The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-01-31
The BURGLARS STORY.

father, distinguished begging-letter
impostor, said to me: "keginald,
think it is time that You began to think
about choosing a profession.
These were ominous words. Since l
left Eaton, nearly year before, l had
spent my time very pleasantly and very
idly, and was sorry to see my long
holiday drawing to close. My father
had hoped to have sent me to Cam
bridge Cambridge was tradition in
our family, but business had been very
depressed of late, and sentence Of six
months hard labor had considerably
straitened my poor fathers re-
sources.
1t was necessary-highly necessary
that should choose calling. With n
sigh of resignation admitted rs much
IF you like" said my father, Il will
take you in hand and teach yon my pro.
fession, and in few years, perhaps, /
may take you into partnership: but, to
be candid with You, doubt whether it
is satisfactory calling for an athletic
young fellow hike yon."
II don't seem to care about it partic-
ularly," said I.
"I'm glad to hear it," said my father;
"it's poor calling for Young man OF
spirit. Besides, you have to grow gray
in the service before people will listen
to You. It's all very we'll for a refuge
in old age, but a young fellow is likely
to make but poor hand at ii. Now, l
should like to consult your own tastes
on SO important n matter as the choice
Of profession. What do You say
The army"
NO, l didn't care for the army"
Forgery? The bar? Cornish
wrecking?"
Father" said l, Il should like to he
a forger, but / write such All internal
hand"
a regular Eton hand" said he.
"Not plastic enough for forgery; bu,
you could have writing master"
Its as much rs can do to forge my
own name. / don't believe / should
ever be able to forge anybody else's."
'Anybody's else,' you should say.
not anybody clse's.' It's a dreadful
barbarism. Eton English"
No." said /, 81 should never make a
fortune at it. AS to wrecking-why
you know how seasick am."
"You might get over that. Besides
you would deal with wrecks ashore, not
wrecks at sea-"
"Most of it done in small boats, Tn
told. A deal of small boat work. No
/ won't be wrecker. think should
like to be burglar.
YES" said my father, considering
the subject. "Yes, it's fine. manly
profession, but it's dangerous-highl,
dangerous"
Just dangerous enough to he excit
ing, no more"
"Well," said my father, "if you've /
distinct taste for burglary, I'll see What
can be done"
My dear father was always promp
with pen and ink. That evening h,
wrote to his old friend Ferdinand Stone
leigh, burglar Of the very highes
professional standing, and in week
was duly and formally articled to him
with view to ultimate partnership.
had to work hard under Mr.. Stone
leigh.
Burglary is a jealous MISTRESS" sal,
he. "She will tolerate no rivals. Sh,
exacts the undivided devotion Of he
worshipers."
And so / found it. Every morning
ut 10 o'clock l had to present myself a
Stoneleigh's chambers in New square
Lincoln's Inn. and until l. l assiste,
his clerk with the correspondence. A
II / had to go out prospecting Will
Stoneleigh, and from TO / | had I,
devote to finding ont all particular
necessary to scientific burglar in an,
given house. At first did this merel,
for practice, and with no view to al
actual attempt. He would tell me of
house of which he knew well all tin
particulars and order me to ascertain
all about that house and its inmates
their coming and going, the number q
their servants, whether they slept i,
the basement OF not, and other detail
necessary to be known before burg
larry could be safely attempted. Thel
he would compare my information wit
his own facts and compliment or blam
me, as / might deserve. He was
strict master. but always kind, just, an,
courteous, as became a highly polishe,
! kGHlieHlhu III Iie oit SGiibat. IIt Na
one of the last men who habituall
wore hessians.
After years probation ] aecompa
MED him on several expeditions, an
had the happiness to believe that | VA
of some little use to him. l shot hit
eventually in the stomach, mistakin
him for the master of the house int
which we were breaking II had mislai
my dark lanternl. and hc died on til
grand piano. His dying wish was tina
his compliments might be convene
to me.
now set up OH my own account an
engaged his poor old clerk, who nearl
broke his heart ut his late masters +,
neral. Stoneleigh left no family. Hi
money~-about El2, 900, invested for tn
most part in American railways
left to tho Society for Providing Nor
Bishops, and his ledgers, daybook'
memoranda, and papers generally h
bequeathed to me.