Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-02-18
VAN BIBBER'S WAGER.

Mr. Van Bibber and the other men of
his particular set were grouped around
The club window after luncheon, or
breakfast, as it happened to be, when
Van Bibber said he thought seriously of
entering upon career Of crime. Van
Bibber was given to making disturbing
statements of this sort, which required
one to think, even if one did not reply
10 them, and the other men rather
wished he would not.
For instance" said young Van Bib
Der, 81 went to dance last night, and
the room where you were to put your
hat was filled with old silver, little bits
IF it-snuff boxes and spectacle cases
and bonb0n boxes and buckles and
girdles. The chap had made a collec
ton Of them and had them ali lying
around loose. / had good mind to fill
my oyercoat with half of 'em, and then
/ thought it would be much more fun to
ell every other mans pocket, and wait
and see the row, but some one came IN,
and | couldn't do it. Now, there are
these teas and receptions and days and
all that sort of thing that women go to.
Why shouldn't | start out some after
noon and sweep the places bare, and
rnelt the silver down and get rich? [
might become a sort of Jack the Rip
per- or Louis the Litter, I'll bet," eX
claimed Van Bibber, becoming more in
terested in his idea, ''that l can go out
this afternoon and bring back more
shan $500 worth OF silver and bric-a
5rac, and I'll do it, too. if any of you
have any sporting blood" There was
no question as to the men having sport
ing blood, They jumped at the chance.
Van Bihber found not the least diff
culry in dividing up his wager among
them ALL
But wait" said Travers; chow do
we know that Van Bibber won't fix it
with the people of the house? Even if
his friends did see him handling the brio
a-brac or even if he put fork down his
They'd think he was joking. Or he may
3et them into it beforehand"
We'll, l must say [ appreciate your
confidence" groWled Van Bibber; 'lll
play fair, Of course, and I'l tell you
what I'll do; to make sure, III only 90
10 houses where they don't know ne,
and I'll bring back spoons marked with
the peoples initials"
This reclSlessness delighted his friends
Y on are sport, Van Bibber," they
cried with admiration, ''and you II re in
5ail before O'Clock"
The servant brought them a society
paper that made feature of printing the
announcement OF coming social events,
and Van Bibber carefully selected the
names of five estimable ladies who were
giving receptions that afternoon, and
who were making desperate fight to
get into society, as the proper people to
rob. At 4 he ordered a hanson, put
his list inside his hat, placed a fresh
~etbry in his coat, and started
smiingIy forth on his career of crime.
His friends watched him from the
window with keen delight and with
much excitement.
S'Now, then" said Travers promptly
and decidedly, "the thing for us to do is
70 send detective after him and have
him arrested"
Exactly" said the rest.
Mr.. Van Bibber aGghted first at
very handsome brown stone house. just
a few doors off the avenue on Forty
ahird Street. There was an awning
over the door, and line of carriages on
either side of the street. The name of
the lady who was paying for this he dis
covered by referring to his slip, to be
Mobiles. The man saw him through the
door and opened it, saying, Third floor,
front"
Mr.. Van Bibber pushed his way
through the crowd of women and girls
and old men and pots Of chrysanthe-
NUNS, and threw his oyercoat in q cor
ner, There was no one in the room,
and Mr. Van Bibber, while adjusting his
.erayat. cast q wandering eye over the
dressing table. 1t was Uttered with sill
yer toilet articles. He picked some of
these up and bit them, in a most pro-
fessional manner. Plated" he re-
marked. with some disgust; lady
probably gets her silver of a caterer.
Hardly worth while to try down stairs.
Guess I'll move on to next place"
He picked up his oYercoat and hat
again, and went out without having
gazed upon Mrs. Mobiles. The next
place was on the avenue itself and was
very crowded. Van Bibber pushed his
way slowly up stairs to the second floor,
and, without a moments hesitation,
gathered up four silver photograph
frames, a complete manicure set of sill
yer, gold watch. which hung in a slip
per at the side of bed and pair of sill
yer backed hair brushes. He placed
these carefully in his overcoat, and went
down stairs in stately and dignified
manner. He avoided the first door,
where he guessed the hostess was sta
tioned, and made his way toward the
rear There was a terrible rush, and
vet lie saw no one he knew.
In the rear room there was long
sable overloaded with things to eat. He
gathered up three or four spoons, one
at a time, after examining them care
fully, and stored them away back Of g
bit of china on sideboard, then he
went back after more spoons. Nobody
paid any attention to him, and he paid
no attention to any one else. He carried
- ,,late with some salad on If in his hand
and picked at this daintily with the