Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-03-15
THE BURGLARS STORY.

When l became is years of age my
father, a distinguished begging-letter i'm
postor, said to me: Reginald, l think it
is time that you began to think about
choosing profession"
There were ominous words. Since left
Eaton, nearly year before, | had spent
my time very pleasantly and very idly, and
I was sorry to see my long holiday draw
Ing to close. Ny father had hoped to
have sent me to Cambridge Cambridge
was tradition in our family, but 5usi-
ness had been very depressed of late, and
sentence Of six months hard labor had
considerably straitened my poor fathers
resources.
1t was necessary-highly necessary
that l should choose Il calling. with
sigh of resignation admitted as much.
eff you like" said my father, 81 will
take you in hand and teach you my pro-
fession, and in few years, perhaps, l
may take You into partnership; but, to De
candid with you, doubt whether it is
satisfactory calling for an athletic young
fellow like you"
"I don't seem to care about it particu
larly," said /.
"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 well for a refuge in
old age, but young fellow is likely to
make but poor hand at it. Now should
like to consult your own tastes oil SO inn
portant matter rs the choice of profess
sion. What do You say? The army?"
'tNo, don't care for the army"
"Forgery? The bar? Cornish wreck
ing?"
Father" said 1, 'I should like to be
forger, but write such an internal
hand" ... rt... .. ....
ga regular Eaton hand" said he. "Not
plastic enough for forgery; but You could
have writing master" .-..
"It's rs much rs | can do to forge my
own name. l don't believe l should ever
be able to forge anybody slse's."
"'Anybody's else,' you should say, not
anybody elso's.' It's dreadful barbar-
ism. Eaton English"
"No," said /, 81 should never make a
fortune at it. As to wreciing-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, I'm
told. A deal of small boat work. No, L
won't be wreckcr. l think should like
TO be n burglar" F
EYES," said my father, considering the
subject. "Yes, it's a fine, manly profess
sion, but it's dangerous-highiy danger
ous."
"Just dangerous enough to be exciting,
no more"
"Well," said my father, elf you've a
distinct taste for burglary, I'll see what
can be done" ,.... .... -"
Ny dear father was always prompt with
pen and ink. That evening he wrote to
his old friend Ferdinand Stoneleigh, a
burglar Of the very highest professional
standing, and in 4 week | was duly and
formally articlcd to him, with view to
ultimate partnership.
l had to work hard under Mr.. Stone
leigh. Burglary is jealous mistress" :"
said he. "She will tolerate no rivals.
She exacts tho undivided devotion Of her
worshipers."
And so found it. Every morning at
Stoneleigh's chambers ia New square,
Lincoln's Inn, and until II assisted his
clerk with the correspondence. AT II |
had to 60 out prospecting with Stone
leigh, and from to Il had to devote to
finding out all particulars necessary to a
scientific burglar in any given house. At
first [ did this merely fol practice, and
with no view to an actual attempt. lie
would tell me of house of which he
knew well all the particulars, and order
me to ascertain all about the house and its
iImates-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 a
burglary could be safely attempted. Then
he would compare my Information with
his own facts and compliment or blame
me, as might deserve. lie was strict
master, but always kind, just and courte-
Gus, as became highly polished gentle
man of the old school. He WAS one Of the
last men who habitually wore hessians.
After years probation 1 accompanied
him OIL several expeditions, and had the
happiness to believe that was Of some
little use to him. / shot imieyentualiy
in the stomach, mistaking him for the
master OF the house into which we were
breaking Il had mislaid my dark lantern),
and lie. died on the grand piano. His dy-
ing wish was that lfis compliments might
bs conveyed to me. -'.h'-' go s'' j
now set up OH my own account and
engaged his. poor old clerk, who nearly
broke his heart at his. late masters fu-
neral. Stoneleigh left no family. His
money-sbout $4,000, invested for the
most part in American railways-he left
to the Society for Providing More Bisii-
ops, and his ledgers, dsybooks, memo
randa and papers generally he bequeathed
to me. - t.llat.. 4. 90 olgi 1es5 IS I7 sllg i.
As the chambers required furnishing,I
lost mo time in commencing my profess
sioual duties. Hooked through the books
for a suitable house to begin upon, and