The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-07
An Adventure With a Burglar.

I went to Covent Garden Theatre ole
night last season. We were let out at i,
!. and 1 set off to my lodgings. ! knocked ;
there was no answer. / Knocked again ;
.ia,wind,w was thrown up, and my landlady S
head appeared. :, ..,
- Lets in. p ease it's me" said.
: s.Then, Mr.. Me, if you don't come home
aforc ten you may stay out till mornin.' l
r, never wait up for my lodgers-my toor is
closed at ten! !" and then the window
closed.
~. sNo CO." thinks 1. II have no money
I'll 90 to railway station and wait in the
waiting room till morning." which resolu-
ton i proceeded to carry out by walking
briskly.
/ turned into Moorgate street, and was
:. Just thinking whether I should 90 to the
London. Brighton and South Coast, or the
London Bridge station. stopped to think.
There was confectioner's shop Just in front
in me. Oh, that it was open. had three
pence left. :,
Just at this nonent a tall, broad shoul-
dercd man came up to me, and viewed me
from top to toe. l looked at him. He was
dressed in dark clothes; pea-j jacket and
clap-trap cloth hat, with a peak lying level
on the forehead, gave me feeling OF awe.
The thought forced itself upon me that he
was,a garrotter. He spoke first.
YOU'RE Mr.. SAM" and he laid his I'm
ger on his nose.
.3>a&"You have guessed it," said I, thinking
it best to agree with him, although my name
was Tom.
- F''Then come along" and away we went.
q "Did Butter give ye e'er pistol!" he
asked.
NO" said I, beginning to tremble. "He
said he wanted it himself"
Just like him. He told me Id find you
standing in Moorgate street, between twelve
land one, opposite the confectioner's, with
your right hand in your pocket"
"I'm in for it," thinks l, ''but must sc
through with it. But whatever will it
come to at all 2"
He led me through labyrinth of streets,
walking rather fast, till We emerged upon
the City Road. Then he made straight tor
the Angel, and from thence took cab tor
Fleet street. What object he had in doing
this cannot say He did not offer to ex'
plain :. in fact, not word passed between
ns till VIC got out at the top OF Ludgate
Hill.
From thence we went into back street
and out Of that into another, no matter
which, and suddenly stopping opposite
shop, he exclaimed
3tThere's our crib"
els it?" ..-.
Wbereupon he produced from his poke
a rule. The shop was evidently tailor's
as it had bars standing out like the rungs
jacobs ladder, from each side OF Tn
door, to. exhibit stock upon. MY trlen'
stepped ON the first of these, which wa vi!
three feet from the gronnd, and spcedll
measured the height Of large glass; tan
light over the door; then stepping dow
again he measured the breadth Of the door
and as the fanlight was square he muttere
to me,
"Three and a half by two" and chuckle
quietly.
Then he crossed the road and followed
he explaining that we must wait till the pe
liceman passed: He hove in sight abou
ten minutes afterwards, while We wake
past him. Then we waited till he returned
"Twenty minutes and half between g
ing and coming" exclaimed my companion
"knd handy beat, for he comes up Il
corner tbere"-pointing to little beyon
the shop" and goes down this street nc'
ours"
The impression began to steal over n