Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

! steep among vie associates ana yulsar
SURROUNDINGS, ana all IOr a plIiIul Inrse
Thousand Year! by heaven, II - worIa
| tnirly!'
"Aou use strong language, sir" ex-
Claimed the youngest burglar. rising and
PACING the noor Al an asilalea way.
uo, ADMITTED the master or lae house,
because my business sense Is outraged ~
your slupiuIIy."
STUPIDITY echoed Graham sharply.
indt Is the WORD, returned Mr.. braith-
wait sterniy. Your profession requires
acutehess, courage. skIil, caution anu en-
ourance. Gentlemen, these are admira bic
traits. and with them YOU might be any
thlns but burglars. The panklng insuru-
tiols, railways, private and CIVIC corpora
luis are easer for such men; they pay
them large wages and grant them great
privileges. The governments, state and
national, want such men, and are looking
1or them, while they are skulzing through
city alleys or walking miry roads at mid
| night Gentlemen, with ali your ouali6cs-
tons, you lack the one essential to success
common sense
Permit me-" said Graham. leaning over
the table, and speaking with much force
to call your attention to the fact that we
are bright enough to keep society eternally
on the defensive"
Granted" said Mr. Braithwait
Small in numbers though we are we
necessitate the employment of a police force
in every village. town and city in the Union
to say nothing Of special constabIes and
and corporation to sink thousands in costly
safes, locks and other safeguards, and no
householder is ever free from apprehension
on our account Could We exercise this
power without brains?'
"Ay! could wer' supplemented Mont
gomery. with flashing eyes.
Granted again." said Mr.. Braithwait
cheerfully, but quite foreign to the point
at issue Society is terrorized through its
inertness, and when society enters on an
active warfare you gentlemen cannot make
show or resistance. And even under our
present policy Of passive resistance there is
put one thing that will save criminal
from the eventual clutch of the law, and
that is-death. You cannot commit a crime
without leaving a trace" went on Mr.
Braithwait impassively, 'iand every modern
appliance is a stumbling block in your path
Inc modern bank safe, equipped with time
locks, Is impregnable; the electric light has
made our streets as safe by night as day,
and the telegraph has heightened the arm
OF justice until it encircles the globe"
And yet" retorted Graham, with a slight
sneer, you have been robbed"
And yet / have been robbed" repeated
Mr.. Braithwait calmly. II cannot make
my house bank or surround myself with
an army OF watehmen. And don't like
dogs. So / have been robbed. Yet"-Mr
Braithwait looked Graham quietly In the
eye-"yet / am not entirely defenseless.
.1y hellon said Baxter, breathing hard.
Have you been up to somethin'?"
You shall judge whether 1 have, rightly
accused you of lack of common sense Re-
fore attacking this house. did you make
Yourself acquainted with the surround
ings?"
Il did," answered Graham confidently.
MANI"
Certainly
Did you notice a wire running through
the woods at the rear of my houser'
Nor cried Graham, violently.
Strange oversight on your part. Very
stupid. 1t is telephone wire, and leads
from my chamber above to my office I'm The
city; Now for the application of NV re-
marks From the moment of your entrance
L was aware OF your movements ana in
stantly explained the situation to the night
lice" WIG w
And while you kept US engaged in con-
versa cried Graham. advancing
The police were coming on a special
train to my assistance" said Mr.. Braith-
walt, taking a second cigar.
Damn you" exclaimed Baxter, threat
Stop" cried Graham. interposing. I'VE
have no time for that. Let US runr'
Don't! said the host warningly. The
house is surrounded. and you VIII certainly
You gentlemen have been nv guests this
evening. and I have been highly enter
tanned. May ! hope that the pleasure has
been r1utual?'
Before any one could answer, the door
leading to the wood shed was thrown open
and four policemen appeared on the thresh-
old Montgomery sank heipiessly into a.
chair. Baxter made a dash for the door
while Graham remained impassive, but ali
were alike handcuffed expeditiously
Sir, said Graham, taking cigar from
the box, "our misfortune is directly due to
the uncomfortable appetite Of our compan-
lon. but none the less I congratulate you
upon your ingenuity"
Thanks" said Mr.. Braithwait did /
not tell you that you were stupid?"
Mr.. Braithwait waved his hand
But there, / am sleepy" he said, with a
yawn. Gentlemen, good night: win see
you again-in court"