The Van Buren press., 1895-01-19
THE BLESSED BURGLARS
ny GEORGE A. wEsrLEY.

Bob suddenly, Us Dicky and he sat on
the piazza together, was committed
when was a boy OF twelve"
"Whatl You committed burglary
you, Uncle Bob2" cried Dicky in dis
may. "Oh, that was an awful thing
TO dor
Mot such very awful thing the
way we did It," said Uncle Bob, calm
ly. "Listen and I will tell you
about 1t.
Teddy Gordon, my school chum. was
the swiftest runner in Pokeville. One
Fourth Of July he captured no less
than fifty dollars In prizes. Next
morning met him coming down the
road.
"Hello, Teddy" said 1. decided
what to do with your money yet?"
YES" he replied, I'm going into
the burglar business.
Tied Gordon, have you clean gone
out of your senses? What on earth do
you mean?"
Exactly what | say" replied Ted,
calmly. I've got my eye on an easy
house to begin on. and look here, Bob,
I'm going to take you into partner
ship"
"Well, not II know It," said l, my
eyes opening wide with amazement at
Ted's GOODNESS
"In the FIRST place it's dead wrong,
and In the second it's very dangerous"
"Oh, l guess you will Join me in this
enterprise all right" responded Ted
with a smile. "Now listen"
Looking cautiously about to see that
there was no chance Of being over
heard, Ted unfolded his plan.
"Why, it's splendid schemew broke
out presently. "Of course I'll Join you.
And look here, Ted, the old lady hasn't
got any bulldog or anything, and
don't believe she even locks her door
nights. Come nlo ng now, and let us
get together Dur things.
And arm in arm we strolled down
the street, maturing our plans as we
| went
Miss Judith Brown, or "Aunt judy"
as she was often called, lived in
somewhat dilapidated little cottage
about half mile down the road. Tho
poor old lady had recently fallen upon
evil times. The hundred-dollar income
with which she had for years managed
to keep body and soul together was
suddenly cut down to one-half that
amount. And to make matters worse
her eyes began to fail her, so that she
could no longer add to her small In
come by her sewing and fancy work.
So, altogether, matters were looking
about as black and gloomy as they well
could.
The carpet III her little sitting-room
was very threadbare, the chairs old
nnd rickety, and as for the table, 1t
could scarcely support the few cracked
dishes her frugal meal required her to
put upon it,
Occasionally Aunt Judy had lady
visitor, and then with what mortifca-
ton the poor woman was compelled to
set before her caller chipped cups and
saucers, and to warn her not to bear
too heavily on the chair upon which
she was sitting, only q few OF her &C
quaintances knew.
"Tilly," she said one evening to the
little colored girl she kept more for
company than anything else. "Tilly,
tomorrow when you 60 down to the
grocer's, sec II he won't give you an
other soap-box.' We must save the
chairs for our callers"
This evening after the Fourth she
was feeling very down-hearted indeed.
1t looked as though she would have to
openly appeal to charity, and this she
had never been driven to before. 1t
was 80 hard to do 1t, 80 hard.
A little after eight she and Tilly re-
tired to their chamber up under the
caves, and soon they were fast asleep.
About ten o'clock when all was dark
and still, wagon drove up, and turn
ing out from the road stopped on the
other side Of Aunt Judy's back yard
fence. Here 1t lay completely hidden
both from the house and from the
street.
Three minutes later Ted and
poked our heads above the boards, and
seeing that no one had been disturbed
we climbed lightly over and crcpt up
to the back door. AS we expected, it
was only on the latch, for if there was
anything that Aunt Judy had no oc-
casion to fear, 1t was the midnight
thief Once inside the house, we drew
down the blinds and lighted our bulls
eye lantern. The old cat looked up at
us in surprise from the kitchen hearth,