The southern argus. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kan.) 1891-1???, 1891-10-15
The LEISURE BURGLAR.

| The LEISURE BURGLAR.
ILL" said the warden, perhaps
!. pr wouId like to see our Mr.. Forrest"
\ FMr Forrestp" ! inquired.
INV. ves," he said in surprise.
HIVE YOU never heard Of our Mr..
I'LL? Mop Why" he continued,
Enc bis hands together exultingly.
@ man the likes Of which | wager
d III not find in another prison in
tss states" m
op,ond Of him! Proud Of him! Well.
' I'm NAV believe it. Alb. | tell
ls ~ r. he Is none Of your common
vsaa-r.dsysort Of scamps. No. indeed.
aa v. hi He Is gentleman, every inch
Y, siGm, But you would like TO see
pla l.ciert.iuly," answered. "if he be
!. Interesting as you would make
'u' %Aud more 50. SIR ! assure you" he
..;d enthusiastically.
''1 ~Whsrs DO you keep himP" I in
guired. o,.,, u I'LL ,;hroru
and GOOD man he is there, too"
And sjeading The way he brought me
~ the door leading to the library.
P,using moment, he leaned over to
me and said:
"Sir, if you can, you must get him
10 tell you Of his last piece Of work.
Avery artistic thing it was. and bold,
too He's in for five years"
And he opened the door. Sitting at
sabe reading some paper was very
pleasant, alfable-looking gentleman.
When say gentleman, | mean that
hcould not possibly be taken for any
Thing else His looks, his bearing,
lhe courtly manner in which he rose to
4 erect us as we entered. and the CHEEKY
emile with which tie recognized our in
reduction stamped him at once as one
born gentleman; and that he was
! well educated and possessed of an in
slsct far above mediocrity was APP
parent before / left.
IREarden leaving q moment later
basad to his duties. we spoke casual
EM several topics. avoiding any
mention Of the fact that he there as a
prisoner, and wondering how he ever
came to commit the crimes-for had
found that mis- last crime was not his
lEl one. but that all his life he had
been burglar, and had, until the
present. tune, successfully cluded the
search and vigilance Of the officers
which had brought him into his pres
Flt position. and given him the unen-
Fable reputation he enjoyed; for, when
last I did bring myself to the point
ld somewhat timidly preached tht
Ipic. his interest heightened, and, IN
lead of appearing downcast anc
ne rather bristled some
nat with pride. and found no diff
Elty in inducing him to give me |
etailed account Of the piece Of worl
/ which he was caught. He said:
Il had abstained from anv work for
yer half year, owing mostly to the
nerous duties imposed upon me By
pciety; but my desire increased until
could restrain it no longer, and one
Iight on a sudden impulse / set out,
kking with me but few tools, which
[carred in my pocket. 1t was early
Fery early, not later than 10 o'clock,
Fhlle operations are usually most sue
ssSfully conducted between 3 and 4 or
However. did not have the pa
slce to wait, but Immediately began
lNklng about for some house whose
appearance was prcpossessing. BY
ASO had found my house and fixed
aOn my way Of ingress, which was to
Eat q window facing south near the
pound. waited impatiently for the
tople TO retire, which they did slow
Finally the only person still up
man, evidently the man Of the
s slse who was smoking a cigar and
mSlls paper. | stationed myself
aHee aud waited, looking at my
s~sl from time to time. and uttering
mm N on the man for keeping
Z, ing IN the cold; it was near win
spopad. I'M" i'm a''9a'' NJ
tipc " saw that the man was get
j b. fb a'eP! and finally, with a yawn.
nDsr g aFay his cigar. laid down his
q MT ' !. 'aa taking lis lamp with him.
ssiiou another room. Changing my
) IL M, saw the light reappear On
u c, III ade, he having. to the best Of
bin;sulatlon, passed through room
fran 'Ae room where he first was,
AGoh.n mat into his bedroom. Soon
~ mi went out, aud, waiting about
NJ I nO0r for him to get drowsy,
Il ona ~ ~ trouble with the window,
an FSr ). II lightly crawied into the
Ere II, Nslt ahead Of me | saw a
sa u 'ne itsht of which saw that
hciDo e inlIe recess used for the
a@Oyeeag y movers, which had now been
ss h II Az It was yet much too
alr Nh ?;esln work, sat down on u
n Raitadu iound conveniently near
w Far ea' The room was comfort |
: laE and 4 NE fire giving a CHEEKY
9draxaa,l soon found myself grow
host Ill remembering the cigars
sSs, and das smoking, | went 10 the
j sabor a " ny delight found there
4 sFuprjafsoodin e IT which Immediately
Il y aoo d'sa. Ihcy proved 70 III 4
smoke ana contentedly |