Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-26
4 Conscientious Thief.

4 Conscientious Thief.
Those who do not know me may, per-
haps. believe the following story. Those
who do know me will not Still 1t Is
quite true.
Reginald was pleasant Old gentleman.
with fne sense Of humor. lie had con-
siderable property, and lived on Wimbe-
dom Common.
He had one beautiful daughter-but
that i not to the point.
One afternoon. as Old Reginald was
reading books in his drawing-room. it was
announced to him that Common Man dc:
sired to speak with him
lie gave orders that the Common Man
should be admitted Aud admitted the
Common Man was
He was a very Common Man, indeed.
4 tall. shamblIng, Unlocking fellow, with
an irresolute manner and shrinking eye
He vas dressed as costermougers are
dressed when following their calling
What Is your pleasure, good sir :.
said Old Reginald
Beg pardon, guyuor said the Com
mon Man. hope you won't be hard on
ne.
Not at all, replied Cd Reginald
Im-l'm burglar, SAID the Com
mon Man
Indeed said Reginald. Take .
chair
Thank you kindly. guy'nor.' -4id he.
but Ia rather stand.
And be did stand
80 far there Is nothing very creditao e
in ny story Bat 1T gets more remarkable
a. i goes o..
How DO you Ike your profession .
said O.d Regiua.d
Well. guy nor Faid the Common Man,
4 don't Ike it noways. aud that's il.
That's what -
That's why I'm here. belongs TO q
gang OF twelve wot's working these parts
Ju,t now. We cracks cribs by turns. II
its my turn tonight.
And the burglar wept Ike child.
This presume, Is Rem0rse. said old
Reginald
No, guy nor, it amt Remorse,' said the
burglar Its Fuuk
The same thing said Reginald.
Il amt the beng . burglar that | OBJ
jeet TO. It's the having to commit bur
rlaries ike the credit Of i. sir. IT,
the danger / object 10.
L see
Now, by the laws OF our gang. were
bound to crack cribs in turn That j. to
say, one Of us crack the cribs while the
other eleven stops outside and gives the
office.
L thought burglars ALWAYS worked in
twos or threes o sad Ola REGINALD.
P'raps ought 10 Know best9 SUI
gested the burglar.
Perhaps you are right Indeed, am
sure sou ought. What crib DO YOU pro-
pose 10 crack tonight o.
This here one
Nine.
Yourn.
Oh 1"
And Old Reginald prepared 10 rlp, tDe
bel.
Please don't DO that. guv'nor. You
amt never ag'in to give me into custody p
think ] had better.
No. no, guy'nor. don't DO that Listen
TO me first. | amt agoin' TO hurt you.-
It'- my turn to crack your crib tonight.
Now, will you help me {?
hardly sec my way, said Old Regi-
Bald, thoughtfully. Stlll, If can be of
any use
Look here. gug'nor. each member of
our gang is bound to get ffty pounds
worth of swag from each crib he cracks
If he don't. he's shot. Now, 1 see hand
some silver salver and cofTee-pot and
cream Jug as | came il here. Not'
might be the value Of that Handsome sill
yer salver and coffee pot?
The cream Jug is electro. The coffee
pot. with sugar basin asd salyer. may be
th i've and forty pounds.
That's near enough. III take en-
Here is q hiinsey for ffty quid.
And be handed Old Reginald . bank
note for the amount
Still don't quite understand
/ want you, guvsor, TO be 50 good as
to leave your bedroom window open to-
night, and place that silver and them sill
yer traps where l can get EN-. | shall
have cracked my crib, bagged my swag,
and made myself safe until my turn came
round again
Certainly said Ola Reginald. holding
up the note to the light. But let me