The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-07-09

-ewis ". Smith, in Golfers Weekly
AN ARTIST IN CRIME.
M. Teddy Watkins Account OF the
Hammerpond Park Burglary
It Is a moot point whether burglary
Il to be considered as sport, trade or
an art. For trade, the technique is
scarcely rigid enough, and its claims to
DE considered an art are vitiated ny the
<n2ercenary element that qualities It's
-txiumphs. On the whole, it seems to o.
most Justly ranked as sport-a sport
for which no rules are at present formu-
lated, and of which the prizes are dis
tributed in an extremely informal man
a.ec. 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 diamonds and other
personal bric-a-brac belonging to the
s1ewly-married Lady Aveling. Her mar
>rfage to Lord Aveling was extensively adj
~ertised in the papers, the quantity and
quality of her wedding presents and the
tact that the honeymoon was to be spent
at Hammerpond. The announcement
of these valuable prizes created con-
siderable sensation in the small circle
In which Mr.. Teddy Watkins was the
sundisputed leader, and it 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 to 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. He preceded his as
7eistant, who, it was decided, should join
him only on the last afternoon of his
stay at Hammerpond. Now, the village
of Hammerpond is perhaps one OF the
prettiest little corners in Sussex; many
-shatched houses still survive, the flint
built church with its tall spire nesting
under the down is one of the finest and
:east resorted in the county, and the
beech woods and bracken jungles
through which the road runs to tn.
great house are singularly rich in what
the vulgar artist and photographer call
bits." SO that Mr.. Watkins, on his
arrival with two virgin canvases, a
6rand-new easel, paint box, portman-
tcau, an ingenious little ladder made in
sections, crowbar and wire coils, found
himself welcomed with effusion and
some curiosity by half a dozen othe:
brethren of the brush. It rendered the
disguise he had chosen unexpectedly
plausible, but it inflicted upon him a
considerable amount of aesthetic CONVEX
1sation, for which he was very imperfect
" 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
a snack here and there"
~Academy?"
I'm course. And at the Crystal pal
ace"
~Did they hang you well?" said Por-
Don't rot" said Mr.. Watkins; II don't
like it."
Il mean did they put you in q good
place?''
"Whadyer mean?" said Mr.. Watkins,
euspiciously. Zone 'ud think you were
trying to make out I'd been put away"
Person 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 he thought
1t best to explain that he intended moth
Ing Of the sort. AS the question of hang
ing seemed sore spot with Mr.. Wat
k7ns, he tried to divert the conversation
q little.
~Do you do figure work at ALP"
@No, never had head for figures
~ad Mr.. Watkins; "my miss - Mrs.
Smith, mean, does all that"
'eShe paints, tool" said Person.
That's rather jolly
Every" said Mr.. Watkins, though he
really did not think so, and, feeling the
conversation was drifting little be-
yond his grasp, added: II came down
here to paint Hammerpond house by
Uooaiight."
~Really!" said Person. ''That's rather
- novel idea"
'<Yes," said Mr.. Watkins. II thought
& rather good notion when it occurred
to me. expect to begin tomorrow
night"
~What! You don't mean to paint in
the open, by night?"
II do, though"
But how will you see your canvass
s '@Have q bloomin' cops" began Mr..
Watkins, rising too quickly to the ques.
'<ion, and then realizing this, bawled to