The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-12-05

strange man III my bachelor apartment.
| He had effected entrance by the fire
escape. There WAS not much worth
stealing, but the fellow was about to
take his departure with some clothing
and bric-a-brac when | walked in on
him. There was a tableau for min
ate. Both were too surprised to move
or speak. The stranger was the first TO
recover and he called out:
"Wcll, I'll be hanged, Say. now. if
I'd known it was you I'd have kept
clear of the place. You bet your life
you're the last man I'd want TO rob
$50 you are here to rob me?" | said
as looked him over.
at looks like it. ch:" he laughed as
he pointed TO the bundle. Say. it's all
mistake. an I'm sorry
'Whn arc YOU
'DOn't yoR remember: Take a good
look ut me- Lord. but you did melt the
jury in that speech of yourn".
You are .Iimmy-Immy"
Jimmy Blakesly. an they'd have
given me ut least five years in the jug
if you hadn't handled my ease 50 well.
| paid you for il all right. hut I've al
ways had il fcclin of gratitude over the
way you talked to the jury about my
old mother an because of the tears You
shed. You worked the emotion racket
till you had the crowd cryin.'
Five years before l had defended
Jimmy Blakesly on the charge of bur-
rrla,.y md him off
unanimous in saying that he ought to
have been sent to prison, that is not my
affair
"And in return for the emotion, as
you call it, you come here TO rob me-"
said. sitting down.
But told you it was all mistake.
How was | to know you lived here?
Don't make the mistake of thinkin'
Jimmy Blakesly's Il duffcr. I'll just
put everything lack as found en- an
say good night, an Wen let it 90 at
that. What's the matter, governor?
You're lookin' worried
You will think it IL curious thing that
l did. and | agree with you. Although
l had caught Jimmy red handed. the
idea of giving him over to the law never
occurred to mo. | was worried over
the Ndsh ease and felt like talking TO
some one. so l invited the fellow to sit
down and told him all about it, lie
caught on i'll great shape, and when |
had given him all the points he said:
why. governor, the old man ought
to be in Il crazy hnllsc. That mine
sharper has got him dead To rights.
No such case as mine waS-no chance
to work in Il poor old mother ON Il jury,
no tears nrr emotion. You haven't one
chance in Il hundred
Nut one in Il thousand"
THAT is unless
Unless WHAT" | asked.
dunno. but hui if you'll excuse me-
governor. | think there's little bust
ness waitin' for me down street On
the square. l didn't know this was
your joint. SlOng."
lie took his departure by the door in
stead of the fire escape. leaving me
daZcd and speeches.. Next morning
was an hour late at the office. and on
my desk | found IL large envelope
which had come by messenger. 1t con-
tanned not only the copy of the agree
mcnt that had been tilchcd from Nash.
hut his promissory note for $50,000.
The afternoon papers came out with
glaring headlines. Philbrick's office
had been visited the night previous,
his safe broken open and valuable pa
pcrs carried away. Nash was never
called upon to pay for his worthless
stock. and | have not seen Jimmy
Blakcsly since that night. If he ever
comes around again, l must warn him
that he is clearly in line for Il scrape
where emotion will not save him.