Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-22

or g for fortnight at least, till I can Oet on
OF US In some way connected with the house;
heard the other day that the old gentleman
wanted coaehmsn, and ii had somebody to
personate one, why it would be a very rum
thing to get him in there, and then, don't YOU
see, tnere would be no need Of a locksmith -
1 IVY don't yoH go, Tomtit, yer would make
rum coaehee, yer would ?" suggested Dick
| with a grin. -
Why, as to that, suppose 1 might suit
Ine old gentleman to a hair" returned the
Tomtit cOmplacently; &" but 1 have something
more important to manage; no, I'll tell YOU
what boys, I've good mind to send one of
you"
| GOOD, said several voices.
:" know" continued the Tomtit s'all about
the house, SO far ms that goes for have WIS.,
| lted every nook and corner myself but still il
would be very convenient to have somebody to
let US In; Crib could have opened the back
| door easily, but seeing he's Gagged we'u have
to give up getting in that way"
:. Hist suddenly exclaimed Mr. Beg, des.
crbing with his finger rapid movement in the
direction Of the window. The burglars started
and pricked up their ears as they distinctly
heard the sound of an approaching vehicle; it
| was just wheeling up before the tavern, and
MI Beg, who had been sent to reconnoitre,
quickly returned to report to the anxious gang
that 1t was only traveller who had lost his
way and wished to stay over night. Hes
whispered Mr.. Beg.
This intelligence caused momentary excite
| ment; the burglars started up, their fierce eyes
| sparkling with eager delight, but meeting the
gaze OF their chief they suddenly resumed their
i seats.
els it VERY comfortable looking bag p"
| inquired Dick, rubbing his hands in expecta-
| tion of plunder.
| 'Very promising looking 1 should say, re-
Piled Mr Beg, but what shall do with the
| owner ?''
Four tallow candles were now brought into
the room, and the burglars held hurried con-
versatlOn as to how they should dispose of their
visitor; some were for dispatching him at once.
others were for making away with him silent
ly; but as prolonged discussion seemed likely
to arise, Mr.. Beg was commissioned to see to
the personal comfort of the gentleman, provide
him with a supper, and make ready his apart
ment, which last direction caused Mr.. Beg to
/ grin from ear to ear
Mind, !" said Dick, ''to put i'm in the room
yots got the trap-dOor, vieh i. ther VERY mo-
del OF conwenienees, and the comfortablest
| room in ther 'ouse"
| Nj; Beg laughed approvingly at Mr. Hat
| ton humorous allusiOn 10 the trap-doOr, and
| left his friends to continue theft consultation
| My advice" said Dick, sis to run i'm
down ven he's snoozing, and drop i'm in ther
i vat; dead men doesn't tell tales"
dead men does tell tales though" inter
l rupted one of the burglars, lowering his voice
to an impressive whisper; they come up and
| peach, II lts only to get a cove in trouble"
"l think so too" chimed in another, who
was known by the soubriquet of Molecat;
they III come up sometimes ven its VERY in
| convenient and troublesome. Vonce, ven 1
wos doing business in the pad line, in York, we
cotehed feller one night who was VERY
husky 1t was VERY good haul, an some
| one on US was for letting him go; but he kept
such hollerin' and threatening, thar. arter
parieying leetle, Bill Hedges gives him a
| knock on the head, vich silenced him, veil
afore we tossed him in the river, Bill ties
big rock to his neck to prevent his coming up
and breeding lot % nasty questions, but the
VERY next morning the spiteful corpse comes
| ashore without the rock, and holding tight onto
| piece of Bill Hedges jacket, vice wos the
means of conwicting him and sending him to
the gallows."
MT. MOlecat's record of his personal expert
ence seemed to make but little impression on
his listeners, for the main subject under con-
sideration was resumed, and a lively debate
sprung up, which was, however, not partcipa-
ted in by the Tomtit
That gentleman sat quietly listening to the
various opinions, deigning no other comment
| than an occasional nod Of his head. 1t was
evident that the burglars were unanimously in
favor of instantly destroying the traveller
though they essentially varied in their pro-
posed plans ofoperation. Sd. ..y. +, :
Mr.. Dick HattOn watched his leaders coun-
tenance during the progress of the converse
ton, but Ii looked stolidly indifferent '--
Vots yer opinion, TOmtit?' he inquired,
anxiously. "Aint yer going to say nothing?"
g OF course l am, replied Tomtit, planting
his legs dehantly on the table; " my opinion is
the opinion that's got to be adopted, and no
chattering. Now look here" continued he,
| fixing his restless eyes on the group, you all
| want to make way with this traveller"
Il, That's so, +" exclaimed the burglars.
And L, E" continued Tomtit coOlly, sam for
letting him 60" a|
1t would be impossible to describe the effect
produced by this decision. The burglars jumped
up, ana oaths and Impressions of every de-
scription were shOwered on their leader.
q say, repeated thechief, unmoved by the
threatening attitude of his men, " he shall 90
free-not hair of his head shall be touched
| and who dares object2" His stern, gray les
glanced from burglar to burglar, and they in
voluntarily quailed before their defiant CLEAN
Now lSten, you fools, to my reasons con-
| tinued the Tomtit, angrily, as the overawed
villains shrunk back into their seats "You
all know next week we do q heavy Job in the
Wholesale line; after it's done we must keep
dark; the Nest is the only place we are safe
in, and here we must remain till the matter
blows over; but if this man is missed, between
that and the job there II be such a hue and cry
raised that we won't dare to show our heads
Now do you understand"
"Vell, s'pose We run the horse and wagon up
the country, and hitch his clothes by the side NV
the river, Vich will look as though he circum-
vented himself" suggested Mr.. Molecat.
The TOmtit shook hts head contemptuousIy
"Now, then, what would you get for your
painstaking and risk? Why, just . csrpet-bag,
and maybe few trifes; people amt such fools
| as you take them, to go Juggling money round
the country-there would be plenty Of ques-
tions asked about the carpet-bag, and likely
enough the horse might take it into his head
to csIne back-horses amt fools either" OBJ
| served the Tomtit, sarcasticslly. 4
Mr.. Molecat scratched his head, - an ex-
prsssive indication that the argument was un-
| answerable, and . short pause ensued.
"Fell." remarked Dick Hatton, breaking
the silence, "then Tomtit's right, s'pose, but
it does look sorter hard arter the bird eotch ed
to perwent the picking Of i'm. It's mean, that's
| vot il isl" - -
The Tomtit vouchsafed no reply to this sullen
| speech, bat lighting fresh cirar. he rose,
| shook himself, and called Mr.. Beg into an ad-
joining apartment.
"Where Is the man ~ said he
. i" In the back room, eating his supper. ,, was
that worthy, reply; .you can peep az him easy