I am dreadful +forgetful, and sometimes I disremember what belongs to me and what +don't. Names the same as other things. + +"'Well, now, Jerry,' says I, 'you needn't think you're goin' to make +anythin' by knowin' us. You've got to fork over your cash all the same, +and if you think to make anything by peachin' on us after we've cleared +out and left you peaceful in your bed, you're mistook so far as I'm +concerned; for I've made the track clear to get out of this town before +daybreak, and I don't know when I'll come back. This place is gettin' a +little too hot for me, and you're my concludin' exercise.' Jerry he sat +still for a minute, considerin.' He wasn't no fool, and he knowed that +there wasn't no use gettin' scared, nor cussin', nor hollerin'. What's +more, he knowed that we was there to get his money, and if he didn't +fork it over he'd get himself laid out, and that was worse than losin' +money any day. 'Now, boys, says he, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll +make you an offer; a fair and square offer. What money I've got I'll +divide even with you, each of us takin' a third, and I'll try to make up +what I lose out of my next contract. Now nothin' could be no squarer +than that.'--'How much money have you got, Jerry?' says I, 'that's the +first thing to know.'--'I've got thirty-one hundred dollars even,' says +he, 'and that will be one thousand and thirty-three dollars and +thirty-three cents apiece. I've got bills to pay to-morrow for lumber +and bricks, and my third will pay 'em. If I don't I'll go to pieces. You +don't want to see me break up business, do you?'--'Now, Jerry,' says I, +'that won't do. You haven't got enough to divide into three parts. Putty +and me agree to go halves with what we get out of you, and when I lay +out a piece of business I don't make no changes. Half of that money is +for me, and half is for Putty. So just hand it out, and don't let's have +no more jabberin'.' + +"Jerry he looked at me pretty hard, and then says he: 'You're about the +close-fisted and meanest man I ever met with. Here I offer you a third +part of my money, and all you've got to do is to take it and go away +peaceable. I'd be willin' to bet two to one that it's more than you +expected to get, and yet you are not satisfied; now, I'll be hanged if +I'm going to do business with you.'--'You can be hanged if you like,' +says I, 'but you'll do the business all the same.'--'No, I won't,' says +he, and he turns to Putty Henderson. 'Now, Putty,' says he, 'you've got +a pile more sense that this pal of yourn, and I'm goin' to see if I +can't do business with you. Now, you and me together can lick this Tommy +Randall just as easy as not, and if you'll help me do it I'll not only +divide the money with you, but I'll give you fifty dollars extra, so +that instead of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars--that's all he'd given +you, if he didn't cheat you--you'll have sixteen hundred, and I'll have +fifteen hundred instead of the thousand and thirty-three dollars which I +would have had left if my first offer had been took. So, Putty, what do +you say to that?' Now, Putty, he must have been a little sore with me on +account of the arguments we'd had about dividin', and he was mighty glad +besides to get the chance of makin' fifty dollars extry, and so he said +it was all right, and he'd agree. Then I thought it was about time for +me to take in some of my sail, and says I: 'Jerry, that's a pretty good +joke, and you can take my hat as soon as I get a new one, but of course +I don't mean to be hard on you, and if you really have bills to pay +to-morrow I'll take a third, and Putty'll take another, and we'll go +away peaceful.'--'No, you won't,' sings out Jerry, and with that he +jumps out of bed right at me, and Putty Henderson he comes at me from +the other side, and, between the two, they gave me the worst lickin' I +ever got in my born days, and then they dragged me down stairs and +kicked me out the front door, and I had hardly time to pick myself up +before I saw a policeman about a block off, and if he hadn't been a fat +one he'd had me sure. It wouldn't have been pleasant, for I was a good +deal wanted about that time. + +"So you see, ladies and gents, that it's true what I said,--things don't +always go right in our line of business no more than any other one." + +"I think you were served exactly right," said Aunt Martha; "and I wonder +such an experience did not induce you to reform." + +"It did, ma'am, it did," said the burglar. "I made a vow that night that +if ever again I had to call in any one to help me in business of that +kind I wouldn't go pards with him. I'd pay him so much for the job, and +I'd take the risks, and I've stuck to it. + +"But even that don't always work. Luck sometimes goes ag'in' a man, +even when he's working by himself. I remember a thing of that kind that +was beastly hard on me. A gentleman employed me to steal his daughter." + +"What!" exclaimed my wife and Aunt Martha. "Steal his own daughter! What +do you mean by that?" + +"That's what it was," said the stout burglar; "no more nor less. I was +recommended to the gent as a reliable party for that sort of thing, and +I met him to talk it over, and then he told me just how the case stood. +He and his wife were separated, and the daughter, about eleven years +old, had been given to her by the court, and she put it into a boardin' +school, and the gent he was goin' to Europe, and he wanted to get the +little gal and take her with him. He tried to get her once, but it +slipped up, and so there wasn't no good in his showin' hisself at the +school any more, which was in the country, and he knowed that if he +expected to get the gal he'd have to hire a professional to attend to +it. + +"Now, when I heard what he had to say, I put on the strictly pious, and, +says I, 'that's a pretty bad thing you're askin' me to do, sir, to +carry away a little gal from its lovin' mother, and more 'an that, to +take it from a school where it's gettin' all the benefits of +eddication.'--'Eddication,' says he; 'that's all stuff. What eddication +the gal gets at a school like that isn't worth a row of pins, and when +they go away they don't know nothin' useful, nor even anything tip-top +ornamental. All they've learned is the pianer and higher mathematics. As +for anythin' useful, they're nowhere. There isn't one of them could +bound New Jersey or tell you when Washington crossed the +Delaware.'--'That may be, sir,' says I, 'but them higher branches comes +useful. If Washington really did cross the Delaware, your little gal +could ask somebody when it was, but she couldn't ask 'em how the pianer +was played, nor what the whole multiplication table came to added up. +Them things she'd have to learn how to do for herself. I give you my +word, sir, I couldn't take a little gal from a school, where she was +gettin' a number one eddication, silver forks and towels extry.' The +gent looked pretty glum, for he was to sail the next day, and if I +didn't do the job for him he didn't know who would, and he said that he +was sorry to see that I was goin' back on him after the recommend I'd +had, and I said that I wouldn't go back on him if it wasn't for my +conscience. I was ready to do any common piece of business, but this +stealin' away little gals from lovin' mothers was a leetle too much for +me. 'Well,' says he, 'there ain't no time to be lost, and how much more +will satisfy your conscience?' When I said a hundred dollars, we struck +the bargain. + +"Well, we cut and dried that business pretty straight. I took a cab and +went out to the school, and the gent he got the key of a house that was +to let about three miles from the school, and he was to stay there and +look at that empty house until I brought him the gal, when he was to pay +me and take her away. I'd like to have had more time, so that I could go +out and see how the land laid, but there wasn't no more time, and I had +to do the best I could. The gent told me they all went a walkin' every +afternoon, and that if I laid low that would be the best time to get +her, and I must just fetch her along, no matter who hollered. + +"I didn't know exactly how I was going to manage it, but I took along +with me a big bag that was made for the conveyance of an extinct +millionaire, but which had never been used, owin' to beforehand +arrangements which had been made with the party's family. + +"I left the cab behind a bit of woods, not far from the school, and then +I laid low, and pretty soon I seed 'em all coming out, in a double line, +with the teacher behind 'em, for a walk. I had a description of the +little gal as was wanted, and as they come nearer I made her out easy. +She was the only real light-haired one in the lot. I hid behind some +bushes in the side of the road, and when they come up, and the +light-haired little gal was just opposite to me, I jumped out of the +bushes and made a dash at her. Whoop! what a row there was in one +second! Such a screamin' and screechin' of gals, such a pilin' on top +each other, and the teacher on top the whole of 'em, bangin' with her +umbrella; they pulled at the gal and they pulled at me, an' they yelled +and they howled, and I never was in such a row and hope I never shall be +again, and I grabbed that girl by her frock, and I tumbled some over one +way and some another, and I got the umbrella over my head, but I didn't +mind it, and I clapped that bag over the little gal, and I jerked, up +her feet and let her slip into it, and then I took her up like a bag of +meal, and put across the field, with the whole kit and boodle after me. +But I guess most of 'em must have tumbled down in hysterics, judgin' +from the screechin', and I got up to the cab and away we went. Well, +when we got to the house where I was to meet the gent, he began straight +off to blow at me. 'What do you mean,' he yelled, 'bringin' my daughter +in a bag?'--'It's the only way to do it, sir,' says I; 'they can't +holler and they can't kick, and people passin' by don't know what you've +got,' and so sayin' I untied the strings, put the little gal on her +feet, and pulled off the bag, and then I'd be hanged if I ever saw a man +so ragin' mad as he was. 'What do I want with that gal?' he cried; +'that's not my daughter. That girl's hair is as black as a coal, and +she's a Jew besides.' As soon as I sot my eyes on the little varmint it +come over me that I got the thing crooked, and in the scrimmage I let go +of the right gal and grabbed another. + +"I don't see how a man could help makin' mistakes with that +school-teacher's umbrella whanging away at his knowledge box, but I +wasn't goin' to let on. 'She ain't no Jew, nuther,' says I, 'and she's +your daughter, too; you needn't try to play no tricks on me. Pay me my +money and take her away as quick as you can, that's my advice, or before +you know it you'll be nabbed.'--'Pay ye!' he yelled; 'do you think I'd +pay you anything for that little Jew?'--'She's just as much a Christian +as you are,' says I. 