The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-07-11
AFTER TWELVE;
MIDNIGHT

x NlDNlOHl 5
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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 crowded omnibus, bOasting to
his neighbor that his silver plate was
the heaviest in all Hampstead.
"BurglarsY 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. L 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
collection Of coins worth 1000. Well,
he kept the treasure in a 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
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
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 incl
Of his stores.
"Wonderfulv' he said audibly. "Wha
a great thing may sometimes grow
from a small one, to be sure! Only
80 years ago and was wondering how
I could meet a bill for f2 los. Now
new blocks added, six and fifty ware
housemen, piles Of paying work ant
still growing, growing, growing. Won
der what Wilkins would think of i
all If he were looking up now? Poo
Wilkins! They tell me he died declar
ing that had robbed him. That was
a hard thing to say. No robbery, sa.
| I, but a business transaction-a smar
business transaction. Besides, in an!
| case, it was a question of tit for tat
| But for Wilkins I 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 o
forgetfulness.
How long he slept he hardly knew
but he woke with start. He had thu
distinct impression that he felt warn
breath on his face, and, springing ou
of bed, he switched on the electri,
light. No trace Of an intruder was IL
the room, but the door, which Nedhan
felt sure he had shut, stood partly ajar
Hastily pulling on his dressing gowl
and showing his bare feet into slippers
he reached a heavy riding crop from
the wall and stumbled down stairs. Al
he opened the drawing room door ther
was the shuffiing Of hasty feet, ant
when the light went up tall younl
fellow shabbily dressed stood revealed
The two men faced each other acros
the table, Nedham gripping tight tn
whip handle.
"Now," he said in wonderfully com
posed voice, "I've caught you clean
What in all the world may you wan
hereY'
The youngster removed his battere'
hat, and his eyes fell as tinge Of colo
rose to his cheek.
"a straight question demands
straight answer" he replied. II am II
quest Of some Of the silver plate yol
boasted about on the top of the HamI
stead bus last night. l overheard tha
conversation"
Nedham laughed and laid the crop o
the table.
you young fool!' he said. "You d
not know Tom Nedham, or you woul
not have tried this mugs game on.
He rubbed his hands. 'Tom NedhaI
has never been known to be caugh
mapping. never"
i 81 have heard said," replied the bul
glar nervously, that you are a SINAI
man of BUSINESS very smart man 9
business" he added, raising his eye