Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-23

business to be attended to was out of town
this man. whose name is James Barlow, talked
to me in such a way that began to suspect
that he intended to commit a burglary, and
openly charged him with this evil purpose
You may call it burglary, or anything else you
please said he; property is very unequally
divided in this world, and it is my business IN
life to make wrong things right as far as can.
! am going to the house of q man who has
great deal more than he needs and 1 haven't
anything like much as / need; and so / in
tend to take some of his overplus-not very
much, for when / leave his house he will still
be a rich man and I'll be poor one But for a
time my family will not starve.' Argue as you
please, James Barlow said, what you are
going to do is nothing less than burglary.
'Of course it is said he. but it's all
right, all the same. There are a lot Of people,
Thomas, who are not as particular about these
things as they used to be, and there is no use
for you to seem better than your friends and
acquaintance. Now, to show there are not so
many bigots as there used to be. There's a
young man going to meesus at the station who
Is greatly interested in the study Of social
problems. He is going along with US just to
look into this sort of thing and study it. 1t is
class or do anything to make their condition
better if he does not thoroughly investigate
their methods of life and action. He's going
along just as a student, nothing more, and he
may be down on the whole thing for all know
He pays me IS for the privilege of accompany
ing me, and whether he likes it or not is his
business. want you to go along as a me-
chanic. and If your conscience won't lie. you
4 he any aho - H.
for your time James Barlow said /, 4 am
going with you. but for purpose far different
from that you desire. / shall keep BY your
side. and If can dissuade you from committing
the crime you intend shall do so, but if / fail
In this, and you deliberately break into house
for purposes Of robbery, 1 shall arouse the in
mates and Illustrate your crime Now, James
Barlow, said he. turning to the stout man with
severe expression on his strongly marked
lace, Is not what / have said perfectly true?
Dld you no: say to me every word which / have
Just repeated?'"
The stout man looked at the other in a yery
ODD way. His face seemed to broaden and red
den, and he merely closed his eyes as he
promptly answered:
That's just what said, every blasted word
OF 1t. You've told it fair and square. leayin'
of nothin' and putin in nothin'. You've told
the true facts out and out, up and down, with
out break"
Now, ladies'" continued the tall man. .you
see my story Is corroborated. and will con-
ciude II by saying that when this house, in
spite OF my protest, had been opened entered
with the others with the firm intention of step
ping into hallway or some other suitable
place and announcing in loud voice that the
mouse was about to be robbed. As soon as
found the family aroused and nv purpose ac-
complished 1 intended to depart as quickly as
possible, for, on account of the shadow cast
upon me by my fathers crime, / must never be
found even in the vicinity Of criminal action.
But as was passing through this room could
not resist the invitation of Barlow to partake
OF the refreshments which we saw upon the
table. i was faint from fatigue and insufficient
nourishment 1t seemed q very little thing to
taste drop OF wine in q mouse where 1 was
abont to confer a great benefit. / yielded to
the temptation and now 1 am punished Par
taking of even that little which did not belong to
me. find myself placed in my present emSar-
RAISING position
You are right there" said I; sit must be en-
barrassing, but before we have any more re-
nectlons there are some practical points about
which i wish you would inform me- How did
that wicked man. Mr.. Barlow think Won called
him, get into this house?"
The tall man looked at me for a moment "a
In doubt what he should say, and then his
expression of mingled hopelessness and con-
triton changed into one of earnest frank
ness.
II win tell you, sir, exactly" he said II have
no wish to conceal anything. have long
wanted to have an opportunity to inform occu-
pants Of houses, especially those in the suburbs,
OF the insufhciency of their window fastenings.
Familiar with mechanical devices as am, and
accustomed to think of such things the precau-
tions OF householders sometimes move me to
laughter Your outer doors, front and back.
are OF heavy wood, chained, locked and
bolted, often double locked and bolted.
but your lower windows are closed in
the first place by the hghtest kind of
shutters, which are very seldom fastened at
all, and In the second place by little contriv
ance connecting the two sashes which is held
In place by couple Of baby screws II these
contriyances are Of the best kind and cannot
be opened from the outside with a knife blade
or piece OF TIN the burglar puts a chisel or
JIMMY under the lower sash and gently presses
1t uPward. when the baby screws come out as
easily as II they we're babies milk teeth Not
Tor moment does the burglar trouble himself
about the front door, with its locks and chains
and bolts He goes to the window, with It's
baby screws, which might as well be left omen
as shut for all the hindrance it is to his en-
trance. and II he meddled with the door at all
1t Is simply to open it from the inside. SO that
when he is ready to depart he NAV do 40
easily"
but all that does not apply to nv uindousn
said They are not fastened that way"
mo, sir, said the man. your lower shut-
tiers are solid and strong as your doors This
Is right Tor II shutters are intended to OBJ
strong as the doors. When James Barlow first
reached this house he tried his Jimmy on one
OF the shutters in the main bulIding, but he
could not open il. The heavy bolt inside was
too strong for him Then he tried another
near by with the same result You will find
the shutters splintered at the bottom. Then
he walked TO the small addition at the back of
the house, where the kitchen is located Here
the shutters were smaller and OF course the
inside bolts were smaller. Everything in har-
mony. Builders are SO careful NOWADAYS to
have everything In harmony. When Barlov
rled his jimmy on one of these shutters the
bolt Resisted for q time. but its harmonions
proportions caused it TO bend and il was soon
drawn from Its staples and the shutter opened
and Of course the sash was opened as told
you sashes are opened"
We'll. said l, shutters and sashes Of nina
mail never be opened IN that way again"
II was with that object that SPOKE to Won
nAid the tall man. Il wish you TO understand
the faults OF your fastenings and any informa
uon can give you which will better enable
you 10 protect your house shall be glad to
give as slight repayment for the injury
may nave helped to do TO you in the way of
broken glass aud spoiled carpet have made
window fastenlngs special study, and, il you
Smpioy me Tor the purpose, I'll guarantee that
VIII put your house into a condition which
WI De absolutely burglar proof III do not
10 TINS 70 your satisfaction will not ask to be
paid a cent" ~
We will not consider that proposition now.n
said for you may have other engaeements
which would interfere with the proposed Job"