'Ain't you a Christian, little gal? and is'nt this +gentleman your father? and ain't you surprised that he wants to give you +back to be put in the bag?' I said this hopin' she'd have sense enough +to say he was her father so's to get rid of me. + +"The wretched gal had been clean dumbfounded when she was took out of +the bag, and hadn't done nothin' so far but blubber and cry, and try to +get away, which she couldn't, because I held her frock; but now she ups +and screams he wasn't her father, and she'd never seen him before, and +then he storms and swears, and tells me to take her back where I got +her, and I tell him I'll see him hanged first, and what I want is my +money; she screams, and he swears he'll not pay me a cent, and I squares +off and says that I'll thrash him out of his skin, and then he calls in +his coachman, and they both make at me, and I backs out the door to get +my cabby to stand by me, and I found that he'd cut out, havin' most +likely got frightened, afraid of bein' mixed up in trouble. Then I seed +on the high road, some half a mile away, some men comin' gallopin', and +the gent he looked out and seed 'em, too, and then says he to me, +'You'll jist take that little Jew gal back where you got her from; she's +no use to me; I'm goin';' and at that I hollered for my money, and made +a grab at him, but the coachman he tripped me over backward, and before +I could git up again they was both off with the horses on a run. + +"I was so mad I couldn't speak, but there wasn't no time for foolin', +and I hadn't made up my mind which door I should cut out of, when the +fellows on horseback went ridin' past as hard as they could go. They +must have seed the carriage drivin' away, and thought for sure it had +the gal in it, and they was after it, lickety-split. + +"When they was clean gone I looked round for the little gal, but +couldn't see her, but all a-sudden she came out of the fireplace, where +she'd been hidin'. She'd got over her cryin', and over her scare, too, +judgin' from her looks. 'I'm glad he's gone,' says she, 'and I'm mighty +glad, too, that Mr. Haskins and them other men didn't see me.'--'Who's +they?' says I.--'They's neighbors,' says she;' if they knew I was here +they'd took me back.'--'Well, you little minx,' say I, 'isn't that what +you want?'--'No,' says she. 'I didn't want to go with that man, for I +don't know him, and I hate him, but I don't want to go back to that +school. I hate it worse than anything in the whole world. You haven't no +idea what a horrid place it is. They just work you to death, and don't +give you half enough to eat. My constitution won't stand it. I've told +Pop that, and he thinks so too, but Marm, she don't believe in it, and +my stayin' there is all her doin'. I've been wantin' to get away for +ever so long, but I didn't want to be took off in a bag; but now that +I'm out of that horrid hole I don't want to go back, and if you'll take +me home to Pop, I know he won't let me go back, and he'll pay you real +handsome besides.'--'Who's your Pop?' says I.--'He's Mr. Groppeltacker, +of Groppeltacker & Mintz, corset findings, seven hundred and something +or other, I forget the number now, Broadway. Oh, Pop does a lot of +business, I tell you, and he's got lots of money. He sends corset +findings to South America, and Paris, and Chicago, and Madagascar, and +the uttermost parts of the earth. I've heard him say that often, and you +needn't be afraid of his not bein' able to pay you. A lot more than that +man would have paid you for his little gal, if you'd catched the right +one. So if you take me to Pop, and get me there safe and sound, it will +be an awful good speck for you.' + +"Now, I begins to think to myself that perhaps there was somethin' in +what that little Jew gal was sayin', and that I might make something out +of the gal after all. I didn't count on gettin' a big pile out of old +Groppeltacker,--it wasn't likely he was that kind of a man,--but +whatever I did get would be clean profit, and I might as well try it on. +He couldn't make no charge ag'in me fur bringin' him his daughter, if +she asked me to do it; so says I to her, 'Now, if I take you home to +your Pop, will you promise on your word an' honour, that you won't say +nothin' about my carryin' you off in a bag, and say that you seed me +walkin' along the road and liked my looks, and told me you were +sufferin', and asked me to take you home to your kind parents, where you +might be took proper care of; and that I said I wasn't goin' that way, +but I'd do it out of pure Christian charity, and nothin' more nor less, +and here you was? And then, of course, you can tell him he ought to do +the handsome thing by me.'--'I'll do that,' says she, 'and I tell how +you talked to me awful kind for more than an hour, tryin' to keep me to +stay at the school, and it wasn't till I got down on my knees and weeped +that you agreed to take me to my kind father.'--'All right,' says I, 'I +might as well take you along, but we'll have to go back by the railroad +and foot it, at least two miles, to the station, and I don't know about +walkin' across the country with a little girl dressed as fine as you +are. I might get myself suspicioned.'--'That's so,' says she; 'we might +meet somebody that'd know me,' and then she wriggled up her little +forehead and began to think. I never did see such a little gal as sharp +as that one was; needles was nothin' to her. In about a minute she says, +'Where's that bag of yourn?'--'Here it is,' says I; and then she took it +and looked at it up and down, with her head cocked on one side. 'If I'd +somethin' to cut that bag with,' says she, 'I could fix myself up so +that nobody'd know me, don't care who it was.'--'I don't want that bag +cut,' says I; 'it's an extry good bag; it was made for a particular +purpose, and cost money.'--'Pop will pay expenses,' says she; 'how much +did it cost?'--'It was four dollars cash,' said I.--'They cheated you +like everything,' says she; 'you could get a bag like that any day for a +dollar and seventy-five cents. Will you let it go at that?'--'All +right,' says I, for I was tickled to see how sharp that little Jew gal +was, and ten to one I'd throwed away the bag before we got to town; so +she pulled a little book out of her pocket with a pencil stuck in it, +and turnin' over to a blank page she put down, 'Bag, one dollar and +seventy-five;' then she borrows my big knife, and holdin' the top of the +bag up ag'in her belt, she made me stick a pin in it about a +hand's-breadth from the floor; then she took the knife and cut the bag +clean across, me a-holdin' one side of it; then she took the top end of +that bag and slipped it on her, over her head and shoulders, and tied +the drawin' strings in it round her waist, and it hung around her just +like a skirt, nearly touchin' the ground; then she split open the rest +of the bag, and made a kind of shawl out of it, puttin' it into shape +with a lot o' pins, and pinnin' it on herself real clever. She had lots +of pins in her belt, and she told me that she never passed a pin in that +school without pickin' it up, and that she had four hundred and +fifty-nine of them now in her room, which she was mighty sorry to leave +behind, and that these she had now was this day's pickin' up. + +"When she got done workin' at herself you couldn't see not a ribbon nor +a hem of her fine clothes; it was all black skirt and shawl, and she'd +put up her sleeve, so that when her arm stuck out it was bare. Then she +took all the ribbons and flowers off her hat, and crumpled it up, and +when she tied it on what a guy she was. 'Now,' says she, 'I can go +barefoot.'--'Which you won't,' says I, 'for you'll get your feet all +cut, but you can muddy your shoes,' which she did, I pumpin' on 'em, so +that the dust in the back yard would stick. Then we starts off across +the country, and, upon my word, I was pretty nigh ashamed to be seen +walkin' with such a little scarecrow. When I bought the tickets at the +station she asked me how much they was, and put it down in her book. +When we got into the cars the people all looked hard at her, and I +reckon they thought some kind of a home had been burnt down, and this +was one of the orphans that had been saved. But they didn't say nothin', +and she fixed herself as comfortable as you please; and before long a +boy came through the car with fruit in a basket, and then says she to +me, 'I want two apples.' The boy had gone past us, but I got up and +followed him and bought her two apples. 'How much did you give for +them?' says she, when I come back.--'They was two for five cents,' says +I.--'Well,' says she, 'they do stick you dreadful. Two for three cents +is all papa or I pays for apples like them,' and she took out her little +book and put down, 'Apples, three cents.'--'Very well, miss,' says I, +'but if you want any more refreshments you buy 'em yourself.'--'I think +I'd better,' says she, and she went to work eatin' them two apples. She +hadn't more than got through with 'em when the boy came around ag'in. 'I +want a banana,' says she; 'lend me five cents,' which I did, and she put +down, 'Cash, five cents.' Then the boy come up, and says she, 'How much +are your bananas?'--'Five cents,' said he.--'For two?' says she.--'No,' +says he, 'for one.'--'What do you take me for?' says she. 'I've bought +bananas before. I'll give you three cents for that one,' pointin' to the +biggest in the lot.--'I can't do that,' said the boy; 'the price is five +cents.'--'I'd like a banana,' says she, 'but I don't pay more'n three +cents; take it or leave it,' and with that the boy went on. 'Now,' says +I, 'you've gouged yourself out of a banana.'--'Not a bit of it,' says +she; 'he'll be back;' and in two minutes he was back, and said she might +have it for three cents. 'Have you got two coppers?' said she. 'Let me +see 'em.' He said he had, and showed 'em to her, and she took 'em and +the banana, and then give him five cents, and then she didn't give the +change to me, but put it in her pocket. 'Now,' says she, 'if you'd buy +things that way, you'd be rich in time.' + +"When we got to the city we took the elevated and went up town to +Forty-eighth street, and then walked over to her father's house. It was +a big one, on one of the cross streets. When we got there, she told me +to wait a minute, and, lookin' around to see that nobody was comin', she +slipped off the skirt and the cape she had made and rolled 'em up in a +bundle. 'It don't matter about my hat and shoes,' says she, 'but they +wouldn't know me in such duds.' Then, handin' me the bundle, she said, +'For twenty-five cents you can get that bag mended just as good as new, +so you can take it, and it will save us a dollar and a half.'--'No, you +don't,' says I, for I'd had enough of her stinginess. 'I don't touch +that bag ag'in, and I made up my mind that minute to charge the old man +five dollars' worth. When the front door was opened, the servant gal +looked as if she couldn't believe her eyes, but my young woman was as +cool as you please, and she had me showed into a room off the hall, and +then she went up-stairs. + +"I sat a-waitin' a long time, which gave me a good chance to look around +at things. The room was real handsome, and I took a peep at the window +fastenin's and the lay of the doors, thinkin' the knowledge might come +in handy some time. Right in front of me on a table was a little yellow +mouse, and it struck me as I looked at it that that must be gold. I +listened if anybody was comin', and then I picked it up to see if it +really was. I thought I heard the door-bell ring just then, and shut it +up in my hand quick, but nobody went to the door; and then I looked at +the little mouse, and if it wasn't pure gold it was the best imitation +ever I see, so I slipped it quietly in my pocket to look at it ag'in +when I had time. + +"Pretty soon old Groppeltacker come in, shut the door, and sot down. 