Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-24
THE CONSCIENTIOUS BURGLAR.
Old Reginald and the Common
MAN.

Old Reginald and the Common
Man.
Reginald was pleasant old gentleman, with
a fine sense OF humor. He had considerable
property, and lived on Wimbledon Common.
He had one beautiful daughter-but that is
not to the point.
One aft ernoon, as Old Reginald was reading
books In his drawing-room, Ii was announced to
him that Common Man desired to speak with
him.
He gave orders that the Common Man should
be admitted. And admitted the Common Man
was.
Hewas a very Common Man. indeed. Tall,
shambling, Unlocking fellow, with an irresolute
manner and shrinking eye. He was dressed as
costermongers are dressed when following their
What is your pleasure, good sir? y" said Old
Reginald.
Fog pardon, guy'nor,' said the Common
Man. Il hope you won't be hard on me-
mot at ali" replied Old Reginald.
"I'm-l'm burglar said the Common Man.
"Indeed.' said Reginald. Take chair. ..
"Thank you kindly, guv'nor," said he, "but
I'd rather stand
And he did stand.
So far there is nothing very incredible in my
story. But it gets more remarkable as ii goes
!" How do you like your professions" said Old
Even, guv'nor," said the Common Man, q
don't IKE It n ,,o.ng and that's It,"
"That's why I'm here. belongs to gan OF
cracks cribs by turns. lists my turn to-
And the burglar wept like child
90 This presume, is RemorSe," said Old Reg
"No, guv'nor. it amt Remorse," said the
burglar. "Its Funk"
ut amt the being burglar that object to.
It's the having to commit burglaries 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 out
81 thought burglars always worked in twoS or
threes?. said Old Reginald
'.Praps ought to know best?' suggested the
"Perhaps you are right. Indeed, l am sure
you ought. What crib do you propose to crack
.,1his here one."
"Mine?"
"Ohr'
And Old Reginald prepared to ring the bell,
never agoin' to give me into custody?"
q think had better"
No, no, guvnor, don't do that. Listen to
me first. amt agoin' to hurt you. It's my
turn to crack your crib tonight. Now, will you
help me?"
a hardly see my way" said Old Reginald,
look here, guv'nor, 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 handsome silver salver and coffee
pot and cream jug as come in here. Wot might
be the value OF that handsome silver salver and
coffee-pOt?"
"The cream jug is electro. The coffee-pot
with sugar basin and salver, may be worth live
and forty pounds"
That's near enough, I'll take 'em. Here is
tl!msey for fifty Quld."
And he handed Old Reginald bank note for
the amount
"Still don't quite understand"
Il want you, guvnor. to be so good as to
leave your bedroom window open tonight, and
place that silver and them silver traps where
can get em. l shall have cracked my crib.
bagged my swag, and made myself safe until
my turn came round again."
Certainly" said Old Reginald holding up the
note to the light. :" But let me ask, how can you
afford to pay so handsomely for your depreda-
tion?'
There was dozen of us, sir. Each on us
cracks crib once in four months, and each
SWags at least fifty pounds worth-often more,
but at least that. After each plant the profits
are divided. Last quarter the twelve cribs
cracked brought us in eleven hundred pounds
that's ninety odd pounds apiece. When my
turn comes pay fair price for the fifty pounds
worth swag (ror have been hOnorably brought
up, and gets forty pounds to the good. And
forty pounds quarter is hundred and sixty
pounds year. And lives on it. Sometimes
it's more-now and then it's less but whatever
1t is lives OF it."
And the honest fellow took receipt for a note
and departed.
left his bedroom window open and placed the
salver where the honest burglar was as good as
his word, and at O'Clock in the morning he
came and found 1t.
SO far all was simple and straightforward
enough. But now comes the curious and in
credible part of my story,
The fifty pound note was part of the proceeds
OF previous burglary. The number Of the note
was known, and traced to Old Reginald, who
had to account for its being in his possession.
Now the twelve burglars had in the mean
time been arrested by the police this also is in
credible), and were condemned 10 penal servi-
tude for life.
So Old Reginald had no hesitation in stating
the facts as have stated Them
No one believed him, as no one will me.
SO he appealed 10 the honest burglar 20 cor
roborate his story.
But the honest burglar, having discovered the
whole thing, cofee-pot, Salver and ALL was the
commonest electro. was SO shocked at Old Regi-
maids dishonesty that not only did he decline to
corrobrate his story, but actually. and think
very properly, identified him as an accomplish.
And Old Reginald was also sentenced to penal
Servtude, ana he and the honest burglar worked
for many years together On the same works,
and had many opportunities OF talking the mat
ter over from It's moral social and political
point OF view.