Waterbury Democrat., 1902-09-22
My Experience. as a Burglar .~
By R. l.. BLACK.

boy of IT. had never been to D city and rarely beyond the limits of our little Sleepy Hollow'' com munity. My glimpse of the outside world was through the medium of the tabooed .'dime novell"1a thor oughly distorted view, to be sure but appearing in the rare and beau tiful colors of vivid reality to my un- trained mental vision. Farm life be- came too prosaic, so resolved to change my fortunes.
 E One night, after father and mother had retired, I dressed in my Sunday clothes, and after having steathily transferred five dollars of fathers noiselessly out the back way, and with pa1pitating heart was soon hastening along the highway, my destination great city some 20 miles away.
 s By morning fully 20 miles of the distance had been covered, and, being hungry and tired, I stopped at a farm house and paid 25 cents for a breakfast, of which I partook with great relish. Pushing along, by night I was within 20 miles of the city. I again stopped at farmhouse, went to bed early and slept soundly. After an early breakfast next morning I paid the good old people for my fare and was again on my way.
 By noon was within a few miles Of the city. Two hours later I was in the suburbs, and my heart began to sink. In that great, city I felt that would be but an atom, to drift about upon the winds of cir cumstance.
 Soon I was where massive struc- lures 1oomed up on either side. I wandered aimlessly amid the hurry ing throng, with the electric cars rushing by and the draymen's carts rumbling along until I became wor- ried.
 Finally stopped on a street cor ner where number of boys were talking, and while looking istlessly around, heard certain remarks that caused me to listen intently.
 Capital" said one. sIt's an old game, but it will work out in the country all right. Who wouldn't sympathize sufficiently there to a1- low corpse to remain in the house while we camp near by? It sure beats getting your head shot off while you are trying to raise win dow, but am disgusted with you all for being too coward1y to become a corpse. Hello, Greenie. How would it suit you to join us in an enter prise where there is everything to gain and nothing to 1ose?''
 Don't call me Greenie, or I'll dis figure your face worse than that cock-eye,' said I, angrily.
 tsNo harm meant, partner; but how would our little game suit you?'' he persisted, and began to repeat his. remarks, when I told him I had al- ready heard his plans.
 "Wen, how will it suit you?' he again questioned.
 reflected for moment. and as I. was eager for adventure and indiffer- ent as to the result, I told him it suited me frst-class. The plan was to hire a wagon and secure coffin from an undertaken, then follow it up as already outlined.
 As I had less than four dollars, and therefore not my proportionate share of the expenses, it fell to my lot to personify the corpse. Really. that part suited me, as I was eager to be in the thick of the fight.
 The next morning, after having se-i cured the grewsome eqnipage, we de- parted from the city, taking direc-:: ton opposite to my home. All day we travelled through the country and had a merry time. After sunset we! stopped on a lonely road, the coffin lid was raised, and with some littIei hesitation stepped in and lay down
 As the lid was closed and the wagon proceeded felt creepy, for a coffin is an uncanny resting place forl the living. How heartless were my palsl How merri1y they rattledt along over the rough roadsI
 Finally they stopped, and after: some barley the people consented toi allow the corpse CD to remain in the house, the travellers to camp near by. I felt the coffin roughly lifted out of the wagon and carried into the house; then I heard them all leave the room, and everything became quiet. How quiet and op- pressiye! I almost held my breath, Time passed slowly, during which time had ample time for refec. tion-
 Finally the conclusion forced itself upon my conception that the wrong man was in the coffin This conclu- sion was adduced from variety ot reasons. First, I knew nothing of the large house to which they had carried me, except what the boys had told me that day, and as had al. ways been accustomed to backwoods cottages or cabins, knew it would be a mere accident if I should ever discover any valuables there. I dis covered also that I was not that quality of which daring burglars are made, and sincerely wished myself lat home
 At length I heard voices, then two tor three persons, whom judged to be members of the family, entered the room, and one, seemingly a boy of about my own age, said: s'Well. l would like to look at that corpse and see what it is like-why, helloi''