'So +you brought my daughter back,' says he.--'Yes,' says I.--'And you expect +to be paid for it,' says he.--'Yes,' says I, 'I do.'--'How much do you +ask for your services?' says he. Now, this was a sort of a staggerer, +for I hadn't made up my mind how much I was goin' to ask; but there +wasn't time for no more thinkin' about it, and so says I, plum, 'A +hundred dollars, and there was some expenses besides.'--'Well, well,' +says he, 'that seems like a good deal, just for bringin' a little gal +from school. It couldn't have took you more'n a couple of hours.'--'I +don't charge for time,' says I, 'it's for the risks and the science of +the thing. There's mighty few men in this town could have brought your +daughter home as neat as I did.'--'Well, well,' says he, rubbin' his +hands, 'I expect I'll have to pay for the whole term of the school, +whether she's there or not, and the business will come heavy on me. +Don't you think sixty dollars would pay you?' Now, I know when you deal +with this sort of a man there's always a good deal of difference +splittin'; and so, says I, 'No, it won't. I might take ninety dollars, +but that's the very lowest peg.'--'The very lowest?' says he, gettin' up +and walkin' about a little; and then I thought I heard the door-bell +ring again, and I was dreadful afraid somebody would come and call off +the old man before he finished the bargain. 'Well,' says I, 'we'll call +it eighty-five and expenses, and there I'll stop.' + +"Groppeltacker, now he set down ag'in and looked hard at me. 'I didn't +ask you to bring my daughter back,' says he, speakin' gruff, and very +different from the way he spoke before, 'and what's more, I didn't want +her back, and what's more yet, I'm not goin' to pay you a red +cent.'--'Now, look a-here,' says I, mighty sharp, 'none o' that, old +man; fork over the money or I'll lay you out stiff as a poker, and help +myself. I'm not a fellow to be fooled with, and there's nobody in this +house can stop me.' Old Groppeltacker, he didn't turn a hair, but just +sot there, and says he, 'Before you blow any more, suppose you take my +little gold mouse out of your pocket and hand it to me.' I must say I +was took back at this, but I spoke back, as bold as brass, and said I +never seed his gold mouse. 'O, ho!' says he, 'what you didn't see was +the electric button under the table cover which rung a bell when the +mouse was picked up. That's what I call my mouse-trap.' + +"At this I jist b'iled over. 'Now,' says I, 'just you hand out every +cent you've got, and your watch, too; not another word.' And I jumped up +and clapped my hand on my pistol in my hip-pocket, and just at that +minute there was a click and the nippers were on me, and there was a big +policeman with his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't speak, I was so +b'ilin' and so dumbfounded both at once. Old Groppeltacker he just +leaned back and he laughed. 'You came in,' he said to the cop,'jest the +second I rang, and as soft as a cat, and the first thing that I want +you to do is to take that gold mouse out of his pocket, and I'll be on +hand whenever you let me know I'm wanted.' The cop he took the gold +mouse out of my pocket, and says he, 'I know this fellow, and if I'm not +mistook, they'll be more charges than yourn made ag'in him.' There +wasn't no chance to show fight, so I didn't do it, but I says to old +Groppeltacker, 'There's my expenses, you've got to pay them, +anyway.'--'All right,' says he, 'jist you send in your bill marked +correct, by my daughter, and I'll settle it,' and he laughed again, and +the cop he took me off. Well, ladies and gents, that little piece of +business, together with some other old scores, took me to Sing Sing for +three years, and it tain't six months since I got out, so you can see +for yourselves what hard times a fellow in my line of business sometimes +has." + +"Well," said Aunt Martha, "I don't approve of the Groppeltacker sort of +people, but if there were more of that kind I believe there would be +fewer of your kind. That story shows you in such a bad light that I +believe it's true." + +"Every word of it," said the man. "I wish it wasn't." + +And now I spoke. "Since you claim to be a truth-telling being," I said +to the stout burglar, "suppose you tell me why you never attempted +before to break into my house. Every considerable dwelling in this +neighbourhood has been entered, and I have no doubt you are the men who +committed all the burglaries." + +"No, sir," said he; "not men, I am the man who did 'em all; but these +two friends of mine was never with me before in a bit of business like +this. 'Tain't in their line. I have had pals with me, but they was +professionals. These ain't cracksmen, they don't know nothin' about it; +but this one is handy at tools, and that's the reason I brung him along, +but you see he kicked, and was goin' to give me away, and this young +gentleman"-- + +"Never mind about that young gentleman," I said; "I have a certain +curiosity to know why my house was not entered when the others were." + +"Well," said he, "I don't mind tellin' yer how that was. It was on +account of your baby. We don't like to crack a house where there's a +pretty small baby that's liable to wake up and howl any minute, and +rouse up the rest of the family. There's no workin' in a house with +comfort when there's such a young one about. I'll tell you what it is, +all your burglar-alarms and your dogs ain't worth nuthin' alongside of a +baby for guardin' a house. If a cracksman ain't careful the alarms will +go off, and if he don't know how to manage dogs, the dogs will bark. But +by George, sir, there ain't no providin' ag'in a baby. He'll howl any +time, and nobody can tell when, so I waited till your baby was a little +more settled in its ways and slept soundly, and then we come along, and +here we are." + +This statement very much surprised me, and did not elate me. Without +saying so to any one, I had flattered myself that the burglars had heard +of my precautions, and of my excellent stock of firearms, and perhaps +had got a notion that I would be an intrepid man to deal with, and it +was somewhat humiliating to find that it was our baby the burglars were +afraid of, and not myself. My wife was amazed. + +"Can it be possible," she said, "that these people know so much about +our baby, and that George William has been protecting this house?" + +"It makes my flesh creep," said Aunt Martha. "Do you know everything +about all of us?" + +"Wish I did, ma'am," said the stout burglar; "wish I'd known about that +beastly liquor." + +"Well, we've had enough of this," said I, rising; "and, my dear, you and +Aunt Martha must be ready to go to bed, and David and I will keep guard +over these fellows until morning." + +At this instant the youngest burglar spoke. His face wore a very anxious +expression. + +"May I ask, sir," he said, "what you intend to do with me in the +morning?" + +"I have already said," I answered, "that I shall then hand over all of +you to the officers of justice of this country." + +"But, sir," said the young man, "you will surely except me. I am not at +all concerned in this matter, and it would be of the greatest possible +injury to me to be mixed up in it, or to be mentioned in public reports +as an associate of a criminal. I'm not acquainted with the gentleman at +the other end of the bench, but I have every reason to believe from what +he said to me that he intended to notify you if this James Barlow +proceeded to any open act. For myself, I beg you will allow me to state +who and what I am, and to tell you by what a strange concatenation of +circumstances I happen to find myself in my present position--one which, +I assure you, causes me the greatest embarrassment and anxiety." + +"We've had enough story-telling for one night," said I, "and you had +better reserve your statement for the magistrate." + +Here Aunt Martha put in her voice. + +"That is not fair," she said, "two of them have been allowed to speak, +and this one has just as much right to be heard as the others. What do +you say, Cornelia?" + +I hoped that my wife would put herself on my side, and would say that we +had enough of this sort of thing; but female curiosity is an unknown +quantity, and she unhesitatingly replied that she would like to hear the +young man's story. I sat down in despair. It was useless to endeavour to +withstand this yearning for personal information,--one of the curses, I +may say, of our present civilization. The young man gave no time for +change of opinion, but immediately began. His voice was rich and rather +low, and his manner exceedingly pleasing and gentle. + +"I wish to state in the first place," said he, "that I am a reporter +for the press. In the exercise of my vocation I have frequently found +myself in peculiar and unpleasant positions, but never before have I +been in a situation so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this. In the +course of my studies and experiences I have found that in literature and +journalism, as well as in art, one can make a true picture only of what +one has seen. Imagination is all very well, often grand and beautiful; +but imaginative authors show us their inner selves and not our outer +world; there is to-day a demand for the real, and it is a demand which +will be satisfied with nothing but the truth. I have determined, as far +as in me lies, to endeavour to supply this demand, and I have devoted +myself to the study of Realism. + +"With this end in view, I have made it a rule never to describe anything +I have not personally seen and examined. If we would thoroughly +understand and appreciate our fellow-beings we must know what they do +and how they do it; otherwise we cannot give them credit for their +virtues, or judge them properly for their faults. If I could prevent +crime I would annihilate it, and when it ceased to exist the necessity +for describing it would also cease. But it does exist. It is a powerful +element in the life of the human race. Being known and acknowledged +everywhere, it should be understood; therefore it should be described. +The grand reality of which we are a part can never be truly comprehended +until we comprehend all its parts. But I will not philosophize. I have +devoted myself to Realism, and in order to be a conscientious student I +study it in all its branches. I am frequently called upon to write +accounts of burglars and burglaries, and in order thoroughly to +understand these people and their method of action I determined, as soon +as the opportunity should offer itself, to accompany a burglarious +expedition. My sole object was the acquisition of knowledge of the +subject,--knowledge which to me would be valuable, and, I may say, +essential. I engaged this man, James Barlow, to take me with him the +first time he should have on hand an affair of this kind, and thus it is +that you find me here to-night in this company. As I came here for the +purpose of earnest and thorough investigation, I will frankly admit that +I would not have interfered with his processes, but at the same time I +would have seen that no material injuries should result to any members +of this family." + +"That was very kind of you," I said, at which my wife looked at me +somewhat reproachingly. + +"If he really intended it," she remarked, "and I do not see why that was +not the case, it was kind in him." + +"As for me," said Aunt Martha, very