The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-10
TRYING AN EXPERIMENT.
A Plan That Did Not Succeed Well wit
the Burglar He Captured.

A Plan That Did Not Succeed Well with
the Burglar He Captured.
Zero weather and bad night to be cut;
but physicians life is ruled by duty
rather than pleasure anyway. Besides, l
have only few blocks to go. 1t is an hour
past midnight and the streets are practi-
cally deserted. On the corner back there |
passed solitary policeman standing in che
angle of a doorway, which afforded little
protection from the cutting wind. He gave
me a single sharp glance as the bright
moonlight fell full upon my face and i'm
mediately resumed his attempt to keep the
blood circulating by kicking against the
stone doorstep and wrapping his arms
about his chest with vigorous snap.
Suddenly, a full block ahead, a human
figure skulls across the sidewalk and dis
appears down an alley. What could that
fellow want at such an hour and on such a
night? He's upon no honest mission, I'll
be bound. Burglary, probably. Perhaps
robbery. But who could he rob?-the
streets are empty. HIM! Not quite-I
must pass that alley myself. Well, If l
am the game he's hunting he'll have to
earn what he gets My revolver is in my
pocket and l haven't forgotten my pistol
practice.
l reach the alley crossing. An uncouth,
shambling figure moves noiselessly out of
the shadow and glides toward me with
arm appraised. A second later he is gazing
down the mUzzle of my Smith 81 Wesson-
GOOD evening-or, rather, good morn
ing" remark quietly.
He makes no reply, but shakes as If with
the ague.
'It is too cold for you to be out dressed
as you are now" | continue; you'll freeze
to death. / would not be doing my duty
if l failed to give you place where you
could be properly protected. Come on, I'll
take you where you'll be warm enough for
the rest of the night"
'|Boss, I never whines when I am
pinched, an knows a sure thing when
sees it. Pm wild you. Dis amt de fust
time I've made play an failed; Pm ready
TO take my medicine like er man. The
Bridewell will lay over walkin de streets
such nights as this anyway"
/ have long had certain peculiar notions
concerning the reforming of prisoners.
Here is a chance to test them. The pris-
oner is mine; why not experiment on himf
A block down the street the red light of
an all night restaurant holds out promise
VI lcdSU. luc pfcCpy pIOpiICJOI
of the place is startled by our entrance,
the revolver giving the invasion decidedly
warlike appearance.
''Sit down therep exclaimed, pointing
to seat at small table, and then to the
reStaurateur:
Bring this man whatever he wants to
eat"
"Well, you are a thoroughbred an no
mistake" audibly commented my prisoner.
NOW, then, while we are thawing out
want to explain to you that you can't af-
ford to continue such performances as
these. A few minutes ago you were closer
to death than you ever will be again until
you meet it. Had you made another inju-
dicious movement, taken one more step,
tried to use that sandbag, you would have
been in the morgue now. Luck is against
you? What of it? An hour Of i'll luck Is
worth several years in the cemetery or the
penitentiary Brace up. The world is
against you because you are against the
world. You make your life what it is
You are poor, wretched, miserable, half
starved, poorly clad, friendless, an outcast
and an outlaw. Quit Help yourself and
others will help you. Here's my mite now.
I'll settle the bill for your oyster stew, and
here's dollar to get you warm bed to-
night and breakfast in the morning.
Now, if you've finished your meal, gov'
Bless me, how time fiesl Here I've sat
in brown study ever since that fellow
thanked me, with tears in his eyes, and
went away half hour ago. Poor devil,
/ hope he has already turned his face To-
ward better and brighter future And
now for home. 1t must be very late; let's
see. What's this2 Ny watch gonei My
$3.50 chronometer gonel By George. and
my pocketbook tool He evidently began
to help himself without losing any time.
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