Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-04-17
THE STORIES
OF THE
THREE BURGLARS.
BY FRANK R. STOCKTON.
COPYRIGHT, 1889.
ICONTINUED.

tCoPYRIGHT, 1881
CONTINUED.
s1 should like very much to know,
said the former. what you intend to do
in regard to us. It can not be that 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 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
a piece of very bad luck.
s'That," said l, lis a matter which
will receive all the consideration it
needs"
At this moment David announced the
milknan. Counseling my man to keep
strict guard over the prisoners, / went
out to the road, stopped the milkman
and gave him a message which | 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 | returned to the house | 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 the least like sleep and
there was a subject on which they
wished to consult with me in the dining
room.
ssNow." said Aunt Martha, when the
door had been closed. these men have
freely told us their stories: whether
they are entirely true or not must, of
course, be matter of opinion, but they
have laid their cases before us and we
should not place them all in tAe hands
of the officers of the law without giving
them due consideration and arriving at
a decision which shall be satisfactory
to ourselves.
every WELL" said |, 'let us take them
in order. Whatdo you think of the tall
mans case?'
Il think he is a thief and manufact-
urpr of falsehoods,' said my wife,
promptly
81 am afraid" said Aunt Martha.
ssthat 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 its bed in the
house which he had unintentionally
robbed. | felt that there must be good
poin.s in that mans nature. What do
YOU think of him?" she said to me.
Il think he is the worst of the lot" I
answered, land as there are how two
votes against him he must go to the
lookup. And now what do you think
of the stout fellow" / asked.
so. he is burglar by his own confess
sion.'' said my wife; there can be no
doubt of that
Il am afraid you are right, said Aunt
Martha.
Il know she is said 1; 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, l
would consider it positively wicked to
send him into court in company with
those other men. Consider the position
in which he would be placed before the
world. Consider his young wife"
81 can no. say said my wife, THAT
am inclined TO believe all parts OF his
story"
II suppose said l, laughing. that
you particularly refer to the invisible
dog-snake."
s.I'm not so sure about all that" she
answered. ''Since the labors of the
Psyche researches began we have heard
of a great many strange things, but 1t Is
evident that he IS a young man of edu-
cation and culture and in all probable
ity journalist or literary man. L do
not think he should be sent to the lock-
up with common criminals"