sympathetically, "I think that the +study of Realism may be carried a great deal too far. I do not think +that there is the slightest necessity for people to know anything about +burglars. If people keep talking and reading about diseases they will +get them, and if they keep talking and reading about crimes they will +find that iniquity is catching, the same as some other things. Besides, +this realistic description gets to be very tiresome. If you really want +to be a writer, young man, why don't you try your hand on some original +composition? Then you might write something which would be interesting." + +"Ah, madam," said the young man, casting his eyes on the floor, "it +would be far beyond my power to write anything more wonderful than what +I have known and seen! If I may tell you some of the things which have +happened to me, you will understand why I have become convinced that in +this world of realities imagination must always take a second place." + +"Of course we want to hear your story," said Aunt Martha; "that is what +we are here for." + +"If I was unbound," said the young man, looking at me, "I could speak +more freely." + +"No doubt of it," said I; "but perhaps you might run away before you +finished your story. I wouldn't have that happen for the world." + +"Don't make fun of him," said Aunt Martha. "I was going to ask you to +cut him loose, but after what you say I think it would perhaps be just +as well to keep them all tied until the narratives are completed." + +With a sigh of resignation the young man began his story. + +"I am American born, but my father, who was a civil engineer and of high +rank in his profession, was obliged, when I was quite a small boy, to go +to Austria, where he had made extensive contracts for the building of +railroads. In that country I spent the greater part of my boyhood and +youth. There I was educated in the best schools, my father sparing no +money to have me taught everything that a gentleman should know. My +mother died when I was a mere infant, and as my father's vocation made +it necessary for him to travel a great deal, my life was often a lonely +one. For society I depended entirely upon my fellow-scholars, my tutors, +and masters. It was my father's intention, however, that when I had +finished my studies I should go to one of the great capitals, there to +mix with the world. + +"But when this period arrived I was in no haste to avail myself of the +advantages he offered me. My tastes were studious, my disposition +contemplative, and I was a lover of rural life. + +"My father had leased an old castle in Carinthia, not far from the +mountains, and here he kept his books and charts, and here he came for +recreation and study whenever his arduous duties gave him a little +breathing-spell. For several months I had lived at this castle, happy +when my father was with me and happy when I was alone. I expected soon +to go to Vienna, where my father would introduce me to some of his +influential friends. But day by day I postponed the journey. + +"Walking one morning a few miles from the castle, I saw at the edge of a +piece of woodland a female figure seated beneath a tree. Approaching +nearer, I perceived that she was young, and that she was sketching. I +was surprised, for I knew that in this part of the world young women, at +least those of the upper classes, to which the costume and tastes of +this one showed her to belong, were not allowed to wander about the +country by themselves; but although I stood still and watched the young +lady for some time, no companion appeared upon the scene. + +"The path I had intended to take led past the piece of woodland, and I +saw no reason why I should diverge from my proposed course. I +accordingly proceeded, and when I reached the young lady I bowed and +raised my hat. I think that for some time she had perceived my approach, +and she looked up at me with a face that was half merry, half +inquisitive, and perfectly charming. I cannot describe the effect which +her expression had upon me. I had never seen her before, but her look +was not such a one as she would bestow upon a stranger. I had the most +powerful desire to stop and speak to her, but having no right to do so, +I should have passed on, had she not said to me, in the best of English, +'Good-morning, sir.' Then I stopped, you may be sure. I was so +accustomed to speak to those I meet in either French or German that I +involuntarily said to her,'_Bon jour, Mademoiselle_.'--'You need not +speak French,' she said; 'I am neither English nor American, but I speak +English. Are you the gentleman who lives in Wulrick Castle? If so, we +are neighbours, and I wish you would tell me why you live there all the +time alone.' + +"At this I sat down by her. 'I am that person,' I said, and handed her +my card. 'But before I say any more, please tell me who you are.'--'I am +Marie Dorfler. My father's house is on the other side of this piece of +woodland; you cannot see it from here; this is part of his estate. And +now tell me why you live all by yourself in that old ruin.'--'It is not +altogether a ruin,' I answered; 'part of it is in very good condition.' +And then I proceeded to give her an account of my method of life and my +reasons for it. 'It is interesting,' she said, 'but it is very odd.'--'I +do not think it half so odd,' I answered, 'as that you should be here by +yourself.'--'That is truly an out-of-the-way sort of thing,' she said; +'but just now I am doing out-of-the-way things. If I do not do them now, +I shall never have the opportunity again. In two weeks I shall be +married, and then I shall go to Prague, and everything will be by line +and rule. No more delightful rambles by myself. No more sitting quietly +in the woods watching the little birds and hares. No more making a +sketch just where I please, no matter whether the ground be damp or +not.'--'I wonder that you are allowed to do these things now,' I +said.--'I am not allowed,' she answered. 'I do them in hours when I am +supposed to be painting flower pieces in an upper room.'--'But when +you're married,' I said, 'your husband will be your companion in such +rambles.'--'Hardly,' she said, shrugging her shoulders; 'he will be +forty-seven on the thirteenth of next month, which I believe is July, +and he is a great deal more grizzled than my father, who is past fifty. +He is very particular about all sorts of things, as I suppose he has to +be, as he is a Colonel of infantry. Nobody could possibly disapprove of +my present performances more than he would.' I could not help +ejaculating, 'Why, then, do you marry him?' She smiled at my +earnestness. 'Oh, that is all arranged,' she said, 'and I have nothing +to do with it. I have known for more than a year that I'm to marry +Colonel Kaldhein, but I cannot say that I have given myself much concern +about it until recently. It now occurs to me that if I expect to amuse +myself in the way I best like I must lose no time doing so.' I looked at +the girl with earnest interest. 'It appears to me,' said I, 'that your +ways of amusing yourself are very much like mine.'--'That is true,' she +said, looking up with animation, 'they are. Is it not delightful to be +free, to go where you like, and do what you please, without any one to +advise or interfere with you?'--'It is delightful,' said I; and for half +an hour we sat and talked about these delights and kindred subjects. She +was much interested in our castle, and urged me to make a sketch of it, +so that she may know what it now looked like. She had seen it when a +little girl, but never since, and had been afraid to wander very far in +this direction by herself. I told her that it would be far better for +her to see the castle with her own eyes, and that I could conduct her to +an eminence, not half a mile away, where she could have an excellent +view of it. This plan greatly pleased her; but looking at her watch she +said that it would be too late for her to go that morning, but if I +happened to come that way the next day, and she should be there to +finish her sketch, she would be delighted to have me show her the +eminence." + +"I think," interrupted Aunt Martha, "that she was a very imprudent young +woman." + +"That may be," he replied, "but you must remember, madam, that up to +this time the young lady had been subjected to the most conventional +trammels, and that her young nature had just burst out into temporary +freedom and true life. It was the caged bird's flight into the bright +summer air." + +"Just the kind of birds," said Aunt Martha, "that shouldn't be allowed +to fly, at least until they are used to it. But you can go on with your +story." + +"Well," said the young man, "the next day we met I took her to the +piece of high ground I had mentioned, and she sketched the castle. After +that we met again and again, nearly every day. This sort of story tells +itself. I became madly in love with her, and I am sure she liked me very +well; at all events I was a companion of her own age and tastes, and +such a one, she assured me, she had never known before, and probably +would never know again." + +"There was some excuse for her," said Aunt Martha; "but still she had no +right to act in that way, especially as she was so soon to be married." + +"I do not think that she reasoned much upon the subject," said the young +man, "and I am sure I did not. We made no plans. Every day we thought +only of what we were doing or saying, and not at all what we had done or +would do. We were very happy. + +"One morning I was sitting by Marie in the very place where I had first +met her, when we heard some one rapidly approaching. Looking up I saw a +tall man in military uniform. 'Heavens!' cried Marie, 'it is Colonel +Kaldhein.' + +"The situation was one of which an expectant bridegroom would not be +likely to ask many questions. Marie was seated on a low stone with her +drawing-block in her lap. She was finishing the sketch on which she was +engaged when I first saw her, and I was kneeling close to her, looking +over her work and making various suggestions, and I think my countenance +must have indicated that I found it very pleasant to make suggestions in +that way to such a pretty girl. Our heads were very close together. +Sometimes we looked at the paper, sometimes we looked at each other. But +in the instant I caught sight of the Colonel the situation had changed. +I rose to my feet, and Marie began to pick up the drawing materials, +which were lying about her. + +"Colonel Kaldhein came forward almost at a run. His eyes blazed through +his gold spectacles, and his close-cut reddish beard seemed to be +singeing with the fires of rage. I had but an instant for observation, +for he came directly up to me, and with a tremendous objurgation he +struck me full in the face with such force that the blow stretched me +upon the ground. + +"I was almost stunned; but I heard a scream from Marie, a storm of +angry words from Kaldhein, and I felt sure he was about to inflict +further injury. He was a much stronger man than I was, and probably was +armed. With a sudden instinct of self-preservation I rolled down a +little declivity on the edge of which I had fallen, and staggering to my +feet, plunged into a thicket and fled. Even had I been in the full +possession of my senses, I knew that under the circumstances I would +have been of no benefit to Marie had I remained upon the scene. The last +thing I heard was a shout from Kaldhein, in