The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-10
1HE RETIRED BCRGLIR.
sliding Down n stair Rail with n Man In
Hot Pursuit.

"Of course as boy" said the retired burglar,
I slid down cellar doors and banisters, and that
sort of thing, and tore my trousers, aud fell III,
and had the usual number III accidents, but tie
most exciting sport Of that kind ever had was
once after had grown up, when slid Gown the
stairs Of a four-slory house, from top 10 bottom,
without stopping
when | had got pretty near 10 the top Of tho
las, flight Of stairs there was door opened AT
the top. and man looked out: suppose he must
have heard me- down below. or comirG up. l
turned my light On him for abou, quarter 81 q
second, which was plenty lolG enough To- show
that he wasn't tie kind oi a man that would 80
back and shut the door and lock II until Lad
Eanis,er, right where | stood, ami took the other
foot oil the stairs and STAYED with him after me.
These chairs were puiii n.'rcn lrom the "ril
nary Tho foot III the second flight was risht
at the top OF W FIRST though you had 70 turn
on the platform there to rerChlt the second Hight
going up IN exactly the oppusl,c direction from
the first That -. going W. the FIRST flight you
went toward the back oi the h"usc, going up iLr
second flight You went toward the front And
then at the top Of the second flight YOU came 10
tue foot of the third Hight turning on the Plat.
form here 10 reach II, this flight going up toward
tho rear again. bringing II night over III" FIRST
flight. and running the same way So you see
there was slide "l three stories with two sharp
turns
III was n good broad rail, and very smooth
and easy sliding. the htsl thing TINT struCk me
when got On 10 II was that II beat all the rails |
over slid On, and for minut"l forgot that WASH
a boy, any more, but a man, ana engaged IN bust
ness, and h"n in pretty, serious business
and give myself up To thc pleasure III the slide
But only for hNrr$ short minute; because knew
l was coming to that FIRST curve very soon, where
the rail turned 60 GO down the next Hight. and I'd
gott look out and see that wasn't flung oil going
u put on tho brakes, h0rd, by gripping the
rail with my knees and my lands thc instant
my feet touched the bend and slowed down ~
me with his feet; he WAS coming faster than Was
anyway, being eager and naturally, more or less
excited, and not pnyng tho attention To the brakes
that did But though down 10 'l.at point be-
gained on me thus rapidly, he lost II all gong
around the curve, went around slow, but slick
and smooth; he came 10 il so fast that when he
struck II he almost flew OIL AMI he hal 10 grip
on hard 10 keep On AT all. or course, that CAV"
me a cool start again aiN or cGht feet b,cagsr
her go, while lie was fighting himself IN Tut
hc got going again in a INFINITE and hen h"
next turn in mind all tho same the one M The top
Of the mrs, fight, and SLOWED up deliberately for
when s"G ne m"e sdmHs Ser nd IcE "F""
He was more eager now than he was oven
when he started, suppose he saw me getting
ncarer and nearer the door and chance Of SET
ting away; and lie gave move thought t. me- than
he did 10 himself and he struck that last curve
In fac, don't believe he thouriI - il He'd
pretty rear made up that six ~ eight 'c't sinking
H., the Upper a end Of ,hai eat cHrH, mrlGr% I'd M
As looked up "a" him. vi IN he struck the
curve; SWAY over 10 one side toward the stairs
hncIl rhN IlH EIlI u " NI an It kI'N l'N
10 hold on, cool enough now hut going 50 last
and thrown over so hard by the motion that II"
couldn't hold on. And M he went striking the
stairs about three steps down. that hcirg ohout
opposite Ia where | was then on the bani"tcr
and then he bounded from ,hc-c and went in ono
round sweep through the air, like a hall, landing
on the stairs about two or three steps up from
the. bottom He came down there with a smash
and then roll, down to The door like hag Of
clothes lie passed me nving through the
air; We both go, Ia the floor together, But he
didn't get up
Are you hurt I says Ia him
only a leg he says
He'd broken Ills left leg
III l hadn't been in such q hurry he said
I'd he giving you now exercise enough la keen
you warm, anyway; and the least YOU can do
Is 10 go for doctor
And that's what ! did | luVged him into
a room ON that floor and laid him ON q lounge
and then put for the doctor. aud rung his hell
and waited 10 sec his window &" up and his head
stoop TO see II he actually went. which he did
and he got into the house easy because I'd left
the door so he could.