Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-30

ALICE BORE A TRAY CONTAINING THREE CUPS OF
TEA.
Now. then" said Aunt Martha to me, "if
you will unite their hands 1 will give them
some tea
At these words each burglar turned his eyes
on me with quick glance. l laughed.
Hardly" said i. Il would not be willing to
undertake the task of tying them up again, I'M
less, indeed. they will consent to drink some
more of my wine."
Which we won't do" said the middle burg
lar, ''and that's fat"
Then they must drink this tea with their
hands tied" said Aunt Martha in a tone of re-
proachful resignation, and, taking cup from
the tray, she approached the stout man and
held it TO his lips. At this act of extreme kind
ness we were all amused, even the burglar 8
companions smiled, and David so far forgot
himself as to burst into a laugh, which, how
ever. he quickly checked. The stout burglar,
however, saw nothing to laugh at. He drank
the tea. and never drew breath until the cup
was emptied.
Il forgot" said my aunt, as she removed the
cup from his lips, Ito ask you whether you
took much or little sugar."
Don't make no difference to me-" answered
the man; tea isn't malt liquor; it's poor stuff
any way. and it doesn't matter to me whether
it's got sugar In it or not, but it's moistenin',
and that's what 1 want Now, madam. I'll just
say to you. If ever break into a room where
you're sleepin' I'll see that you don't come to
no harm. even il you sit up in bed and holler. "
Thank you" said Aunt Martha; "but hope
you will never again be concerned in that sort
of business"
He grinned 'That depends on circum-
Stances, said he.
Aunt Martha now offered the tall man some
tea, but he thanked her very respectfully and
declined. The young man also said that he
did not care for tea, but that If the maid
looking at Ahce-would give him a glass OF
water he would be obliged. This was the frs,
time he had spoken. His voice was low and oil
pleasing tone. David's face grew dark and
we could see that he objected to this service
from Alice.
Il will give him the water myself" said
Aunt Martha. This she did, and noticed that
the mans thirst was very soon satisfied. When
David had been refreshed and biscuits refused
by the burglars. who could not very well eat
them with their hands tied, we all sat down
and the stout man began his story. / give il
he told it, emitting some coarse and rough
expressions and a good deal of slang, which
would be unintelligible to the general reader.
There's no use" said the burglar. for me
to try and make any of you believe that I'm a
piOus gentleman under a cloud, for l know
don't look like 1t and wouldn't be likely to
make out a case"
At this the tall man looked at him very Sc
verely.
Il don't mean 10 say" he continued" that
my friend here tried any thing like that. Every
word he said was perfectly true as | could per-
sonally testify If / was called upon the stand
aud what I'm going to tell you Is likewise solid
fact
My father was a cracksman. and a irst-rate
one, too: he brought me up TO the business
beginning when was very small. don't re-
member havin' any mother, so I'll leave her
out. My old man was very particular; he liked
to see things done right. One day was with
him and we saw timer mailing new leader
or tin water spout to the side of . house.
Look here, young man, said dad, you're
maxim pretty poor job of that. You don't
put In enough nails, and they amt half drove
in. SuppOsin' there was fire in that house
some night and the family had TO come down
by the spout, and your nails would give wsy
and they'd break their necks. What would yoT
think then? And 1 can tell you what it is
young man, can appear ag in you for doing
poor work.
'.The timer grumbled, but he used more
nails and drove EN- tight, dad and me standin
by, an looking at him. One rainy night moi
long after this dad took me out with HIM anC
we stopped in front Of this house Now, Bob
bic said he, Il want you to climb into tha
open secOnd-story window, and then slip down
stairs and open the front door for me; ths
family's at dinner"
.'.How am to get up. dad?' said /.
"'Oh, you can go up the spout, SAYS he; IT
warrant that it will hold you. I've seen to i
that it was put on good and strong
Il tried II, and as far / can remember
never went up a safer spout"
"And you opened the front door?'' asked
Aunt Martha
Indeed did. ma'am." said the burglar
'.you wouldn't catch me maxim no mistakes il
that line.
After q while got too heavy to climl
spouts. and took TO the regular business, anC
did well at 1t, too.
DO you mean TO say" asked Aunt Martha
that you willingly and premeditatedly BEGAN,
Q thief and midnight robberI'
That's what am, ma am, said he; II dom
make no bones about II. I'm a number one
double-eXtra, back-springed. copper-fasteneC
burglar, with all the attachments and noiseles
treadie. That's what 1 am, and no mistake
There's ali kinds of businesses in this world
and there's got to be people to work at ever
one OF EN-, and when a felloy takes any partic
slar line his business isto do IL well, that's M
motto. when break into a house make il
Doint TO clean 1t out trst-elass and not to carr,
Away no trash, nuther. or course I've lad IA,
cps aud downs like other people--preacheri
aud doctors and store keepers They all hay,
4em, asd guess the downs are more AMMAN
Man the ups, at least to outsiders I've ins
happened 10 think OF one of them, and mi Ie
Sou have il.
There was a man knew named Jerry Ham
nond, that was a contractor, and sometina,
he had pretty big jobs on hand. buiIdin, ~
goad maxim or somethin' or other. He'd con
tract to do anything, would Jerry, no matte
whether he ever doue IL before or not. i 90
10 know his times and seasons for coIIectin,
money, and laid for him"
''Abominable meanessr' exclaimed INV wife
'Its all business" said the stout man. omit,
unabashed- You don't catch Q doctor re
tssaa' 10 practice on friend og G isxysz