The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-11

the Offices in a month-besides the risk. l
tell you, when you steal anything from a
railroad man you have to get up pretty
early in the morning"
"What sort of houses do you find most
proftable?" I asked, pushing a chair to-
wards him with my foot.
well, what you call poor people make
the best suckers" responded the burglar,
sitting down easily and crossing one leg
over the other. CHATS why I came here
tonight"
Charmed, I'm sure,' said 1.
"Yes," continued the burglar, your real
rich people keep some Il in the house
Whenever they are away, and you couldn't
get in when they are at home. What makes
me- mad is that every now and then these
follows that the rich guys leave in the
houses for safe keeping steal a lot of truck
inc prizes the front door open and does all
sorts of things, and lays it all on us fell
lows; and we never get a cent the benefit of
it," This in a grleved and injured tone.
"Of course, the real poor, ON the other
hand. never have anything to take; but
what is worse ia that even if they did they
never have a spare room. And you can't
rob u house properly unless you have a
spare room in case OF emergency. Some
times the man with a good situation down
town is given to buying lots of jewelry, and
pretty good at that. Well, of course, we
know them and know their wives. We go
uOWu tOWH anu up bOWH Hlu Hi diOuuu
town, and we get to knew all about these
things; II then we find out where they
live. They always have flats, unless they
have so many children no ono will rent flats
to them; but if they have that, of course
they don't get much money to spend on
shine" This with a reflective tone again.
Lots and lots of people 90 out of Town in
the summer. Time was when ne one but
bankers and the like went to the country
lakes for the hot season. But now any one
can go. OF course, they leave the house
empty, for they have no one to leave with
it. n when they have been gone three or
four days we find it out by the circulars
house by themselves, or by the milkman
that goes away without serving them every
morning. And then when we have & chance
We go through their places. They never
leave any money. Generally need all thai
and more, too, to make a good show at the
lakes. And they never leave any jewelry,
either. Need that sometimes to raise money
to get home on. But they always have TIA
bleware that is good, and it isn't very hard
to carry.
"The best furs ] ever took in my life was
the sets of married WON en- in what you call
common circumstances. How they ever got
them is more than | know, but mebby thew
was the daughters of rich fathers that mar
rled handsome young fellows. Handsome
young fellows that marries rich girls always
have to wait such an awful time till they
get their money" He sat there looking
around respectfully, and I wondered ia
what class he had concluded to locate me.
you never get much money in what YOU
call a rich mans house. He always has q
safe at the Office or the store and he puts in
there whatever he has. If he wants to pay
a bill or buy anything he gives a check. SO
he don't carry anything. Young LAWYERS,
if you hit them right, are the best people
for cash. But generally they are hot sports
and when they do start home with a roll
they are liable to get into a game some
where and drop it all. I have seen a man
leave his Office with $500 in a wad and when
| looked through his pants at l O'Clock
there wouldn't be a thing but three white
chips and a bunch of toothpicks, So. Won
see, you never can tell"
How did you come to get at this work."
l asked presently, for he had ceased speak
ing and seemed prospecting again,
"Oh, just because it was SO easy." he
said. Anybody can steal if he acts hon
est. It's keeping from getting caught that
troubles a fellow. But when il man works
every day III a certain place he can always
stand off the officers, even if they do pinch
HIM"
But do you work, now?" I asked d little
surprised.
'Oh. yes. I ha We to be on duty at eight
in the morning."
"Where?"
"On the north side. Well" and he rose
with that "l-must-go' expression We all
know so we'll.
My wife had been n "rich mans daueh-
ter and | trembled for her jewelry. For
all know he had it in his pockets now,
ANA the sweat came out on my face as |
'nought OF my watch, lying carelessly out