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


of the night had left me trifie pale
and agitated. for in all my experience
had never been quite SO near deaths
door. But Johns was an unsuspect-
ing nature, and had nothing to fear
from him.
you're an early bird to get back so
soon in the mornin'," he said IAN
| your work half done, too, before break
! fast"
81 got lift most of the way out"
I answered. Il caught milk wagon
coming this way"
you're always lucky. Now, II that
had been me I'd tramped all the way
an never met a soul unless it was
somebody to hold me up"
Hold you up!' l said disdainfully.
"A man of your size and age afraid Of
being held up by highwaymcn?'
II never have been, but there are so
many burglaries goin' on roun' here
that it makes me feel creepylike when
I'm out on the road after dark"
Il hadn't heard Of many robbcries,"
I replied; none except that of the
Stotson mansion the day before Mr.
Goddard engaged me-"
"Well. you haven't heard everything
then. That was the fifth or sixth in
four weeks, an they have had four
more houses entered since then"
This was genuine news to me, and
was interested. John continued:
"They are slick ones, too for they
never leave any trace behind them
Them detectives from the city don't
seem to be able to do anything. They
must come from the city over night an
get back again afore mornin. But
they can't find any of the stolen goods
not in any of the pawnshops. It's
fine mystery to be a-haEgin' over
! the place. You can't tell which house
will be robbed next. The servants are
all talkin' about leavin', an nobody
feels safe. l amt sayin' that I'm not
glad that I'm Twin out here over the
barn instead of in the house. They
never bother the stables, an suppose
I'm all right"
But you'd go to Mr.. Goddard's as
sistance If an alarm was given at
night" l said.
II amt employed for that" John re-
piled evasively, shifting his eyes from
object TO object. 1--WE got wife an
child to look after. an there amt no
reason why l should get killed to save
my master few dollars"
mo? Well. I'd 20 as soon as found
he was in trouble"
"Well, you haven't anybody depend
ent upon you," he answered
That's true" Then l added: You
say most of the houses around here
have been entered in the last month or
two. Has Mr.. Goddards been rob
bed?"
mo- his an DIR. SQuires' are bout
the only ones that haven't been rob
bed"
That's curious" reflected aloud.
"Not at all. We expect the robbers
any night here, an that's why the serv-
ants sail threaten to leave. The roll
bers wouldn't take the trouble to break
into DR.. Squ,res fur there amt nothin'
in that old place to take. He's too poor
to have anything valuable aroun'."
Breakfast at this juncture inter
ruptcd Johns talk, and we had no
chance to renew it that morning. But
about noon the subject was recalled to
me rather forcibly by the appearance
of Mr.. Goddard. He looked troubled
and dissatisfied. He came into the
barn dressed in his ordinary morning
smoking jacket.
John, I've got to make some change
here" he said. "My butler has be-
come frightened over the recent rob
berries and won't stay, and the rest of
the servants are up in arms too. They
all talk of leaving. / must have some
manservant in the house who isn't
afraid of every little sound and ready
to jump at his own shadow. Now the
question is, Who shall install there
He looked significantly from John to
me.
Il have a family to look after" John
began to stammer, and as he spoke a
look of annoyance swept across Mr..
Goddard's face.
l did not let him finish, for I knew
that he would only get himself into
deeper water by displaying his coward
kindly husband John was a success,
but as a man Of courage he was a total
failure.
IF you have no objections, sir, !
would like to offer myself as one will
ing to live in the house and look after
things" ! said modestly. II don't
think you will find me afraid Of any
thing or anybody that may attempt
to enter your house"
could not help noticing a pleased
expression Oh his face, although at
first ] expected he would resent my
intrusion. l recalled the old, but some
times erroneous, saying that there's
honor even among thieves" for in spite
of what he knew about me he was will
Ing to trust me. There was certainly
very peculiar relationship springing
up between us.
"Thank you, William" he answered.
THE change will be agreeable to me.
You will have quite responsible po-
sition, and | will have to trust much
to your honesty and tact until this
burglar scare passes away. II seems
strange that the gang of thieves can
not be caught. would give consid-
cradle myself as reward just TO break
them up, for they are making the life
of our neghbors miserable out here"
$40 you think that there is a gang Of
them" asked boldly.