Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-11

was one of the last men who habitually
wore Hessians.
After years probation accompanied
him on several expeditions, and had the
happiness to believe that l was Of some
little use to him. 1 shot him eventually
in the stomach, mistaking him for a mas
ter Of house into which we were break
ing Il had mislaid my dark lantern) and
he died on the grand piano. His dying
wish was that his compliments might be
conveyed to me.
l now set up on my own account, and
engaged his poor old clerk, who nearly
broke his heart at his late masters fune-
raj. Stonelelgh left no family. His
money about G12, 900, invested for the
most part in American railways, he left
to the Society for Providing More Bish-
ops, and his ledgers, day-books, memoir
anda and papers generally he bequeathed
to me.
AS the chamber required furnishing, l
lost no time in commencing my profes-
sional duties. looked through his books
for suitable house to begin upon, and
found the following attractive entry;
Thurow squar No. 1o7.
HouSe-Medlum.
Occupant -Jonn Davis, bachelor
paton-Deslgner Of dados.
Age-Eighty-six.
Physical Peculiaritles-Very feeble eccentric !;
drinks Evangelical snores.
Servants Two housemaids, one cook.
Sex-Al female.
Particulars of Servants Preity housemad called
Rachel Jew-ss. open TO attentions. Goes out
for beer ate p. m. snores; Ugly n. usemald
called Bella Presby yterian. Open 10 attentions
snores Elderly cook Primitive Methodist.
Open TO attentions snorcs
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. lock on street door chain
aud hnl Ru IN a
tica 10 approach from thrd room. ground floor,
which is shuttered ana barred, but bar has no
catch and Can be raised with uiDleknite
Valuable Contents OF House rresenta ion plae
from grateful athletes Gold repeater Null
ready euvelop'.. Two diamond rings. Complete
edition of bradshaw" from 1894 to present time,
bsS volumes, bound linn calf
oeneral-Mr Davis sleeps second front floor ser
wants on th Moor. Davis goes to bed at 10. No
one on basement Swa ms with beetles othel-
wise excellent house for purpose.
This seemed to be capital house to
try single-handed. Attwelve o'clock that
very night pocketed two crowbars, a
bunch of skeleton keys, centre-bit
dark lantern, n box of silent matches,
some putty, a hfe-preserver and knife,
and l set off at once for Thurlow square.
I remember that it showed heavily. There
was at least foot of snow on the ground,
and there was more to come. Poor Stone
leigh's particulars were exact in every de-
tail.
1 got into the third room on the ground
floor without the least difficulty, and
made my way into the dining-room.
There was the presentation plate, sure
enough-about eight hundred ounces, as
1 reckoned. I collected this and tied it
up so that I could carry 1t without at
tracing attention.
Just as 1 had finished heard slight
cough behind me. turned and saw q
dear old silver-haired gentleman in a
dressing gown standing the doorway.
The venerable gentleman covered me with
a revolver.
My first impulse was to rush at and
brain him with my ife-preserver.
"Dont move" said he, cor you're a
dead man."
A rather silly remark to the effect that
if did move it would rather prove l WAS
live man occurred to me, but dismiss
ed it Mt ouce as unsuited to the business
character of the interview.
You're burglar" said he.
II have that honor, said 1, making for
my pistol pocket.
Don't move, ;" said he 81 have often
wished to have the pleasure of encoun-
tering a burglar, in order to be able to
test favorlte theory of mine as to how
persons of that class should be dealt with.
But you mustn't move"
replied that | should be happy to u.s.
sist him if l could do so consistently with
due regard for my own safety.
"Promise me-" said I, that you will
allow me to leave the house unmolested
when your experiment is at an end"
"If you will obey ME promptly, you
shall be at perfect liberty to leave the
house"
"You will neither give me into custody
nor take any steps to pursue me?'
"On my honor as designer of dados,
said he.
"Good, said 1. 5000
"Stand mp" said lie, "and stretch out
your arms at right angles to your body. d
"Suppose | don't?" said |.
II shall send bullet through youi
left ear" said he.
"But permit me to observe" said I.
Bang A ball cut off the lobe of my
left ear.
The ear smarted, and should have
liked to have attended to it, but, undel
the circumstances, thought it better tc
comply with the whimsical old gentle
man. 3 wishes.
ry good" said he. "Now do as
tell you, promptly and without mo
ment's hesitation, or I'll cut off the lob,
of your right ear. Throw me that lif'
preserver.
"But-"
"Ah, would you p said he, cooking thu
revolver.
The "click" decided me. Besides, th
old gentlemans eccentricity amused me
and L was curious TO see how far it woulC
carry him. So tossed my life e-preserve
to him. He canght it neatly.
"Now take off your coat and throw it t.
= me-"
took off my coat and threw it to hin
diagonally across the room.
Snow the waistcoat.
Threw the waistcoat to him.
"Boots," said he.
"They are shoes, said l, in some trep
idation lest he should take offence whel
no offence was really intended.
! "Shoes, then," said he.
l threw my shoes to him.
Trousers.
, Come, come, say" exclaimed l.
/, Bang the lobe of the other ear CAM
! off. With all his eccentricity the old gen
! tleman was a man of his word. He ha
= the trousers and with them my revolver
which happened to be in the right-han
pocket
"Now the rest OF your drapery'
1 threw him the rest of my drnpery
e He tied up my clothes in the tableclotl
=. and, telling Inc that he wouldn't detail
me any longer, made for the door wit
: the bundle under his arm
4 "Stop," said I. "What is to become {
. me ?"
i "Really, hardly know" said he.
/ "You promised me my liberty" said
b Certainly" said he. Don't let III
o trespass any further on your time Yo
). will find the street door; or, if from fore
v Of habit yon prefer the window. you wi
' have no difficulty in clearing the are