Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-02-05

OF the first things that led me to suspect
him. 1t is not likely that sons of boat
builders speak SO correctly and express
themselves SO we'll"
"Of course, can not alter your opin-
ions" said Aunt Martha, ''but the story
interested me, and very much wish to
hear what that other man has to say for
himself"
every we'll" said I, ''you shall hear
1T, but must drink my tea and go back
to the prisoners"
Sand I,"said Aunt Martha, 'will take
some tea to them. They may be bad
men, but they must not suffer-
had been in the library but few
moments when Aunt Martha entered,
followed by Alice, who bore a tray con-
tanning three large cups of tea and some
biscuit.
'Now, then, said Aunt Martha to me,
'if you will unto their hands, will
give them some tea"
At these words each burglar turned
his eyes on me with quick glance l
laughed.
Hardly" said l. 81 would not be
willing to undertake the task of tying
them up again, unless, indeed, they
will consent to drink some more of my
wine"
(Which we won't do,'' said the middle
burglar, land that's fiat
'"Then they must drink this tea with
their hands tied" said Aunt Martha, in
a tone of reproachful resignation, and,
taking q cup from tho tray, she ap-
preached the stout man and held it to
his lips. AZ this act of extreme kind
ness we were all amused, even the
burglars companions smiled, and David
so far forgot himself as to burst into a
laugh, which, however, he quickly
checked. The stout burglar, however,
saw nothing to laugh at. lie drank the
tea, and never drew breath until the
cup was emptied.
81 forgot" said my aunt, as she re-
moved the cup from his lips, "to 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 l want. Now, madam,
I'll just say to you, if ever break into
room where you're sleepin' I'll see
that you don't come to no harm, even if
You sit up in bed and holler.''
THANK YOU" said Aunt Martha,
"but l hope you viii never again be
concerned in that sort of business"
He grinned. THAT depends on cir
cumstances, said he.
Aunt Martha now offered the tall man
some tea. but he thanked her very re-
spectfully and declined. The young
man also said that he did not care for
tea, but that If the maid-looking at
Alice-would give him glass of water
he would be obliged. This was the first
time he had spoken. His voice was low
grew dark, and we could see that he OBJ
jected to this service from Alice.
81 will give him the water myself"
said Aunt Martha. This she did, and I
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. L give it as he told it, emitting
some coarse and rough expressions and
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 be-
heve that I'm pious gentleman under
a cloud, for 1 know l don't look like it,
and wouldn't be likely to make out a
case"
At this the tall man looked at him very
severely.
81 don't mean to say" he continued,
'that my friend here tried any thing
like that. Every word he said was per-
fectfy true, as could personally testify
if l was called upon the stand, and what
I'm goin' to tell you is likewise solid
fact.
my father was a eracksmaR, and
hrst-rate one, too; he brought me up TO
the business, beginning when I was very
small. l don't remember 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
ieAder or tin water-spout to the side of
house.
Look here, young man. says dad,
you're maxim a 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 spopt,
and your nails would give way and they'd
break their necks? What would you
think then? And can tell you what IL
is, young man, can appear ag'in you for
doing poor work
''The timer grumbled, but he used
more nails and drove 'em tight, dad and
me standin by an looking at him. One
rainy night not long after this dad took
me out with him and we stopped in
front of this house. Now, Bobbie.'
said he, L want you to climb into that
open second-story window and then
slip downstairs and open the front door
for me; the family's at dinner"
"'How am to get up, dad?' said 1.
"'Oh, you can go up the spout, saws
hei III warrant that it will hold YOU.
I've seen to it that it was put eH good
and strong
81 tried it, and, as far as 1 can remem-
Der, 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 in that line.
after awhile 1 got too heavy to
Clint spouts and / took to the regular
business; and did well at il, too"
''Do you mean to say. asked Aunt
Martha, that you willingly and pre-
fneditatedly became thief and mid
night robber9q
That's what am, ma'am.'' said he;
81 don't make no bones about it. I'm a
number one, ,double-extra, back-springed,