Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-10-05
THE CHRONICLE.
ADYEYTURR WTTHABURGLAR,

AN ADVENTURE WITHABURGLAR,
I went to Covent Garden Theatre
one night last season. We were lei
out at 10, and I set Off 10 my lodgings.
I knocked: there was no answer. j
knocked again /: q window was thrown
up, and my ~landlady's head appeared.
''Who are your" she screamed.
Lets in, please it's me-" 1 ans
wered.
"Then, Mr.. Me, If you don't come
home afOre ten, you may stay out till
mornin'. Inever wait for my dodgers
my door is closed at ten ~ and then
the window closed with a bang.
mo goV' thinks. /, 81 have no
money. III go to a railroad station,
and wait in the waiting Don till
morning. and which resolution ]
proceeded 10 carry out by walking
briskly for the Bank. I turned into
MOorgate street, and vas just think
ing whether I should go to the Lon
don, Brighton d South Coast, or the
London Bridge Station. Istopped to
to think.
There was confectionery shop lust
in frontof me. Oh, that it were open
I had threepence left.
Just at this moment q. tall, broad
shouldered man came up to me, and
viewed me from top TO toe. looked
at him. He was dressed in dark
clothes; a per-iacket and a clap-trap
cloth hat, with a peak lying level on
the forehead, gave me a feeling Of awe.
The thought forced itself upon me
thathe was a garroter. He spoke first.
YOU'RE Mr.. Sam =" and he laid his
finger on his nos
"You've guessed it," Raid I, think
ing il was best to agree with him, al
though my name was Tom.
Then come along" and away we
went.
ibid Butler give We ere a pistol p"
he asked.
mo" said I, beginning to tremble.
"He said he wanted them himself"
Just like him. He told me I'd
find you standing in Moorgate street,
between twelve and one, opposite the
confectioner's, with your right hand
in your pocket"
"pm in fer it." thinks I, 'fbut I
must go through with it. But what
ever will il come TO at Rll?n
He lead me through a labyrinth of
streets, walking rather fast, till we
emerged upOnthe city road. Then he
made straight for the Angel, and from
thence took q cab for Fleet street.
What object he had in doing this 1
can not say. He did not offer to ex-
plain-in fact, not a word passed be
tween us till we got out at the top Of
Ludgate Hill.
From thence we went into a back
street, and out of that into another,
no matter which, and suddenly stop
ping opposite a shop, exclaimed,
''There's crib !"
as il ?n said I.
WhereupOn he produced from his
pocket a rule. The shop was evident
" a tailor's, as it had bars standing
out in front, like rmgs Of q Jacobs
ladder, from each side of the door, to
exhibit stock upon.
Ny friend stepped on the first of
these, which was three feet from the
ground, and speedily measured the
height Of q large glass fanlight over
the door; then, stepping down again,
he measured the breadth Of the door,
and, rs the fanlight was square, he
muttered to me, by way Of giving me
its dimensions:
"Three and a half by two hight"
and chuckled quietly.
Then he crossed the road and I fol-
lowed, he explaining that we must
wait till the policeman passed. He
hove in sight about ten minutes after
ward, while we walked past him.
Then we waited till he returned.
This time we did not pass him, but
watched him from a corner at a dis
lance.
Twenty minutes and 8 half be-
tween going and coming" exclaimed
my companion. "And a handy beat;
for he comes up the corner there
pointing to one q little beyond the
shop and goes down this street next
ours.n
The impression began to steal over
me that I was committing, or helping
to commit, sfelony, and thatif caught
I might get into trouble. 1 thought
Of running for it; but the remark my
companion made at this moment, TO
the effect that it would be q short run
if I deserted him for he seemed to see
I didn't like the job, deferred me. l
dared not explain that he had made a
mistake, for / felt sure he must have
mistaken me for some ally of his own.
81 must go through with it, " thinks
I. HE will leave me outside to
watch, and pu hook it then!'
So I went on.
He crossed the street again the mo-
ment the policeman was pastinterfer-
ing with us, and producing a piece Of
stout black cloth, he applied the rule
thereto, 1 holding IL against the shut
tiers while he set out three and ahalf
by two" thereon. This done, he cut
it within two inches of the measure
ment all round and then producing
a treacle-pOt from his pocket, he
smOthered one side of the cloth with
~treacle, and, desiring me o holdit, he
mounted the shop door, so to- speak
and I gave him the cloth,
which he Immediately elapped on to
the skylight, the treacle making it adj
here firmly to the glass. Then look
ing at his watch, he cried-"By GOSH!
he'll be here this minute!" and off
we walk.
A glance behind us as we turned
the next corner. Not yet in sight!
stopped and waited, but the police
man came not. My friend muttered
~ ClL-f 1AAAA6
"IH 90. Come along; but keep
your weather-eye Open!" And off we
went.
"Perhaps he is watching Us" Isug-
But this was discarded as not
in the nature Of apoliceman like the
one we saw"
We arrived at the spot. He mount
ed again, and drove a string through
q hole in the cloth. Then he ran a
diamond round the edge Of the glass.
A gentle pat, and it gave way. Now
I saw the use of the cloth and string.
He could hold the glass by the string;
and he slowly let it down into the
shop, and producing a long-shaped
pad, he laid it along the bottom of the
fanlight, to cover the glass edge, and
threw one leg into the opening and
got astride Of it.
Follow me-" he muttered, and
.ucked his head under the doorhead.
But before he could draw in the other
I mounted the ladder, and Selling
it, gave him apull that kept him from
going in, at the same time yelling,
police! Thieyesi Police!r at the
of my voice. And 10 and behold /!
the policeman appeared at that mo-
A horrible oath from within