Morris tribune., 1901-03-09
AFTER TWELVE
MIDNIGHT

r.
The man who speaks loudly in public
places of the valuation Of his sideboard
AID the insecurity of his front door
may safely be put down as an amiable
idiot. Yet Thomas Nedham Of the firm
ct Nedham & Wilkins was no fool. He
was reputed to be a cute man of BUSH
ness, who knew <how to keep his coun-
sci when his money was at stake, and
yet here he was tonight, on the front
seat of a crowded omnibus Boosting to
his neighbor that his silver plate was
tie heaviest in all Hampstead.
"Burglars? he laughed in answer tn
a question. II have been 80 years a
Householder, and never one of the gen.
tGy has deigned to visit me. 1 often
think that the man who takes no pre-
caution comes off best in this matter. l
have known some men spend fortune
in locks and bolts and have house
breaker in as regularly as a chimney
sweep. You did not know my partner,
wilkins? He's been dead these dozen
years. and before things went wrong
with him and l bought him out he had
q collection of coins worth $1,000. Well,
l." kept the treasure in a room whose
windows were sheathed nightly in
l.. ANY shutters, bolted and bolted
tiEain. But of course he rose one fine
morning to find the lot gone. That
broke the old fellows heart, and from
ten till they placed him in Norwood
cemetery he was never off the rocks"
AS the old gentleman proceeded l.
a lower voice to tell stories Of the
burglaries that he had known to befalI
his friends the tall young fellow i'm
nlediately behind him showed signs of
nervousness. He shifted uneasily in
his seat. and as ever and anon the gas
lights were passed his pinched face
showed white. and his big eyes seem
ed riveted on the jovial Nedham. When
the merchant left the bus with a hear
ty 'good night to all and sundry, the
STRIPPING rose and slipped off too.
Twelve midnight had long since
doomed from the church steeple oppo-
site, and still Thomas Nedham, city
merchant and importer, lay wide
awake. Usually he was a heavy sleep |
e.. but tonight slumber had deserted |
him, though before coming to bed he
had done his best to WOO her by. the |
subtle aid Of two tumblers of strong
toddy.
His active brain insisted on scruti-
nizing and dissecting the stock and
share list of the previous day and
gamboling through his now silent city
warehouse. The old gentleman chuc-
killed. as he held his eyes tight and
cOnjured before him the thousands of
great bales that numbered every inch
of his stores.
wonderful" he said audibly. "What
a great thing may sometimes grow
from small one, to be sure! Only
30 years ago and 1 was wondering how
could meet bill for G2 los. Now
new blocks added, six and fifty ware
llousemen piles of paying work and
still growing, growing, growing. Won
der what Wilkins would think of it
all if he were looking up now? Poor
wilkins! They tell me he died declar-
ing that | had robbed him. That was
a hard thing to say. No robbery, say
l. but business transaction-a smart
business transaction. Besides, in any
case, it was question Of tit for tat.
But for wilkins l should not have
been a bachelor"
Nedham moved uneasily in bed, and,
through a doorway arched with trou-
bled memory, he stole to the land of
How long he slept he hardly knew,
but he woke with start. He had the
distinct impression that he felt war
breath on his face, and, springing out
" bed, he switched on the electric
light No trace Of an intruder was in
he room, but the door, which Nedham
feIt sure he had shut, stood partly ala
Hastily pulling on his dressing cow.
md showing his bare feet into slippers,
le reached heavy riding crop from
he wall and stumbled down stairs. AS