which he declared that he +would kill me yet. For some days I did not go out of my castle. My face +was bruised, my soul was dejected. I knew there was no possible chance +that I should meet Marie, and that there was a chance that I might meet +the angry Colonel. An altercation at this time would be very annoying +and painful to the lady, no matter what the result, and I considered it +my duty to do everything that was possible to avoid a meeting with +Kaldhein. Therefore, as I have said, I shut myself up within the walls +of old Wulrick, and gave strict orders to my servants to admit no one. + +"It was at this time that the strangest events of my life occurred. +Sitting in an upper room, gazing out of the window, over the fields, +through which I had walked so happily but two days before to meet the +lady whom I had begun to think of as my Marie, I felt the head of a dog +laid gently in my lap. Without turning my head I caressed the animal, +and stroked the long hair on his neck. + +"My hound Ajax was a dear companion to me in this old castle, although I +never took him in my walks, as he was apt to get into mischief, and when +I turned my head to look at him he was gone; but strange to say, the +hand which had been stroking the dog felt as if it were still resting on +his neck. + +"Quickly drawing my hand toward me it struck the head of the dog, and, +moving it backward and forward, I felt the ears and nose of the animal, +and then became conscious that its head was still resting upon my knee. + +"I started back. Had I been stricken with blindness? But no; turning my +head, I could plainly see everything in the room. The scene from the +window was as distinct as it ever had been. I sprang to my feet, and, +as I stood wondering what this strange thing could mean, the dog brushed +up against me and licked my hand. Then the idea suddenly flashed into my +mind that by some occult influence Ajax had been rendered invisible. + +"I dashed down-stairs, and although I could neither see nor hear it, I +felt that the dog was following me. Rushing into the open air, I saw one +of my men. 'Where is Ajax?' I cried. 'A very strange thing has happened, +sir,' he said, 'and I should have come to tell you of it, had I not been +unwilling to disturb your studies. About two hours ago Ajax was lying +here in the courtyard; suddenly he sprang to his feet with a savage +growl. His hair stood straight upon his back, his tail was stiff, and +his lips were drawn back, showing his great teeth. I turned to see what +had enraged him, but there was absolutely nothing, sir,--nothing in the +world. And never did I see Ajax so angry. But this lasted only for an +instant. Ajax suddenly backed, his tail dropped between his legs, his +head hung down, and with a dreadful howl he turned, and, leaping the +wall of the courtyard, he disappeared. I have since been watching for +his return. The gate is open, and as soon as he enters I shall chain +him, for I fear the dog is mad.' + +"I did not dare to utter the thoughts that were in my mind, but, bidding +the man inform me the moment Ajax returned, I reentered the castle and +sat down in the great hall. + +"The dog was beside me; his head again lay upon my knees. With a feeling +of awe, yet strangely enough without fear, I carefully passed my hand +over the animal's head. I felt his ears, his nose, his jaws, and his +neck. They were not the head, the ears, the nose, the jaws, or the neck +of Ajax! + +"I had heard of animals, and even human beings, who were totally +invisible, but who still retained their form, their palpability, and all +the powers and functions of life. I had heard of houses haunted by +invisible animals; I had read De Kay's story of the maiden Manmat'ha, +whose coming her lover perceived by the parting of the tall grain in the +field of ripe wheat through which she passed, but whose form, although +it might be folded in his arms, was yet as invisible to his sight as the +summer air. I did not doubt for a moment that the animal that had come +to me was one of those strange beings. I lifted his head; it was heavy. +I took hold of a paw which he readily gave me; he had every attribute of +a real dog, except that he could not be seen." + +"I call that perfectly horrible," said Aunt Martha with a sort of a +gasp. + +"Perhaps," said the young man, "you would prefer that I should not +continue." + +At this both my wife and Aunt Martha declared that he must go on, and +even I did not object to hearing the rest of the story. + +"Well," said the young man, "Ajax never came back. It is generally +believed that dogs can see things which are invisible to us, and I am +afraid that my faithful hound was frightened, perhaps to death, when he +found that the animal whose entrance into the courtyard he had perceived +was a supernatural thing. + +"But if I needed a canine companion I had one, for by day or night this +invisible dog never left me. When I slept he lay on the floor by the +side of my bed; if I put down my hand I could always feel his head, and +often he would stand up and press his nose against me, as if to assure +me that he was there. This strange companionship continued for several +days, and I became really attached to the invisible animal. His constant +companionship seemed to indicate that he had come to guard me, and that +he was determined to do it thoroughly. I felt so much confidence in his +protection, although I knew not how it could be exerted, that one +morning I decided to take a walk, and with my hand on the head of the +dog, to make sure that he was with me, I strolled into the open country. + +"I had walked about a mile, and was approaching a group of large trees, +when suddenly from behind one of them the tall figure of a man appeared. +In an instant I knew it to be Colonel Kaldhein; his was a face which +could not easily be forgotten. Without a word he raised a pistol which +he held in his hand and fired at me. The ball whistled over my head. + +"I stopped short, startled, and frightened almost out of my senses. I +was unarmed, and had no place of refuge. It was plain that the man was +determined to kill me. + +"Quickly recocking his pistol, Kaldhein raised it again. I involuntarily +shrank back, expecting death; but before he could fire his arm suddenly +dropped, and the pistol was discharged into the ground. Then began a +strange scene. The man shouted, kicked, and beat up and down with his +arms; his pistol fell from his hand, he sprang from side to side, he +turned around, he struggled and yelled. + +"I stood astounded. For an instant I supposed the man had been overtaken +by some sort of fit; but in a flash the truth came to me,--Kaldhein was +being attacked by my protector, the invisible dog. + +"Horrified by this conviction, my first impulse was to save the man; +and, without knowing what I was going to do, I stepped quickly toward +him, but stumbling over something I did not see I fell sprawling. Before +I could regain my feet I saw Kaldhein fall backward to the ground, where +a scene took place, so terrible that I shall not attempt to describe it. +When, with trembling steps, I approached, the man was dead. The +invisible dog had almost torn him to pieces. + +"I could do nothing. I did not remain upon the spot another minute, but +hurried home to the castle. As I rapidly walked on I felt the dog beside +me, and, putting my hand upon him, I felt that he was panting terribly. +For three days I did not leave the house. + +"About the end of this time I was sitting in an upper room of the +castle, reflecting upon the recent dreadful event, when the thought +struck me that the invisible dog, who was by my side, apparently asleep, +must be of an unusually powerful build to overcome so easily such a +strong man as Kaldhein. I felt a desire to know how large the creature +really was, and, as I had never touched any portion of his body back of +his shoulders, I now passed my hand along his back. I was amazed at his +length, and when I had moved my hand at least seven feet from his head +it still rested upon his body. And then the form of that body began to +change in a manner which terrified me; but impelled by a horrible but +irresistible curiosity, my hand moved on. + +"But I no longer touched the body of a dog; the form beneath my hand was +cylindrical, apparently about a foot in diameter. As my hand moved on +the diameter diminished, and the skin of the creature became cold and +clammy. I was feeling the body of a snake! + +"I now had reached the open door of the room. The body of the snake +extended through it. It went on to the top of the stairs; these I began +to descend, my heart beating fast with terror, my face blanched, I am +sure, but my hand still moving along the body of the awful creature. I +had studied zoology, giving a good deal of attention to reptiles, and I +knew that, judged by the ordinary ratio of diminution of the bodies of +serpents, this one must extend a long distance down the stairs. + +"But I had not descended more than a dozen steps before I felt a shiver +beneath my hand, and then a jerk, and the next moment the snake's body +was violently drawn upward. I withdrew my hand and started to one side, +and then, how, I know not, I became aware that the dog part of the +creature was coming downstairs. + +"I now became possessed by a wild terror. The creature must be furious +that I had discovered his real form. He had always been careful to keep +his head toward me. I should be torn to pieces as Kaldhein had been! +Down the stairs I dashed, across the courtyard, and toward a lofty old +tower, which stood in one corner of the castle. I ran up the winding +stairs of this with a speed which belongs only to a frantically +terrified creature, until I reached the fourth story, where I dashed +through an open doorway, slammed behind me an iron door, which shut with +a spring, and fell gasping upon the floor. + +"In less than a minute I was aware, by a slight rattling of the +grate-hinges, that something was pushing against the door; but I did not +move. I knew that I was safe. The room in which I lay was a prison +dungeon, and in it, in the olden times, it is said, men had been left to +perish. Escape or communication with the outer world was impossible. A +little light and air came through a narrow slit in the wall, and the +door could not be forced. + +"I knew that the invisible dog, or whatever it was, could not get in +unless the door was open. I had frequently noticed that when he entered +a room it was through an open door, and I sometimes knew of his approach +by seeing an unlatched door open without visible cause; so, feeling +secure for the present, I lay and gasped and panted. + +"After the lapse of a few hours, however, I was seized by a new terror. +How was I ever to get out of this horrible dungeon? Even if I made up my +mind to face the dog, trusting that he had recovered from his momentary +anger, I had no means of opening the door, and as to making any one hear +me I knew that was impossible. + +"I had no hope that my servants would seek me here. I had not seen any +one when I ran into the tower, and if they should discover that I was in +this dungeon, how could they open the door? The key was in my father's +possession. He had taken it to Vienna to exhibit it as a curiosity to +some of his mechanical friends. He believed that there was not such +another key in the world. I was in the habit of making long absences +from the castle, and if I should be