The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-07-11

graduated complete rascsls. some tit for
one work and some for another. Sans
small size, II nothing else, would have
settled his calling: he was set apart TO
creep into houses through small spaces
where larger one could not enter, and
to open the doors for his masters. He
was first made TO be more afraid Of
them than Of any thing else on earth;
and then, the work Of dragging being
over, his intelligence was allowed TO
play with basketful Of old locks and
keys. In years time he was almost
an expert, and those locks were some Of
the few things on which he showed any
signs OF intelligence. His mind appear
ed to be blank Of all but fear; some
times, IL confused memories came to
him, and he uttered loud word. II was
only to cover at the sight Of old Han
nah's lash, and its stronger aud more
recent memories--a little fellow still:
he had not grown two inches in two
years.
One twilight, basket Of crusts on
his arm--out of which, do all they could,
be would nibble-he was told to follow
Burt into the street IAN old man with
sack on his shou' ders), and not to lose
sight OF him. And when the experiment
had been tried often enough, Burt went
some way farther into the country than
usual, and little Sam was showed through
a cellar-grating TO 90 up and open the
way for Burt and those who had been
awaiting him; and that night little Sam
began his career Of house-breaking.
But all Of little Sans share in the
transaction was sort of inchoate terror
Of what would happen to him il he did
not do as he was told. And as for what
the men did after he let them in, he had
not 50 much idea as the mouse in. the
wainscot had; nor, If he had known,
would he have been able TO see any
wrong in it. II they wanted pleasant
things, why shouldn't they have themP
Being satisfied, and in good humor,
they would give him the fewer blows.
But only a few months after that be-
ginning Burt and Bobbins were in their
prison cells, old Hannah's den was
broken up, and Sam and the other little
outcasts were homeless; or rather they
would have been had not Sans pro-
ficiency with locks been known ia the
craft, and he at least claimed as pos
session worth having; and thus the
series of the most unaccountable and
daring burglaries ever known in this
part Of the country went on uninter-
ruptedly.
1t was bright moonlight night when
the three confederates pushed and
showed little Sam up the great ropes Of
wistaria and woodbine that he might
crawl through the open crack Of small
window, with his customary instructions
to find door and open it for them.
Once within, he could see his way toll
erably well about the place, and he
noiselessly traversed one room and an
other, and had reached the great upper
hall, when his fear Of the men outside
suddenly gave way to more horrible
fear; for great beast rose and was be-
side him with one leap--a huge mastif
taller than himself. For a moment let
tie Sam was paralyzed: the next thing
would be those white fangs in his flesh (;
be knew he should be devoured. But
he could not scream. He dared not
And then the great creature had put his
two forepaws on Sans shoulder, and
was licking his face and hands and head
as If he could not have enough of him,
till the child sank on the rug, when he
subsidized, and lay beside him, with his
nose between his paws, while Sam look
ed down the long length Of the hall be-
low, and saw the swinging silver lamps,
the white statute in its niche, the
glow OF the bronze knight, the
dark richness Of the rugs upon the
tiles, all as II he had seen it
every night OF his life. Meanwhile the
dog steadily surveyed MIN in the inter-
walls Of his cnresses. After all, Sam
thought, the dog was not going to hurt
him in fact, he seemed in some way
like an old friend After all, thought
Tribune, this is no place for little boys
they ought to be in bed. And he pro-
ceeded to show the child the way, going
off little, then coming back, taking .
portion OF bis rags between his teeth,
and endeavoring to lead him on. Il
was q new experience to little Sam. In
other places the dogs had driven them
of, but this sleepy and lazy old fellow
showed nothing but hospitality. HI
followed whether he would or no. The
dog led him into large room first
with wide windows, through which I
flood Of moonlight fell. 1t fell upon al
open organ with white glimmerinf
keys. AS Sam saw it, some idea of !
singer sitting there seemed to rise on hi
fancy--a singer who had one arm
around him rs she sang, and held hi
head against her shoulder. What SHOULD
he know Of singing ? Since be hat
seen old Hannah, singing had been I'M
heard. As he moved, the blackboard
caught his eye, half covered will
some uncouth characters in chalk
lie remembered now that he hat
heard Of little boy who shove,
the big children what he coul'