The sun., 1889-12-08

glar. suppose you tell me Why you never et~
tempted before to break into my house. Every
considerable dwelling In this neiGhborhood
has been entered. and have no doubt you are
the men who committed all the burRlaries."
mo, sir" said he. not men. am the man
who did EN- all. but these two friends Of mine
was never with me before in bit OF business
like this 'Taint In their line. / have had pals
with me.but they was professionals These
Amt crack ksmen they don't know nothin' about
IT, but this one is handy at tools and that's the
reason 1 brung him along. but you zee he
kicked and was Roin' to give me away and
this young gentleman"
Never mind about that young gentleman"
said II have o certain curiosity to know why
my house was not entered whom the others
were"
we'll" said he, / don't mind tellin' yer how
that was II was on account OF your baby. We
don't like to crack house whore there's o
pretty small baby that's liable to wake up and
howl any minute. and rouse mp the rest Of the
family. There's no workin' in house with
comfort when there's such q young one about
I'll tell you what II is. all your burglar elarms
and your dogs aint worth nuthin' alongside Of
O baby for guardin' q house. II q oracksman
amt careful the alarms will 20 of. and II he
don't know how to manage dogs the dogs will
bark. But by George, sir. there Amt no pro-
vidin' agln baby. He'll howl any time. and
nobody can tell whom, 10 l waited till your
baby was little more settled in its ways and
slept soundly. and then We come along. and
here We are."
This statement very much surprised me, and
did not elate me. Without saying 30 to any
one. had fattered myself that the burglars
had heard OF my precautions, and Of my excel-
lent stock OF firearms, and perhaps had got
notion that would be an intrepid man to deal
with, and It was somewhat humiliating to flnd
that It was our baby the burglars were afraid
Of and not myself. My wife was amazed.
Can It be possible" che said, that these
people know so much about our baby. and that
George William has been protecting this
house."
1T makes my flesh creep" said Aunt Martha.
"Do you know everything about all Of us2"
wish did. ms'am." said the stout burglar;
wish I'd known about that besstly LIQUOR"
well. we've had enough OF this" said /. ris-
ing. and. my DEAR you and Aunt Martha must
be ready to 60 to bed. and David and I will
keep guard over these fellows until morning."
At this instant the youngest burglar spoke.
His face wore q very anxious expression.
May ask. sir" he said. what you intend
to do with me In the morning2"
II have already said."I answered, that
shall then hand over all OF you to the officers OF
justice OF this country"
But, sir" said the young man. you will
surely except me- / am not az all concerned in
this matter, and It would be OF the greatest
possible injury to me to be mixed up in It. orto
be mentioned In public reports as an associate
OF q criminal. I'm not acquainted with the
gentleman at the other end Of the bench. but
have every reason TO believe from what he said
to me that he intended to notify you II this
James Barlow proceeded to any open act For
myself. beg you will allow me to state who
and what am, and to tell you by what strange
concatenation Of circumstances happen to
find myself in my present position-one which
l assure you causes me the greatest embarass-
ment and anxiety"
We've had enough story telling for ono
night" said I. "and you had better reserve
your statement for the magistrate
Here Aunt Martha put In her voice.
That's not fair" she said :" two OF them have
been allowed to speak. and this ono has Just
as much right to be heard AS the others. What
do you say. Cornelia1"
ITO be continuedJ