The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-12-25

the Purchaser.
glass Q, ~ ave ab0lt 81 rUu On s.nd - you
sppea. - IL clever 81. .. fellow.
i g.ve y5l : c4aDcc . wr.te ~ q BIT ii m.
wr:;@a history ~ light name !, D4n.el
. Elaac-ry. 81 nave MANY a'it>e- afugD~
Which Is b .a.;y d n. p" .,o.', % lit, details
bul vii ,e.l you Tia, va. -; aiyav. bod l.
ny .o-oger dsy. itd i Atfr,v home ana 3
ces- Oh mo,heF, Woe ptiac l KS. but the
1en.0a.. Rum got me - L. i0ii- .u5 !eH Then
came gaming aud bal company / met win .
c4.Alng Ittie Frenchm4n a-a he e. ne On.
step BY step, Until j,jue1 with u.m ~ 4 b4ua
robbery. He was Caught AMI became
an ol'cast, for :car the p,.c: had
spotted Updcr he c4refU training
Of the little Frenc4man had become an expert
as a ock-picker, and, with ant ..ar:ng ne in
the face, made venture on my oan IL, = as a
burglar, vas success.u., ana n .me became
known as one of the mos, daring and expert
bank and house breakers III the country.
bat am spinning Ou, too long stO-y. You
read accounts every day oi noted burglars and
their raids On some bank or private residence, 30
Perhaps that portion ot my LIES history which
was the immediate cause Of my quitting the bust
ness Will be Of more interest To yoq: had gone
10 New Orleans with the intention Of making
some big hau!s, and had spotted The houses that |
knew il would pay 70 work. was going il
alone on that trip, though knew every dive in
the city and could nave gotten any number Of
good men 70 work with me, but hai become
tired Of pals and % did not make myself known
10 any 81 he BOYS There was one particular
house " INCH had determined u work first |,
was AL od-iine French mansion and occupied
only BY old gentleman aud his Young wife. |
EIen tia ii was itch nest 20 haul for had
io9n1 Al e&cl-e 10 O. in-id" BY daylight. and SIZE
= II. Tie night upon which h4i fixed 10 en-
~ iIls ol- MANSION WAS well timed, Tor there
~. gFa11 bail a. The >. Charles Hotel tina,
evening, and knew that the old gentleman and
wife were going. huag around anil they en-
'cre a carriage ana drove off Then slipped in 10
The back yard and down through neglected
wooden trap door into the cellar T,u see | had
spotted the weak point and knew Just where 10
go to find the easiest way in. With a small dark
lantern in hand readily found my wav to the
upper floor. The frs. room | entered was the
most elegantly furnished that had ever seen in
all my travels, and III the same time the best ar
ranged Tor comfort. One peculiar little arranpc
ment Immediately attracted my attention, for
had never before seen anything Ike it, Instead
OF a rug IN front OF the fire place there was an
elegant tufted plush cushion, made 10 fit all
around the projection Of The chi,nucv. II was
not fastened down, 6ut coull be removed 10
have the dust whipped out every day, If needed.
This little arrangement for cOnf0r; 50 .ickled
my fancy that determined ii | ever owned a
home 10 have one | was 50 pleased that had
almost forgotten my GRAND, bu, soon recalled it
and turned 10 look for Doodle Upon small
but elegant dressing Case there stood an open
jewel casket filled with gems of the first water.
Ihey really represented a fair sZ ID fortune, and
as gazed upon them | felt that had indeed
struck ii rich. closed the C iskct and sliDoel il
into muslin bag that had brou yht along for
the purpose. and then Cast my eyes around the
room 10 search OF more wealth. To one side OF
the room was an alcOve, curtained off with rich
plush hanglngs. drew the curtains aside and
there beheld a most peculiar bedstead Ii was
made of solid mahogany, with four corner posts
and "A canopy top, richly curtained But the
peculiar part about il was that instead of having
legs, rs most bedsteads do, it was a solid mahog-
ony box, reaching down to the floor, and all
around its base was handsome plush cushion
What was that cushion used for? It flashed
through my mind, like an inspiration, that il
was intended to kneel upon when at PRAYER.
The very thought OF prayer brought up vision
Of my dear old mother, who had died heart
broken-my wicked ways had killed her. l
grew rs cold as an iceberg. Ny limbs tottered.
1t seemed to me that my mother was standing
there pleading with me to lead better life.
Almost unconsciously drew the jewel casket
out OF my bag Walked over to the dressing
case and replaced 1t, just as near like it stood
when came in as possible. l then crept out of
the house, and have not taken that which be-
longed 10 another since that night. tried 10
work, but had never learned to do any honest
labor, and that which could do was too much
for my strength, 50 became a professional
tramp-as you see me to-day"
Night was rapidly coming on as the Flo
RIDIAN reporter shook the old mans dirty hand
and offered to provide him with comfortable
lodging, but he refused. and said he was going
10 tramp toward jacksonville. And he moved
OF In the gathering darkness-but bic story re-
anaiaa