Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-06-01

OF course was drcadfully tlcKleu W
,ear him speak thus, but it was not ac'
ording to my plan that he should learn
ny willingness.
I agreed to go with him, however.
We were not in the fashionable quar-
er of the city at this time. Squalor
mrrounded us, and vice stalked rampant
through the narrow streets we now
raversed.
At this hour of the night it would DO
IS much as a respectable mans life was
worth to walk these dirty streets where
,he toughest of New York's citizens were
.ongregated.
Colonel Cain evidently had hiding
,lace somewhere in this locality, 10
Tbich he retired perhaps to ponder
,yer his plans and perfect thcm In SOIL
mde. 49,
To this den he was now taking the
nan who had just saved him from Iaii-
nr into the hands of the police, in order
20 get bettor acquainted. m
I had no suspicion of foul play Inc
manner in which had made TINS man
,couaintance was against such thlhS
as arousing suspicion in his nina Win
rogard to me. and / believed things were
inst what they appeared to be on the
surface.
"Herc we are. at.
He had stopped in frcnt OF 0ulldlnS
hat seemed laden down with years-lh-
iced it was only a question OF months
when it must be condemned by the clCy
authorities and torn down.
Through sheer custom the man, before
no entered here, turned and looked up
and down the dingy, ill-smelling street
This I marked as the habitual caution
# the old thief. Used to being hunted
ike beast of prey, he never knew q
minutes peace, and yet the excitement
# ench life had it's fascination for his
]warfed and distorted mind.
held my breath as we entered the
hallway of this tenement. 1t was IN
Heed a noiSome place, and L could not
ant believe the building had as tenants a
number of Chinese. Mott street was
near at hand
He ascendCd ever so many flights Oh
narrow stairs, until | groaned over tnC
work and the difficulty of cropping one
way through inky darkness. All INA
saved me from speedy di 'astcr was tn'
fact that with one hand l had seized hol'
Of the Colonei's coat.
At last. when we could go no further
nv guide condescended to halt
we were on the top floor OF the tenc
ment with the roof almost within reacl
Of an outstretched hand.
This I saw after jingling OF keys ha
told me that my companion was Openih
door of which he possessed the ope
sesame. and then match starting INT
life was applied to a candle.
The room into which he led me was
dingy-looking place From the wal
, the plaster had fallen until half OF tn
naked laths were grinning at one as II
derision.
AS for the low ceiling, it was nevt
! puiltv of being plastered, but showe
| forth in all the hideous cOlOrs of age.
| Tn the middle was trap or scutt
secured on the inside. This could rea'
IIy be reached by means of . box tn;
I stood directly beneath it. l saw at
=, glance that it was meant to be the o4lr
lars means of escape from the re;
should his castle be assaulted III 'front.'
g When had looked around for chal
d found q relic near me, upon which
n rested my weary frame with not HUI
a snsnicion regarding its integrity.
@ Meanwhile Colonel Cain, the crack
% man, had closed and barred the 10
against all possible intrusion. :,
n This done, he seated himself upon u
< box and breathed fast. Those narrC
,e and steep stairs were certainly enoul
to Law one out, and my knees felt
10 though they would never come into sha
y again. .,,,,
or 7 could not remember worse CLIMB
nv calendar. unless it was at the Bu
re ker Hill monument.
We we're on deck now, and the I'll
lg had about come for diplomacy.
in All that had ever read or heard aDC
men of this dark profession must sta
&c me in good stead now, for had p'
to play that every man could not cal
out.
Of had determined to make out to b.
I'D rather new hand at the business,
one who, although not up to all
in tricks of the trade, was willing ID lea
In this role, any lack of the requlsl
with which your true burglar IS s.
nosed to be supplied would be forgive
re Having taken his seat on the box,
burglar lit his pipe, and then, folding
as hands around his knees, proceeded
de look me over.
aWho might you be, cOmrade,
?" meaning to be rude?" he finally said
aSeeing that you are the host it IS
fair that you should introduce your
)m first" ,,,
it "By Jove! you're right, now. Wha
ey glddy OK am to forget. I'm known
Colonel Cain, and over the water they
cav I'm the bloomin'est trump that
lat drew breath"
ey aGlad to meet you, Colonel. JoSi!
nv handle-Joe Joslyn at home"
ay We shook hands gravelY.