looked for I believed that the tower +would be the last place visited. + +"Night came on; the little light in the room vanished, and, hungry, +thirsty, and almost hopeless, I fell asleep. + +"During the night there was a most dreadful storm. The thunder roared, +the lightning flashed through the slit in the wall, and the wind blew +with such terrific violence that the tower shook and trembled. After a +time I heard a tremendous crash as of falling walls, and then another, +and now I felt the wind blowing into my prison. + +"There was no further sleep for me. Trembling with a fearful +apprehension of what might happen next, I cowered against the wall until +the day broke, and then I perceived that in front of me was a great hole +in the wall of the dungeon, which extended for more than a yard above +the floor. I sat and gazed at this until the light became stronger, and +then I cautiously approached the aperture and looked out. Nearly the +whole of the castle lay in ruins before me! + +"It was easy to see what had happened. The storm had demolished the +crumbling walls of the old building, and the tower, itself frail and +tottering, stood alone, high above the prostrate ruins. If the winds +should again arise it must fall, and at any moment its shaken +foundations might give way beneath it. + +"Through the hole in the wall, which had been caused by the tearing away +of some of the connection between the tower and main building, I could +look down on the ground below, covered with masses of jagged stone; but +there was no way in which I could get down. I could not descend that +perpendicular wall. If I leaped out, death would be certain. + +"As I crouched at the opening I felt the head of a dog pushed against +me. A spasm of terror ran through me, but the moment the creature began +to lick my hands I knew that I had nothing to fear from him. Instantly +my courage returned. I felt that he was my protector. I patted his head +and he renewed his caresses. + +"Passing my hand over him, I found he was holding himself in his present +position by means of his forelegs, which were stretched out upon the +floor. What a dog this must be, who could climb a wall! But I gave no +time to conjectures of this sort. How could I avail myself of his +assistance? In what manner could he enable me to escape from that +dangerous tower? + +"Suddenly a thought came to me. I remembered the snake part of him. +Judging from the ratio of diminution, which I have mentioned before, +that part, if hanging down, must reach nearly, if not quite, to the +ground. By taking advantage of this means of descent I might be saved, +but the feat would require dexterity and an immense amount of faith. +This serpent-like portion of the animal was invisible. How could I know +how long it was! + +"But there was no time for consideration; the wind had again arisen, and +was blowing with fury. The tower shook beneath me; at any moment it +might fall. If I should again escape from death, through the assistance +of my invisible friend, I must avail myself of that assistance +instantly. + +"I stopped and felt the animal. He still hung by part of his body and by +his forelegs to the floor of the dungeon, and by reaching out I could +feel that the rest of him extended downward. I therefore seized his body +in my arms, threw myself out of the aperture, and began to slide down. + +"In a very short time I found that I had reached the snake portion of +the creature, and, throwing my arms and legs around it, I endeavoured +with all my strength to prevent a too rapid descent; but in spite of all +my efforts, my downward progress was faster than I would have wished it +to be. But there was no stopping; I must slip down. + +"In these moments of rapid descent my mind was filled with wild anxiety +concerning the serpent-like form to which I was clinging. I remembered +in a flash that there were snakes whose caudal extremity dwindled away +suddenly into a point. This one might do so, and at any instant I might +come to the end of the tail and drop upon the jagged stones below. + +"Calculation after calculation of the ratio of diminution flashed +through my mind during that awful descent. My whole soul was centred +upon one point. When would this support end? When would I drop? + +"Fortunately I was on the leeward side of the tower, and I was not swung +about by the wind. Steadily I descended, and steadily the diameter of +the form I grasped diminished; soon I could grasp it in my hand; then +with a terrified glance I looked below. I was still at a sickening +distance from the ground. I shut my eyes. I slipped down, down, down. +The tail became like a thick rope which I encircled with each hand. It +became thinner and thinner. It grew so small that I could not hold it; +but as I felt it slip from my fingers my feet rested on a pile of +stones. + +"Bewildered and almost exhausted, I stumbled over the ruins, gained the +unencumbered ground, and ran as far from the tower as I could, sinking +down at last against the trunk of a tree in a neighbouring field. +Scarcely had I reached this spot when the fury of the wind-storm +appeared to redouble, and before the wild and shrieking blast the tower +bent and then fell with a crash upon the other ruins. + +"The first thought that came into my mind when I beheld the dreadful +spectacle concerned the creature who had twice saved my life. Had he +escaped, or was he crushed beneath that mass of stone? I felt on either +side to discover if he were near me, but he was not. Had he given his +life for mine? + +"Had I been stronger I would have searched for him; I would have +clambered among the ruins to see if I could discover his mangled form. +If I could but reach his faithful head I would stroke and caress it, +living or dead. But excitement, fatigue, and want of food had made me so +weak that I could do nothing but sit upon the ground with my back +against the tree. + +"While thus resting I perceived that the whole of the tower had not +been demolished by the storm. Some of the rooms in which we had lived, +having been built at a later date than the rest of the great edifice, +had resisted the power of the wind and were still standing. + +"From the direction of the uninjured portion of the castle I now saw +approaching a light-coloured object, which seemed to be floating in the +air about a foot from the ground. As it came nearer I saw that it was a +basket, and I immediately understood the situation. My faithful friend +was alive, and was bringing me some refreshments. + +"On came the basket, rising and falling with the bounds of the dog. It +was truly an odd spectacle, but a very welcome one. In a few moments the +basket was deposited at my side, and I was caressing the head of the +faithful dog. In the basket I found a bottle of wine and some bread and +meat, which the good creature had doubtless discovered in the kitchen of +the castle, and it was not long before I was myself again. The storm had +now almost passed away, and I arose and went to my own rooms, my friend +and protector still keeping close to my side. + +"On the morning of the next day, as I sat wondering what had happened +to my servants, and whether my father had been apprised of the disaster +to the castle, I felt something pulling at the skirt of my coat. I put +out my hand and found that it was the invisible dog. Imagining that he +wished me to follow him, I arose, and, obeying the impulse given me by +his gentle strain upon my coat, I followed him out of the door, across +the courtyard, and into the open country. We went on for a considerable +distance. A gentle touch of my coat admonished me when I turned from the +direction in which it was desired that I should go. + +"After a walk of about half an hour I approached a great oak-tree, with +low, wide-spreading branches. Some one was sitting beneath it. Imagining +the truth, I rushed forward. It was Marie! + +"It was needless for us to say anything, to explain the state of our +feelings toward each other. That tale was told by the delight with which +we met. When I asked her how she came to be there, she told me that +about an hour before, while sitting in front of her father's mansion, +she had felt something gently pulling at her skirts; and, although at +first frightened, she was at length impelled to obey the impulse, and, +without knowing whether it was the wind or some supernatural force which +had led her here, she had come. + +"We had a great deal to say to each other. She told me that she had been +longing to send me a message to warn me that Colonel Kaldhein would +certainly kill me the next time he saw me; but she had no means of +sending me such a message, for the Colonel had had her actions closely +watched. + +"When the news came of Kaldhein's death she at first feared that I had +killed him, and would therefore be obliged to fly the country; but when +it was known that he had been almost torn to pieces by wild beasts, she, +like every one else, was utterly amazed, and could not understand the +matter at all. None but the most ferocious creatures could have +inflicted the injuries of which the man had died, and where those +creatures came from no one knew. Some people thought that a pack of +blood-hounds might have broken loose from some of the estates of the +surrounding country, and, in the course of their wild journeyings, might +have met with the Colonel, and fallen upon him. Others surmised that a +bear had come down from the mountains; but the fact was that nobody knew +anything about it. + +"I did not attempt to acquaint Marie with the truth. At that moment the +invisible dog was lying at my side, and I feared if I mentioned his +existence to Marie she might fly in terror. To me there was only one +important phase of the affair, and that was that Marie was now free, +that she might be mine. + +"Before we parted we were affianced lovers, pledged to marry as soon as +possible. I wrote to my father, asking for his permission to wed the +lady. But in his reply he utterly forbade any such marriage. Marie also +discovered that her parents would not permit a union with a foreigner, +and would indeed oppose her marriage with any one at this time. + +"However, as usual, love triumphed, and after surmounting many +difficulties we were married and fled to America. Since that time I have +been obliged to support myself and my wife, for my father will give me +no assistance. He had proposed a very different career for me, and was +extremely angry when he found his plans had been completely destroyed. +But we are hopeful, we work hard, and hope that we may yet be able to +support ourselves comfortably without aid from any one. We are young, we +are strong, we trust each other, and have a firm faith in our success. + +"I had only one regret in leaving Europe, and that was that my faithful +friend, the noble and devoted invisible dog, was obliged to remain on +the other side of the Atlantic. Why this was so I do not know, but +perhaps it was for the best. I never told my wife of his existence, and +if she had accidentally discovered it, I know not what might have been +the effects upon her nervous system. + +"The dog accompanied me through Austria, Switzerland, and France to +Havre, from which port we sailed. I took leave of him on the gang-plank. +He licked my hands, and I caressed and stroked him. People might have +thought that my actions denoted insanity, but every one was so greatly +occupied in these last moments before