Litchfield enquirer., 1870-07-14
AN ADVENTURE WITH A BURGLAR,


 went to Covent Garden Theatre one night last season. We were let out at twelve, and set off to my lodgings. I knocked: there was no answer. knocked again; window was thrown up, and my landlady's head appeared.
 "Who are youw she screamed. "Let s in please it's me P answer ed.
 ''Then MT. Me, if you don't come home afore ten, you may stay out till mornin'. I never wait up for my lodgers-my door is closed at ten!" and then the window clos l ed with bang.
 ''No go!" thinksI. "I have no money. I'll go to railway station, and wait in the waiting room till morning." which resolu- l ton proceeded to carry out by walking briskly for the bank. I turned into Moorgate Street and was just thinking whether should go to the London, Brighton and South Coast. or the London Bridge station. stopped to think. There was confectioner's shop just in front of me. Oh that it were open! I had three-pence left.
 Just at this moment tall, broad-shoul- dered man came up to me, and viewed me from top to toe. I looked at him. He was dressed in dark clothes; pea-jacket and a clap-trap cloth hat, with peak lying level on the forehead, gave me feeling of awe. The thought forced itself upon me that he was a"garroter. He spoke first.
 'sYou're Mir. San2" and he laid his fin. ger on his nose.
 ''You've guessed it," said l, thinking il best to agree with him, although my name was Tom. a.- rHs-
 "Then come along ]" and away we went.
 ''Did Butler give ye e'er 8 pistol?" he asked. : .... .- .as aa~ .
 "No," said l, beginning to tremble. 'sHe 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"
 '1'm in for it!' thinks I, ''but must go through with it. But whatever will it come to, at all, at all?" -ff
 He led me through labyrinth of streets, walking rather fast, till we emerged upon the City Road. Then he made straight for the Angel, and then took cab for Fleet Street! What object he had in doing this cannot say. He did not offer to explain in fact not single word passed between us until we got at the top of Ludgate Hill.
 From thence we went into back street, and out of that to another, no matter which and suddenly stooping opposite shop, he exclaimed
 ''There's our crib!'
 "Is it?" says I.
 Whereupon he produced from his pocket rule. The shop was evidently a tailor's as 1t had bars standing out, like the rungs of Jacobs ladder, from each side of the door, to exhibit stock upon. My friend stepped on the first of these, which was three feet from the ground, and speedily measured the height of large glass fan. light over the door; then, stepping down again he measured the breadth of the door and as the fanlight was square, he mutter- ed to me, by way of giving me it's dimen' sions,- 4:
 "Three and half by two highr' and chuckled quietly. ....-.t..-.. -.
 Then he crossed the road, and follow. ed, he explaining that we must wait til the policeman passed. He hove in sight about ten minutes afterwards, while we walked past him. Then he waited till he returned. This time we did not pass him, but watched him from 8 corner at dis. tance. s~ .e =.#.a.
 '"Twenty minutes and half between go. ing and coming" exclaimed my compan- ion. "And handy beat; for he comes uI the corner there, pointing to one littlt beyond the shop, p,-''and goes down this street next ours.
 The impression began to steal over me that was committing, or helping to com init, felony, and that if caught I might get into trouble. thought of running fol it; but the remark my companion made al that moment, to the effect that it would be @ short run if deserted him (for he seem. ed to see didn t like the job), deterred me. dared not explain that he had made 8 mistake, for I felt sure that he must have mistaken me for some ally of his own. Fl must go through with it." thinks 1. He'll leave me outside to watch, and I'll hook it then!' So Iwent on. a.aa
 He crossed the street again the moment the policeman was past interfering with us and, producing Q piece of stout black cloth he applied the rule thereto. holding it against the shutters while he set out s'three and half by two" thereon. This done, he cut it within two inches of the measurement all round; and then produc. ing treacle-pot from his pocket he smoth. cred one side of the cloth with treacle, and desiring me to, hold it he mounted the shopdoor, so to speak, again; and l gave him him the cloth, which he immediately clap ped on to the skylight, the treacle making it adhere firmly to the glass; Then look ing at his watch, he cried
 'sBy Goshw he'll be here. this minutev and away we walked. A glance behind us, ] as we turned the next corner. Not yet in