Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-12-22

shall go ttee-n0t a hair of his heat shall
touched; and who ,lares objcct?" His
stern, gray eyes glanced from burglar to
/ burglar: and they involuntarily quailed
before their defiant CLEAN.
Now listen. you fools, to my reasons"
continued the TOmtit. nngrily, as the
| overHwed villains shrLnk back into their
seats. -'iou all know next week NE do
he"vy job in the wholesale line: after its
done We must keep dark; the Nest is the
only place we are safe in, and here we
must remain until the matter blows over;
but, if this man is missed, between that
and the job there'l be such hue andcr
raised that we won't dare to show our
heads; now do you understand :"
''yell, s'pose we run the horse and wag-
on up the country, md hitch his clothes
by the side nv the river, which will look
las though he circumwented Llmself?"
suggested Mr.. Molecat.
The TOmtit shook his head contemptu-
ously.
"Now, then, what would you get for the
pains-taking and risk? Why, Just n car
pet-bag, aud maybe few triles; people
aint such fools rs yoh take them, to go
Juggling money round the couutry-there
wonld be plenty of questions asked about
the carPet-bag, and likely enough the
horse might take it into his head to come
bnck-horseS aint fools either" abserved
the Tomttt sarcHstically.
Mr.. Moiecat scratched his head as an
expressive indication that the argument
was uuansweruble, aud short pause en-
sued.
''NeII," remarked Dick Hatton, breaking
the silence, "ther Tomtit's right, l s'pose,
but it does look sorter hard arter the birds
cotchcd to perwcnt the picking of 'im-
It's mean, that's vot it ISL"
The TOmtit vouchsafed no reply to this
snllen speech, but lighting fresh cigar,
he rose, shook himself, and called Mr. Beg
into an adjoining apartment.
| "Where is the mani" said he
sin the back room, eating his SUPPER"
was that worthy's reply; ''you can peep at
him ensy enough, for left the door on the
swing"
The Tomtit accordingly crcp: stcalthilv
into the passage, and getting on his hands
and knees, obtained IL very excellent view
OF the stranger, who WAS quietly proceed
ing with his meal. Scarcely, however, had
the TomhtS restless eye peered within,
than le gave start of surprise, and re-
treated Immediately.
''Hcre, Beg" he whispered, in nn excited
tone, as that individual followed him back
again to the private room; "hcre's con-
founded go. Who do you suppose that
man is?"
Mr.. Beg, of course, intimatcd that lie
didn't know, whereupon the TOmtit, look
| ing around to satisfy himself they we're
alone, brought his hand in the form of n
trumpet close to Mr.. Begs ear, and whis-
pcred: u
'Irs Dugy"
Mr.. Beg's face turned deathly pale.
What he whispered, '.the Dctective?"
The same" rcjoined the Tomtit, with
an expression plainly denoting his agita-
ton. "Who or what should bring him
here alone, neither know nor can guess
Beg, keep this from the boys, they are saw
age enough now. but if they found ont the
truth couldn't control 'em. They would
tear this man to pieces, but, Beg, that
mustn't be; they must be led off; for it
would be the worst thing yet to kill,him ;
he would be missed as sure us preaching"
"ls this the one who has been irving SO
long to find out our Nest?" inquired beg
"The very s0me," replied Tomtit 'You
know the State government has offered Il
reward of over five thousand dollars for
the discovery of our whereabouts, and this
|'DuFy has been sncaking around trying to
lind US, not so much for the possession ofthc
reward rs some private aim; he nint n reg
ular detective, or he might be led oif;
years ago he was on our track. have
oScu WhtShtng MIN all along, designing to
finish him when good opportunity Offer
ed, but the wiry scoundrcl managed to
escape me; he may disguise himself as
much us lie likes, he can't cheat me-"
"He's disguised, then 2" said Mr.. Beg,
amazed ufrcSh.
"Ot course he is that fttness isn't real.
he thinks he's unknown to me, but I'll pay
him OFF yet" rejOined the T0mtit, with a
silent imprecation. "I'll get rid of him,
but it mustn't be done here Now then.
Beg, listen: Fetch me n lantern, and the
key OF the - You understand me-"
Beg nodded his head, and flew off with
alacrity. No one entertained ~ greater ad-
miration of the Tomtit than that gentle
man he regarded him with the same de-
ference "a dog would show to his master,
and was contcnted as long as he could
testify his servIle affection; lie quickly re-
turned with the lantern and key, and to
his great surprise found the burglar chief
absorbed in the contemplation of the
minlature of young girl, seemingly some
seventeen years of age, aud of surprising
loneliness, and heard him mntter, "He
certainly has good cause to hate me, dut /
'cOHtd hare spared HIM had he kept ac0y
from 'he Nest' Now howcrer, he has
rushed upon his doom" Then becoming
aware of Beg's presence, the ToMtit hasti-
ly thrust the picture in his bosom, and
turning to the inn-keeper, whispered:
Let me out by the back door, Beg"
"All right" Was the quiet response.
''Not word to the boys, mind if they
miss me. tell 'em I've gone to bed"
The Tomtit, with this parting caution,
made his exit from the door, which Mr..
Beg held open, and walked rapidly off.
The faithful custodian of the BURGLARS
Nest stood tor few minutes IisteninS, iii
the retreating footsteps of the burglar
chief had died away in the distance; then
he carefully closed and relockcd the door
and returned to the bar, there to muse ovct
the surprising and startling disclosures
which the Tomtit had made to him;
It was one of those remarkable circum-
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