The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-27
(By CHARLES BATTELL LOOMS.

, walls here in the East. I'm from san
Francisco, myself"
He talked steadily, much as clever
sleight-of-hand performer does, and Hen
~ sat in q dazed state and watched him
take mcnentoes OF half a dozen trips to
Europe Egypt and Japan and put them
awav with a wonan's deftness OF toIth
in the roomy recesses Of the suit case.
Got any whiskey?' asked the burglar.
No said Henry slowly, but you'll
find some port in the dining-room in the
sideboard.''
Hardly, my boy said the burglar, gal
" Your Uncle. bud doesn't wait on
himself when he is the guest Of another.
Just go in and get me a bottle and one
glass You've had all you ought to FOR
tonight. but | need n bracer, although
I'm sorry it isn't whiskey. Ports rather
SOFT
Henry had hazy idea that the burg
lar would be green enough to go Into the
dining-room himself, in which case he
would have rushed to the front door and
! given the alarm.
| saw" said he, "if you weren't armed
I'd fl with you-figlt with you" Hen
ry had noticed his thickness Of speech,
and after that he talked with the pre-
t,sfon of well-drilled foreigner rom
whom words come correctly but not east
| ~.
"I believe you. my boy" said the burg
| lar land ordinarily it would be an I'M
| fair advantage but consider how much
| risk ] run have to carry a. gun in my
| business although I hate to use it. But
just hurry UP with that port, will you?''
Again the burglars hand strayed poe
| llet-ward and Henry shutfled heavily into
the dining-room and returned with de-
carter of port and a glass;
! Gaming heavily on the table Henry
poured out the wine. clinlzing the glass
with the decanter. The heat of the
room had also gotten into his fingers.
~ hope this is good" said the burglar,
as he lifted the glass to his lips. Some
times 1 have to put up with awful stuff
il my pereginations. Say, did yru
leave the front door open? l feel a
draught.''
He tossed off the port and then he set
down the glass quickly and listened.
There was noise Of a heavy foot on the
step outside and then football in the
hail.
.Chauncey," thought Henry, and Won
dered If he was armed
"a policeman who had seen the door
open thought the burglar and acted
accordingly. In a twinkling he had the
pistol out again and he showed the suit
case with his foot until it was alongside
OF Henry. Then he placed his own derby
somewhat rakishly on Henry's head and
pointed the pistol at his temple once more.
A step was heard in the hall and a po-
liceman entered the room just as the
burglar was saying: We'll. next time
YOU to try to rob a house you'd bettsr go
armed. Officer. you're just in timer
The burglar played the part Of the owner
OF the house to perfection. As to Hen
~. thanks to the liberal dinner he had
lad and the sudden turning of the tables
on him. he could do nothing but stammer
and look the counterfeit present'ncnt OF
guilt
Caught red handed, eh?" said the po-
liceman, CHANGING at the well-filled suit
case.
Caught in the act. I'd been to the
club and when ] came home | noticed
light so let myself in softly and found
this bungler at work. If he'd been armed
he'd have had me. for I had to get my
pistol out Of the table drawer. but guess
! he's new at the business. for he just sat
down like log and never lifted hand.
Been at the booze too long, guess.
/ said the policeman sapiently. CHANGING al
| the decanter. well. come along.
Henry began to talk thickly and lame
! ~. '"Thsh fellcw lies. He's the burg
| lar
ooh, cut it short. It's easy to tell you're