The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
THE RETIRED BURGLAR.

THE RETIRED BURGLAR.
His Own Rouse Visited by an EnterprlsinE
Beginner with the Jimmy.
Often" said the retired burglar. II used
to take nap before starting out mornings. II
! depended on how far was going. II wasn't
| going very far, so that | didn't want to start
out before l o'clock why then | was liable to
| take a nap; lying down maybe about half past
10 or IL and getting up about half past II.
| This used to kind o. rest mo and tune me IN.
| Then I'd come down stairs and look my bag
over and see that my tools we're all right, and
| trim my lamp II IL needed trimming. and then
il there was any time left. I'd sit down.
"One night when I'd set down like that
went to sleep again. but pretty soon knew
| there was somebody going up the stairs from
| tho hall to the second story This room that
| was in opened into the hall. and from where |
| sat by table in the room could see through
| the door the stairs on the other side going up
| from right to left. l suppose must have felt
that man In my sleep-1 am that sensitive-for
| he didn't make breath Of noise. woke up
to see him. through the bannisters. by the dim
light OF a lamp that we always left burning in
tina upper hail. He was huggng the wall as
| he went up. so as not to make the stairs settle
and creak under him. as they was likely to do
| II he walked on EN- up the middle: he knew
| how to 60 up and down stairs quietly. anyway.
| but he made mo uncom Portable all the same
| ] dunno. he seemed to be a sneaky sort OF
| cuss, somehow. not because he went quietly.
but there was something about his way OF
going. even In the dark. that didn't like.
| OF course might have stopped him right
there. but to tell the truth he surprised me Just
q little bit and OF course he didn't know that.
| but kept a-goinG all the time. and in half
thought ia let him nj 60 and see hin my when h?
queer to me to think OF anybody robbing my
house. And then minute later II made ne
house would be to the young man-for ! felt
certain he was young man.becnuse knew
na he ray 0 fsars
Would be in the business II | had anything OF
by this time heard him.. or felt him, or
easier to go UP II stairs without making any
the ,bannistery, huecing that wall again, same
when he gets within three or four Steps Of the
bottom takes my lamp and steps into room
opening into the hall in front Of the foot Of the
stairs and when he steps down that last step
Just steps out into the hall in front Of him and
WsII say he kG E his nerve surP5G ;s
that room the one with the door further back,
where "a been sitting when / see him going
and when got him in there says to HIM
Now. you Tut down what you got
IT. he Just got the things out oihs POCKET" 3 " and
put EN- down on the table and I'm blest If he
than ia ever had before; the stun he'd gath
cred up was worth carrying of didn't know
r"s hsa iii them n hp i" h the @2S nd If f
are likely to accumulate In the course Of time
t Or less things Of value He Laid
gold watch, the ms'ess's, AMI some silver
spoons and napkin rings that | know
w eo Sds ali tR Rna s0 ONE
and L ms ike man
property to look ut 1t all in heap Ike that
sS sn1} ne@ a9a a his
and ddr9ppedt hts hands an. says e him:
g. EverythinG. he says, and then give, him
a little talking to; He was young man. but a
Sns rcsS Ghs sgS If Ra he he,
face he'd gone into this because he wanted to,
sRd he o was Sog to be 9WEs nG
hurry; hc'd come n here an hour ahead q
get without tho slightest trouble But he'd
on himself and settle down to business, and
then he vas EIhng to 9G tough one sarH
what dreadful foolish thing it was Tor him to
do. e go into that business when he had tho
VAS fourteen kinds Of stapd to say n"th ing OF
all the risks he ran. but It didn't make any i'm
was going to let him 20, and he lust stood there
and listened. and finally / put him out of the
About u week after that the misses says:
,1,rd cant i9d anything Of your gold watch.
You see, she generally kept my gold watch
in her bureau drawer for me. and &c morally
carried S ed a. .e old silver bullseyo
No, haven't got IT,
"Weli. ~ funny; she says. but can't find
of re@Ied in n%te whpt
had known about his visit. there wasn't any
use disturbing ANYBODY ,over, 1t. and I'd Just
was kind Of Unpleasant, to think the Young ici-
Ter had beat pe aftor all. to say nothing about
and see could ma t. but nfIn never i did itEH hi
one day about three years after that Then
denly. face to face he coming around a corner
from side street as ! was walking up |
body'd ever noticed it hut mo
Mister says to him. can you tell me the
"fd hsltel 80 as to. halt right in front Of him
and halt MIN but, Of course. no rretcnds not
Inc his two thumbs in lis two oO Vest ' pockets,
sort Of Incidental like; and saying
looking better. and heavier, and cooler, and
stronger than he was when saw him before,
and he was an able young chan, but was a
blacksmith myself In those days for strength,
and J. says to him.
Yes, you do, unless you've sold it, And I
gripped those two wrists that were so handy to
get hold OF, and brought em together and held
em in one hand in n grip that both Of us knew
was good for a few seconds. anyway. long
enough for the business. And then reached
In his pocket for the. watch The, chances were
n hundred to one that he would have sold 1t.
but OF course when he said he didn't
carry q watch | knew he hadn't; i had
and carried it. But in five seconds. now. had
It back n my own pocket, and then ! Jet him
And I've luEGed the old ticker ever since
the chasing's al worn OF 1t now, and it's as
smooth as q turnip,"
AMERICAN FIREWORKS GAINING.