Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-11-17
HIS LAST CRIB.

l1lD l1O L. OlClD.
II amt" observed Burglar Joey
Brown as, wheeling and gasping, he
struggled through Lord Heathington'
scullery window, 81 amt as narrer as
I used to be when I fust entered the
purfession, not by long chalks. I'm
putin on flesh, that's wot I'm doin,
and it's time | left off burglin and
took pub. Lawd, but that's made me
sorter sultry!'
Burglar Joey Brown took a large red
handkerchief from one of his suspi,
oiously capacious pockets and wiped
his face with energy. He was all old
hand at the game was Joey. True, he
had been "quodded" once or twice, but
what of that? Every burglar whose soul
is in his work must expect to be 'quod-
ded" occasionally during his career
Besides these doses Of "penal" afford
time for reflection and rest.
Joey had made his way cautiously
from the news which lay at the back Of
Lord Heathington' town residence, and
when he had reached the small court
yard which separated the stables from
the main building the rest had been
easy, and here he was in the scullery.
Joey rubbed his face until it shone
like copper kettle and then returned
the handkerchief to his pocket
If this ERE exploit. said Mr.. Brown,
addressing the tubs and bowls around
him, turns up trumps and brings in
the dibs, well"-with satisfied
chuckle-"Joe Brown and burglin
will part company. Joe Brown is get
tin too fat for this kind er work. And
now, as Macbeth observes in the play,
Let us away and inspect is lordship's
:"
Joey, whose boots, it is hardly neces-
sary to explain, had been left in shady
corner Of the news, made his way
noiselessly out Of the soullery into the
kitchen and thence into the corridor.
"These footmen," said Joey, who
seemed to be perfectly acquainted with
his whereabouts, ''snore like 'ogs I
might do 'ornpipe in boots ere and
never be 'eard with that lawful row
goin on.
After looking in Oh the slumbering
footman for moment Mr.. Brown pro-
ceeded on his way and assembled to the
first floor.
They've several little articles in the
drorin room wot want to inspect, he
murmured, latter which we will pay
our custom'ry visit to the plate closet. F"
Joey made his way quietly into the
drawing room, but before annexing
Of value he deposited himself
upon divan and grew poetical
"Just to think" he murmured, tony
this one crib, and then I've done with
the purfession forever. Little pub in
the country-shady medders-cows and
sheep baain-new laid eggs and milk
there will Joe Brown spend the hautumn
Of his days-the evenin of useful ca.
reer. e will go to church, be a church
Here Joey gave vent to
most unctuous chuckle. "Just fancy,
Joey 'andin the bag! Oh, wot delights
are in store for Joe Brown when . re-
tires from business 1t won't be long
afore there's Mrs. Joseph either Wot,
oh, wot is home without mother? And
now, Joe, you must gag bit and get
to work on these ERE golden"-
Creak!
Joe sat up with start, and then, with
wonderful alacrity for a man of his
bulk, left his seat and slid behind
screen which stood near him.
Creakl
Somebody on the move" said Joe
softly. "There's door goin. He lis.
tened intently, and his quick ears soon
detected the sound of footsteps crossing
the hail. Arrived at the foot Of the
staircase, the person, whoever it was,
began to ascend, upon which the bur.
glar left his place Of concealment, crawl
ed to the door and peeped out.
els lawdship!'
Joe quickly got back to his screen
and decided to give the master Of the
house good half hour in which to get
TO bed and to sleep. "That was narrer
shave" he soliloquized. "Supposin !
admit card i'm and ED come plump
in ere and found me restin on ia
sofayl Wy, it 'ud ave meant goodby
TO the pub and 'ow ore yer?' to the
5crubbs or Portland. This ought to
leach you, joey that, like other woca-
lions, burglin is never entirely learnt.
Now, suppose we'-.
Creakl
"Some one else abaht!" was Joey's
classic utterance as he once more crawl.
ID to the door and peeped out.
There was some one else about As
Joey peeped out tall, dark man in
evening dress issued from the room fac.
ing that which was honored with Mr..
Browns presence and stood for mo.
nent examining something which glis-
;ened in the moon light, for, contrary to
Joey's expectations, the moon had dis
engaged herself from the clouds which
had previously enveloped her and was
low shedding her soft light on the
world beneath her.
Whatever the thing was that he was
the man put it quickly into
he inside pocket Of his dress coat and
hen made his way to the staircase. As
he ray which came through the fan.
n l