departure, that perhaps I was not +noticed. Just as I left him and hastened on board, a sailor fell +overboard from the gang-plank. He was quickly rescued, but could not +imagine why he had fallen. I believe, however, that he was tripped up by +the snake part of my friend as he convulsively rushed away." + +The young man ceased, and gazed pensively upon the floor. + +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Martha, "if those are the sort of +experiences you had, I don't wonder that Realism was wonderful enough +for you. The invisible creature was very good to you, I am sure, but I +am glad it did not come with you to America." + +David, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, now interrupted +further comments by stating that it was daylight, and if I thought well +of it, he would open the window-shutters, so that we might see any one +going toward the town. A milkman, he said, passed the house very early +every morning. When the shutters were opened we were all amazed that the +night should have passed so quickly. + +The tall burglar and the young man now began to exhibit a good deal of +anxiety. + +"I should like very much to know," said the former, "what you intend to +do in regard to us. It cannot be that you think of placing that young +gentleman and myself in the hands of the law. Of course, this man," +pointing to the stout burglar, "cannot expect anything but a just +punishment of his crimes; but after what we have told you, you must +certainly be convinced that our connection with the affair is entirely +blameless, and should be considered as a piece of very bad luck." + +"That," said I, "is a matter which will receive all the consideration it +needs." + +At this moment David announced the milkman. Counselling my man to keep +strict guard over the prisoners, I went out to the road, stopped the +milkman, and gave him a message which I was certain would insure the +prompt arrival at my house of sufficient force to take safe charge of +the burglars. Excited with the importance of the commission, he whipped +up his horse and dashed away. + +When I returned to the house I besought my wife and Aunt Martha to go to +bed, that they might yet get some hours of sleep; but both refused. They +did not feel in the least like sleep, and there was a subject on which +they wished to consult with me in the dining-room. + +"Now," said Aunt Martha, when the door had been closed, "these men have +freely told us their stories; whether they are entirely true or not, +must, of course, be a matter of opinion; but they have laid their cases +before us, and we should not place them all in the hands of the officers +of the law without giving them due consideration, and arriving at a +decision which shall be satisfactory to ourselves." + +"Let us take them in order," said I. "What do you think of the tall +man's case?" + +"I think he is a thief and manufacturer of falsehoods," said my wife +promptly. + +"I am afraid," said Aunt Martha, "that he is not altogether innocent; +but there is one thing greatly in his favour,--when he told of the +feelings which overcame him when he saw that little child sleeping +peacefully in its bed in the house which he had unintentionally robbed, +I felt there must be good points in that man's nature. What do you think +of him?" + +"I think he is worst of the lot," I answered, "and as there are now two +votes against him, he must go to the lock-up. And now what of the stout +fellow?" I asked. + +"Oh, he is a burglar by his own confession," said my wife; "there can be +no doubt of that." + +"I am afraid you are right," said Aunt Martha. + +"I know she is," said I, "and James Barlow, or whatever his name may be, +shall be delivered to the constable." + +"Of course, there can be no difference of opinion in regard to the young +man," said Aunt Martha quickly. "Both the others admitted that he had +nothing to do with this affair except as a journalist, and although I do +not think he ought to get his realistic ideas in that way, I would +consider it positively wicked to send him into court in company with +those other men. Consider the position in which he would be placed +before the world. Consider his young wife." + +"I cannot say," said my wife, "that I am inclined to believe all parts +of his story." + +"I suppose," said I, laughing, "that you particularly refer to the +invisible dog-snake." + +"I'm not so sure about all that," she answered. "Since the labours of +the psychic researchers began, we have heard of a great many strange +things; but it is evident that he is a young man of education and +culture, and in all probability a journalist or literary man. I do not +think he should be sent to the lock-up with common criminals." + +"There!" cried Aunt Martha, "two in his favour. He must be released. +It's a poor rule that does not work both ways." + +I stood for a few moments undecided. If left to myself, I would have +sent the trio to the county town, where, if any one of them could prove +his innocence, he could do so before the constitutional authorities; but +having submitted the matter to my wife and aunt, I could not well +override their decision. As for what the young man said, I gave it no +weight whatever, for of course he would say the best he could for +himself. But the testimony of the others had weight. When they both +declared that he was not a burglar, but merely a journalist, engaged in +what he supposed to be his duty, it would seem to be a cruel thing to +stamp him as a criminal by putting him in charge of the constables. + +But my indecision soon came to an end, for Aunt Martha declared that no +time should be lost in setting the young man free, for should the +people in town arrive and see him sitting bound with the others it would +ruin his character forever. My wife agreed. + +"Whatever there may be of truth in his story," she said, "one of two +things is certain,--either he has had most wonderful experiences out of +which he may construct realistic novels which will give him fortune and +reputation, or he has a startling imagination, which, if used in the +production of works in the romantic school, will be of the same +advantage to his future. Looking upon it, even in this light and without +any reference to his family and the possible effects on his own moral +nature, we shall assume a great responsibility in deliberately +subjecting such a person to criminal prosecution and perhaps +conviction." + +This was enough. "Well," said I, "we will release the young fellow and +send the two other rascals to jail." + +"That was not well expressed," said my wife, "but we will not criticise +words at present." + +We returned to the library and I announced my decision. When he heard it +the stout burglar exhibited no emotion. His expression indicated that, +having been caught, he expected to be sent to jail, and that was the end +of it. Perhaps he had been through this experience so often that he had +become used to it. The tall man, however, took the announcement in a +very different way. His face grew dark and his eyes glittered. "You are +making a great mistake," he said to me, "a very great mistake, and you +will have to bear the consequences." + +"Very good," said I, "I will remember that remark when your trial comes +on." + +The behaviour of the young man was unexceptional. He looked upon us with +a face full of happy gratitude, and, as he thanked us for the kind +favour and the justice which we had shown him, his eyes seemed dim with +tears. Aunt Martha was much affected. + +"I wonder if his mother is living," she whispered to me. "A wife is a +great deal, but a mother is more. If I had thought of her sooner I would +have spoken more strongly in his favour. And now you should untie him at +once and let him go home. His wife must be getting terribly anxious." + +The young man overheard this last remark. + +"You will confer a great favour on me, sir," he said, "if you will let +me depart as soon as possible. I feel a great repugnance to be seen in +company with these men, as you may imagine, from wearing a mask on +coming here. If I leave immediately I think I can catch the first train +from your station." + +I considered the situation. If I did what I was asked, there would be +two bound burglars to guard, three women and a child to protect, an +uncertain stranger at liberty, and only David and myself to attend to +the whole business. "No, sir," said I, "I shall not untie you until the +officers I sent for are near at hand; then I will release you, and you +can leave the house by the back way without being seen by them. There +are other morning trains which will take you into the city early +enough." + +"I think you are a little hard on him," remarked Aunt Martha, but the +young man made no complaint. + +"I will trust myself to you, sir," he said. + +The officers arrived much sooner than I expected. There were five of +them, including the Chief of Police, and they were accompanied by +several volunteer assistants, among whom was the milkman who had been +my messenger. This morning his customers might wait for their milk, for +all business must give way before such an important piece of sightseeing +as this. + +I had barely time to untie the young man and take him to the back of the +house before the officers and their followers had entered the front +door. There was now a great deal of questioning, a great deal of +explanation, a great deal of discussion as to whether my way of catching +burglars was advisable or not, and a good deal of talk about the best +method of taking the men to town. Some of the officers were in favour of +releasing the two men, and then deciding in what manner they should be +taken to town; and if this plan had been adopted, I believe that these +two alert and practical rascals would have taken themselves out of my +house without the assistance of the officers, or at least would have +caused a great deal of trouble and perhaps injury in endeavouring to do +so. + +But the Chief of Police was of my mind, and before the men were entirely +released from the ropes by which I had tied them, they were securely +manacled. + +A requisition made on David and myself to appear as witnesses, the two +men were taken from the house to the wagons in which the officers and +their followers had come. My wife and Aunt Martha had gone upstairs +before the arrival of the police, and were watching the outside +proceeding from a window. + +Standing in the hallway, I glanced into the dining-room, and was +surprised to see the young man still standing by a side door. I had +thought him gone, but perhaps it was wise in him to remain, and not show +himself upon the road until the coast was entirely clear. He did not see +me, and was looking backward into the kitchen, a cheerful and animated +expression upon his face. This expression did not strike me pleasantly. +He had escaped a great danger, it was true, but it was no reason for +this rather obtrusive air of exultation. Just then Alice came into the +dining-room from the kitchen, and the young man stepped back, so that +she did not notice him. As she passed he gently threw his arm quietly +around her neck and kissed her. + +At that very instant, even before the girl had time to exclaim, in +rushed David from the outer side door. + +"I've been watching you, you rascal," he shouted; "you're done for +now!" and he threw his strong arms around the man, pinioning his arms to +his side. + +The young fellow gave a great jerk, and began