Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-24

Copyrighted lsea,

Copyrighted. lsesl
PART L
Twas reading law In Squire oldnoys ONCE that
summer (said the JUDGE and on taking his family
to Saratoga he got me to 60 out and occupy his
house nights, as protection against tramps and
burglara
was preposterous young prig In those days
and sense Of the importance Of the trust Get me
up peg In my self-eeteem. very little danger
from housebreakers was apprehended by ANYBODY,
/ suppose, except old Phebe the cook; she was
to remain and 1t was chiefly to quiet hsr feminine
nerves with the sweet consciousness Of - man In
the house that was made use Of Our relative
positions might well have been reversed. nor she
was creature Of quite formidable proportions.
while was about as stout a. . clothespfn,-
couldn't have weighed much over hundred; and
in any serious, Homeric conflict. yUu would haFe
said she was the goddess to cast her 0gis over se
But magnifled my mission talking freely about
1t among my acquaintance and Dragging Of whatI
would do in case Of an attack. The Oidboys had
sometimes gone on for q week or two n summer,
leaving their house without any occupant what
ever relying for its safety on the simple fact that
q wicked world did not know Of its exposed condi-
ton; and here was advertising openly and idiot
cally o first-class suburban residence TO be
robbed!
OF course, one of the smart things did was to
procure revolver; considered no heroic equip
ment complete without that bit Of soolishness.
"But you wouldn't really plug . man, would
you? said Horatfo Bland, one Of the young TEL
lows to whom I showed my @x-shooter, and
boosted Of the blood would shed with It II had
q chance.
had at that time, remember, q mustache in
its first downy softness which wis watching the
development OF with vast sOlicitude; and fancy
Lat tH1n
be cruelty saTdonic, as answered On, Wouldn't,
had always regarded Horatio as a rather fast
young fellow; and, am free to confess, that
%nSer q the
an @ a. ns ssous o. o
take OF the situation. He looked af the weapon
thOughtfully moment, thep quietly lad az
the squire's office at the tme), and remarked,
al don't think I should like to shoot 4 man,
take human lileadla you ever think Of IT, Jm'
course . the hs naked idea of SiiSs man isn't 50
what can be expecss whoever hAps to rid 90.
nifty, sis public benefactor."
"1hen there's another side the question" says
Horat1o while you are shooting the burglar,
there's the chance of his shooting you! There are
generally two or three OF them they are practiced
shots, which you are not; and when 1t comes TO
fast as You cam and 10 or 20 times as Straight at
the vital parts. Particularly in the dark. It's al
ways in the dark, you KNOW" he went on, looking
afraid he might notice that turned slightly pale.
''They have eyes like cats, and ears-why!" says
he, "their senses are rendered so abnormaly acute
by the sort of life they lead, that you can't make
the least movement the faintest noise, but they
seem to know instinctively just where you are,
you are s as fp S d holes ,ss
significant headshake, ITO tath ABOUT shooting
But we don't often hear OF snes shooting any
"No; WHY" says Horatio "They go for plum
der, not for the fun OF slaughter1ng fnonensive
people Let them alone and they'll let you alone:
let's them alone, or merely makes noise enough TO
brighten them away without exposing himself
But, while they perfer to do their work In quiet
and gentlemanly manner, they go prepared for the
worst; and II shooting Is on the program,
This kind OF talk from reckless young fellow
about town, didn't have bracfng effect on my
courage; and found myself growing nervous at
the prospect OF long and lonely nights In the great
empty house. should have thought little OF any
danger, II it hadn't been for the revolver Instead
OF giving me confidence, 1t became source OF APP
prehension. almost wished had never thought
was bound to sleep with it under my pillow, and
make use Of 1t, II necessary. With all my selfcon-
an In ss ss
meant to convince him.
However, when he suggested that I ought to
mtted that it would be agreeable for the sake OF
the company, II not necessary for further safety.
And when he said he wouldn't mind going out
there himself once In while, IL not expected to
do any of the shooting felt truly obliged to him.
The Oldboys house was at Percy Park, about
two miles from our Office In the city; and used
to walk out every evening, and back every morn
cup pot Of coffee. After Eoratio had once shared
my 6ed ana my Dreakdss ne nse eerS oeS vn we
without more solicitation. II he didn't go when
l did, he came later; he was a fellow Of many en-
gagements, some Of which kept him until near
midnight. He was provided with night-key, SO
that he might enter at any hour without disturb
ing old Phebe in her part Of the house, or me in
late hours, he sometimes slept abOminably late in
the morning: then / would return to town alone,
leaving him to follow at his leisure
He had managed TO md the soft side OF old
Phebe's heart, and never heard complaint from
her because she had to keep his breakfast wait
ing. She thought him such delightful young
some misg1vings as to the view the old Squire
might take OF these liberties, enjoyed In his alb
ventured to cross his threshold when he was at
home was becoming greatly attached to him,
he was always SO friendly and confidential telling
me about his little scrapes. which should have
thought wicked in anyone else, but which appear
ed quite eXcuSable, in him; and then he made
them SO very laughable in the telling!
an hour before me. On entering our room found
him sitting by the table, leaning back in his chair
with cigar in his mouth, and bottle OF fine old
port beside him, with q half-flled glass, In the
warm lamp-light.
"Where did you get that?" asked, in some
surprise, meaning not the cigar, for he was ac-
customed to help himself to my little stock, but
the wine, which had horrible suspicion must
have came from the Oldboys cellar.
ssOh Phebe and managed to fish that out of
the closet, !" he replied, gaily. "SheS good old
soul; she'll do anything ask"
"But, good gracious, RaShe!" I exclaimed,
alarmed at the idea of his having been able to cor
rupt the faithful cook, who had been dozen years
in the fam1lys service, sthiS won't do! You've
no right to drink up the old gentlemans wine!"
"DOes he expect US to take care Of his house
That's an absurd nOtion!" says he, coOlly tipping
the bottle again. ssYOu're too soft altogether,
Jim!"
And on reflection, didn't know but was.
Since Phebe had let him have the wine, couldn't
see that was responsible for the trespaSs and SO
great had grown his aScendancy over me, that,
after q remonstrance which began high and
stormy and ended low and feeble, sat down and
took glass with him. Yes; was actually as
sisting to drink up my patrons choice old port!
This was all the more base in me, not only because
/ was betraying my trust, and partaking myself
of thing had been set to guard, but because
Squire OidbOys had befrfeDded me In ways which
made me feel that owed my present advantages
and future prospects all to him. Oh, I was an un-
considerable calf in those days!
Meanwhile, had got to think less and less
to be novelty. That night even forgot to put
it under my pillow! In fact, forgot several
things which might have remembered II It hadn't
been for the port.