Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-16
ICONTINUED.l

ginning 10 turn, ana when We got near inc
house 1 mentioned noticed that there was now
no light in it. When we're about opposite
TO it father suddenly looked up and said not
speaking very loud: BY George! if that isn't
Williamson Green's house. / wasn't thinkin'
of it when we rowed up. and passed it without
taking notice of it. i am sorry for that, for L
wanted to see Williamson, and now expect he
has gone to bed
"'Who is Mr.. GreenF asked.
"'He's an old friend of mine said my
father, and haven't seen him for some little
while now. About six months ago he borrowed
of me a sextant. quadrant and chronometer.
They were instruments took from old Captain
Barney in payment of some work did for him.
wasn't usin' them, and Williamson had bought
a cat-boat and was studyidg navigation, but he
has given up that fad now and has promised
me over and over to send me back my instru-
ments, but he has never done it. If I'd thought
of it would have stopped and got 'em OF him,
but didn't think. and now l expect he has
gone to bed. However, I'll row in shore and
see; perhaps he's up yet
''You see. ma am" said the speaker to my
wife, I'm tellin' you all these particulars be-
cause am very anxious you should understand
exactly how everything happened on this night,
which was the turning point of my life."
very good" said Aunt Martha; i've want to
hear all the particulars"
well, then continued the burglar, 1--WE
pulled up to a stone wall which was at the bot
tom of Green's place and made fast, and rather
he got out and went up to the house. Alter a
good while he came back and said that he was
pretty sure Williamson Green had gone to bed,
and, as 1t wouldn't do to waken people up from
their sleep to ask them for nautical instruments
they had borrowed. he sat down for minute
on the top of the wall and then he slapped his
knee, not making much noise, though.
"'By George he said, AN idea has just struck
me. / can play the prettiest trick on William
son that ever was played on mortal man. those
instruments are all in a box locked up and L
know Just where he keeps il. saw 1t not long
ago when l went to his house to talk about
yacht he wants built. They are on table IN
the corner of MS bed room. He was taxing
me through the house to show me the improve
nents he had made, and he SAID to me: Maj
tin, there's your instruments, L won't
trouble you to take them with you. because
they're heavy, and you're not gong straight
home. but I'll bring them to you day after to-
morrow, when 1 shall be goin' your way
" Now, then said my father, the trick I'm
thinkin' of playing on Williamson Is this. I'd
like to take that box of instruments out Of his
room without his knowing it and carry them
home, having the boat here conyenieut and
then in day or two to write to him and tell
him / must have 'em, because l have a special
use for them. OF course. he'll be awfully cut
up, not having them to send back, and when
he comes down to my place to talk aboUtit,
and after hearing all he has to say, I'll show him
the box. He'll be the most dumbfoundest man
in this state. and if l don't choose to tell him
he'll never know to his dying day how got
that box. And if he lies awake at night, trying
to think how got it, 1t viii serve him right for
keeping nv property from me SO long
But. father said L, If the people have
gone to bed you can't get into the house 10
play him your trick
That can be managed says he, I'm rather
old for climbing myself, but l know way by
which you. Thomas, can get in easy enough.
At the back OF the house is a treilis
with grape vine running over 1t, and
the top Of it Is Just under one of the second
story windows. lou can climb up that trellls,
Thomas, and hft up that window sash, very
carefully, SOS not TO make no noise and get In,
then yOIIl be III the back room with door
right In front of YOU which opens into Mr..
and Mrs. Green's bed room. There's always
little night lamp burning in IL. by which you
can see to get about. In the corner. ON your
right as YOU go into the rOoIn,is a table with my
instrument box standing on 1t. The box Is
pretty heavy and there Is a handle ON top to
carry il by. You needn't be afraid to go in.
for by this time they are both sound asleep and
You can pick up the box and walk out as GIN
gerly as q cat, havIn. of course. taken your
shoes of before you went IN Then you can
hand the box out the back window to mel
can climb up high enough to reach lt-an6 you
can scuttle down and wen be Of. having the
best rig on Williamson Green that I ever heard
of in my born days
II was a very active boy. used to climbing
and all that sort OF thing, and had do doubt
that could easily get into the house. but did
not fancy my fathers scheme.
" suppose i said, shat Mr.. Williamson
Green should wake mp and see me. what coudI
say? How could 1 explain my situation?
:" You needn't say any thing. sad my
father. If he wakes up blow out the light and
scoot. II you happen to have the box IL your
hand drop IT out the back window and then
slip down after il. He won. see us. but if he
does he can not catch US before We get to the
boat; but II lac should, however. I'll have to ex-
plain the matter 10 him, and the joke will be
against me; but l shall get ny instruments,
which Is the main point, after all
Il did not argue with my father, for he was
. man who hated to be differed with; and L
agreed to help him carry out MS little Joke
We both took of our shoes and walked quietly
to the back of the house. Nv father stood
below, and climbed up the trellis under the
back window, which he pointed out. The win
dow sash was down all but little crack To let
In air. and raised 1t slowly and gently that
] made no noise. Then, without any trouble
st all, got INTO the room.
Il found myself in a mOderate-sized cham
ber into which faint light came from a door
opposite the window. Having been several
hours out III the night my eyes had become SO
accustomed 70 darkness that this light was COM
paratively strong and could see everything
Looking about me nv eyes fell on little
bedstead, on which lay one OF the most beau
tifui infants ever beheld in my life Its goI-
den hair lay in ringlets upon the pillow. It's
eyes were closed, but Us soft cheeks had in
them q rosy tinge which almost eaualed the
color of Its dainty little lips slightly opened as
il softly breathed and dreamed" At this point
I saw my wife look quickly at the bed room kew
she had in her hand. knew she was thinking
OF George William.
Il stood entranced," continued the burglar
"gazing upon this babe, for | was very fond of
children, but l remembered that must not
waste time, and stepped softly into the next
room There Deheid Mr.. and Mrs. Williamson
Green in bed, both fast asleep, the gentleman
breathing little hard. In a corner. Just where
my father told me / should find il, stood the
box upon the table.
But could not Immediately pick it up and
Depart The beautiful room in which found
myself was q revelation to me. Until that
moment had not known that had tastes and
sympathies OF a higher order than might have
been expected Of the Youthful son of m boat