Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-09-06

my master few dollars"
NO? Well. I'D 20 as soon as found
he was i'm trouble
We'll. you haven't anybody depend.
ent upon you" he answered.
That's true" Then added: You
say most of the houses around here
have been entered in the last month or
two. Has Mr.. Goddard's been rob
bedT'
mo: his an DR.. Squires' are bout
the only ones that haven't been rob
bed"
That's curious" l reflected aloud.
"Not at all. We expect the robbers
any night here. an that's why the serv.
ants all threaten to leave. The roll
bers wouldn't take the trouble to break
into DR.. Squires. fur there amt uothin
In that old place to take. He's too poor
TO have anything valuable aroun'"
Breakfast at this juncture inter
rupted Johns talk, and we had 70
chance TO renew it that morning But
about noon the subject was recalled to
me rather forcioly 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 20 make some change
here" he said. "NIy 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. l 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 thereI"
he looked significantly from John to
me.
Il have family to look after" John
began to stammer. and as he spoke a
look of annoyance swept across BIr.
Goddard's face
l did not let him finish, for knew
that he would only get himself into
deeper water by displaying his coward
ice. As a good, faithful coachman and
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
NhA4tSt cdA0 AnONSCAll. uOA
think you will find me afraid OF any.
thing or anybody that may attempt
to enter your house."
I could not help noticing a pleased
expression on his face. although at
first l expected he would resent my
intrusion. | 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 springins
up between us.
Thank you. William" he answered
The change will be agreeable to me.
You will have quite a responsible DO
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. I would give consid-
cradle myself as a reward just TO break
them up. for they are making the life
OF our neighbors miserable out here"
EDO you think that there is a gang of
themr' asked boldly.
Certainly" he said, without hesita-
ton. How else could the robberies
be committed with such SUGGEST Why,
have you any reason to believe other
wiser"
He looked sharply at me, and my
eyes wandered from his as answered:
mo, except that believe gang
could not operate as successfully as
one good skilled professional robber.
Where there are too many one or more
will get into trouble sooner or later,
and they will squeal upon the Others"
That's very true, very true" he
said reflectively. AZ had never thought
of that, and yet, yes, Jenkins, the de-
tective, came TO that conclusion some
time ago, but secuted the idea. May
be there is more in the idea than 1
thought. / win think about il, and II
such n man is really terrorizing the
neighborhood should like to see him
captured. 1 believe 1 will offer a re-
ward myself for his capture"
1T would be good idea" replied,
'for you would probably never have to
pay the reward"
"Why not?'
well, because a man sharp enough
to evade detection all this time is not
likely to be caught by somebody work
| ing to get reward"
THAT may be, but 1 shall offer che
reward at once. I'll make it a thou
| sand dollars for the mans capture and
| another thousand for his conviction"
That ought to be sufficient to tempt
4 any confederate to squeal and turn
| states evidence"
ut might be, but l should hate to
see the money so to confederate, for
| it is my private opinion that a man
who tells of his comrade in crime for
| reward is worse than the man who is
| captured. He is not only a criminal
| himself, but coward and traitor"
I Mr.. Goddard's eyes flashed sharply
1 as he spoke, but turned away with
| out further remark ] knew for whose
benefit the words were spoken. Did
he think for an instant that would
l turn traitor and claim the reward
| which he had offered for his own cap
4 tQre and convictions And vet how on g