Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-03-20
THE STORIES
or TIE
THREE BURGLARS.
BY FRANK r. STOCKTON.
COPYRIGHT, 1891
TCONTIyUED.l


CONTINUED
hoped that my wife would put herseli
on my side, and would say that we had
had enough of this sort of thing, but fe-
male curiosity is an unknown quantity,
and she unhesitatingly replied that she
would like to hear the young mans
story. / sat down in despair. 1t was
useless to endeavor to withstand this
yearning for personal information-one
of the curses, l may say, of our present
civilization. The young man gave no
time for change of opinion, but immedi-
ately began. His voice was rich~and
rather low, and his manner exceedingly
pleasing and gentle.
81 wish to state in the first place.
said he, ''that am a reporter for the
press. In the exercise of my vocation
have frequently found myself in
peculiar and unpleasant positions, but
never before have I been in a situation
so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this.
In the course of my studies and expert
ences 1 have found that in literature
and journalism, as well as in art, one
can make true picture only of what
one has seen. Imagination is all very
well, often grand and beautiful, but
imaginative authors show US their inner
selves and not our outer world; there is
to-day demand for the real, and it is
demand which will be satisfied with
nothing but the truth. 1 have deter
mined, as far as in me lies, to endeavor
to supply this demand, and 1 have de-
voted myself to the study of Realism.
''With this end in view, have made
it rule never to describe any thing
have not personally seen and examined.
If we would thoroughly understand and
appreciate our fellow beings we must
know what they do and how they do it,
otherwise we can not give them credit
for their virtues, nor Judge them proper
" for their faults. If l could prevent
crime would annihilate it, and when
it ceased to exist the necessity for de-
scribing it would also cease. But itdoes
exist. 1t is powerful element in the
life of the human race. Being known
and acknowledged everywhere, it should |
be understood, therefore it should be de- |
scribed. The grand reality of which we
are a part can never be truly compre-
hended until we comprehend all its
parts. But 1 will not philosophize.
have devoted myself to Real
SIN, and in order to be conscientious
student L study it in all its branches.
am frequently called upon to
write accounts of burglars and burg
laries, and in order to thoroughly un-
lerstand these people and their method
Of action I determined, as soon as the
should offer itself, to ac-
company burglarious expedition. NY
sole object was the acquisition of
of the subject-knowledge
which to me would be valuable and,
nay say, essential. 1 engaged this
nan, James Barlow, to take me with
aim the first time he should have on
hand an affair of this kind, and thus it
s that you find me here tonight in this
company. As 1 came here for the pur-
pose of earnest and thorough investiga-
ion 1 will frankly admit that 1 would
lot have interfered with his processes,
1ut, at the same time, 1 would have
made it my business to see that no
injuries should result to any
members of this family"
THAT was very kind of you, " I said, at
which my wife looked at me somewhat
'eproachingly.
IF he really intended it." she re-
''and do not see why that was
lot the case, it was kind in him"
'As for me" said Aunt Martha, yerv
81 think that the study
Il Realism may be carried great deal
90 far. do not think that there is the
lightest necessity for people to know
ny thing about. burglars. If people
zeep talking and reading about diseases
hey will get them, and if they keep
alking and reading about crimes they
vii find the iniquity is catching, the
anne as some other things. Besides.
his realistic description gets to be very q
lresome. If you really want to be a d
ritter, young man, why don't you try o
our hand on some original compost a
ION? Then you might write something n
-hich would be interesting" N
"Ah, madam" said the Young man. :,
astiDg his eyes on the floor, cit would O.
3 far beyond my power to write anv a,
ling more wonderful than what l have Il
nown or seen. If may tell you some N
the things which happened to me 8
ou viii understand why have become n
that in this world of amazing h,
'alities imagination must always take /,
second place" =,
"Ot course we want to hear your ss
cry" said Aunt Martha; that's what &C.
e have been staying here for" On
''1f / am unbound, said the Young So
an, looking at me,,'I could speak nc
ore freely" an
mo doubt of It." said I; ''bus perhaps no,
u might run away before you finished vo
ur story. wouldn't have that han IS
n for the world" m,
Don't make fun Of him." said Aunt to
artha. 81 was going to ask you to WI
t him loose, but after what you say Wis
ink 1t would perhaps be just as well lie
keep tkesn ali tied until the nara SAT
res are completed Ii,
With sigh of resignation the young est
IN began his story. ma
i am American born. but my father. KIN