The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-08-25

OiACt' lSCi '|ittiiNt'
me in times of great emergency.
butted my head against the cherry tree,
smashing my silk hat, threw off my
overcoat, rolled up my trousers, cast
away my collar and cravat. and rushed
up just as the man was halfway in the
window, and said, in gruff voice:
go Wot yer doin', old hosp
He instantly came down the ladder,
feeling for his weapons in superfu-
Gus, disagreeable way that made me
wish for the moment that my plan of
action had not flashed 80 instantly
across my mind.
-" Coin to work old Crabtree, be
ye" continued. Now see year,
lemmy in wild yer on this. 1 was on
the ground bout as soon as you was.
That's just the way l talked to him,
and it had the desired effect. He put
up his pistol, grasped my hand, and we
struck bargain to rob the house to-
gether and divide the swsg equally. We
couldn't have come to an agreement
with more neatness and dispatch if we
had been practical politicians at the
opening of q campaign. It's just as l
told you about those Syracuse burglars
they're very superior class.
"We accordingly both went up the
ladder, and were soon hard at work on
the lower floor. l explained my famil-
iarity with the surroundings by saying
that had done a little job there two
years before. 1t made my blood boil
to see him doubt the genuiness OF some
Of my best solid silverware; and when
the scoundrel dragged out a bottle of
acid and actually showed me that it was
plated, l was Disguised with him; but
we got together good deal Of plumber,
Notwithstanding. Just you lay low
now while l 60 upstairs and git the old
mans leather and ticker said to him.
"You'll wake up the old duffer, won't
you?' he said, anxiously. Not much
l answered. you don't know what a
sleeper he is. He defended me once,
and was asleep in court from start to
finish, which is why l got two years.
l went up, and in few minutes came
back with my watch and pocketbook
and told him that was snoring like a
fog horn. He recognized my ability as
a burglar, and grasping my hand warm
ly, proposed that we always work to-
gether in the future.
"We had now made a pretty clean
sweep Of the house, and he suggested
that it was time for us 10 bundle up our
booty in the table cloth and be going,
as some of the police were early risers,
and we might get pinched. This
seemed prudent view of the situation,
and consented. But if you think l
had any intention of letting that fellow
get away, you are not acquainted with
my character. He stood no more show
than did the man l collected the bill
from to-day. There was small closet
at one end of the dining room which
had escaped his attention. We had got
the bundle half tied up, and he was Wig
orously growing about the quality Of
the silverware, when | pointed out the
closet and suggested its swag-contain-
ing possibilities. He instantly went
over and stepped inside. as promptly
closed and locked the door. Then l
went into the library, got a sheet of
paper, and wrote this on IL for the ben
eft of the servant girl in the morning:
"NoTICE-Enclosed find one Il, burglar.
Don't disturb. CRABTREE.
then closed the window, turned
ont the gas, brought in my overcoat
from the lawn, and went upstairs to
| bed. l was tired, and in five minutes
was sleeping soundly.
Having been up 80 late the night
| before, l, of course, did not waken
very early in the morning, and the en-
tire family was stirring before was.
| When Mrs. Crabtree got down she
found the breakfast served, but the
closet was undisturbed, our dining
room girl being young person of ex-
treme good sense. On the girls call
ing her attention to it, Mrs. Crabtree
read the note on the door, simply re-
marking, Very well, do not disturb it.
Mrs. Crabtree, gentlemen, is a lady
who seldom gets excited. The chill.
dren, of course, with the natural curios
ity of youth, asked some questions, but
their mother merely said to them
Your father has got burglar locked
up in there. 1t doesn't interest us.
AS l remarked, Mrs. Crabtree is Q
woman of rare self possession and ex
traordinary common sense. She saiG
afterwards that it was amusing to hear
our little girl, aged four, shout through
the keyhole: Hello, Mr.. Burglar!' and
Did papa lock you up because you
were naughty?'
"About nine O'Clock l arose an(
went down to breakfast. When tn,
burglar heard my voice in the dining
room he made some uncomplimentar,
observations from the other side of thu
door, but l paid no attention to him
l related the occurrences of the nigh
before to Mrs. Crabtree, and afte
| breakfast went into the library AM