The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-11

forms the electrodes of a battery for
which the electric light plant of Bank
vile furnishes the power. BY pressing
the putton under my finger l can-Ah,
would your
While Leonard was explaining, the
ropber crouched for spring, but be-
iore he could launch himself he fell TO
the floor like one sInitten with epilepsy.
Leonard was beside him in a moment.
Get up, he said, coolly. You're not
killed The voltage of that shock was
very much less than would be required
TO eiectrocute man with your vitality.
I'm sorry l had to give you an object
lesson, but you see now what you have
10 fear if you don't do as I tell you
You're about the FUNNIEST customer
ever l struck" said the man. getting
cautiously upon hs feet. I.'Wot er We
goin' to do with a cove?'
That depends entirely upon your be-
havior. For reasons which you wouldn't
understand it has become necessary for
me to know personally a gentleman of
your profession. If you will be tracta-
bic and quiet and tell me what 1 want
to know, propose to entertain you as
my guest for q day or two, after which
you may go your way without reference
to your object in coming here tonight"
An wot if I kick on all that?"
| Y gu Will be shocked first and turned
over to the police afterward. But YOU
VIII be reasonable, I'm sure. This house
! is simply a deathtrap for anyone who
| doesn't know it. You couldn't get out
of it alive in broad daylight without
my help or a pair of wings It's getting
| late; which will you do?''
''Oh, I'll come off de perch, f course.
1 amt no blooming buffer wen it
comes to de show down.
Il thought you'd be sensible Now
| give me YOUR weapons, and We'll go
| upstairs"
what seemed still more SINGULAR, no
tools. Leonard marveled greatly there
by. but his guest explained:
Il was jist gittin' de lay f de land, d
we see? No use bringin' de whole ma
chine shop. f der wasn't goin' to be no
| chance ter use it."
But do you usually go unarmed?
course we does" replied the bur-
glar. with fine irony. us coves amt
no bloody sluggers; wot we wants is de
swag-see? ?"
Leonard promptly made a note of the
first fact in his diagnosis, and sent
Helen the fourth and last signal.
Now then, Mr.. -" Bits" said
the burglar-"Mr. Bits, come with me.
and Wen take a few notes tonight, if
you don't mind
Leonard led the way to his study and
wheeled out an easy chair for the bur-
glar. sit down and make yourself
comfortable he said DO you
smoker"
Mr.. Bits admitted the fact. and
Leonard passed the cigar stand and
settled himself at his writing table.
Then and there began an inquest into
criminal methods and motives the like
of which no court room has ever wit
messed, and through it all the burglar
reclined lazily in the easy chair, smok-
ing contentedly and talking as freely
as any investigator, however curious,
could wish.
For an hour Leonard's pen kept even
pace with his queries; but after that
the talk became less investigative on
the part of the host, and slightly more
inquisitive on that of the guest.
An an unlettered craftsman OF the
guild feIonious, knowing less than
nothing of things literary, Bits was
naturally curious to acquaint himself
somewhat with the doingS of the
strange world into which he had Stun
bled; and his ignorance was so naive
that Leonard, enthusiastic TO the lips
on the subject of his calling, was at
some pains to explain his work, its
methods, it's difficulties and its achieve
mentS.
1t was positively refreshing to pour
such a stream of information into
perfectly vacuous mind, with the as
surance that il could never find its way
out again. and Leonard, warming 10 his
work, went into details with the mi
nuteness which his auditors powers of
COMPREHENSION seemed to demand.
Bits listened as a dull man might,
with apparent interest when he could
understand, and with respectful atten-
ton when the matter grew abstruse,
but his questions were, always fruitful,
and Leonard encouraged them as CIV
ing him a still deeper insight into the
character of the type burglariouS.
Hence, what with acute enthusiasm
on one hand, and patient, If somewhat
ungrasping, attention on the other, the
hall clock sounded 1 before Leonard re-
allied that what he desired to accom-
plish needed not to be wrought out in
single sitting. Wherefore he arose and
made amends.
by Jovei That's 1 o'clock. l owe
you an apology for keeping you up so
late, though I presume in your pro-
fession you're used to bad hours. Come !
with me and I'll show you where you !
are to sleep"
He led Bits to a bedroom al the end /
of the corridor touching electric pushes
for additional light as he went along.
You'll find everything comfortable |
and coy, 1 think. Mr.. Bits; you see, |
we've been expecting you for several
days Make yourself quite at home. and |
consider yourself for the time being d |
member of the family. Only don't try |
to get away 1 sha'n't lock the door, !
and, as you see. the windows are pro-
tected only by fly screens but l assure |
you you could never get out of here /
alive without my help. Good night.
Touch this button when you want to /
put out the lights.
The guest said Good night" and /
Leonard thought he surprised the
simulacrum of satirical grin on the
mans face as he closed the door
minute later he was giving Helen a
circumstantial account of what had be-
fallen.
1T worked like a charm from begin
ming to end he concluded, with par
donable pride mo bitches. no danger,