The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-02
By CHARLES d. LEWIS.

NOW, then, wants 10 calk to yer
If yer go to raisin any row, yer'll git
bullet plumb through yer head
"Who are you?" asked.
| "Yer kin call me most any name"
"And what do you want here?''
| I'm after the swag."
"Then you must be burglar?''
eur sure"
So my burglar had come at last. sal
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
a low browed, common looking man who
hadn't been shaved for week even If
he had washed his face or combed his
hair during that period. He not only
looked common, but he looked low mind.
cd and. tricky. 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 dis
appointed and disguised, and he saw
was and asked:
care you sure that you are bur-
glar?' I queried.
"Of course am. Haven't I bin ar
rested 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
intelligent looking man. You wear very
shabby clothes. You can't speak ten
words without making slip in your
grammar. Be candid with me. Aren't
you chap who got in here by mistaken
Wasn't it your plan to rob the clothes.
line or steal something from the wood
shed?'
"What yer givin me, ole mani" he
exclaimed as he tapped me on the head
with the muzzle Of his pistol. "After
/ gifts through with yer yer'll think I'm
burglar fast huff. Git over ag' lin the
wall Now, then, if yer move finger
I'll bore yer!''
Ono side Of my bed stood against the
wall, and / moved over at his bidding.
Ny clothing hung On chair at the foot
of the bed, and be laid down his pistol
and picked up the garments in Success
sion and searched them. From my trou.
sers no took roll Of money amounting
to about $40, from my vest a gold watch,
from the breast pocket Of my coat some
papers Of no value to him, and after o
glance hereturned them. On the dresser
was my diamond scarfpin, and when he
had placed that with the other plumber
said:
II have always believed that men
were driven to burglary through power
ty or misfortune or unjust treatment.
How was it in your casep''
II went into the bizness because
wanted sunthin dead easy" he replied,
with solemn wink Of his left eye.
"And doesn't a burglars conscience
trouble him now and then?'
II never heard if it did. If the pur.
leece let's US alone, our consciences are
all right. Where's the rest Of the stuff,
ole mani"
care you asking if I have anything
else of value you can carry Off"
Fur surel This is no haul. There
isn't huff money in this to pay me fur
walkin half mile"
ut will figure up close to $500, and
1t seems to me that is pretty fair pay for
an hours work.
"Shet up. Now, then, git outer bed"
"What for?''
"I'm goin to tie yer fast while I
the crib. Where's the wife and
"Out in the country"
"That's good. I'll hev the crib all to
mesef. Put on yer trousers Now sit
down."
He placed the chair against the radi.
,tor, and as sat down be whipped a
sheet off the bed, tore it in strips and
lied me to both chair and radiator. Ho
vas nervous and alarmed all the time,
tut attempted to hide it by buster.
inally told him that he ought to be
ashamed of such nerve and was reward.
ID by cuff on the ear which kept my
read ringing for five minutes. When he
lad secured me to his satisfaction, he
ooked me over and said:
"I'm goin down into the kitchen for
unthin to eat, and if yer try any tricks
u mo it'll be the wuss fur YER
"lt is no use to 60 down." I replied.
There has been nothing to cat in the
ouse since the folks went away week
CO."
'Then I'll hev to go hungry. Let's
70 what's in this safe deposit"
He opened all the drawers in the
resser III rotation. There were few I
Id pieces Of jewelry, half a dozen old
'ins and the baby's savings bank, con- /
lining l19 pennies.
"You wouldn't rob q baby, would
'u?" l asked as he poured the pennies I
Ito the pocket Of his sack coat. c
"And why not?" he queried with q
inning leer. "It's the bizness Of bur-
ar to take all what comes"
"Well, that's another disappointment. =
supposed the burglar to be above rob- t
ng infants Of their pennies. If I'd had t
o least idea that any suoh man as you t
as around, I'd have taken precautions b
keep you out. By the way, how did il
u enter?' "
"By the kitchen door," O.
eyes. left it unlocked in order to a
70 burglar time and trouble. Where Al
. you going now?'' p
''l'll take look about. If yer yell il
or try to git away, I'll be right OH
yer in minitp
He left the bedroom and went down
hall, and I heard him in the guests
amber and the servants room. Flo
IS gone about ten minutes, and when
came back he was in bad temper.
l wasn't stocked up for burglars he
d found no other plumber. I
Look here, Gully |" he growled as he =
I'D looking at me. s''I'hevnt found