The Van Buren press., 1904-05-28
Two Burglars
and a Baby
hNHRS. GEORGE B. KINNEY has left
M the city for a six weeks visit in

"NHRS. GEORGE B. KINNEY has left
W the city for a six weeks visit in
Elmira."
These words caught the eye Of man
N a cheap eating house Of large city
one morning. They were printed on
torn bit of newspaper with date left on
he top line.
He folded the paper carefully, placed
il in his coat pocket, and in drizzling
-ain took his way leisurely through the
streets to Elmwood avenue, until he
reached the house.
With a ready excuse for the call pre-
pared, if occasion demanded, he Knocked
at the door, tried the bell, and finally.
unable to gain admission, went away,
But at haf-past ten that night he and
his mate went over back fence, climbed
the trellis to the second story and looked
in.
II was still raining and the place was
intensely dark, save for dimly burn
ing gas Jet AS the foremost man raised
himself over the window sill and glanced
INTO the room he uttered a cry of aston
ishment which made the man below
pull viciously al his coat and caution him
20 keep still,
It's asleep, Jack; only child asleep
in a cradle he said
That thing don't count" returned
the other savagely, as he felt his mate
backing down upon him.
But there's sure to be some one else
In the house, you IDIOT returned the
first man with an oath, as he clung to the
vines. Get off the trellis under me,
Pete, or III kick you down." he added,
angrily.
There was nothing to DO but back out
and down they went in the darkness like
a pair of gigantic lizards crawling over
a wall
"You are fool, Jack, to give it up in
this way" growled the disappointed
nighthawk, as they reached the ground
We could have taken care Of the child
easily enough There's no dog on the
place and III be hanged if I'd allow q
maid and a baby to scare me out OF
good nights work"
BY way Of answer the other grasped
his wrist.
Look up there, Pete, on the edge Of
the roof he said.
| A luminous streak ran across the
caves like faint fash Of lightning. a
| storm was coming on surely enough, but
it was not lightning which brought out
| the ridge in a red silhouette against tht
darkness Of the sky.
Suddenly a tiny spiral OF fame twisted
around the base Of the chimney, throw
ing of little sparks as it mounted higher
and higher,
Great God Jack, the house is on fire.!
cried Pete There's light in the gar
ret! The-the-maid has gone to sleeI
reading a novel and left the child alone
curse her!"
And with one consent they agar
! turned their faces to the window and II
less than half minute were in the room
Everything was quiet, and the solitary
occupant Of the chamber, sNyAi'oly wax
ing from sleep, stretched Eco, Is tin!
! hands with a gesture Of to th,
man bending over 1t! 1bs
Take II away Jack" crirG" e, foI
the love Of Heaven take IT Nay, &c
out Of the window and see it is not hurt
And, mind you, don't handle II roughly
on the way If you do I'll settle will
you when ! come back"
There was already smoke in the hal
as the one left In the house opened doc
and looked up the stairway With
bound he was at the head Of the iiigh
yelling FIRE." Come out! come out,
he cried to the horror-struck domesti
peering at him from half-open door
She only went back into the room
screaming, He was quite used to hay
ing women afraid Of him, and this wa
not the first who had turned and rul
at his appearing; but now he swor
softly under his breath az he wen
to the door
Don't be afraid Of me, lady" he be
gan, through the keyhole,
Jack had once been half-breed gen
teman, and well up in his variety o
social life, and now his training ros
TO the needs Of the hour, as he wen
on 81 am only a hard-wOrking man
lady, and passing the house ! saw III
flames from the street, and tried 4
raise the family For Gods sake hurr
up and let me take you down TO th
street."
"Oh, II you are an honest man. be
gan the voice inside, In a strange mix
ture Of suspicion and terror, III yo
are really good man, I'll trust you,
with that spinstor voice and aileC
tatIon she had certainly nothing I
fear, for Jack had carried far hand
somer but much younger women 4
his arms before She rushed into III
hall while this thought was pNssin
through his mind only half-dressct
and stIll looking him over doublfullN
1T Is rot me you should fear m
lady" went on The gallant burglar
MY clothes are rough, but | have t
work at night for living"
Thank heaven she did not know HOY
precisely true this was, else she nigh
have gone back into the room an
waited choermlly for the flames
Noting tha, he actually seemed NOR
than half afraid Of her. her spirits ros
to the occasion,
"You can come with me, then, an
help me save the yaluablos In IN
house, my good man" she said, II
sharp, for we'll have to work spry" "