The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1901-03-13
AFTER TNELv We
MIDNIGHT

III Liz uidu w III SPEAKS lOuuly III puUlic
| 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 bust
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.
"BurglarsY he laughed in answer to
a 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 a 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
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
Ac, r., ro11 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
lights were passed his pinched face
showed white. and his big eyes seem
ed riyeted on the jovial Nedham. When
the merchant left the bus with a hear
ty "good night" to all aud 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 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.
"Wonderfulv' he said audibly. what
| a great thing may sometimes grow
from a small one, to be sure! Only
| 80 years ago and I.was wondering how
| | could meet bill for e. lbs. 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 We're 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 a 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 doorway arched with trou-
bled memory, he stole to the land of
forgetfulness.
How long he slept he hardly knew,
but he woke with a start. He had the
distinct impression that he felt warm
breath on his face, and, springing out
i Of bed, he switched on the electric
light. No trace of an intruder was in
the room, but the door. which Nedhanl
! felt sure he had shut, stood partly ajar
Hastily pulling on his dressing gown
and showing bis bare feet into slippers
he reached a heavy riding crop from
the wall and stumbled down stairs. AS
he opened the drawing room door there
was the shutting of hasty feet, and
when the light went up a tall young
fellow shabbily dressed stood revealed
The two men faced each other across
the table, Nedham gripping tight the
whip handle.
Now" he said in wonderfully com
posed voice, I've caught you clean
What in all the world may you want
, hereY'
The youngster removed his battered
hat. and his eyes fell as tinge Of color
rose to his cheek.
"a straight question demands s
straight answer" he replied. Il am IL
quest Of some of the silver plate yor
hoasted about on the top of the Hamp
stead bus last night. overheard thai
conversation
Nedham laughed and laid the crop or
the table.
'.You young foolr' lie said. You d.
not know Tom NedEam, or you would
not have tried this mugs game on
He rubbed his hands. Tom Nedhan
I has nevts; been known to be caugh
mapping, never!!''