Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-03-20
THE STORIES
or THU
THREE BURGLARS.
By FRANK r. STOCKTON,
LCC?YEIGUT. 1cS9.
ICOSTINTFD.


~ don't think this man suffered for
wan OF education said nv wife: he
used very good language: that was one
Of the first things that led me 70 suspect
him. 1t i not likely that sons Of boat
builders speak SO correctly ana express
themselves so we'll"
'.Of course. I can not alter Your opin-
lens SAID Aunt Martha, but the story
interested me. and ! very much wish -
hear what that other man has - say for
himself
Very we'll" said I, Won shall hear
it. but l must drink my tea and 90 back
to the prisoners"
And I."said Aunt Martha will take
some tea 70 them They may be bad
men. but they must not suffer-
l had been in the library but q few
moments when Aunt Martha entered.
followed by Alice. who bore tray con-
tanning three large cups of tea and some
biscuit.
Nov. then. said Aunt Martha TO No.
s-if YOU viii unite their hands, ! Will
give them some tea"
a. these words each burglar turned
his eyes on me with quick glance. !
laughed.
willing TO undertake the task OF tying
them up again, Mess, indeed, they
will consent 20 drink some more of my
wine"
(which we won't do" said the middle
burglar. "and that's fiat
Then they must drink this saa with
their hands tied" said Aunt Martha. in
a tone OF reproachful resignation, and.
- Ln
preached the stout man and held it u
his lips. At This act of extreme kind
ness we were all amused. even the
burglars companions smiled, and David
so far forgot himself "a 70 burst into
laugh, which. however, he quickly
checked. The stout burglar. however.
saw nothing 70 laugh at. He drank she
tea. and never drew breath until the
cup was emptied.
4 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 70 me-
answered the man. Tea isn't malt
LIQUOR: its poor stuff any way. and il
doesn't matter to me whether its got
sugar in 1t or not. but its noistcnin',
I'll lust say TO you. if ever break into
a room where you're slccpin' I'll see
that you don't come % no harm, even If
YOU sit p IN bed and holler.
Thank YOU" said Aunt Martha,
..brt hope You viii never again be
concerned in that sort of business"
He cri2ncd. .'Ttat depends on cir
cumstanccs." said he
to rod NJ n -
some tea. but he thanked her very re-
s9ectfuIly and declined. The young
man also said that he did not care for
tea. but that if the maid-looking at
AEce-wouid give him glass 90 water
he would be obliged. This was the first
time he had spoken. His voice was low
and of pleasing tone. David~ face
graw dark. and we could see that he oo-
i4ctcd 10 this service from Alice
Il will give him the water myself.
said Aunt Martha. This she did, ana l
noticed that the mans thirst was very
soon satisfied When David had been
refreshed and biscuits refused by ,he
burglars. who could not very well eat
them with their hands tied. We all sat
dovn. ard the stout man began his
story. ! give it as he told II, emitting
= Good deal of slang which would be
urintellirible to the general reader
There's no use" said the burglar
for me 10 try and make any OF you be-
lieve that I'm 4 pious gentleman under
2 cloud. for l know l don't look ike It.
and wouldn't be likely to make out
case" ,.
Atthis the tall man looked at him very
severely.
Il don't mean 70 say" he continued,
...tbat nv friend here tried any thing
like that. Every word he said was per
fectly true. as could personally TESTIFY
if was called upon the stand, and what
I'm goin' to tell you is likewise solid
fact
My father was a craftsman ana d
'firSt-rate one too: he brought me up 10
the business. beginning when was very
small. / don't remember haVln. any
mother. so I'll leave her out. My ola
man was very particular, he liked to see
things done right. One day L was with
him and We saw q timer mailing new