The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-01-31
Tue BURGLARS STORY.

When I became Is years of age my
fathers a distinguished begging-letter
impostor, said to me: Reginald, 1
think it is time that you began to think
about choosing profession.
These were ominous words. Since /
left Eaton, nearly year before, had
spent my tine 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 a tradition in
our family, but business had been very
depressed of late, and a sentence of six
months hard labor had considerably
straitened my poor fathers re-
sources.
1t was necessary--highly necessary
that / should choose a calling. With q
sigh of resignation admitted as much.
"If Won like" said my father, Il will
take you in hand and teach you my pro-
fession, and in a few years, perhaps, L
may take you into partnership; but, to
be candid with you, l doubt Whether it
is satisfactory calling for an athletic
young fellow like you"
al don't seem to care about it partic-
ularly," said l.
I'm glad to hear it, said my father;
sits 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 well for refuge
an old age, but young fellow is likely
to make but poor hand at it, Now, L
should like to consult your own tastes
on SO important matter as the choice
ofa profession. What do you say 4?
The army?"
mo, didn't care for the army"
Forgery? The barr Cornish
wrecking?"
Father" said 1, Il should like to be
forger, but L write such an Internal
hand"
"a regular Elton hand" said he.
Not plastic enough for forgery; but
you could have writing master"
Its as much as / can do to forge my
own name. 1 don't believe L should
ever be able to forge anybody else's."
'Anybody's else, you should say,
not anybody else's.' It's a dreadful
barbarism. Eton English
"No," said /, 81 should never make
fortune at it. AS to wrecking-why,
you huOW how beuSlCk Il am.
"Yoh might get over that. Besides,
you would deal with wrecks ashore, not
wrecks at sea"
"Most of it done in small boats, I'm
told. A deal of small boat work. No,
i won't be wrecker. L think / should
like to be burglar.
"Yes," said my father, considering
the subject. Eyes, it's fine, manly
profession, but it's dangerous-highly
dangerous"
Just dangerous enough to be excit-
ing, no more"
"Wen," said my father, eff you've
distinct taste for burglary, I'll see what
can be DONE"
Ny drar father was always prompt
with pen and ink. That evening he
wrote to his old friend Ferdinand Stone
leigh, burglar of the very highest
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 jealous MISTRESS said
he. "She will tolerate no rivals. She
exacts the undivided devotion of her
worshipers.
And SO L found it, Every morning
at 10 o'clock had to present myself at
Stoneleighs chambers in New square,
Lincoln's Inn. and until II L assisted
his clerk with the correspondence. AT
IL had to go out prospecting with
Stoneleigh, and from 2 to 4 L had to
devote to finding out all particulars
necessary to scientific burglar in any
given house. At first did this merely
for practice, and with no view to an
actual attempt. He would tell me of a
house of which he knew well all the
particulars and order me to ascertain
all about that house and its inmates
their coming and going, the number OF
their servants, whether they slept in
the basement or not, and other details
necessary to be known before q burg
larry could be safely attempted. Then
he would compare my information with
his own facts and compliment or blame
me, as 1 might deserve. He was 9
strict master, but always kind, just, and
courteous, as became highly polished
gentleman of the old school. He wa.
one of the last men who habitually
wore hessians.
After a years probation accompa
MED him on several expeditions, an6
had the happiness to believe that was
Of some little use to him. L shot hin
eventually in the stomach, mistaken,
him for the master of the house int