The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-09-01
SHORTY N GOVERN,
BURGLAR,

Shorty McGovern was good bur
glar-frcm business standpoint.
His victims would probably have
admitted as much had they been call.
ed upon to testify, but they never hid
the opportunity, for Shorty always
succeeded in getting away quite
safely.
From the ethical standpoint it may
be presumed that he was a bad bur-
glar; but, being human. it may also
be presumed that there was still some
little good in his make up.
Aud good there was. as the few
who knew him well were willing to
swear.
A master craftsman, a staunch
friend and. outside of his profession, a
man Of quiet, simple tastes
a reader Of books between jobs. and
not too diligent at his works, which,
in bis case, was more to be commend
ed than deplored.
Shorty often strolled about uptown
Some times with an eye to future
business, more often because he liked
to feel that he was part of the every
day, respectable life Of the city.
Sometimes he regretted that pow
erty prevented him from being res
pectable all the time; 'but man must
live, and he was too good burglar to
be anything else.
Today Shorty. was only half way
uptown like Use lie was only half.
way respectable, for seated on bench
IN the square, he could not help
noticing that the brow n stone house
opposite looked prosperous aud easy.
That balcony, screened by vines
from observation below, was access.
able, and the window behind old
fashioned ard not difficult to force.
Shorty possessed nicely trained
eye and often saw things that would
have escaped au ordinary observer.
AS he sat there going over prospect
and possibilities the door OF the
house opened and child ran down
the steps, sand crossing the street
stepped quickly behind tree trunk
IN The park. Shorty glanced up at
the house, expecting someone to fol-
low. but the door did not open again
The boy, for it was boy slipped
over to another tree, bringing him
near the bench upon which Shorty
sat. Shorty grew Interested. The
boy was evidently hiding from some
one.
Shorty was fond Of children. He
liked to talk with them, and in tins
perhaps the boy mig say something
worth hearing.
"Heilo. kid" he said. "playiu'
Indian?"
The child looked up shyly.
He saw pleasant faced young
man smiling at him reassuringIy.
Evidently he was = man worth
cultivatiug, for he understood the
art of playing Indian. Strange
men usually embarrassed him, but
there was something very COM
panlou able about this one.
He did not look just like the men
who came to his own home, and |
this fact Interested him also.
He leaned against the tree and !
pushed back the disordered hair
rom his face, regarding Shorty !
,ravely.
The observation was apparently
for after moments
lesit alton he answered cheerlully:
mo, I'm burglar
The smile lett Shorty's face at
his startling piece of Information,
,ut he recovered himself at once.
One Of the boy = r., hands was
hrust in the front Of his sailor
blouse, aud Shorty noticed this.
Get any!hing?' he asked
The boy looked little doub tful.
"Yey." he answered, but his
,and remained where it was..
''That's good" said Shorty. II
lsed to play burglar myself when I
vas your size. Good fun, but we
ever had much worth talxin' where
lived
ave got lots at our house." said
he boy, IAN they're worth a lot.
guess some Of ems worth as much
S a dollar"
"Maybe," said Shorty doubtfully,
but you can't always tell"
well, | guess what l got now's
7orth it, said the boy, his pride
reused.
Lets see," said Shorty carelessly
Sometimes things look mighty nice
hat amt worth much after all"
The boy hesitated. Something
armed him to be careful, but the
esire to prove his assertion was too
.rong. He drew small morocco
use from his blouse and opened it.
''There.' he cried triumphantly.
The sunlight fell Oh something
lat glittered brightly, and Shorty
new he was looking at cluster of
'wels of great value.
His first impression was to seize
lem anu run, hut he checked him
If. The risk WAS too great. The
~ would cry out and pursuit was
'rtaln. he must use strategy.
''PretJy, amt it?' she said calmly
I shou,n't wonder II they were the
al thing" An idea flashed into his
ady brain.
"By the way he resumed. "did
" ever hear that goldfish was
azy about diamonds?"
"No, said the boy, wonderinglv.
swell, they are. I've tried 1t my.
II. You just ho.d q thing like that
'er the watei ana they come right
} an make eyes at it. Want to try?
'inting to the fountain across the
Irk.
The boy could not resist. Such an
hertence was too novel to be lost.
i i Ii. |