Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-04
THREE BURGLARS.
BY FRANK r. STOCKTON.
tCoPYc:GHT, 1881

in regard to US. 1t can not be tina t you
think of placing that young gentleman
and myself in the hands of the law.
OF course, this man. pointing to the
stout burglar, "can not expect any thing
but a just punishment of his crimes,
but after what we have told you you
must certainly be convinced that our
connection with the affair is entirely
blameless and should be considered as
u piece of very bad luck"
That" said !, is a matter which
will receive all the consideration it
needs"
At this moment David announced the
milllnan. Counseling my man to keep
strict guard over the prisoners, l went
out to the road, stopped the milkman
and gave him u message which l was
certain would insure the prompt arrival
at my house of sufficient force to take
safe charge of the burglars. Excited
with the importance of the commission
the milkman whipped up his horse and
dashed away.
When l returned to the house l be-
sought my wife and Aunt Martha to go
TO bed, that they might yet get some
hours of sleep, but both refused. They
did not feel in tho least like sleep and
there was subject on which they
wished to consult with me in the dining
room.
Now said Aunt Martha, when tho
door had been closed, "those men have
freely told us their stories; whether
they are entirely true or not must, of
course, be a matter OF opinion, but they
have laid their cases before us and We
should not place them all in the hands
of the officers of tho law without giving
them duo consideration and arriving at
a decision which shall be satisfactory
to ourselves"
Every we'll" said I, ''lc1rs take them
in order. What do YOU think of tho tall
mans casc?"
II think he is Il thief and manufact-
urer of falsehoods,' said my wife,
promptly.
81 am afraid" said Aunt Martha.
that he is not altogether innocent. but
there is one thing greatly in his favor,
when he told of the feelings which over
came him when he saw that little child
sleeping peacefully in it's bed in the
house which he had Internationally
robbed. felt that there must be good
points in that mans nature. What do
you think of him?" she said to me.
Il think he is the worst of the lot" l
votes against him he must go to the
lookup. And now what do you think
of tho stout fellow?' l asked.
80. he is burglar by his own confess
SION said my wife; ''thcro can be no
doubt of that
~ am afraid you are right" said Aunt
Martha.
Il know she is said /; land James
Barlow. or whatever his name may be,
shall be delivered to the constable.
'.Of course, there can be no difference
of opinion in regard to the young man"
said Aunt Martha, quickly. Both the
others admitted that he had nothing to
do with this affair except as journalist,
and although do not think he ought
| to get his realistic ideas in that way, |
| would consider it positively wicked to
send Linn into court i'll company with
| those other mon. Consider the position
in which he would be placed before the
world. Consider his young wife"
Il can not say" said my wife. 'that l
am inclined to believe all parts OF his
story"
Il suppose" said l, laughing, that
YOU particularly rctcr 10 Ine lnFlSlole
| dog-snalSc."
I'm not so sure about all that" she
| answered. Since the labors OF the
| Psyche researches began we have heard
| Of great many strange things but it is
evident that he is u young man OF edu-
ca ton and culture and in all probable
ity a journalist or literary man. do
not think he should be sent to the lock-
up with common criminals"
| ''There!" cried Aunt Martha, 1.-TWO in
| his favor. He must be released. It's 4
poor rule that does not work both ways
| 7 stood for a few moments undecided.
If left to myself I would have sent the
trio to the county town, where, if any
one of them could prove his innocence
he could do so before the constitutional