Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-18

"VN E have recorded had
lO~ kept me from any
N------ longing to return to
the exciting experiences OF my profess
sion. During this time I had grown
somewhat stouter. and my counte-
nance had begun to assume kindly,
benevolent, well fed appearance. Nee.
cssarily | had grown a trine lazicr.
Several times had almost decided to
return to my old methods of life but
a certain inertia, undoubtedly bred and
1ourish.d by my new existence of ease,
always prevented. l would keep de-
ferring the time until a more conven-
lent period
genuine fear that I would lose my
skill through lack of practice OCCASION
ally tormcntcd me. but each time
put it aside with the thought that my
profession was no longer an absolute
necessity. 1t did not mean bread and
butter to me as it did at one time. |
was full ledgcd butler. and | could
secure good recommendation from
my master any time | chose to leave.
Warned by my own experiences, I
never let an opportunity pass to help
young man just starting on the
downward road to get back to the
main highway. I never entertained
any serious thoughts of getting back
there myself, but l hate to see others
straying from it.
Nevertheless I now found myself
slowly drifting back to an honest life.
This had been accomplished through
no choosing Of my own. Circumstances
again were responsible for this change.
/ did not make any resolves to remain
thus for any length Of tiinc-in fact, |
rather expected that the time would be
brief.
AS just remarked I never liked to
see another, especially young man,
taking the downward road, and it was
this strange feeling that gave me
little worry and anxiety in my idle life
as butler for Mr.. Goddard. | realized
that my master was leading Il double
life; that he was pursuing his burglary
tendencies systematically and that he
was making love to Miss Stetson This
circums stance at first puzzled me; then
1t worried and irritated and finally dis
Eustcd me. | could not fathom its
meaning. | saw my own crime, illus
tratcd in him, in its true light, and it
positively made me ashamed of my
record. | lonCcd to speak Of the mat
to- to, n; ,,, L,,t ,nIn
ship prevented it.
While | sympathiZcd with him for
the incurable disease which had al
ways cast a blight over his young life,
/ soon learned to condemn him for his
rash folly. No man of his position, in
telligence and opportunities in the
world had any business TO StOop 10
crime. In some cases necessity may
drive 4 man to the commission of n
theft and habit may later dcaden his
conscience, but no such excuse could
be held out for my master
He was either bad Mt heart. Grim
inal by instinct, or he had a weak will
that had been perverted by others
when young and uniformed. In every
thing else he seemed model of
strength. self command and intclli
Ecnce. Why should he be so helpless
in this respect?
Since that first memorable meeting
Mt the dead of night in the Stetson
mansion no word or sign had ever
passed between us which indicated
that we knew anything of the others
criminal tendencies. Ont of a sense of
honor | kept my part of the agreement,
and for some reason he remained I'M
communicative about the subject. Ney-
erthcless | longcd to break the ice be-
tween us. If | could once more meet
linn when robbing house, l would
have the liberty 10 speak, and | would
not again bind myself to silence.
Admiration for his skill, love for
him as a man when not enga ged in his
professional work and a certain dis
gust at his deceptive double existence
produced strangely conflicting emo
tons in me. At times | felt that his
crime should be atoned for and that If
he should ever attempt to marry Miss
StetsOn | would reveal all | knew to
her. Gradually his moral disease
seemed more terrible to me than his
physical. AS a lcper he was suffering
for the sins of another, but as a crimi-
nal he was pursuing dangers and
pleasures of his own free will which
in time would entail suffering upon
others.
A wave Of moral reform swept over
me for fine and possessed me so
completely that | decided to make
amends for my past deeds by trying
to convert my master from his evil
ways. II | could accomplish this, |
should feel that my life had not been
spent in vain.
Meanwhile lived in the fear that he
would he discovered. | knew from the
reports that somebody was conducting
a systematic series of burglaries in the
neighborhood, and l did not hesitate
TO attach the blame TO my master. De-
tectives were constantly prowling
around at night to capture the rob-
hers, but all their skill seemed to be
without avail, A better testimony to
the ability Of my master could not be
given.