The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-04
THE RETIRED BURGLAR.
An Experience That was Unpleasant, TO SIS
the Leaat of II.

tne Ifenet OF
Al one time and another said the rotared
burglar. Il have run into a good many trips
some that meant business, more OF EN- just foo
traps; that might make a m an a good deal
bother perhaps, but didn't do anybody any hurt
told you once about a trap l stepped into tina
was made with a couple OF timbers rugged TO wor.
like the Jaws OF a steel trap. That was business
You remember? | broke my leg in thot trap II
2 o'clock in the morning and had to drag II TO a
railroad trnin-with a pal 10 lean on that trip,
most fortunately and ride TO the city, and wait
till O'Clock before got il set That certainly
was business trap; and about as far opposite TO
ii as you could possibly get was one that en-
countered very soon after got out after my leg
healed
Il came TO door, opening of an upstairs hall.
which closed and which opened easily and
naturally for six or eight inches and then stopped
as though IL had run softly onto a tapering wedge
somewhere l was holding onto this door with
my left hand TO steady /! and pushing with my
right, and when IL ran up against that thing that
stopped IT, whatever il was, didn't try TO push
right ahead through the side Of the house, but
stopped. Then started it again and found
could work II little farther without much trouble,
and then took hold OF II. carefully and firmly
with both hands and worked il quarter or half an
inch at time further and further open, the door
binding little all the time but still yielding 10
pressure and going gradually till all o! sudden
it cleared the obstruction entirely and went swing
ing open the rest OF the way freely and down on
ME covering me from cid to foot, and front and
back came a shower OF -four
This man had set up over the door. fixed so
that they would tip down and empty their content
on whoever came through when the door had been
lust SO Ia .So
10 be coming slow, and so sure 70 be under Il long
enough to get oil the -four; and he oo9ldn', help
can't even guess; but Of all the foul freaks ever
encountered. that was the worst and it made me
mad II hadn't done me a bit OF hurt, Just made
me feel foolish, that's all, and mad: and though
I'd Just go ahead about the house Just as | was
and finish up the work, trailing -four all over
wherever I went, Just to spite him. But then
realized that my very last ,crowding on the door
obstruction, l had pushed it over against the
wall II may easily happen that a thing you
You finally and that's what this had done done, and
made some tie noise: not much but enough to
wake somebody up, il in fact the somebody hadn't
been awake all the time | was pushing on the door.
As | stood the" for moment listening before
starting out and meditating that trail of flour
next room, and that made a change in the situa
tlpn right away; thought Id get out and that's
Il had on cheviot suit, rough woolly suit
and that -four stuck il amazingly; Just couldn't
shake II off; was white with il all over, and
felt In my life l was living then in a small city
and making trips around TO small towns and
villages in the neghborhood. This house where
I'd got the flour was in little place about three
miles cut and started 10 walk home 1t was a
cloudy night but there was moon behind the
around pretty well
Coming along u crossroad toward the one was
travelling, saw villag policeman, walking
with his head down. swinging his club thinking
Of something. This was bad; | hadn't figured
on meeting him, but before | could cipher out
what TO do, at the instant saw him in fact. he
raised his head and looked at me. Twas standing
up very straight and moving very slow. Just keep
ing o! what d do myself. when he turns and rvns
like all posse. sci back over the road he'd been
coming on. as fast as he could lick il. He d taken
me for a ghost
Well, now, tdat made me laugh II was the
first laugh d had out Of the -four and wouldn,t
but il only goes TO show you that there's ahso.
lutey no fix man get into without Some fun
in il Il mans only got an eye to see IL and
on feeling more cheerful
About Il mile from home il began To sprinkle,
and pretty soon il came on u rain quite hard
ddn I mind that l WASH made of sugar and
Id been out in rains before But nevcrd been
out in rain before covered with -four as IN
been out in rain before covered with flour as
begun Ia realize in about two minutes. That
-four all over me turned TO paste; greasy slippery.
/ sticky aaste;and slipped along home feeling as
| though I'd been dipped in a paste barrel. and
| about mean as ever felt in my life.
The clothes were no good after that: we cOuldn
out without taking all the cloth with It, and We
got of the thick 81 II and then threw the clothes
away. So you see ] was Ovt nights time and
n suit Of clothes by that freak and take 1t alto
MS ! ever had. A man don't have to have his leg
broke to make him uncomfOrta bile