The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-08-23

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In a11'i1astc7at Batter ards on his feet.
could extract pleasure from adversity-
lies in the fact that it brings me in con-
tact with profession I have previous
" known only by hearsay. I suppose 1
may take it for granted you gentlemen
are experts?''
.sWe'ye been there before, said Bax-
ter coarsely.
"If an experience of IA years is any
guarantee, then I am an expert, I" said
Graham, with certain air of pride in
his tones. "our friend, there, - nod
ding at Baxter, 'shas, I believe, been in
the profession since childhood, while
Mr.. - indicating Montgomery with
his cigar you'll excuse my not men
tioring names-is beginner. A skilled
workman, admit, but this is only his
second year. %
..I don't wonder that he,' and Mr.
Braithwait glanced slightly at Baxter,
ssremains in the business, but that you
should follow the vocation for Il years
surprises me greatly %
''Indeed?" queried Graham, with per-
ceptible stiffness "Why:''
because you appear to be sensible
man, and I should not think the busi-
ness would pay. What is your annual
income as a burg lar?"
Con an average, I should say So, 600
a year.
s1And you are an expert! I receive
1000 year, and I am only assistant
general freight agent and have been IL
years in the business. Then may in
fer that these two gentlemen make much
less than So, ,000:''
GIVE seen the week when I didn't
make hod carriers wages, growled
Baxter, who. had now finished eating
and was preparing to smoke black
wooden pipe.
'sYou re not so sensible as thought, D
rejoined Mr. Braithwait frankly. I
can easily imagine a man exposing
himself to dreadful dangers and cruel
privations when there is a great prize
in view. An explorer like Stanley, q
pioneer like Pike CT Fremont, con-
queror like Co1tez OF a revolutionist
like Washington could well brave hard
ship and peril when success meant
! wealth as we'll SIS the plaudits Of their
fellow men. The early settlers Of this
and every other country, the gold hunt
ers CT 1S49, the pirates who ravaged the
seas, all were actuated by the hope OF a
fortune at one swoop, but to risk prison,
to say nothing Of life itself, for a day
laborer's wages
"But, % spoke up Montgomery quick
ly, 'there is fame, if not fortune. I"
"Pardon me. In what way:''
"In the usual way. Who has not
heard of Hickey, the man who cracked
20 banks before they tripped him up !;
Peters, tie New England cracksman
Bronthers, the Chicago expert:''
''I hope,' said Braithwait gently, II
won't offend you when say I never
heard of those gentlemen. %
els it possible:''
Honestly, never did. y
.'You have surely heard of Red
Leary:"
"I can't recall his name. %
George Post? Louis Ludlum: Pete
Mccartney? Miles Ogle?'
''Don' know them. -
"Perhaps, (" sarcastically, you don t
read the papers:'
eyes, / do, and I have good mem
CRY. can say without boasting that l
have on my tongues end all the pro-
fessional, literary and artistic names in
America and many in Europe. In my
library I have many biographies, but
none of which a burglar is the theme,
nor DO recall the name of celebrated
criminal, unless" pleasantly, he has
been hanged.
"Yet there are famous names III our
profession persisted the young bur-
glar, somewhat sullenly.
"Oh, yes" admitted Mr.. Braithwalt,
taking a small drink of claret. Litter
ature has preserved Claude Duval, Jack
Sheppard, Dick Turpin-all hung-Fra
Diavolo, who was shot, and even our
own James and Younger boys, and l
have heard vaguely of one Billy tie Kid,
somewhere out west. In a general sense,
literature and the drama are saturated
with bandits, brigands and outlaws,
sometimes comical, sometimes heroic,
but you will excuse me if l maintain
that you stand on different footing.
Those fellows always had a poetical
backing; somebody or something had
driven them to their Illegal calling, bnt
yo,. can scarcely make similar claim. .
Il don t know about that, protested
Baxter doggedly. Who'd give ne
job"
''Did you ever try
''No; nor ain t goin to. >
Gas l supposed Honest work is
! plentiful, therefore you are absolutely
without excuse No one has usnrned your