The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-02-26

miration for the highwayman. Next to
the highwayman came the burglar don't
know but he was an equal favorite in my
Imagination. For years | left the doors
unlocked and windows open, hoping a bur
glar would call, but for reasons unknown
to me my house was avoided.
A few weeks ago | was left to keep
bachelors hall while the rest of the family
paid visit in the country One night at
midnight, as I peacefully slept in my bed,
something happened to arouse me. 1t took
me minute or two to discover what that
something was, but | made no mistake.
A man stood over me with cooked re-
volver held close to my head, and as he
saw that was awake he growled:
'Now, then, wants to talk to yer. If
yer go to raisin any row yer'll git bullet
plumb through yer head"
"Who are you?n I asked.
eyer kin call me most any name
"And what do you want here?"
"I'm after the swag"
"Then you must he a burgar?'
EUR sure"
So my burglar had come at last | sat
up in bed to get good look at him, and
after one glance felt sick at heart. The
burglar of my imagination had always
looked the gentleman. This fellow was
low browed, common looking man who
hadn't been shaved for week even il he
had washed his face or comhed his hair
during that period. He not only looked
common, but he looked low minded and
tricky. I had always given a burglar
credit for wearing good clothes, but this
man had on cheap suit, and it was badly
worn in spots. I was disappointed and
disguised, and he saw was.
care you sure that you are burglar"
Iqueried.
"Of course I am. Haven't bin arrested
five or six times and served two different
sentences fur burglary?'
"That may be, but had different idea
Of the fraternity. You are not an intelli
gent looking man. You wear very shabby
clothes. You can't speak ten words with
out making slip in your grammar. BE
candid with me. Aren't you chap who
got in here by mistake? Wasn't it your
plan to rob the clothes line or steal some
thing from the wood shed?"
"What yer givin me, ole MANI he en-
claimed as he tapped me on the head with
the muzzle of his pistol. Cater I gifts
through with yer yer'll think Pm a burglar
fast huff. Git over a&in the wall! Now,
then, if yer move a finger I'll bore yer!'
One side of my bed stood against the
wall and moved over at his bidding. My
clothing hung Oh a chair at the foot OF the
bed. and he laid down his pistol and picked
up the garments in succession and searched
them. From my trousers he took a roll of
money amounting to about 10, from my
vest gold watch, from the breast pocket
of my coat some papers Of no value to him.
and after a glance he returned them. On
the dresser was my diamond scar!pin, and
when he had placed that with the other
plumber, said:
l have always believed that men were
driven to burglary through poverty or mis-
fortune or unjust treatment. How was it
in your case?"
q went into the bizness because |
wanted sunthin dead easy" y" replied,
with solemn wink of his lott Eye.
"And doesn't hurgl' 5 conscience
trouble him now and them
81 never heard If it did If the purleece
lets US alone our conscrnces are all right.
Where's the rest of the stuff, ole MANI"
care you asking if have any thing else
of value you can carry ciT?"
cur sure! This is no haul. There isn't
'nuff money in this to pay me fur wallin
half a mile
at will figure up close to $500, and it
seems to me that is pretty fair pay for an
hours work.
"Shet up Now, then, Git outer bed. "
"What for?"
"l'm @oin to tie yer fast while | ransacks
eie SIiH' w mere the vile ana Cnllure0E
"Out in the country"
That's good. III hey the crib all to
meself Put on Yer trousers Now sit
down.
He placed the chair against the radiator,
and as sat down he whipped sheet off
the bed, tore it in strips and tied me to
both chair and radiator He was nervous
and alarmed all the time but attempted to
hide it by buster. finally told him that
he ought to be ashamed Of such nerve and
was rewarded by a cuff on the ear which
kept my head ringing for five minutes.
When he had secured me to his satisfaction
he looked me over and said:
I'm goin down into the kitchen fur
sunthin to eat and if yer try any tricks on
me it'll be the wuss fur yer"
''lt is no use to 20 down." l replied.
"There has been nothing to eat in the house
slice the folks went away week AGO"