Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-06-03
A BURGLARS STORY.

SolN w l4Ss H-
maid, think it is time that you be-
gan to think about choosing pro-
fession."
These were ominous words. Since
left Eaton. nearly a year before, L
had spent my time very pleasantly
and very idly, and was sorry to see my
long holiday drawing to a close. My
father had hoped to have sent me to
Cambridge Cambridge was a tradi-
tion in our family but business had
been very depressed Of late, and a
sentence Of six months hard labor
had considerably straitened my poor
fathers resources.
1t was necessary-highly necessary
that I should choose a calling.
With sigh Of resignation l admitted
as much.
'If you like" said my father, "1'll
take YOU in hand and teach you my
profession, and in a few years per-
haps may take you into partnership;
but, to be candid with you, l doubt
whether it is a satisfactory calling
for an athletic young fellow like YOU"
81 don't seem to care about it par
ticularly," said L
Forgery? The bar? Cornish
wrecking?"
Father" said I, 81 should like to
be a forgeT, but write such an in
fernal hand"
"a regular E on hand" said he.
mot plastic enough for forgery, but
you could have a writing master"
81 think 1 should like to be burg
lar"
eyes," said my father, considering
the subject. "Yes, it's fine, manly
profession, but it's dangerous, it's
highly dangerous"
'Just dangerous enough to be ex-
citing, no more"
"Well," said my father, ''if you've
a distinct taste for burglary I'll see
what can be done"
Ny dear father was always prompt
with pen and ink. That evening he
wrote to his old friend, Ferdinand
Stoneleigh, a burglar of the very
highest professional standing, and in
a week 1 was duly and formally arti-
cled to him, with view to ultimate
partner ship.
had worked hard under Mr..
Stoneleigh.
Burglary is a jealous Mistress"
said he. ''She will tolerate no rivals.
She exacts the undivided devotion of
her worshippers.
And so found it. Every morning
at 10 o'clock l had to present myself
at Stoneleigh's chambers in New
Square, LincOln's Inn, and until II
assisted his cleek with the correspon-
dence. At II l had to 60 out pros
pecting with Stoneleigh, and from 2
to 4 had to devote to finding out
all particulars necessary to scien-
ti1c burglar in any given house.
At first l did this merely for prac-
tice and with no view to an actual
attempt He would send me off to a
house Of which he knew all the par
ticulars, and order me to ascertain all
about that house and its inmates
their coming and going, the number
Of their servants, whether any of
them were men, and, if so, whether
they slept in the basement or not,
and other details necessary to be
known before a burglary could be
safely attempted. Then he would
compare my information with his
own facts and compliment or blame
me, as l might deserve. He was a
strict master, but always kind, just,
and courteous as became highly
polished gentleman Of the old school
He was one Of the last men who ha-
bitually wore heSsianS.
After a years probation I accom-
panied him on several expeditions
and had the happiness to believe
that was of some little use TO him.
/ shot him eventually. in the stom-
ach, mistaking him for the master Of
q house into which we were breaking
q had mislaid my dark lantern), and
he died on the grand piano. His dy-
ing wish was that his compliments
might be conveyed to me,
now set upon my own account and
engaged his poor old clerk, who nearly
broke his heart at his late masters
funeral. Stoneleigh left no family.
His money-about $12, 900, invested
for the most part in American rail-
ways-he left to the Society for Pro-
yiding More Bishops, and his ledgers,
day books, memoranda, and papers
generally he beQueathed to me-
AS the chambers required furnish
ing, / lost no time in commencing my
professional duties. / looked through
his books for suitable house to be-
gin upon and found the following at
tractive entry:
Thurloe Square - 102. House
Medium. Occupant - John Davis
bachelor. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of
dados Age-S6. Physical peculiari-
ties-Very feeble; eccentric; drinks;
evangelical; shores Servants-Two
housemaids, one cook. Sex-All fe-
male.
Particulars of Servants - Pretty
housemaid called Rachel; Jewess
Open to attentions. Goes out for
beer at p M: SHORES. Ugly house
maid called Bella; Presbyterian. Open
to attentions; shores. Elderly cook;
Primitive Methodist. Open to at