Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-11

tShnSA$ N | a visit to DR.. Squircs.
lCSyKSSss:EXps 1t Is poor burglar
who fails to make
careful preparations before attempting
to enter house and long experience
in my business has made me extremely
cautious | never undertake a job with
out due consideration of all details. A
sneak thief may go around from house
to house in an aimless sort of manner
and enter the first one that is not prop
erly barred, but not so with a pro-
fessional.
John always sent me off to exercise
The horses on the few days when Mr..
Goddard did not use them, and | en-
ployed these spare moments to ac-
quaint myself with the surrounding
country. l passed DR.. Squires' house
several times in the course of the next
few days, examining the premises with
critical eye.
| found that the house was located
some distance back from the main
highway and that it was nearly con-
cealed from view by shade and fruit
trees. A small grove of woods backed
up to it on one side and an open pas
ture field bordcred it on two other
sides. The easiest and safest approach
to it, conceived, was from the wood
side.
The house itself was an old fashioned
fiat rooted mansion sadly in need of
paint and general repairs. 1t was
gloomy enough to drive almost any
body away from it after dusk, and
did not wonder that strange stories of
ghosts and spirits had been gossiped
around by the country people. If had
been a supcrstitious person, ! should
have selected the house as the last one
to rob. 1t was probably this idea that
had influenced the doctor in taking it
for his workshop. He was pretty safe
in assuming that nobody would disturb
him in that lonely retreat.
obtained leave to go to the city On
Friday afternoon. and told John not
to worry if ] did not appear until the
following morning. l had friends in
the city who might detain me over
night.
About o'clock l left the barn and
started presumably to walk to the city.
John offered to drive me half way
down if l would wait until after sup
per. but the afternoon was so fine
preferred the walk.
Two miles down the road I found
that / was perfectly concealed from
view of every house, and l quietly slip
ped over the fence into the woods. This
piece of woods l knew backed up to
DIR. Squires' house. l concealed the
bundle. which ] pretended that / want
ed to take to the city with me, taking
enough tools from it first to answer all
my present purposes.
AS | approached the edge Of the
woods ! moved with great caution.
did not know how many servants the
doctor had, although John had assured
me that he had only one, copper col
Ored Indian who was more foreign
looking than his master. This servant
never associated with anybody else
and was either deaf and dumb or I'M
able to speak English.
He was a sort of faithful watchdog,
/ judged, whom the doctor had be-
friendch and who would in conse-
quence give up his life for him if nee
essary. | had met such Jealous man.
servants before and my experience
had always been that they are exceed
extra precaution.
While yet some distance from the
house l climbed up into the leafy
branches of one of the large trees and,
pulling the foliage to one side. scanned
the house inteutly through pair of
strong ticldgla asses. By their aid /
could note everything that was going
on outside the house and could almost
see objects inside the windows.
The only advantage ! obtained from
this was clearer idea of the most
vulnerable points of the house and also
the way to escape from the premises in
the event of an alarm. l saw the serv'
ant go about his duties, and later l Sc
cured my first glimpse of the doctor
He was a dark bearded, thickset well
proportional man, and one who would
prove a bold and powerful antagonist
More than this l could not say until
found myself at closer quarters with
him.
/ remained in my treetop position
until well after dark, watching every.
thing that occurred around the house.
Then descended to the ground, ate a
few pieces of cold meat and bread
drank a little wine and threw myself
on the dry leaves to sleep. There was
no danger OF being discovered in the
woods, and l needed the rest and sleeI
20 prepare me for the nights work.
1t was shortly after midnight when !
opened my eyes again. Habit had made
1t a second nature with me to awaken
at this hour, and had no fear of over.
sleeping myself when first closed nv
brush toward the fence which divided
the doctors land from the grove and
then waited and listened. The house
was perfectly dark, and everything
was calm and peaceful.
had thought Of dogs, but had failed
to see any around in the Afternoon
through my glasses. However, to make
sure of it | initiated the cry and snar
of a cat-a noise that always brings
watchdogs away from their post OF
duty. If the dogs were inside the
house, l would find that out later. BuI
l really saw no reason why dogs
should be kept OH the place.
Satisfied that the coast was clear,
made my way toward the house, keep