Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-08-04
TRUTHFULBURGLAR.

Several burglarIes have occurred in the
vicinity.
I Night before last I was awakened
about o'clock by a noise made by a
clicking door, and opening my eyes.
saw a smooth-faeed. determlned-loOk-
ing man az the bedside. did not cry
out nor hide under the bed clothes nor
do any Of the conventional things that
one does when a burglar comes 10 him.
/ looked az him calmly for a mo-
ment. and then said. How dedo7"
An expression Of surprise passed over
his intelligent features. but be said
mechanically. Pretty well thank you.
And your"
"Oh. I'm as well a. could be expected
under the circumstances. Are you the
burglar who has been doing this VII
lager
Il am" said he. drawing up a chair
and sitting down.
why don't you deny IT," asked. I
wasn't afraid Tie amused me. this
nonchalant burglar
Wei. because I'm not ashamed Of
my profession for one reason. and
mainly because I was brought up by
my father to tell the truth
"Yoo ten the truth and yei you are
burglar How can you reconcile
those facts3'
They are not irrec0uc.lablo." said
be taking a corn cob pipe ont Of bis
pocket and filling IL. Il am a burglar
and my father was one before me. but
De wss a perfectly honorable man. lie
never Ned and never De. ] steal be-
cause that is my profession. bot ! make
10 "a rule 20 Tell the truth upon ali oc-
oas.0ns Why % the success Of ny
venture t0-r.Fh, depended upon my ly-
ing 10 you. 90 Immediately leave this
place as innocent of plumber as when !
came in Where's The Ilyer?"
Top drawer OF ,he ddeboard"
There was a magnetism. a h0nhomie,
about the man that capiiyated me
Are you nrmed7" asked De. as be
pulled 40 bis pipe.
III ! bad been ~ have winged you
before tl.a' said I. laughing
u believe you and honor you Tor
being perfectly frank with me-"
why as 90 that I'm not 20 be- out.
done 10 frankness ty thief"
THAT viii make my task 30 much
the easier After I've finished this
pipe I want you to give me your word
that you1l De SIN Until I've taken an
I want"
! admired the MAS nerve and said.
For the time being consider you my
guest. and. spanish fashion. my house
is Al your disposal"
Don't put Il on that basis. or | will
leave al once. This Is no time for APP
ing the Spanish"
You are right But tell you can
dldly that I would far rather have
found out that you we're a liar than a
burglar. Your lies would not be likely
10 iniure me. but Ill be out Just so
much by what you take. ia much
rather you were a liar"
And would not. n I steal DO but
take something that. to paraphrase
Shakespeare. was yours. Is mine and
has been slave 10 thousands. but 10 he
would be 10 lay perjury to my soul.
and that ! would not DO. no. not Tor
Venice"
Il see you know Shakespeare" said
l. punching my pillow 90 that could
be more comfortable ! was reading
this odd fellow. and believed that /
could dissuade him from bis purpose
Know Shakespeare? was an actor
once.
! feit that had him. for know act
ors better than he knew Shakespeare.
Did you ever play Hamlet7" ask
ed, sitting up In bed
Il did. and made such hlt that II
Il hadn't been for the yenallty OF the
press and my sense OF honor / would
had been adiudged one Of the greatest
liamlets Of the day"
Give me the solIloquy. give you
my word that ordinarily ratherd be
robbed than hear IL. but like your
voice and believe that you can do II
Justice"
A self-satlsfed smile illuminated his
face lie laid down the pipe and gave
me the sollloquy. and Il wasn't bad
Bully" / said when he had finished.
Why man. you make an Indifferent
thief. else you would have decamped
long ago, but the stage has lost an ac-
tor that would have In time compelled
the unwilling admiration Of the press
An 30 ! iollled him and be gave me
the trial scene from The Merchant OF
Venice and other selections until
dawn began TO show IN the east. when
he picked up his bag and said 1T
would be shame TO rob a white man
like you' Then he bid me goodbye
and left
congratulated myself upon nv
knowledge OF human nature. until I be-
gan 10 dress, when found that the
fellow had finished bis burgllng before
] woke and be- has an my silver
Charles Bartol LOOMS. In The Critic.
rion.