Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-04-02
Prom the London Fun
A CONSCIENTIOUS THIEF.

Those who do not know me may, per-
haps, believe the following story. Those
who do know me will not. Still, it is quite
true: .
Reginald was pleasant old gentleman
with fine sense of humor. He had con-
siderable property, and lived on Wimble-
dom Common. HIa HN
He had one beautiful daughter but that
is not to the point.
One afternoon, as Old Reginald was
| reading books in his drawing it was
announced to him that Common Man
desired to speak with him.
He gave orders that the Common Ma,
should be admitted. And admitted the
Common Man was.
He was a very Common Man, indeed.
A tall, shambling, Unlocking fellow, with
an irresolute manner and shrinking eye.
He was dressed as costermongers are dress
ed when following their calling.
what is your pleasure, good sir?" said
Old Reginald.
"Beg pardon, guv'nor,n said the Com
mon Man. II hope you won't be hard on
me?n
"Not at all, replied Old Reginald.
"I'm-I'm a burglar said the Common
Man.
"Indeed!" said Reginald. "Take a
chair.u sts '-A efs
"Thank you, kindly, guv'nor," said he,
"but ID rather stand" 9&I p fM
And he did stand.
So far there is nothing very incredible in
my story. But it,gets more remarkable as
it goes on. ssIRsILEzts4 - 49, k8s-8
.How do you like your profession p"
said Old Reginald.
"'Well, guv'nor,s said the Common Man.
II don't like 1t noways, and that's it."
"That's what ?''
"That's why I'm here. belong to a
gang of twelve wot's working these parts
Just now. We cracks cribs by turns. It's
its my turn tonight
And the burglar wept like child.
This, presume, is Remorse," said old
Reginald. e-I..,r ,r.,.ff ;..'d ~ Fti'H
mo, guv'nor. itain't Remorse, )" said the
burglar. "It's Funk
"The same thing, "said Reginald
ut amt the being burglar that OBJ
ject to. It's the having to commit bur-
glaries. I like the credit of it, sir; it's the
danger object to-"
"Now, by the laws of our gang, we're
bound to crack cribs in turn. That is to
say, one of us cracks the crib while the
other eleven stops outside and gives the
office"
"I thought burglars always worked i'm
twos or threes 2" said old Reginald. EL2
"P'raps ought to know best?" suggest
ed the burglar. $50 -s,e5
Perhaps you are right. Indeed, L am
sure you ought. What crib do you propose
to crack tonight ?"
"This here one" 81
mime? ?n - .f~~,
"Yourn.n sers
"Oh ~
And old Reginald prepared to ring the
bell.
"Please don't do that, guv'nor. You
ain't agoin' to give me into custody?',
II think had better.D g fsrrfE
mo, no, guy'nor, don't do that. Listen
to me first. amt going to hurt you. It's
my turn to crack your crib tonight. Now,
will you help me?n Eoaas j
81 hardly see my way,p said old Regi-
nald, thoughtfully. "Still, if I can be of
any USE al1.sse s.si srlslGssusI
Look here, guv'ner, each member of
our gang is bound to get fifty pounds
worth of swag from each crib he cracks.
If he don't he's shot. Now, see hand
some salver and coffee pot and cream
Jug as came in here. Wot might be the
value of that handsome silver salver and
coffee pot ~ ,sssl sss4 ssss -as sf5ss
"The cream jug is electro. The coffee |
pot, with sugar basin and salver may be !
worth five and forty pounds sims > 80
ssThat is near enough. I'll take 'em.
Here's is q flimsy for fifty quid.n
And he handed old Reginald bank note |
for the amount. - 4sss NTaf asa |
az want you, guv'ner, to be SO good as to |
leave your bedroom window open tonight, |
and place that silver and them silver traps |
where can get 'em. shall have cracked |
my crib, bagged my swag, and made my
,elf safe until my turn came round again.
Certainly, = said old Reginald. holding
<f,ar orc n q Srr6f IN m
how can you afford to pay so handsomely |
'or your depreciation ?n -ss5 iess9
'dfhere was dozen on us, sir. Each one /