Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-05-02
AFTER TWELVE.
MIDNIGHT


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The man who speaks loudly in public
places of the valuation of his sideboard
and the insecurity of his front door
may safely be put down as an amiable
idiot Yet Thomas Nedham of the firm
of Nedham & Wilkins was no fool He
was reputed to be cute man Of busi-
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, boasting to
his neighbor that his silver plate was
the heaviest in all Hampstead.
"Burglars?" he laughed in answer to
question. II have been 80 years a
householder, and never one of the gen.
try has deigned to visit me. / often
think that the man who takes no pre-
caution comes off best in this matter.
have known some men spend fortune
In locks and bolts and have q house
breaker in as regularly as chimney
sweep. You did not know my partner,
Wilkins? He's been dead these dozen
years, and before things went wrong
with him and bought him out he had
collection of coins worth FL 900. Well,
he kept the treasure in room whose
windows were sheathed nightly in
heavy shutters, bolted and bolted
again. But of course he rose one fine
morning to find the. lot gone. That
broke the old fellows heart, and from
then till they placed him in Norwood
cemetery he was never off the rocks"
AS the old gentleman proceeded in
lower voice to tell stories of the
burglaries that he had known to befall
his friends the tall young fellow i'm
mediately behind him showed signs of
nervousness. He shifted uneasily in
his seat, and as ever and anon the gas
lishts. -srere passed his pinehed face
showed white. and his big eyes seem
ed riveted on the jpvial Nedham. When
the merchant left the bus with hear
ty sgood 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
er, 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-
kled 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
great thing may sometimes grow
from small one, to be sure! Only
80 years ago and l was wondering how
/ could meet a bill for f2 15s. Now
new blocks added, six and fifty ware
housemen, 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
I, but business transaction-a smart
business transaction. Besides, in any
case, it was question of tit for tat.
But for Wilkins I should not have
been bachelor"
Nedham moved uneasily in bed, and,
through q doorway arched with trou-
bled memory, he stole to the land of
forgetfuIness.
How long he slept he hardly knew,
but he woke with start. He had the
distinct impression that he felt warm
breath on his face, and, springing out
of bed, he switched on the electric
light. No trace of an intruder was in
the room, but the door, which Nedham
felt sure he had shut, stood partly ajar.
Hastily pulling on his dressing gown
and showing his bare feet into slippers,
he reached heavy riding crop from
the wall and stumbled down stairs. AS
he opened the drawing room door there
was the shufiing of hasty feet, and
when the light went up tall young
fellow shabbily dressed stood revealed.
The two men faced each other across
the table. Nedham gripping tight the
whip handle.
'Now," be said in wonderfully COM
posed voice, 'I've caught you clean.
| What in all the world may you want
hereT
The youngster removed his battered
hat, and his eyes fell as tinge of color
rose to his cheek.
"a straight question demands
straight answer" he replied. 81 am In
quest Of some Of the silver plate you
5oasted about on the top of the Hamp-
stead bus last night. 1 overheard that
conversation"
Ncdham laughed and laid the crop on
the table.
you young foolv' he said. ssYou do
not know Tom Nedham, or you would
not have tried this mugs game on"
he rubbed his hands. .'Tom Nedham
has never been known to be caught
mapping, neyer!''
| II have heard said,n replied the bur-
glar neryously, that you are smart
man Of business-a very smart man Of
business" he added, raising his eyes
and looking Nedham squarely In the
face.
"You flatter me, young man." chuc-
kled the portly merchant. "And who,
may ask, reported so favurably Of
me?s
"My name," replied the STRIPPING,
leaning over the table my name is
Wilkins. My father was your partner" i"
And having fired that shot he awaited
results.
| Nedham shivered slightly, and his