to struggle powerfully. +His face turned black with rage; he swore, he kicked. He made the most +frenzied efforts to free himself, but David's arms were strong, his soul +was full of jealous fury, and in a moment I had come to his assistance. +Each of us taking the young fellow by an arm, we ran him into the +hallway and out of the front door, Alice aiding us greatly by putting +her hands against the man's back and pushing most forcibly. + +"Here's another one," cried David. "I'll appear against him. He's the +worst of the lot." + +Without knowing what it all meant, the Chief clapped the nippers on our +prisoner, justly believing that if burglars were about to show +themselves so unexpectedly, the best thing to do was to handcuff them as +fast as they appeared, and then to ask questions. The reasons for not +having produced this man before, and for producing him now, were not +very satisfactory to the officer. + +"Have you any more in the cellar?" he asked. "If so, I should like to +take a look at them before I start away." + +At this moment Aunt Martha made her appearance at the front door. + +"What are you going to do with that young man?" she asked sharply. "What +right have you to put irons upon him?" + +"Aunt Martha," said I, stepping back to her, "what do you think he has +done?" + +"I don't know," said she; "how should I know? All I know is that we +agreed to set him free." + +I addressed her solemnly: "David and I believe him to be utterly +depraved. He availed himself of the first moments of his liberation to +kiss Alice." Aunt Martha looked at me with wide-open eyes, and then her +brows contracted. + +"He did, did he?" said she. "And that is the kind of a man he is. Very +good. Let him go to jail with the others. I don't believe one word about +his young wife. If kissing respectable young women is the way he studies +Realism the quicker he goes to jail the better," and with that she +walked into the house. + +When the men had been placed in the two vehicles in which the police had +come, the Chief and I made an examination of the premises, and we found +that the house had been entered by a kitchen window, in exactly the +manner which the tall burglar had described. Outside of this window, +close to the wall, we found a leathern bag, containing what the Chief +declared to be an excellent assortment of burglars' tools. The officers +and their prisoners now drove away, and we were left to a long morning +nap, if we were so fortunate as to get it, and a late breakfast. + +In the course of the trial of the three men who had entered my house +some interesting points in regard to them were brought out. Several +detectives and policemen from New York were present, and their testimony +proved that my three burglars were men of eminence in their profession, +and that which most puzzled the metropolitan detectives was to discover +why these men should have been willing to devote their high talents to +the comparatively insignificant business of breaking into a suburban +dwelling. + +The tall man occupied a position of peculiar eminence in criminal +circles. He was what might be called a criminal manager. He would take +contracts for the successful execution of certain crimes,--bank +robberies, for instance,--and while seldom taking part in the actual +work of a burglary or similar operation, he would plan all the details +of the affair, and select and direct his agents with great skill and +judgment. He had never been arrested before, and the detectives were +delighted, believing they would now have an opportunity of tracing to +him a series of very important criminal operations that had taken place +in New York and some other large cities. He was known as Lewis Mandit, +and this was believed to be his real name. + +The stout man was a first-class professional burglar and nothing more, +and was in the employ of Mandit. The young man was a decidedly uncommon +personage. He was of a good family, had been educated at one of our +principal colleges, had travelled, and was in every way qualified to +make a figure in society. He had been a newspaper man, and a writer for +leading periodicals, and had shown considerable literary ability; but a +life of honest industry did not suit his tastes, and he had now adopted +knavery as a regular profession. + +This man, who was known among his present associates as Sparky, still +showed himself occasionally in newspaper offices, and was generally +supposed to be a correspondent for a Western journal; but his real +business position was that of Mandit's head man. + +Sparky was an expert in many branches of crime. He was an excellent +forger, a skilful lock-picker, an ingenious planner of shady projects, +and had given a great deal of earnest study to the subject of the +loopholes of the law. He had a high reputation in criminal circles for +his ability in getting his fellow-rascals out of jail. There was reason +to believe that in the past year no less than nine men, some condemned +to terms of imprisonment, and some held for trial, had escaped by means +of assistance given them by Sparky. + +His methods of giving help to jail-birds were various. Sometimes liberty +was conferred through the agency of saws and ropes, at other times +through that of a habeas corpus and an incontestible alibi. His means +were adapted to the circumstances of the case, and it was believed that +if Sparky could be induced to take up the case of a captured rogue, the +man had better chance of finding himself free than the law had of +keeping him behind bars, especially if his case were treated before it +had passed into its more chronic stages. + +Sparky's success was greatly due to his extremely specious manner, and +his power of playing the part that the occasion demanded. In this +particular he was even the superior of Mandit, who was an adept in this +line. These two men found no difficulty in securing the services of +proficient burglars, safe-robbers, and the like; for, in addition to the +high rewards paid these men, they were in a manner insured against +permanent imprisonment in case of misfortune. It was always arranged +that, if any of their enterprises came to grief, and if either Mandit or +Sparky should happen to be arrested, the working miscreants should +substantiate any story their superiors might choose to tell of +themselves, and, if necessary, to take upon themselves the whole +responsibility of the crime. In this case their speedy release was to be +looked upon as assured. + +A great deal of evidence in regard to the character and practices of +these two men came from the stout burglar, commonly known as Barney +Fitch. When he found that nothing was to be expected from his two +astute employers, and that they were in as bad a place as himself, he +promptly turned State's evidence, and told all that he knew about them. + +It was through the testimony of this man that the motive for the +attempted robbery of my house was found out. It had no connection +whatever with the other burglaries of our neighbourhood, those, +probably, having been committed by low-class thieves, who had not broken +into my house simply because my doors and windows had been so well +secured; nor had our boy, George William, any share whatever in the +protection of the household. + +The burglary was undertaken solely for the purpose of getting possession +of some important law papers, which were to be used in a case in which I +was concerned, which soon would be tried. If these papers could be +secured by the opposite party, the side on which I was engaged would +have no case at all, and a suit involving a great deal of property must +drop. With this end in view the unscrupulous defendants in the case had +employed Mandit to procure the papers; and that astute criminal manager +had not only arranged all the details of the affair, but had gone +himself to the scene of action in order to see that there should be no +mistake in carrying out the details of this most important piece of +business. + +The premises had been thoroughly reconnoitred by Sparky, who, a few days +before the time fixed for the burglary, had visited my house in the +capacity of an agent of a telescopic bookcase, which could be extended +as new volumes were required, therefore need never exhibit empty +shelves. The young man had been included in the party on account of his +familiarity with legal documents, it being, of course, of paramount +importance that the right papers should be secured. His ingenuity was +also to be used to cover up, if possible, all evidence that the house +had been entered at all, it being desirable to make it appear to the +court that I had never had these documents in my possession, and that +they never existed. + +Had it not been for a very natural desire for refreshment that +interfered with their admirably laid plans, it is probable that the +mechanical skill of Mandit would have been equal to the noiseless +straightening of the bent bolt, and the obliteration of the scratches +and dents made by the attempts upon other shutters, and that Sparky, +after relocking all open desks or cabinets, and after the exit of the +others, would have closed and fastened the kitchen shutters, and would +then have left the house by means of an open window in the upper hall +and the roof of a piazza. + +Thus it was that these three men, so eminent in their different spheres +of earnest endeavour, came to visit my comparatively humble abode; and +thus it was that they not only came to that abode, but to the deepest +grief. They were "wanted" in so many quarters, and on so many charges, +that before they had finished serving out their various sentences their +ability to wickedly avail themselves of the property of others would +have suffered greatly from disuse, and the period of life left them for +the further exercise of those abilities would be inconveniently limited. + +I was assured by a prominent detective that it had been a long time +since two such dangerous criminals as Mandit and Sparky had fallen into +the hands of the law. These men, by means of very competent outside +assistance, made a stout fight for acquittal on some of the charges +brought against them; but when they found that further effort of this +kind would be unavailing, and that they would be sentenced to long terms +of imprisonment, they threw off their masks of outraged probity and +stood out in their true characters of violent and brutal ruffians. +Barney Fitch, the cracksman, was a senior warden compared to them. + +It was a long time before my Aunt Martha recovered from her +disappointment in regard to the youngest burglar. + +"Of course I was mistaken," she said. "That sort of thing will happen; +but I really had good grounds for believing him to be a truthful person, +so I am not ashamed for having taken him for what he said he was. I have +now no doubt before he fell in his wicked ways that he was a very good +writer, and might have become a novelist or a magazine author; but his +case is a very sad proof that the study of Realism may be carried too +far," and she heaved a sigh. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stories of the Three Burglars +by Frank Richard Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORIES OF THE THREE BURGLARS *** + +***** This file should be named 10948.txt or 10948.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10948/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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