Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-11-13
AN ARTIST In CRIME.
MIR. Teddy Watkins Account of the
Hammsrpond Park Burglary

JO41d
1t is moot point whether burglary
is 70 be considered rs sport, a trade or
an art. For trade, the technique is
scarcely rigid enough, and its claims to
be considered an art are vitiatcd by the
mercenary element that qualities its
triumphs. On the whole, it seems 10 bc
most justly ranked as a sport--a sport
for which no rules are at present formu-
] lated, and of which the prizes are dis
tributed in an extremely informal mpn-
per. twas this informality of burglary
/ that led to the regrettable extinction
OF two promising beginners at Hammer
pond park.
The stakes offered in this affair con-
sisted chiefly of di9monds and other
/ personal bric-a-brac belonging 10 the
! pewiy-married Lady Ayeling. Her mar
riage to Lord Avelingwas extensively All
vertised in the papers, the quantity and
quality of her wedding presents end the
fact that the honeymoon was te be spent
at Hammerpond. The announcement
OF these valuable prizes crcated u con-
siderable sensation in the small circle
in which Mr.. Teddy Watkins was the
undisputed leader, and il was decided
that, accompanied by duly qualified
assistant, he should visit the village of
! Hammerpond in his official capacity.
Being man OF naturally retiring and
modest disposition, Mr., Watkins deter
mined 20 make his VISIT incog., and after
/ due consideration of the conditions OF
his enterprise he selected the role OF
landscape artist and the unassuming
surname Of Smith. lie preceded his as
sistant who il was decided. should Join
MIN only on the last afternoon OF his
stay ut Hammerpond. Now, the village
OF Hammerpond is perhaps one of the
/ pretdiest little corners in SuuseX; mnny
ihatched houses still survive, the flint
built church with its tall spire nesting
under the down is one of the finest anil
least resorted in the county, and tho
beech woods and bracl1en iungles
through which the road runs TO ths
great house are singularly rich in ,vhnr
the vulgar artist and photographed call
bits" So that Mr. Watkins. on his
arrival with two virgin canvascs. a
brand-new easel, paint box, portman-
teau, an ingenious little ladder made IN
sections. crowhar and wire coils. found
himself welcomed with effusion and.
some curiosity by half n dozen Other
( brethren Of the brush. II rendered tho
disguise he had chosen unexpectedly
! plausible, but it. inflicted upon him n
/ considerable amount of aesthetic convcr-
sation, for which he was very imperfect
ly prepared.
Have You exhibited very MUCH ?''.
said young Person in the bar-parlor OF
/ the Coach and Horses" where Mr.. Wat
kinS was skillfully accommodating local
Information on the night OF his arrival.
every little" said Mr. Watkins; "just
snack here and there"
Academy"
I'm course. And at the Crystal pal
ace"
Did they hang you wen9" said Por-
Don't rot" said M. Watkins; .I don't
| like it,"
81 mean did they put you in a good
place."
"Whadyer mean2" said Mr.. Watkins.
suspiciously. "One 'ud think YOU were
trying to make out I'd been put away"
Forson had been brought up by aunts.
and was gentlemanly young man even
for an artist; he did not know what be-
ing ''put away" meant. but lac thought
II best to explain that he intended moth
ing OF the sort. AS the question Of hang
ing seemed n sore spot with Mr.. Wat
kins, ne tried to divert the conversation
little.
do you do fignrs work atall?"
NO, never had a head for figures"
said Mr. Watkins; "my miss - Mrs.
) Smith, mean, does all that"
"She paints. tool" said Person.
''fhat's rather jolly"
"Very," said Mr. Watkins. though he
really did not think so. and, feeling the
conversation was drifting little be-
, yond his grasp. added: ST came down
here to paint Hammerpond house by
moonlight"
"Reallyi" said Porson. @Thats rather
a novel idea"
"Yes." said Mr.. Watkins. "I thought
1t rather good notion when il occurred
TO me. expect to begin tomorrow
night"
WHAT You don't mean to paint in
the open, by night?"
~ do. though"
''But how win You see vour canvas p,
'fIavc bloomin' cops" began Mr..
Watkins, rising too quickly to the qucs-
ton. and then realizing this. bazvled TO
Miss Durgan for another glass Of beer.
I'm goin' to have a thing called dark
lantern" he said te .T'orson.
but it's about new moon now" OBJ
jected Person. There won't lie any
moon"
'There'll be the house. " said Watkins,